In this bonus workshop, we'll explore exactly how to get started defining - and refining - your wedding vision. 

This is a valuable exercise that I would love for you & your partner to do separately, then come together to compare what each of you saw.

I don't expect that anyone will have all the answers the first time, or see every single last detail in crystal clear focus.  

The point isn't to get it "right" on the first try, but rather to begin to clear your mental slate and give your imagination the space to roam towards a wedding celebration that's perfect for the two of you.

This means clearing all negative beliefs, expectations, or wedding experiences you've had up to this point.  IT'S TIME FOR A FRESH START!

There's a PDF available for you to record your thoughts here >>> Your Wedding Vision.pdf

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

From nightmare meetings with wedding planners, to renting a mansion & our "DIY" heavy approach, in this bonus episode you'll hear the full details of my own wedding planning journey.

The couples who give up on the new approach to planning that we focus on here on the Wedding Planning Podcast will likely stay stuck exactly where I was in the story I'm sharing today, after meeting with the awful 3rd wedding planner.

They’ll do exactly what most couples do, and freak out over how much there is to do, how much things cost, and how complicated it feels to go off the beaten path …

They'll cave when someone is critical of a fun idea, and pull back when they feel judged for something that they did or didn't do. John and I faced skeptical, judge-y eyes too many times to count throughout our entire planning process - but that's another story, for another time.

And they’ll fall back to the status quo wedding planners, the big corporate websites, and the free checklists to plan a cookie cutter wedding for them, without ever even knowing the priceless opportunity that has slipped away.

The opportunity to design the wedding that YOU actually want, and to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your loved ones that leaves a lasting sense of love & connection for decades to come.

And to miss out on that, is quite simply, heartbreaking.

But here's the final, most important part of this very long email:

Unforgettable, life-changing weddings don't just "happen".

They don't just magically arise from the mountain of printouts and free checklists, and magazines, budget calculators and Pinterest boards and reels that you consume on loop.

And just having a wedding vision isn't enough, without continued support, encouragement, and ongoing direction.

So my wish for you is these three things:

• The patience to let your wedding vision fully unfold,

• The courage and confidence to trust in your vision, and let it guide all of your decisions, big & small,

• And the support and encouragement that I promise to bring each week to our time spent together.

Thank you so much for being here today, and thank you for inviting me to be a part of such a special time in your lives - it means the world to me.  

Cheers,
Kara

Here inside the Engagement Starter Kit, you'll find everything you need to plan a simple, meaningful, and affordable wedding.   

The four episodes released this week - that's just the beginning!  Coming up next week (available now to Apple Premium Subscribers), you'll enjoy four more "Engagement Starter Kit" Bonus Resources, carefully crafted to help you going forward:

• Bonus Workshop: Clarifying Your Wedding Vision
• A detailed version of my engagement story, including ALL the ups & downs we experienced,
• An "Ultimate Engagement Checklist" with 10 steps to getting started with your plans
• And an audio version of 40 uplifting wedding affirmations / mantras for when things get stressful + overwhelming!

And don't forget, there are over 50 free episodes of the Wedding Planning Podcast available to you anytime, anywhere your busy life takes you.  Simply visit your favorite podcast player, and be sure to follow the WPP for a new episode every Wednesday.

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

Thank you for being here, and thank you for your support of the Wedding Planning Podcast.  It's a huge honor to be a part of such a special time in your lives, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to help shape your dream wedding!

Cheers,
xo Kara

You’re a couple who values informed choices, intentional decisions, and ACTIONS that are in complete alignment with who you are and what you value most.

And at this point in the Engagement Starter Kit series, you know the importance of a well-defined wedding vision that honors your personal priorities and values.  

But how do you tie it all together within a carefully designed wedding planning strategy when it comes down to actually making important wedding decisions like hiring vendors, choosing entertainment, and selecting your guests?

In this episode, uncover how to:

• CONFIDENTLY MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS about all of your wedding elements, big & small.  Whether it's choosing something as big as your venue, or as small as guest favors, this new way of planning will guide you step-by-step to trust your intuition as you select the best options for YOU.

• SEE ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS CLEARLY when you adopt a "behind-the-scenes" point of view that shows you the inner workings of wedding product & service pricing, contracts, timelines, and more.

• USE THE 3 KEYS TO TAKE ACTION that is always in complete alignment with who YOU are, and what YOU value.  And yes, that includes saying NO to anything that doesn't align with your vision & priorities!

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

There's a very powerful shift that happens when your engagement season AND your wedding celebration centers around your values & priorities … and nothing else.  

Welcome to Part Two of the Engagement Starter Kit Bonus Series from the Wedding Planning Podcast!

In this episode, discover exactly how to:

• CREATE A VIVID, SHARED VISION of your wedding celebration.

• INTENTIONALLY DISCUSS YOUR VALUES + PRIORITIES with your partner.

• TRANSLATE YOUR VALUES INTO ACTION for every single strategical decision you make throughout your engagement.

• PRIORITIZE CONNECTION AND SHARED EXPERIENCE over the never ending list of "stuff" that you find on traditional wedding checklists.

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

Welcome to Part One of the Engagement Starter Kit Bonus Series from the Wedding Planning Podcast!

There are 3 KEYS to a stress-free, joyful wedding planning experience ... 

... and you won't find them anywhere on Google, TikTok, or Pinterest.

The first key?  DEFINING A CLEAR WEDDING VISION.

Embracing a positive and empowering wedding mindset can magically free you from the endless cycle of stress, overwhelm & expense that so many couples are trapped in.  

In this episode, explore exactly how to:

• IDENTIFY YOUR TOP WEDDING PRIORITIES, and commit to standing up for them.

• CONFIDENTLY MAKE WEDDING DECISIONS that reflect only the things you value most.

• TUNE OUT THE NOISY WEDDING INDUSTRY that's always buzzing in the background, clamoring for your time, attention, and money.

• SIMPLIFY EVERY SINGLE WEDDING DECISION YOU MAKE with an unbelievably simple formula.

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

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/

A very special thank you to today's show sponsors:

• Enjoy early access to ad-free episodes each week when you subscribe to WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST PREMIUM in Apple Podcasts.  

• Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, tune in for my thoughts on some high-stakes wedding planning situations, including:

• Addressing communication issues with your fiance and fostering a spirit of compromise,
• Pro's & con's of a blank space venue with more versus less "do it yourself" requirements,
• Competing visions for stocking our bar,
• Ideal timing for our ceremony,
• We're having trouble conceptualizing our venue layout / floor plan ... what's the best way to approach setting up our tables & dance floor?

Submit your wedding questions anytime by visiting our website >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact

Book a 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy Call to get all of your questions answered AND a written recap of actionable next-steps - in just 30 minutes!  

PS - A special THANK YOU to this week's show sponsors, who made this free weekly episode possible:

• Enjoy early access to ad-free episodes each week when you subscribe to WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST PREMIUM in Apple Podcasts.
• Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking.

Get ready for a jam-packed Wedding Q&A show, full of your planning questions & concerns!  Here's a sampling of what's on the menu this week:

• How much alcohol to buy? >>> click here for one of my favorite hosting tools ever (and tune in to my full answer for lots more helpful tips on the topic!)
• What can we expect for the price of flowers?
• Who pays for the bridal shower, & should I offer to help? >>> click here for blog post "Practical Bridal Shower Gift Ideas"
• Fiance doesn't want any wedding party at all, but I do.  How to proceed?
• Rehearsal dinner options are way too expensive.  Advice on making it more affordable?
• Should we hire a babysitter for our reception?
• Do we have to seat wedding party members with their dates?

SUBMIT YOUR WEDDING QUESTIONS HERE.

YES, it's totally annonymous, YES I really want to hear from you, and no - I won't use your name or voice on the show!

Thanks for being here, and we'll meet again next week!

Cheers,
Kara

PS - An EXTRA special thank you for supporting today's show sponsors!

It's time to forget overpriced, unhealthy, and time-consuming takeout!  Head to factormeals.com/wedding50 and use code wedding50 to get 50% off your first box and 2 free wellness shots per box while subscription is active.

Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

On the fence about hiring a WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER?  You’re certainly not alone.

In my experience, videography is probably the number one item that engaged couples are undecided about.  It’s no doubt a big investment, and a huge topic to unpack - so today I have an expert special guest to help us do just that.

Today we're joined by Ken Foster, who is a lead shooter for Shutter and Sound.  

Shutter and Sound is a very small group of filmmakers dedicated to turning your big day into a work of art.  They help you relive the tremble in your partner's voice, the joyous applause, or that unexpected dance move during the reception. It's all there, woven into a high-end film that's uniquely yours.

Tune in to the full show for an Ultimate Guide to Wedding Videography, and learn why 98% of married couples recommend having a video of your wedding day:

• We're on the fence - how to decide if we should hire a videographer
• How I hired a videographer for my own wedding (at the 11th hour!)
• Benefits of videography vs. still photography
• Budgeting, packages, and pricing
• Research tips for finding the perfect videographer
• Wedding videography package options
• Biggest mistakes & complaints couples have about videography
• How to prepare for being in front of the camera
• The MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO on your wedding day
• Budgeting intentionally and honoring your personal priorities as you plan

And for those wondering about locations: Shutter & Sound has 14 major U.S. cities covered, including spots like Boston, New York, L.A. and D.C. Plus, they're all about adventure, and are more than willing to travel for your big day.

Simply visit shutterandsound.com, explore their beautiful website including detailed pricing information and sample videos, and be in touch via email with the “Contact Us” link.  

Cheers to you & a beautiful wedding celebration!

There’s a really common misunderstanding in "wedding planning world" that doing things yourself is always a good way to save money. 

I get it - in some situations, you might have more time than money, and a cheap & easy DIY project makes perfect sense. 

I bet if you think back, you can remember a time when "doing it yourself" was NOT the answer.  We have to be careful in drawing the line between a few manageable, simple wedding projects that make perfect sense, and biting off more than you can chew. 

Otherwise, you risk finding yourself in a spot of pure overwhelm and chaos months into wedding planning, and I don't wish that upon anyone!

On today’s show, we’re going to explore 8 important considerations and red flags to carefully consider when hosting your wedding at a residential property like a backyard or a rental home. 

Our conversation today is a perfect lesson in creating boundaries as you plan between what you can realistically handle yourself, what should be left to a paid professional, and how to rearrange your priorities if you're stuck feeling like the cheapest possible DIY route is your only option.  (spoiler alert - it's not!!!)

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

• There are just 6 easy steps to planning an unforgettable wedding weekend experience.  Access the proven formula when you visit weddingweekend.co.
• Check out beautiful wedding bands from our friends at brilliantearth.com.
• Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Today's BONUS WEDDING Q&A show is designed to show you exactly how to have all the wedding things that are most important to you, regardless of how much money you actually have in the bank. 

Sounds pretty amazing, right???

Let's face it, you’re overwhelmed & struggling with your wedding budget if any one, two, or maybe even three of these sound familiar:

• If you get a pit in your stomach even thinking about your wedding budget (let alone talking about it).   
• If you’re constantly worried about how much everything is going to cost, and looking for ways to save as much money as possible - or, even worse, you’re sweeping the whole money convo under the rug, trying not to even think about it.
• You’re wondering how on earth your wedding can live up to the pictures we’re bombarded with on social media and big wedding websites.
• And if you’re drinking wine with your dog or your cat and in total despair because everything is way more expensive than you ever imagined it would be ...

... then you my friend are a walking case of budget stress and overwhelm, and we can’t have you going through life these next few months shouldering all of that!

This level of anxiety not only creates toxic stress in your daily life that’s bad for your physical health, but it’s also going to suck the fun out of your engagement - and it doesn’t have to be that way.  

Yes, weddings cost money, but by ignoring your financial situation you’re setting yourselves up to be that couple a year from now who went waaaayyyy over budget, who had to use wedding gift money to pay off credit cards, and who - although they might not admit it to anyone out loud - looks back and realizes that in hindsight, there’s a whole laundry list of things that were completely unnecessary.  (I have a story about this to share, coming up in one of our questions for today.)

Living in a place of overwhelm and judging yourself & your wedding decisions against staged photos and strangers on the internet isn’t serving anyone.

There are some very powerful shifts that I can offer to lift you up to a place where you confront your wedding budget head on - that’s the convo we had last week on Wednesday, in our Wedding Budget Workshop.  You have the hard conversations, you’ve seen in black and white how much money you’re working with, you commit to your priorities, and then it’s DONE.  

And that’s the point where you can move on to a more joyful place where choosing a photographer and a venue and a dress is FUN because you’re not constantly worried about how much it’s gonna cost.  You KNOW you have enough money to cover your top priorities, it doesn’t matter if it’s going to look like the wedding you saw on tik tok this morning.  

This is where you can confidently invest in your priorities, tune out and say NO to the stuff that’s not important to you, and you’re not even gonna recognize that girl who was alone and crying with her dog because everything is just too expensive and too overwhelming.

It’s time for a NEW WAY to create your dream wedding celebration, where YOU, your values, and your priorities are at the center of every single decision you make from now until your wedding day, & beyond.

So let’s say goodbye to unrealistic, staged images on Pinterest of weddings in the forest that cost $32,000 - in decorations alone. 

It’s time to tune out overhyped social media accounts that are pushing the $72 billion dollar wedding industry’s agenda.  

Here on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we say NO to the wedding industry’s priorities, and we say yes to a more fulfilled engagement season that starts with YOU.  

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS!

What's on your mind?  Get your specific questions answered when you sign up for a FREE 3-DAY TRIAL of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package, The VAULT.  Details at www.wedpodcast.com

FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES

Redeem at allnew.wedding

There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ...

... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline.

In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples.

SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding

This week's episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast is a collection of wedding questions & situations submitted by members of my digital wedding planning package​, The VAULT.​

Membership includes the priceless benefit of submitting your wedding questions for feature on these monthly "Ask Me Anything" shows, and this week we're discussing in detail:

Monthly membership to The VAULT also includes a weekly bonus “off the record” chat where we can connect behind-the-scenes, and go deeper into select wedding topics covered in the free weekly shows.

Enjoy TWO featured OFF THE RECORD bonus shows when you sign up for a free 3-day trial​ of The VAULT.

There are zero contracts, no pre-payments or obligation, and you're free to cancel anytime ... although I certainly hope you'll recognize the value in this revolutionary, ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding, and that we can continue the journey together!

Cheers to you & your dream wedding celebration,

Kara

PS - Thank you for supporting today's show sponsors:

Take advantage of FREE honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book!  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started.

Check these guys out at Generation Tux and use promo code within today's episode for 10% off the entire groom’s party AND a free groom's tux w/ 5 paid party members. 

This week's episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast is a collection of wedding questions & situations submitted by members of my digital wedding planning package​, The VAULT.​

Membership includes the priceless benefit of submitting your wedding questions for feature on these monthly Q&A shows, and this week we're discussing in detail:

Monthly membership to The VAULT also includes a weekly bonus “off the record” chat where we can connect behind-the-scenes, and go deeper into select wedding topics covered in the free weekly shows.

Enjoy TWO featured OFF THE RECORD bonus shows when you sign up for a free 3-day trial​ of The VAULT.

There are zero contracts, no pre-payments or obligation, and you're free to cancel anytime ... although I certainly hope you'll recognize the value in this revolutionary, ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding, and that we can continue the journey together!

Cheers to you & your dream wedding celebration,

Kara

This week's episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast is a collection of wedding questions & situations submitted by members of my digital wedding planning package​, The VAULT.​

Membership includes the priceless benefit of submitting your wedding questions for feature on these monthly Q&A shows, and this week we're discussing in detail:

Monthly membership to The VAULT also includes a weekly bonus “off the record” chat where we can connect behind-the-scenes, and go deeper into select wedding topics covered in the free weekly shows.

The latest TWO featured OFF THE RECORD bonus shows are available to you for a sneak peek when you sign up for a free 3-day trial​ of The VAULT.

There are zero contracts, no pre-payments or obligation, and you're free to cancel anytime ... although I certainly hope you'll recognize the value in this revolutionary, ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding, and that we can continue the journey together!

Cheers to you & your dream wedding celebration,

Kara

PS - Thank you for supporting this week's show sponsors:

Is your happiness suffering in these insanely stressful times?  Connect with your Better Help professional counselor today and save 10% off your first month.

Take advantage of FREE honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book!  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started.