Wedding Planning Podcast

Setting a Realistic Wedding Budget: A Step-by-Step Guide for Engaged Couples

Setting a realistic wedding budget that actually works for you is one of the most important decisions you'll make after getting engaged, and it's one that sets the tone for every planning choice that follows. If you're newly engaged and feeling overwhelmed by numbers, opinions, or online "averages" that don't feel realistic … or if you're already planning and realizing your budget needs a reset - you're in exactly the right place. In today's episode, I'm walking you through a clear, step-by-step process for creating a wedding budget that reflects your priorities ... not the wedding industry's expectations. We'll talk about how to define what matters most, allocate your money with intention, and build a financial plan that supports your vision - without all of the overwhelm and second-guessing. Will wedding planning be completely free of financial stress?  Probably not.  But with the right framework in place, it can feel organized, intentional, and manageable - so that you're not always making decisions from a place of panic or pressure. By the end of this episode, you'll have the clarity and confidence to move forward with a budget that truly works for you. Want to save time, money, and your sanity while planning your wedding? Subscribe to Wedding Planning Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts for early, ad-free access to all weekly episodes—plus a bonus series that teaches you how to use ChatGPT as your free wedding planning assistant. Save hours, avoid overwhelm, and make confident decisions faster. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts and start planning with clarity. Thank you to today's show sponsor, Minted: Just engaged and wondering where to start?  One of the easiest first steps is your wedding website. With Minted, you can build a free wedding website designed by independent artists - so it looks elevated without the custom-design price tag. Everything lives in one place: your story, wedding details, RSVPs, and registry links - simple, clean, and stress-free.  Click here to get started today and unlock exclusive listener perks on save-the-dates, invitations, and more. Click Here to read the complete blog post and follow along with today's episode.  

Newly Engaged? Exactly What to Do First

Just engaged and not sure where to start? This episode breaks down the exact first steps every newly engaged couple should take - plus the mistakes to avoid - so you can plan with clarity, confidence, and zero panic. In today's episode, I'm walking you through the Ultimate Engagement Checklist: 10 must-do steps to take before you book venues, sign contracts, or lock yourself into decisions you'll regret later. The days after getting engaged are exciting and overwhelming. Between sharing the news, flashing that ring, and daydreaming about dresses and cake, most couples accidentally slip into planning autopilot. After working with thousands of engaged couples over 10 years, I've seen the same mistakes over & over: rushing into big decisions too soon - and limiting what's actually possible for their wedding. This episode helps you slow down strategically, get grounded, and set yourself up for a wedding that truly reflects the two of you. Inside this episode: The first things you should do after getting engaged (and what can wait) How to avoid common early planning mistakes that cost couples time, money, and options The mindset shift that leads to better decisions later A simple checklist to move forward with confidence - minus the overwhelm Think of this as a free audio planning meeting to help you start smart and stress less. Early access to new episodes + bonus planning resources are available inside WPP Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Tap "Subscribe" for instant acess. Links & Resources Engagement ring insurance: Is it right for you? Start your wedding website with Minted and enjoy free designs by independent artists, all your details in one place, and exclusive listener perks: weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted Click here for a full written recap of today's episode.

How to Navigate the 6 Biggest Wedding Planning Stress Points (Early Engagement Edition)

Wedding planning shouldn't feel overwhelming - but for most of us, it does. In this episode, we're building a clear, confident action plan to help you navigate the 6 biggest stress points couples face early in their engagement, without the spiraling, second-guessing, or family drama. We're covering: • "Where do we even start??" → Mini-Workshop: Defining Your Wedding Vision + Priorities • Budget overwhelm • Finding the right venue • Guest list tension • Family dynamics & expectations • Booking vendors with confidence Today's show is a high-level roadmap to help you feel grounded and in control.  Over the coming weeks, we'll take a deep dive into each of these topics so you can move forward with clarity - one decision at a time. Want more support? Get early, ad-free access to all 6 feature episodes when you subscribe to Wedding Planning Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts. Premium subscribers also unlock an exclusive bonus series that shows you exactly how to use ChatGPT as a free wedding planning assistant - saving hours of research, making confident decisions faster, and keeping your budget on track. Just tap Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to get instant access. Enjoy the show! Additional Links & Resources: Start your wedding website with Minted and enjoy free designs by independent artists, all of your wedding details in one place, and exclusive listener perks: weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted Questions, feedback, or future episode ideas? Reach out anytime at weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact Click here for a full written recap of today's episode

The Hidden Wedding Expenses That Will Bust Your Budget

The little dollar bill emoji with flapping wings is a great one-tap summary of planning a wedding.  Budgeting for expected expenses is hard enough, let alone all of the little unexpected stuff that sneaks in along the way!                                                         Today we're going to shine a light on 16 annoying + unexpected expenses that couples don't plan for, so that you can adjust your budget early on and not be taken by surprise in the coming months.   Full blog post for today's show can be found here. Thank you for sharing the show with someone who is helping you plan! Wedding questions, stories to share, or requests for a future episode?  I always have an open door and would love to hear from you >>> weddingplanningpodcast.com   Cheers to you! Kara

5 Real Wedding Scenarios: "Is this a crazy idea?"

These listener scenarios that may seem a bit crazy on the surface … but in reality offer a great chance to maximize the quality AND the value of your wedding celebration! As you're putting together plans for your wedding, there are endless creative opportunities for you to deploy a unique, offbeat solution to what may seem like a standard wedding checklist item. So many couples subconsciously equate a higher price tag with a higher-quality end product or service, and that's simply not always true.  Worse, that mentality can add up to spending tens of thousands of dollars more than necessary to host a memorable and meaningful wedding celebration.  The $10,000 dollar question is how can we develop an instinct for when it makes sense to invest more money for a higher quality experience, and when taking a less expensive route will be just fine? That's what we're going to highlight today with a few listener scenarios that may seem a little crazy on the surface … but in reality offer a great chance to maximize the quality AND the value of the end-result.   Tune in for inspiration from other Wedding Planning Podcast listeners who had a kinda-crazy sounding idea ... and hear what worked, and what didn't! Enjoy early access to ad-free episodes each week when you subscribe to WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST PREMIUM in Apple Podcasts.