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.
Follow Up Wedding Q&A | The Value in Thinking Outside the Box
Happy Friday, and welcome to another BONUS Q&A follow up show to this week's feature episode, "How To: DIY Appetizers & Charcuterie Board" show that aired on Wednesday Dec 24th. Today is a mix of behind-the-scenes insight from me, your reception-related questions, and also a couple of hindsight wedding experiences to share from listeners who were recently married. There's a ton of value packed into this 20 minute bonus show, and I hope you love it - Enjoy the show!
How To: DIY Wedding Reception Appetizers & Charcuterie Board
The cost of food & drinks can be a huge source of frustration when planning your wedding. I can't tell you how many messages I get from couples who are utterly horrified by the per person fee for dinner & drinks - and rightfully so! Today we're going to explore setting up your own appetizer spread, and I think you'll be blown away by the savings ... yes, up to 85% off the cost of a traditional wedding caterer. Tune in for my detailed roadmap to appetizer / happy hour menu planning, shopping, and setting it all up. We'll review how much to buy, where to shop, and what you can expect the total price tag to be for TWO different sample menu options. We even cover the details that are often overlooked, so that your plan is airtight and nothing is missed. Even if you are using a more traditional caterer for the main meal, doing your own appetizer spread is a wonderful way to customize the offering, UP the quality, AND save a ton of money. What's not to love? Not allowed to bring outside food into your venue? This process for setting up a beautiful appetizer spread is also perfect for your bridal shower, welcome party, rehearsal dinner, or any other party you host in the future. Be sure to bookmark it, and share this episode with a friend who's helping you plan! Enjoy the full blog post: www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/cheese Discover endless cocktail hour inspiration! https://www.pinterest.com/karasvinwedding/wedding-cocktail-hour/ Enjoy early access to ad-free episodes each week when you subscribe to WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST PREMIUM in Apple Podcasts.