The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast

Episode 53 of The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast is a little bit different to previous episodes, as we recorded it from our respective homes due to Covid-19 restrictions. Thanks to the technological prowess and admirable patience of our producer, Ian Doyle, we were able to put together what we consider to be a really helpful episode, so we hope you don't mind too much that the sound quality isn't up to our usual standards! The episode also marks our final show before we head off on maternity leave and the podcast goes on hiatus, so we wanted to answer as many reader and listener questions as we possibly could in one, whopper Q&A session! Of course, many of these questions deal with coronavirus and weddings, but we're also tackling guest list dilemmas, style queries and plenty more besides. Episode Breakdown: A Covid-19 and Wedding Planning Q&AWedding tip: Celina's tip this week is to make a detailed wedding-day schedule, from wake-up call to last dance, and share it with one or two key suppliers, who should be able to easily identify any oversights! Couples often tell us that they underestimated the time it would take to get ready, travel between venues, have their portrait session, and get through the speeches, so this tip could save you some unwelcome stress on the big day itself!Main topic: Today, we're bringing you another wedding-planning Q&A, but not the one we had originally planned! We were expecting to discuss topics like dress shopping and wedding party politics, but understandably, we've been flooded with questions about coronavirus and weddings, and we wanted to address as many of these as possible. And, although we haven't been able to give as much concrete, practical advice as we would like, with the situation looking so uncertain, we think that this will be a really useful (and hopefully reassuring!) listen for anyone whose wedding looks set to be affected by Covid-19. We also made sure to answer lots of non coronavirus-related questions, as we know that the resulting tips will come in handy when this is all over and you're back in the swing of wedding planning!Something to do when you're not planning your wedding: In this episode, Celina and Claire discuss their favourite email newsletters, both free and subscription-based, including Rogue, Longreads, Pocket, Charlotte Jacklin's Monday Motivator, and Laura Jackson's The Hoste Post.Thanks for listening! If you loved the episode, don't forget to rate and review the podcast on iTunes. Oh, and if you know anyone who's engaged and planning a wedding, be sure to tell them about the podcast and share a link.We hope to bring the podcast back in 2021, but, in the meantime, there are over 50 episodes worth of tips and advice for you to listen back to! You can find them all here.FURTHER LISTENING: 

On episode 52 of The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast, we're troubleshooting some of the most common family-related dilemmas, covering everything from feuding parents, to interfering siblings, to demanding cousins! Pretty much every couple we’ve encountered has experienced some kind of family conflict around their wedding, so, rather than resist the inevitable, we're dusting off our very best pieces of advice for minimising and reacting to wedding family drama. Our hope is that, after listening to this episode, you'll feel prepared to deal with all manners of squabbles and disputes, and get on with the fun parts of wedding planning!Episode Breakdown: Your Family Drama Dilemmas Solved!Wedding tip: Claire's tip this week is to communicate your favourite parts of your venue to your photographer, so they can arrange to take some of your wedding portraits there, if possible!Main topic: This week, we're talking about something that, unfortunately, seems to be unavoidable during the wedding-planning period - family-based conflict! For some reason, hosting a big celebration tends to spark issues among family members (if you're unlucky, in your partner's family as well as your own!), so our aim with this episode is to give you the tips and tools to tackle them! As well as offering up our top pieces of advice for avoiding and anticipating wedding family drama, we're troubleshooting some of the family issues that we get asked about most frequently. Hopefully, by heeding our advice, you can continue to enjoy the exciting, wedding-planning period in the face of any unwanted drama!Wedding dilemma: A listener writes, “My bridal party consists of my two sisters, my groom's sister, and two of my best friends, so five ladies in total. We all live in different cities, and so I don't regularly see them all together, just one-on-one. They are all lovely and dear to me, but have very different personalities, hobbies, life situations, etc. I'm a bit nervous for our bachelorette weekend as I know that some girls aren't overly fond of each other. My thought was to go rent a cottage in the country for a weekend and tour some vineyards together. How do I get all the girls to get along with each other and have a good time? I'm nervous that it will be very awkward or things may get catty. The wine may help... but it also may not! I’m hoping to avoid a Bridesmaids cookie situation!” Our advice for this listener is to voice your concerns to one or two of your bridal party members, but go ahead with your vineyard plan (which sounds fabulous by the way!), and trust that everyone will be on their best behaviour.Something to do when you're not planning your wedding: In this episode, Claire's recommending Laura De Barra's indispensable DIY manual, Gaff Goddess.Thanks for listening! Got something to add to the conversation? Shoot us a mail at hello@onefabday.com. We want the One Fab Day Wedding Podcast to make wedding planning easier and more enjoyable for you, our beloved listener, so if there's something you'd love to hear discussed on the show, or a question you'd like answered, please do drop us a line.If you loved the episode, don't forget to rate and review the podcast on iTunes. You should also make sure you're subscribed to the podcast - that way you'll receive notifications every time a new episode is released! Oh, and if you know anyone who's engaged and planning a wedding, or a bridesmaid, groomsman, parent or wedding guest who needs a dilemma solved, be sure to tell them about the podcast and share a...

On episode 51 of The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast, we're going deep on a wedding-planning topic that almost every couple tells us is a top priority - the food and the drinks! Planning your wedding menu can be a real challenge - many couples aren't sure whether to take inspiration from their personal favourites or stick to crowd-pleasers, and then there are dietary requirements, wine allocations and late-night food offerings to think about! To tackle these questions and more, we're joined by Andrew Rudd, the executive chef and owner of Dublin venue Medley, who also looks after weddings and events at Ballintubbert House and Gardens in Co. Laois. As well as sharing lots of mouth-watering wedding food ideas, he's giving us a crash course on the world of wedding catering. Enjoy!Episode Breakdown: Wedding Food and Drink 101Wedding tip: Celina's tip this week is to keep your wedding cake design simple! If you're having a cake topper, ask your baker to focus the decoration on the lower layers of the cake, and remember that laser-cut cake toppers work better when they've got a long stem!Main topic: This week, we're talking wedding food and drink, covering such diverse topics as how to design the ultimate wedding feast, where to cut the budget, and how much wine to allocate per guest. Joining us in the studio is private chef and food writer Andrew Rudd of Irish venues Medley and Ballintubbert House and Gardens, who shares some of his favourite wedding food ideas, and answers lots and lots of our listeners' questions. Be sure to grab a snack before you hit play, because this episode makes for hungry listening!Wedding dilemma: A listener writes, “I was wondering if you'd have any advice for me - I'm getting married abroad later in the year. I was quoted crazy money for hair and makeup over there, so I decided to ask my hairdresser and makeup artist from home to come, as covering her flights, accommodation and fee is still less than the quotes I got. I'm meeting her next week to discuss details and just want to be as prepared as possible. What would you think needs to be covered and paid for by us? And I don't want to have a legal contract with solicitors but I do want some sort of agreement so that I know I can depend on her - would you have any advice on this? ” Our advice for this listener is to expect to pay for flights, accommodation, transport and meals, and potentially extra checked luggage, but to discuss this with your hairstylist and makeup artist well in advance, and to follow up any conversations in writing by email.Something to do when you're not planning your wedding: In this episode, Celina's raving about essential oils!Thanks for listening! Got something to add to the conversation? Shoot us a mail at hello@onefabday.com. We want the One Fab Day Wedding Podcast to make wedding planning easier and more enjoyable for you, our beloved listener, so if there's something you'd love to hear discussed on the show, or a question you'd like answered, please do drop us a line.If you loved the episode, don't forget to rate and review the podcast on iTunes. You should also make sure you're subscribed to the podcast - that way you'll receive notifications every time a new episode is released! Oh...

On episode 50 of The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast, we're turning our attention towards some very important people. And when we say important, we really mean it, because, without these guys, there literally wouldn’t be a wedding. They are, of course, your vendors! We're offering our top tips for finding the best wedding suppliers in the business, figuring out if they're the right fit for your wedding, and helping you get the best service, from initial introductory emails, right up to the big day itself!Episode Breakdown: How to Find the Best Wedding SuppliersWedding tip: Claire's tip this week is to check out our newly-created FAQ page, which is chock-full of answers to the most common wedding-related questions.Main topic: This week, we're talking wedding vendors, specifically, how to find the best ones! As well as being available on your wedding date, falling within your price range, and being fantastic at what they do, your wedding suppliers need to be able put you at ease on the day, so there are a lot of boxes to tick! The good news is that it's easy to find the best wedding suppliers when you know where to look. Our chat also includes tips for making the most of the professionals you've hired to work on your day, be they photographers, videographers, bands, musicians, stationers, florists, bakers, hairstylists, makeup artists, planners or caterers! Enjoy!Wedding dilemma: A listener writes, “I would appreciate some guidance from you guys as to how I can show my appreciation to my parents on my wedding day during the speeches. They have been so helpful with everything including foraging for berries for our wedding favours (jam), microdetails about the wedding and making sure it is all exactly what we want. Most importantly, they have always made my partner feel just like a member of the family and I couldn't be more grateful. Any suggestions as to how I could make a massive fuss of them during the speeches?” Our advice for this listener is to take inspiration from your own lovely email and be specific. We recommend writing down some key things your parents have done for you, to reference in your wedding speech, and also write them a card or a letter so they have something they can read over and over again!Something to do when you're not planning your wedding: In this episode, Claire's suggesting her favourite TV shows for a cathartic cry, including This is Us, Queer Eye, and DIY SOS!Thanks for listening! Got something to add to the conversation? Shoot us a mail at hello@onefabday.com. We want the One Fab Day Wedding Podcast to make wedding planning easier and more enjoyable for you, our beloved listener, so if there's something you'd love to hear discussed on the show, or a question you'd like answered, please do drop us a line.If you loved the episode, don't forget to rate and review the podcast on iTunes. You should also make sure you're subscribed to the podcast - that way you'll receive notifications every time a new episode is released! Oh, and if you know anyone who's engaged and planning a wedding, or a bridesmaid, groomsman, parent or wedding guest who needs a dilemma solved, be sure to tell them about the podcast and share a link.FURTHER LISTENING: Episode 4: Why Are Weddings So Expensive?

We're constantly fielding questions on wedding beauty prep, so we thought it was about time that we sat down with an expert to give this topic the time and attention it deserves! On episode 49 of The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast, we're joined by freelance beauty therapist Ciara McCluskey to talk about all things skincare and beauty, taking in waxing, tan, brows and nails along the way. The aim of this episode is to help you develop an affordable and doable skincare routine, whatever your budget. Ciara will also be talking us through the most popular treatments for brides, and crucially, the order in which to get them! This is wedding beauty prep 101, so you might want to have a pen and paper at the ready before you hit play!Episode Breakdown: Bridal Beauty Prep: Your Essential GuideWedding tip: Celina's tip this week is to use this handy formula to figure out how much wine you need for your wedding!Main topic: This week, we're talking about wedding beauty prep, which, I think we can all agree, is an intimidating topic! That's why we wanted to sit down with freelance beauty therapist Ciara McCluskey to talk through treatments, products and lifestyle factors (is anyone out there actually drinking two litres of water per day!?), specifically, which ones are worth the investment! As well as answering lots and lots of listener questions across skincare, tanning, waxing, nails, and brows, Ciara gave us her top tips for creating a foolproof skincare regime (and sticking to it!) and talked us through the ideal wedding beauty timeline. Enjoy!Wedding dilemma: A listener writes, “I’m not coming with an exciting question about my upcoming nuptials as they are no longer going ahead. I collected my wedding dress in September and by the end of October, my fiancé told me he had changed his mind. I now have an unused, unworn and unaltered couture gown sitting in my wardrobe that I cannot sell. The price was €3,595 and I have already reduced it to €3,000 but to no avail. I have an advert on sellmyweddingdress.ie and have contacted a number of bridal boutiques, which have been reluctant to sell my gown. The only place that has come back to me said the highest they would offer to sell it for is €2,000. Any tips on where I can get the most for my dress? I don't want to sell it for half price.” Our response for this listener is that, unfortunately, it's unlikely she'll be able to sell her wedding dress for the price she's hoping, which is around 85% of the full retail price. Generally speaking, we recommend selling for 50% - 70% of the full retail price. That said, we think it's worth casting a wide net with online marketplaces, including Depop and Adverts, and maximising the chance of selling by using lots of keywords.Something to do when you're not planning your wedding: In this episode, Celina's suggesting you book tickets for a supper club. Her pick for Dublin is Ethiopian pop-up restaurant Gursha!Thanks for listening! Got something to add to the conversation? Shoot us a mail at hello@onefabday.com. We want the One Fab Day Wedding Podcast to make wedding planning easier and more enjoyable for you, our beloved listener, so if there's...

How do I tell my sister she's not going to be in my bridal party? What should I do if my maid of honour isn't pulling her weight? How can I get my bridesmaids to agree on their dresses? In episode 48 of The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast, we're answering all of these questions and more! Yes, we're attempting to take the drama out of wedding planning by offering our advice and tips for coping with (and hopefully, eliminating!) bridesmaid drama! We'll also be discussing how to choose the right people for the job, and how to manage your expectations (and theirs!), so we really hope you find this episode helpful!Episode Breakdown: How to Deal With Bridesmaid DramaWedding tip: Celina's tip this week is to learn how to tie a tie, and how to tie a bow tie, regardless of how likely you are to wear one on the big day! Believe us when we say that someone in the wedding party will require your expertise!Main topic: This week, we're giving you a virtual toolbox for dealing with bridesmaid drama, across such potentially controversial areas as dress shopping, hen party planning, and job delegation. We wouldn't, for a minute, want to imply that groups of women are prone to disagreement (that's just not how we roll!), but we can't ignore the many, many questions we receive weekly from brides who are experiencing issues with their bridal party. So, as well as giving you tips for choosing your bridesmaids, and helping you manage your expectations in the run up to the big day, we're sharing our thoughts on some of the most commonly-asked bridesmaid-related questions.Wedding dilemma: A listener writes, “I was hoping you can help me with an outfit conundrum I have ahead of my daughter’s wedding this summer. I’m not a fan of my legs at the best of times, so I was planning to buy a pants suit, but found the most beautiful light blue dress in the sales, and it was such a bargain, I snapped it up. It looks lovely on, and sits right below the knee, but the problem is my legs! The blue colour just shows up the veins in my legs, and I’m prone to bruising. I don’t want to put lots of effort into my hair, makeup and outfit only for my legs to let me down. Are tan tights really dated? Should I go down the fake tan route? Any tips you have would be great. My daughter lives abroad and isn’t back until the wedding, so I can’t really get her help!” Our advice for this listener is to invest in a good quality pair of tights, and find a stockist where you can expect great customer service. The in-store experts will be happy to help you choose the right pair!Something to do when you're not planning your wedding: In this episode, Celina's suggesting bullet journalling!Thanks for listening! Got something to add to the conversation? Shoot us a mail at hello@onefabday.com. We want the One Fab Day Wedding Podcast to make wedding planning easier and more enjoyable for you, our beloved listener, so if there's something you'd love to hear discussed on the show, or a question you'd like answered, please do drop us a line.If you loved the episode, don't forget to rate and review the podcast on iTunes. You should also make sure you're subscribed to the podcast - that way you'll receive notifications every time a new episode is released! Oh, and if you know anyone who's engaged and planning a wedding, or a bridesmaid, groomsman, parent or wedding guest who needs a dilemma solved, be sure to tell them about the podcast and share a link.FURTHER LISTENING: Episode 10:...

In episode 48 of The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast, we're answering the question that all couples probably ask themselves at some point in wedding planning - “Should we just elope!?” We love elopements here at One Fab Day, particularly as couples get more creative with small weddings and alternative celebrations. But we firmly believe that there are right and wrong reasons to choose an elopement over a full-blown wedding, which we'll be exploring in this chat. We've also come up with a few compromises that fall half-way between the two formats, and have thrown in some helpful tips for eloping couples to boot! Enjoy!Episode Breakdown: Should You Just Elope?Wedding tip: Claire's tip this week is to get your guests mingling at dinner by sharing nuggets of trivia about them at the tables. You could even turn it into a fun guessing game, as suggested by our producer, Ian!Main topic: This week, we're talking about elopements, specifically how to tell when it's the right move for you and your partner, as opposed to a rash decision made in a moment of weakness, when a full wedding celebration seems too daunting! Our aim with this episode is to answer the question, "Should we just elope?!" but we're also suggesting a few popular alternatives that fall somewhere in between an elopement and a wedding, and offering some helpful planning tips for eloping couples.Wedding dilemma: A listener writes, “My dilemma is about what to buy for the bridal party and the groomsmen. We originally said we would pay for all their rooms as a gift, but that's eight rooms and it's now one of our biggest expenses. So what I'm wondering is, is it a prerequisite that the bride and groom pay for the rooms? If we don't, will we be seen as being cheap and ungrateful? What about a travel voucher? I'm really lost on this. I just want the presents to be useful and not generic." While it's not expected that the couple pay for the wedding party accommodation, at least not in Ireland and the UK, we think it's worth considering it if the venue is very expensive and no affordable is available, or you've specifically asked your pals to stay where you're staying. Alternatively, we're big fans of the travel voucher idea! In our book, a practical gift is always superior to a rushed, last-minute buy.Something to do when you're not planning your wedding: In this episode, Claire's suggesting @CommentsByCelebs on Instagram!Thanks for listening! Got something to add to the conversation? Shoot us a mail at hello@onefabday.com. We want the One Fab Day Wedding Podcast to make wedding planning easier and more enjoyable for you, our beloved listener, so if there's something you'd love to hear discussed on the show, or a question you'd like answered, please do drop us a line.If you loved the episode, don't forget to rate and review the podcast on iTunes. You should also make sure you're subscribed to the podcast - that way you'll receive notifications every time a new episode is released! Oh, and if you know anyone who's engaged and planning a wedding, or a bridesmaid, groomsman, parent or wedding guest who needs a dilemma solved, be sure to tell them about the podcast and share a link.FURTHER LISTENING: Episode 7: "We Eloped to New York!"

In episode 46 of The One Fab Day Wedding Podcast, we're talking about how to create a relaxed, fun and informal atmosphere on the big day. Most couples will say that this is a top priority for their wedding, but there's very little information out there about how to actually make it happen, which is where your humble podcast hosts come in! We've put together some indispensable advice for creating a laid-back wedding, including tips on getting guests mingling, setting the right tone, figuring out which formalities to ditch, and, crucially, ensuring that you and your partner are relaxed on the day itself!Episode Breakdown: How to Have a Laid-Back WeddingWedding tip: Claire's tip this week is to fill up that space at the front of the ceremony venue! For guests, this means not being afraid to nab a prime spot. For couples, it means asking a wedding party member to help manage the flow of guests into the space.Main topic: This week, we're presenting our top tips for creating a fun, laid-back wedding, something that, contrary to popular belief, actually takes quite a lot of thought and careful planning to achieve! From creating the perfect balance across the guest list, to ensuring that each guest knows exactly where they're supposed to be (and when!), there are plenty of ways to informalise your wedding celebration, so this episode really is a must-listen!Wedding dilemma: A listener writes, “I’m having two bridesmaids, my sister who lives abroad, and my best friend. My partner has two brothers so this matches nicely. But my best friend has just found out she is pregnant, and due to give birth on my wedding day. She's said she will still be at the hen (when she's eight months' pregnant!) but likely not the wedding day, but that she might get a coordinating dress in case she can make it. What should I do now? I have another close friend who I could ask to step in but I would need to discuss this with my best friend and wait until she's ready to announce the pregnancy. While it would be nice to give my best friend the option of choosing to be bridesmaid or not, I think it will lead to extra expenses, and we had planned to keep the wedding party small for this reason. Also, while I love my sister dearly, she can be challenging at times and another bridesmaid would make a great buffer on the morning of the wedding. My fiance is worried that I'll arrive to the church stressed and worked up if it's just me, my sister and my mom. And for my sister to plan my hen party from abroad on her own would be difficult. I’m also wondering how my other friend will take being the second choice bridesmaid if I do ask her to step in. My question is, how can I accommodate my friend who’s pregnant, but also get the support I need on the day?” Our advice for this listener is to keep your best friend on board, and ask your other friend to join the wedding party. This might mean shouldering a few extra costs, but it'll be worth it to preserve your relationship with your best friend and guarantee you'll get the support that you need on the day.Something to do when you're not planning your wedding: In this episode, Claire's recommending the 1 Second Everyday App.Thanks for listening! Got something to add to the conversation? Shoot us a mail at hello@onefabday.com. We want the One Fab Day Wedding Podcast to make wedding planning easier and more enjoyable for you, our beloved listener, so if there's something you'd love to hear discussed on the show, or a question you'd like answered, please do drop us a line.If you loved the episode, don't forget to rate and review the podcast on iTunes. You should also make sure...