Unveiling Paradise: Your Go-To Destination Wedding Podcast

Wanna know the biggest trend for 2024? Having a wedding content creator for your special day. What is a wedding content creator? It's having someone capturing photos and short videos on their IPHONE... so you, your family and friends can enjoy the day. What do you do with all of these short videos? You can create social media clips, share them with family and friends, and relive your big day...

Everyone knows your wedding ceremony is the creme de la creme of the entire day. From the logistics - who sits where and is it wrong to switch it up? To the vows - how long should they be? Should they be serious or funny? Your wedding ceremony is the official union of two people in love.  In this episode, we take a deep dive into each part of a wedding ceremony - from who walks down the aisle and...

We're back with season 5, and we're starting off strong by talking about wedding cake + all types of yummy, delicious desserts. If you're planning to have a wedding cake, dessert bar, ice cream station or any type of sweet treat to end the night, this episode is for you.  Support the show Find Us on Instagram: Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise Joe @josephesser Tessa @fredandkate...

It's the last episode of Season 4, and we're back with listener questions. Tune in to hear Joe and I share our thoughts and advice on the following: Do we need wedding insurance? What is that and are there different types? Does it make sense to do hair and makeup at the wedding venue, or a hotel? Who normally takes all of our stuff at the end of the night? What about the cake?? What is a...

FACT: The details of your wedding reception really can make or break your wedding. Do you have too many speeches? Are you trying too hard to play games that no one wants to play? Do you have grand ideas of smashing cake in your partner's face?? (HINT: DO NOT SMASH THE CAKE). In this episode, Wes Nakano, owner of From Above Entertainment, sits down with us as we break down each part of a recep...

FACT: A good wedding is actually not just one event, or even one day. A good wedding allows your guests to fully embrace their time together with you and your significant other, and what better time is there to lean into all that QT then at the rehearsal dinner?  A couple things to note: A rehearsal is NOT the same as a rehearsal dinner. You don't need to do the rehearsal at the same time (or...

Planning a wedding is hard, but trying to decode all of the wedding day lingo is almost possible! From BEO to scullery, plus plus to bar back, and every other acronym under the sun... we're here to help. Together with Michele Ganiko, Associate Director of Catering at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, we discuss and decode some of the most common acronyms and phrases used during wedding planning. If...

This is personally one of my favorite episodes - everything you need to know when interviewing wedding planners. When I have initial meetings with clients, they're often in the "deer-in-headlights-too-overwhelmed-to-know-what-to-ask" stage of wedding planning. Hiring a planner can be a huge relief, and a huge first step, but finding a good fit is crucial.  How do you find that perfe...

It's the never ending wedding question - live band or a DJ? In this episode, we have Brian Webb, cellist and singer extraordinaire, from  LoveJack. While he's a one-man show, his looping skills (listen to the episode to find out what looping is all about) are legendary. We go into depth with him and really make him answer some tough questions: - How does a live musician fit into your wed...

This week's episode combines the best of both of our worlds - wedding day timelines and photography. In a good timeline,  the photography plays a key role in the day.  As Joe mentions, there are  4 main parts of the day that can affect your timeline: 1. Getting ready/prep 2. Ceremony 3. Portraits/Formal Photos 4. Reception Tessa looks at timelines from another angle - what do you want capture...

Listen... As much as you communicate with your guests and think you've given them all the info they'll ever need for your wedding, there will ALWAYS be the barrage of questions on your wedding day.  What time is the wedding?  How do we get there?  Is there a dress code?  Can I bring my new friend I just met last night?  OMG, IT'S A LOT.  So how do you best prepare your guests to all...

If you're debating whether or not you need videography for your wedding - tune in to this week's episode. Joe and I have some BIG FEELINGS about this topic, and you're gonna want to hear our thoughts. Tessa's key takeaways: Everyone tells me "I'll never watch my video again" or "I don't want to watch myself - it's so cringey" BUT, what if we t...

If you're deep in the midst of your wedding planning, we're positive that you've seen a preferred vendor list - this could be either from your wedding planner, your venue, or even one of your other many vendors. Caterers partner with staffing and bar companies, photographers will refer videographers that they work collaboratively with, and venues will often require you to work with...

The Electric Slide, Macarena and Mr. Brightside - are these on your MUST PLAY or DO NOT PLAY song list for your wedding day? In this episode, DJ Kevo chats with us about songs to create your perfect wedding day playlist - from the ceremony, through cocktail hour, to the very last song of the night - we're here to help you find the right tunes to fit your vibe! So whether you're into 90s...

DIY, or D-I-Why?? Everyone who has ever gotten married, is getting married, or has thought about a budget knows that this *somewhat dangerous* thought will pop into your head at least once during your wedding planning... Can I DIY elements of my wedding and save money? (For those wedding planning newbies... DIY = Do It Yourself) If you've ever considered DIY-ing parts (or all) of your wedding...

Choosing the right venue for your destination wedding is a BIG DEAL, but how do you even know where to begin? We're thrilled to have Christiana Okada, the Director of Catering at the Halekulani join us this week as we talk about the process of working with a hotel venue as you plan your destination. Having a team of professionals helping you make these decisions is so important (especially if...

"A dry wedding is still a fun wedding!" Hmmm... thoughts on this unpopular wedding opinion? In this episode, Tessa and Joe take a deep dive into 10 controversial wedding opinions. Popular or not, tune in to hear a professional photographer and wedding planner share their thoughts and advice on these heated topics. Support us: patreon.com/unveilingparadise TEN UNPOPULAR WEDDING OPINIONS Y...

Allowing your guests a peek into your relationship through thoughtful accents placed throughout your wedding is always a great way to make everyone feel like they’re part of something special. From highlighting your fur-babies, to taking guests on a travel-themed adventure, these personalized touches will truly make your guests feel included in your special day. “If you want a great wedding that e...

We made it to the final episode of Season 3, and in true Unveiling Paradise style, we're ending the season with a pop quiz! In this episode, Joe's alter ego (Professor Esser) tests Tessa with 10 questions asked by our real life couples. As a professional wedding planner, Tessa should get 100% on this pop quiz, right? Tune in to find out... Support us: patreon.com/unveilingparadise What’s...

You asked, and we answered! We gathered some of the most common “this or that” questions that clients have asked during their wedding planning process. Should we have a band or a DJ? Dessert bar or late night snacks? Should we allow plus ones at our wedding? What are your thoughts on having an unplugged ceremony? It’s always a big deal and we’re here to share our advice and answers with you. If yo...

In our opinion, making sure your guests enjoy themselves at your wedding is a top priority.  Henry Fang, owner of Paradise Monarchs, joins us today to share some inspiration, tips and advice on ways to create authentic, unique experiences for your wedding guests. If you're having a wedding larger than just you and your significant other, you'll want to listen to this episode. "Peopl...

Is there anything better than, as a couple, finding your wedding style? Your wedding day is the introduction of the two of you becoming one, and creating a styled, cohesive vibe for your wedding day is a MUST DO. Today, we have Connie Esteban, owner of C'est Calligraphy, explaining how her 3 loves (fashion, architecture, and design), led her down this creative path. From calligraphy, to stati...

Hair and makeup is arguably one of the most important elements of someone’s wedding day. All eyes on you, and you’ve spent a lot of money on professional photography and videography. Why wouldn’t you hire a professional hair and makeup artist to make you look (and feel) your very best? In this episode, Erika Kalaikai from Perfectly Made, is sharing her advice and tips about our top hair and makeup...

We’re playing the hardest game of “Would You Rather…” ever. Would you rather spend your wedding budget on a wedding cake or a photo booth? Good food or gorgeous decor? And the hardest questions of all… would you rather indulge in a wedding planner (Team Tessa) or a photographer (Team Joe)! Why do you even have to make these tough decisions? Honestly, it all depends on your budget. This is why crea...

80s style puffy sleeves, mason jars, and overly filtered photos... what do these thing all have in common? They're all wedding trends that came (and went). Being overly trendy is one of our common wedding faux pas to look out for. Want to learn the rest? Stay tuned. It doesn’t matter how much you plan… things can always go wrong. We’re here today to help you work through some common wedding d...