The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast

We all want our guests to have a good time at our wedding, to feel connected by our love story and like they really matter on the big day. But how do you actually make that happen? How do you get your guests involved in your wedding so they feel like part of it, rather than just witnesses to what's happening? How do you take them from a bored audience watching a show to engaged loved ones you actually get to spend time with? And how do you do it all without blowing your budget or adding a million things to your wedding to-do list?In this week's episode, I'm diving into what connecting with your wedding guests really means and how you can start designing a connective wedding from the early planning stages. I'll share tips for how to involve your guests in your pre-wedding events and your ceremony, then come back in the next episode with tips for the rest of your wedding day. 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/ANxD6B9M4xzoReZ77

REBROADCAST: I'm breaking down my actual wedding budget using the real numbers from my 2021 wedding! I'm sharing what I originally budgeted, how much I ended up spending, what I splurged on and where I saved, plus how my numbers measure up to what wedding media tells us we "should" be spending. Whether you're planning a low budget wedding or something more luxurious, hearing the real numbers always helps. I think you'll find lots of money saving and money savvy tips in this episode! 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/ANxD6B9M4xzoReZ77

If there's one wedding tradition I stand by, it's wedding thank you cards. Yes, they're an old school wedding tradition, but they're also a really thoughtful and polite way to thank your guests not only for their gifts, but for the time, effort and love they put into your wedding.In today's episode, I'm breaking down all of the wedding thank you card do's and don'ts. I'll tell you who gets a card, when to send them, what to do if someone didn't give you a gift and how to actually get all of your cards written on time in a (hopefully) fun way. Plus, I'll share a step-by-step template you can follow to write your own thank you cards! Have a wedding planning question or episode idea? Let me know what you want to hear! Fill out this quick form with your episode suggestions: https://forms.gle/ANxD6B9M4xzoReZ77

REBROADCAST: The wedding comparison game: A fun little game all engaged couples play when they compare their wedding to every wedding they attend or see on social media in the months leading up to their big day. Toxic thoughts include: "Why didn't we get the 3-foot high centerpieces? They look so good", "Thank god we went for the chicken instead of this awful fish" and "A sparkler exit? Now I want one!"Whether your wedding "wins" or "loses" when you compare, it doesn't feel great. You're inviting in toxic thoughts and it's an ugly place to be leading up to your own wedding. Stop comparing your wedding to everyone else's with the six tips in today's episode! 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/ANxD6B9M4xzoReZ77

If you're an organized person planning a reasonably small wedding, do you actually need a day-of coordinator? Is it worth adding another $1000-3000 to your wedding budget if you can do the job yourself? Or are DOCs actually worth the cost? Do they really save you time, stress and work? In today's episode, I'm breaking down what a day of coordinator does (and how that's different from a wedding planner or venue coordinator), sharing how they could save you and your loved ones stress and extra work, and discussing what to do if a DOC isn't in your budget. Plus, I'm getting into why I didn't hire a wedding coordinator for my own wedding (but maybe wish I had!). 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/ANxD6B9M4xzoReZ77

REBROADCAST: I'm back with 10 MORE wedding traditions you can skip. From parent/child dances to who pays for the wedding, this is a list of items that people are begging engaged folks to just retire already. I'll go through the list, give my take and hopefully give you something to think about. Do these traditions work for you? Will you be including them in your wedding?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/ANxD6B9M4xzoReZ77This is part 2 of last week's episode. If you missed last week's, be sure to head back and listen to it! Inspired by: https://www.buzzfeed.com/asiawmclain/people-are-confessing-wedding-traditions-they-hate