The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast

REBROADCAST: On today's episode of the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast I'm diving into nine common wedding regrets from real brides and grooms. Are these wedding regrets legit? If so, how do you avoid them?  Have a wedding planning question or episode idea? Let me know what you want to hear! Fill out this quick form with your feedback and/or episode suggestions: https://forms.gle/ANxD...

Good news, wedding planners! I used a new recording platform to record this episode and I think the audio is way better! Let me know what you think (contact form below) or if you have any other feedback for the show, episode suggestions, etc. In less happy news, today we've got a pretty tough topic: cold feet. What's the difference between normal pre-wedding nerves and jitters (aka cold feet) vs a...

REBROADCAST: I'm back with another wedding planning episode all about budget weddings. Specifically, can you plan a wedding with a budget of only $5000? Spoiler alert: YES, YOU CAN! In today's episode I'm walking you through my actual wedding plans and sharing the exact numbers of how much everything costs. A budget wedding is possible and doesn't have to be tacky or something you compromise on. Y...

Welcome to episode #150, wedding planners - we made it! It only took us 150 episodes to finally talk all about the wedding website. But we're here now, so let's do it. In this episode I'm sharing the things you actually need to have on your wedding website. What are the required elements and what do you guests actually need to know? I'm also sharing 5 optional extras you can add to your website pl...

REBROADCAST: So many engaged couples have had to deal with long engagements as their weddings get pushed out, postponed or downsized. Most couples are engaged for just 12-18 months but many couples are finding themselves engaged for 2, 3, 4 or even five years before their big wedding comes around! So how do you handle it? How do you survive a long engagement? Listen in for my tips about how to mak...

If you're planning to have a wedding party (aka bridal party with bridesmaids, groomsmen, people of honor, etc.) at your wedding, you need to listen to this episode! Today I'm sharing some tough love and reminding you that as much as your wedding party members love you and want to help make your wedding awesome, there are certain things they should NOT have to do. Wear an itchy outfit? Nope! Give...

REBROADCAST: If you just got engaged, congratulations! With the proposal behind you and wedding planning on the brain, you might be wondering how long this period should last. How long should couples be engaged before they get married? Listen in as I discuss the pros and cons of a long engagement and a short engagement, and reasons why you might pick each one. Does it matter if you want kids, plan...

How do you plan a full-scale wedding when you only have <6 months to pull it off? Or how do you plan a wedding for hundreds when you're busy with work, life and family? In this episode, I'm discussing what you need to consider when planning a wedding if you're short on time - whether that's planning on a short timeframe (<6 months) or you just don't have enough hours in a week to plan it all...

After hating on 2025 wedding trends a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd end the year with a little love and share the 2025 wedding trends I'm excited about (plus a few that I'm a bit more on the fence about). Tune in to hear which trends I hope will be seen at many weddings in 2025 and beyond! Have a wedding planning question or episode idea? Let me know what you want to hear! Fill out this quick...

With 2024 coming to an end, it's time to look ahead at the biggest wedding trends for 2025! I'm starting things off with a little hate sharing the 2025 wedding trends I am NOT into (dramatic drapery and monochrome food tables, really?). There are a few controversial ones on this list so just remember, we don't have to agree on everything when it comes to wedding planning! Plus, stay tuned for a fu...

I'm back with part two of my wedding etiquette rules all guests should follow. In this episode, we're talking about rules for the reception and after the wedding. Figure out how to stop people from over-indulging at an open bar, ignoring your carefully curated seating chart and totally forgetting about your wedding as soon as it's over. If you missed part one, go back an episode and check it out!...

As people planning a wedding, it can be really annoying when your wedding guests don't follow what we assume are basic wedding etiquette rules. Why can't they RSVP on time? Why do they keep asking about a plus one? Why do they think it's okay to show up late to the ceremony? On this episode of The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast, we're covering the first 14 of 27 wedding etiquette rules th...

What happens if you're religious and your partner isn't? Or they're secular and you're spiritual? Or you're both religious, but they're Pagan while you're Protestant? In today's episode, I'm tackling the big issue of how to combine religious (and non-religious) beliefs into one wedding day that truly represents you both. Listen in as I give you some big things to consider and lots of options for e...

REBROADCAST: Whether you're planning a budget wedding or a lavish wedding, whether you have a wedding party of 20 or no wedding party at all, whether you're having an elopement this spring or a big bash five years from now, these are the wedding planning truths you need to hear.  Have a wedding planning question or episode idea? Let me know what you want to hear! Fill out this quick form with...

Even the best laid plans can be totally upturned when a vendor no-shows, guests get sick, your partner breaks their leg, and it decides to rain and hail on your wedding day! That's why it's so important for you to have a wedding backup plan - not just for bad weather, but for any situation that might derail your wedding. Tune in as I discuss how to plan for bad weather, no-show vendors, guest canc...

In today's episode, I'm tackling a listener question all about wedding budgets and parents. What happens if your parents think you're being cheap or are ashamed of what you're asking guests to pay for? Do your parents have a point or is what you're planning acceptable? Tune in to find out my take, plus tips for how to analyze your decisions and repair relationships when you disagree. Have a weddin...

REBROADCAST: Today we're tackling the big question: After the wedding, should you change your last name? And, if so, what should your married last name be? Are you keeping yours, taking your partner's, hyphenating or doing something totally different? Listen in as I go through the different last name options newlyweds will have to consider and share my own last name dilemma! Happy wedding planning...

You've always envisioned a six-tier wedding cake while your partner wants to serve donut holes. You want an outdoor wedding and they want it indoors. You want to elope with 10 guests while they want to invite 300 of their closest friends. So what do you do when you and your partner have different wedding visions? Listen in as I share a 3-part formula for reaching a compromise that will leave you b...

REBROADCAST: When it comes to your wedding, who gets a plus one? Do you have to give a plus one to all of your single wedding guests? What about the ones in relationships but where you don't know the partner? Or what if the partner is the worst? Listen in as I break down my rules for who should get a plus one and who really doesn't need one. I also provide some helpful tips on how to push back on...

Whether you're chasing after a two year old, creating a blended family with your spouse-to-be or empty nesters, planning a wedding as a parent can look a lot different than planning a wedding without kids in the picture. In this week's episodes I'm talking about the realities of wedding planning as a parent, what you need to think about in the planning and prep stage, and how to include your child...

REBROADCAST: We always hear that your wedding day should be the best day of your life - that your wedding day is going to be perfect and you should go all out because it's all about you. But I disagree. Your wedding day should NOT be the best day of your life. Listen in as I explain why planning the best day of your life hurts your wedding budget, adds stress to your wedding planning and even make...

In this mega-episode I'm covering 13 ways you can reduce wedding waste without increasing your wedding budget. Tune in for lots of practical tips, easy changes and things to think about that will help save your wallet and the planet. Have a wedding planning question or episode idea? Let me know what you want to hear! Fill out this quick form with your feedback and/or episode suggestions: https://f...

REBROADCAST: It's sad but it's true: people are going to judge your wedding. Wedding judgment is real and people are full of opinions if you're a bride, groom or person in the middle of wedding planning! Whether it's your wedding budget, your choice in flowers or what you decide to serve at the reception, people will judge you for it. So what do you do? How do you deal with wedding judgment, avoid...

How do you stop being a people pleaser and prioritize your own feelings and wants in wedding planning? And how do you stop feeling guilty when you finally prioritize yourself and uphold your boundaries? That's what we're tackling on today's episode of The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast, thanks to a listener who submitted this very question! Have a wedding planning question or episode idea...

REBROADCAST: In last week's episode I talked about hitting wedding planning burnout. So what do you do when you lose your wedding planning mojo? It is totally normal to not be 100% jazzed about planning a wedding all of the time. But before you throw in the towel and elope (unless that's what you want to do!), check out this episode for my tips on what to do when you hit a wedding planning lull, h...