Busy Bride 101

A Simple Sway: Finding the Heart of the Father-Daughter Dance From sitting on his shoulders at a parade to calling him late at night for that irreplaceable "dad advice," the relationship with your father changes beautifully over time. But when it comes to the wedding reception, many brides feel an overwhelming pressure to perform. In this conversation, we peel back the expectations of the traditio...

The Final Month Trap: Where Wedding Budgets Quietly Go Off Track If your wedding is a month away and your budget suddenly feels like it has a leak you can't find, you're not imagining it. The final stretch is where small, last-minute decisions quietly stack up and start showing up on your credit card. In this episode, we break down the most common late-stage wedding expenses couples don't see comi...

Why Your Guest List Changes Everything: Inspiration vs. Expectations If your wedding plans are starting to feel more expensive or more complicated than expected, you're not alone and you're not doing anything wrong. In this episode of Busy Bride 101 , we're breaking down two of the most common (and connected) challenges couples face during the planning process: Falling in love with elevated inspir...

"You've Booked the Venue… Now What? Non-Traditional Next Steps to Keep Your Wedding Planning Calm and Intentional" Episode Summary: You've booked your venue, maybe even secured a photographer, and now you're wondering… what's next? In this episode, I walk you through the crucial next steps after booking your venue, with surprising non-traditional tips to make your wedding day flow smoothly and fee...

Hey friends, welcome back to the podcast. If you're newly engaged or you've been engaged for a bit and are starting to realize how many moving parts wedding planning actually has, you're in the right place. Today we're talking about where to start . Not in a rushed, do-it-all way, but in a calm, steady way that actually helps you move forward. After more than 20 years of planning weddings, here's...

Thinking about tackling DIY wedding projects? Before you grab that glue gun, tune in to hear when it's worth your time and when to bring in the pros. Lisa shares real examples, cost comparisons, and a true story about a bride's DIY floral adventure that didn't go quite as planned. Learn how to balance creativity, budget, and sanity  without sacrificing your dream-day aesthetic. Plus, download Lisa...

Who Ordered Salmon?" Meal Identifiers Matter for Your Wedding Reception You've sent the invites, the RSVPs are rolling in, and now it's time to think about dinner service at your wedding. Whether your guests are choosing chicken, beef, or fish, there's one detail that can make or break your reception:  meal identifiers . In this episode, I'm keeping it light but practical and diving into why these...

Mom Had a Binder...You've Got a Board Feeling overwhelmed by Pinterest boards, inspiration ideas, and wedding planning tasks? You're not alone. In this episode of  Busy Bride 101 , Lisa G. McMillan breaks down why inspiration boards aren't planning tools and how to turn your dreams into a stress-free wedding weekend. Learn how to: Narrow your wedding inspiration with three guiding words to keep ev...

Hi, I'm your wedding expert, Lisa G. McMillan of Exquisite Events and Consulting . Planning your wedding can be exciting, but let's be honest, figuring out your wedding budget can feel overwhelming. In this episode of  Busy Bride 101 , I'm sharing practical wedding planning advice and real-world strategies to help you create a budget that works for you , while keeping the romance front and center....

Asheville Destination Weddings: How to Plan a Wedding Weekend That Wows Episode Summary: Planning a destination wedding in Asheville? You're not just coordinating a ceremony, you're hosting a whole weekend of memories for your closest people. In this episode of  Busy Bride 101 , we're chatting through the must-haves for a stress-free, fun-filled wedding weekend, from laid-back welcome parties to p...

Engagement season 2022 is in full swing and you need to know just what to do to get started with planning your wedding. This short 3 minute episode is the jumping off point to your next steps. Additional episodes will follow to guide you through the details to select vendors, what questions to ask, and how much to spend.    LINKS: Website Exquisite Events and Consulting Instagram Busy B ride 101:W...

Nestled in the heart of downtown Asheville, North Carolina you will find one of the best wedding caterers around. Chef Kim Lloyd, owner and operator of Celine and Company knows how to serve up some of the tastiest cuisine for your wedding or special occasion.  In this episode, Chef Kim lists the 5 must have appetizers to select for the cocktail hour and how she incorporates your culinary wishes in...

Corey Johnson of Corey Johnson Studios brings calm and encouragement during chaotic moments at your wedding as he photographs you and your loved ones. It takes a critical eye to know instinctively when and how to craft lifetime memories and he is an expert in pulling all of the aspects together flawlessly.  One would never suspect that Corey is legally blind when viewing his images or seeing him i...

Your skincare routine may very well be one of the most carefully thought out steps to a healthy and clean glow on your wedding day. Long gone are the days of purchasing products randomly or selecting  them without any forethought. So many of today's products are fragrance free, hypoallergenic, cruelty free, and paraben free and they should be considered high priority in your beauty bag.  You deser...

Hair and Makeup Secrets To Looking Radiantly Beautiful On Your Wedding Day When it's time to select your makeup artist and hair stylist for your wedding, hire someone with impeccable experience and photos of their previous work. Search for your team soon during the wedding planning process as you will need to schedule a trial run with their services. The best is booked early and often, so don't he...

Welcome to Busy Bride 101: Wedding Planning Tips For The Bride On The Go!  If you're vacillating about the type of dessert to serve your guests at your wedding, Mandy at 50/Fifty: The Art of the Dessert has a multitude of options to choose for your special occasion.  From specialty cakes and pies to elaborate dessert displays filled with cookies, truffles, or even an armadillo red velvet cake. You...

Mary Bell, owner and principal wedding planner at Mary Bell Events is an accomplished wedding professional. Her extended knowledge in producing and designing luxury weddings has led to her success as one of the most sought after destination wedding planners. Her service areas include but not limited to the Carolinas and Florida regardless if your event is set amongst a grand castle or perched near...

Hans Daniels, owner and DJ of Nice Entertainment delivers a fun and insightful peek into the world of being a DJ. He and his talented staff of DJs and musicians provide a sophisticated and energetic dynamic to your wedding. If you have been searching for a wedding DJ who is dedicated to making your planning less stressful and your guests wanting for more, then, you've found your DJ.  During the in...

Find yourself confused about what drinks to offer your guests at your wedding reception? Look no further, Bryce Bjornson of Jack's 47 Mobile Bar fills you in with perfect beverage offerings. His experience is just what you are looking for in determining delicious drinks for your guests along with the benefit of eliminating long lines at the bar. He even discusses a quick way to calculate how much...

Welcome to Busy Bride 101: Wedding Planning Tips for the Bride On The Go! As a wedding planner I've seen the wedding the wedding industry explode with creative and breath taking ways to personalize your event, particularly fashionable clothing during the pandemic.  As we are still dealing with exasperating times, we have to re-think how we plan weddings and I have an option for you to add to treas...

Welcome to BUSY BRIDE 101, Wedding Planning Tips for the bride on the go and I'm your host, Lisa G. McMillan, wedding and event planner at  Exquisite Events and Consulting. Today's episode is "Pivot My Wedding, Now ". When ringing in 2020 who knew how the upcoming year would unfold. Many have proclaimed this as the worst year ever! You may find yourself scratching your head wondering on occasion h...

Welcome to BUSY BRIDE 101, Wedding Planning Tips for the bride on the go and I'm your host, Lisa G. McMillan, wedding and event planner at  Exquisite Events and Consulting. Today's episode is "Backyard Wedding Wins During a Pandemic". Planning a backyard wedding may seem as easy as 1-2-3 but I wanted to point out a few elements to remember as we're still navigating through the pandemic and muddlin...

Micro Weddings: The Next Big Thing Whether it's rain, sleet, snow or even a pandemic , planning your wedding during the unexpected can be frightening. You've imagined your event filled with infinite amounts of hugs, kisses and high fives and guests dancing closely to your favorite tunes.   Yet, lately we've been told to social distance and wear a mask. Well, I'm here to tell you, better days are a...

Join us as highly acclaimed photographer, Tonya Damron of Tonya Damron Photography discusses First Look considerations, family portraits, and how she navigates her team through the coronavirus pandemic.   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Tonya Damron Photography Busy Bride 101 (Instagram) Busy Bride 101 (YouTube Channel) Exquisite Events and Consulting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention World Health O...

In this episode, "DIY Flower Fails with Mandy Frazier" Lisa and Mandy discuss the potential pitfalls of creating your own floral centerpieces, bouquets, corsages, and other flower arrangements for your wedding and reception. Your host, Lisa G. McMillan is joined by florist, Mandy Frazier of An English Flower Cottage. Mandy is an award winning floral designer and has styled lavish and modest events...