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Wedding Planning Podcast

Get ready to experience an all new way to thrive throughout your engagement by embracing who you are, prioritizing what you value, and ultimately designing an unforgettable wedding celebration of your dreams! Welcome to the WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST, where we say “YES” to a more joyful engagement season where your mindset, values & wedding strategy are all in perfect alignment with YOU. Ready to get started?
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Now displaying: 2022
Dec 28, 2022

Lucky for us, there are literally endless creative ways to treat your guests to a unique food & drink experience on your wedding day. 

In today’s BONUS WORKSHOP, we’re going to explore exactly how to:

  • Conceptualize & research what to serve,
  • Smart money-saving tips that many couples miss,
  • And even some "do it yourself" options if you’re looking to get hands on - literally!

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

  • FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.
  • 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!
  • Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy
Dec 21, 2022

Shopping for your wedding dress can come with lots of mixed emotions - both good AND not-so-good - and that’s 100% normal.  It’s OK to go into wedding dress shopping feeling some confusion and doubt! 

In pop wedding culture, saying “YES TO THE DRESS” is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone full of princess moments, fancy dress boutiques, and champagne.

In REALITY, dress shopping might come along with feelings of ...

  • self-consciousness,
  • pressing overwhelm,
  • conflicting thoughts about who should come along,
  • discomfort over being the center of attention,
  • feeling lost in a totally uncomfortable situation,

... just to name a few.

In the first half of today's show, we run through some quick guidelines that will help demystify the wedding dress shopping process, and put you in full control of the way your experience unfolds.

In the second half of the show, we're heading inside David's Bridal to try on dresses.  You'll hear live snippets of conversation on the pro's, the con's, the do's and the don'ts of finding your dream wedding dress.  

You can find a full recap of today’s show in a blog post that’s at www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/dress.

 

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

  • FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.
  • 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!

  • Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy

 

Dec 14, 2022

You’ve done months (maybe even YEARS) of wedding planning & preparation, and the big day is finally almost here!

Last stop?  Rehearsal dinner.

This week we’re reviewing everything you need to know for planning & hosting this extra special night with your family & friends.

We cover everything from the ceremony rehearsal itself to practical tips for hosting your loved ones afterwards.

DETAILED BLOG POST HERE --> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/rehearsal

Naturally, I have a ton of creative alternatives to taking 50 of your closest friends & family out to eat at a nice restaurant ($$$).  Beyond just saving money, we’ll also cover:

  • When to start planning (hint - it might be earlier than you think!)
  • Personality-packed options for location and food selection
  • Tips for keeping the night on pace and organized
  • And meaningful touches that will be remembered beyond the wedding day.

This topic is so dear to me - I remember our rehearsal dinner as one of the most special nights of my life.  We grilled chicken, steak & veggies with our friends & family on the property where we got married, had all the fave drinks flowing, and a curated list of our favorite songs turned way up.  We laughed, talked & celebrated long past sunset, and it was a magical night. 

I wish all the same for you!

xo, Kara

PS - A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

  • Design the perfect cheese board, every single time!  Go to cheeselovershop.com and use code wedding to get a FREE mystery cheese at checkout.
  • Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances. Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership

  • 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!
Dec 7, 2022

Today we’re exploring the TOP MISTAKES that couples make as they start to formulate options for wedding flowers, including centerpieces, bouquets & boutonnieres, garlands & ceremony decor.

ADDITIONAL LINKS & RESOURCES mentioned in today's show:

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

  • Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances. Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership
  • I'm going to Cancun for Christmas this year, and I have Susan's Travel Services to thank for managing ALL of the research, booking & details of our trip!  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.
  • Enjoy a FREE SUIT OR TUXEDO RENTAL for the wedding couple with 5 paid wedding party members at www.generationtux.com

 

Nov 23, 2022

The pressure + hype behind discovering your dream WEDDING VENUE is very real.  In my professional opinion, your wedding venue is the most important strategic decision you'll make in the entire wedding planning process.  Why is your venue such a big deal? 

Multiple other wedding decisions are interdependent on the venue you choose.  Once you solidify the WHERE, your complete wedding day vision can really start to unfold. 

Complicating the process, wedding venues literally come in all sizes, prices, and styles.  The possibilities are endless, so it’s key that we go into the research process with a handful of streamlined search filters to dodge being overwhelmed with all the options.

In this workshop-style meeting, we'll review SIX important things to consider as you start shopping around for the perfect venue to host your wedding celebration.

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

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy

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!

Minted Weddings features beautiful one-of-a-kind stationary designs by independent artists, not to mention top-notch quality & service.  This is why I order our family holiday cards from them every single year!  Request a FREE Save The Date or Wedding Invitation Sample Kit when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted.

Nov 9, 2022

Would you volunteer to host Thanksgiving for 40 people and then rush out to the store with no menu planned & no shopping list?

No way! 

You’d sit down and plan out a menu of app's & drinks, look up some recipes, and then make a detailed list of exactly what you need to buy.

So why on earth would you head out to a WEDDING FAIR / BRIDAL EXPO with absolutely no plan, and just "see what happens"?

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast we’re going to take inventory of your priorities, and make a list of your top goals for your day spent at the wedding fair. 

This way you can MAXIMIZE your time spent with vendors and gathering inspiration, and minimize the stress & overwhelm factor of wandering through hundreds of booths full of noisy commotion. 

After our time together today, when the 15th DJ asks you if you want to dance, and the 22nd wedding planner asks you to spin their "wheel o' fun" ...

... you can confidently smile, say no thanks, and keep walking. 

To submit questions for an upcoming show, simply visit our website and leave me a voicemail! 

Due to the sheer volume of your love and support, we regretfully cannot personally reply to each submission ... you'll receive a reply via email if your submission is queued for an upcoming episode.

Today's show is just the beginning of dozens of strategic recorded meetings that walk you through exactly how to identify your top priorities & plan your dream wedding!  Learn more and sign up for a totally free 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package by visiting www.wedpodcast.com

Cheers to you!

Kara

A special thank you to today's show sponsors for making this episode possible:

Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy

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!

Minted Weddings features beautiful one-of-a-kind stationary designs by independent artists, not to mention top-notch quality & service.  This is why I order our family holiday cards from them every single year!  Request a FREE Save The Date or Wedding Invitation Sample Kit when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted.

Nov 2, 2022

There are countless UNIQUE ways to celebrate your wedding / bridal shower (that don't involve sitting around and playing awkward games with your female friends & relatives!). 

In this week's episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're giving the "traditional" wedding shower some much-needed updates.  Listen in for creative + modern twists that you're sure to fall in love with.

In many cases you don’t plan your own shower, so please feel free to forward this episode along to anyone who's helping you with your wedding plans!

For a complete written version of today's show, visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/podcast

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances. Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership

Enjoy a FREE SUIT OR TUXEDO RENTAL for the wedding couple with 5 paid wedding party members at www.generationtux.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 booking!

ON-DEMAND wedding planning services anytime, anywhere?  Yes, please!  To sign up for what one VAULT members calls “a breath of fresh air in the wedding industry” simply visit www.wedpodcast.com

Oct 26, 2022

Need a little help decoding the complex, often frustrating process of creating your wedding GUEST LIST?  Finalizing who will actually receive a wedding invitation is a process that will likely take some time, revisions, cuts, and LOTS of patience.

In this week's featured wedding planning meeting, we’re uncovering the KEY CHECKPOINTS to crafting a guest list that honors your wedding vision & budget, and reflects your top priorities.

Once your general wedding budget and a venue are decided on, compiling a finalized guest list is the next key step in the early stages of planning out your wedding celebration.

Family & friends are the centerpiece of our lives, and naturally you'll want to include your closest loved ones in this very special celebration.

That's the easy part ...

Planning your wedding involves a ton of strategic research & decision-making, yes - that’s the stuff you can look up on Google.  How to book a wedding photographer.  Cheap wedding invitations.  Top wedding venues in my area.   

But there’s an entirely separate dimension of your engagement & wedding planning journey, that you’ll hear me call “the all new way to plan your wedding” - and that’s all stuff that you can’t google. 

No internet search engine in the world knows your priorities, your personal values, or can spit out a truly personalized road map to the wedding that YOU WANT by typing a few words into a box.  You can’t google “how do I confidently sail through my engagement on-budget, stress-free, and loving the process?”  

Computers can do a lot, but they can’t replace the priceless value of human connection and introspection … that’s what I’m here for, and that's the deeper work that I can help coach you & your fiance through. 

Thousands of engaged couples ARE confidently sailing through their engagement on-budget, stress-free, and loving the process, and you can do it to inside my digital wedding planning package.  If you’re curious to know more, head to wedpodcast.com to learn more.

I hope you love today’s workshop on crafting your wedding guest list!  

ASK ME ANYTHING ...

Submit your wedding budget questions for this week's bonus "Ask Me Anything" >>> send a DM on Intsagram to @weddingplanningpodcast

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

Oct 19, 2022

"The more care & intention you put into your wedding plans throughout your engagement, the richer your wedding celebration & life beyond will be."

Should you hire a WEDDING PLANNER / Day of Coodinator? 

In today's workshop-style meeting, we’re going to review a list of critical guidelines to keep in mind as you tackle this very important part of your engagement journey.

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.  

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

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!

Oct 12, 2022

Today's workshop-style meeting is designed to magically make possible all the wedding things that are most important to you, regardless of how much money you have in the budget. 

Sounds amazing, right???  This is not your average wedding budget conversation.  There are no percentage breakdowns on how much you "should" spend on what, no "average cost" conversations, and absolutely no judgement if you want to spend $500 on your wedding, and $10,000 on your honeymoon.  

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.  

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

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!

Oct 5, 2022

The theme of this week's show is COMPOROMISE.

We're exploring the importance of being on the same page with respect to finances, how you spend your free time, and of course, the ability to COMPROMISE - whether it's about your honeymoon or your wedding guest list.  Tune in for so much more!

Thank you again to everyone who was in touch with the show these past couple of weeks!

I’m pushing hard for new stories from you about your engagement, wedding planning milestones, questions, anxieties, and anything else you’d like to share. 

I’d love to feature your voice on the podcast, so please get in touch with your stories and questions by heading to weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact

I can’t wait to hear from you!

Take advantage of expert 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.

Sep 28, 2022

RE: wedding flowers, if you’re feeling ...

  • Sticker shock from that $2500 florist quote,
  • Having anxiety thinking about taking the DIY route,
  • Or maybe even starting to wonder if flowers are actually necessary at all …

Not to worry - you’ve got options when it comes to your wedding flowers, and we’re going to explore them all in this episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast!

This show is a very general overview, and you can find so much more on wedding flowers & decor inside my digital planning package, The VAULT.  Sign up for a free 3-day trial, and experience what one couple calls "a breath of fresh air in the wedding industry".  >>> wedpodcast.com.

Submit show topic requests here,

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!

Sep 21, 2022

"We Ditched the Traditions & Made Our Wedding Truly Personal" - Emma, February 2022 Bride

This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, meet special guest Emma (& Drew) who’s here to share the highlights, unique elements, and planning challenges from their beautiful wedding celebration at Hilton Lake Las Vegas in February 2022.  

In this special episode, you'll hear lots more from Emma on:

  • The pros of having NO wedding party
  • Celebrating over a 3-day weekend in their hometown
  • The endless benefits of a very chill wedding day / intentionally left lots of open time & space to relax
  • Their "First Look" - and favorite part of the day!
  • “Last Dance” w/ just the two of us after the room has been cleared
  • Mini after-party at hotel lobby bar,
  • Keeping it early & chill - wrapped everything up by 9:30 pm
  • The challenges of setting a wedding budget and knowing where the starting point is
  • Trying on 50+ dresses before finding “The One”
  • And so much more!

For a complete written recap and to see their absolutely gorgeous wedding photos, here's a complete article that features Emma and Drew’s incredible wedding celebration.

And to wrap up this week, I would LOVE to hear from you!  Whether it’s about a planning challenge or question you’re facing, a post-wedding day recap that you’d like to share, or simply requests for upcoming show topics, you can send in a voicemail to the show by visiting weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact

In your message, please be sure to leave your name and email address so we can reach you for follow up.  I would love to share more stories like Emma’s, but I need your participation, so please make it a priority to be in touch!

A special thank you to this week's show sponsors:

  • 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's show is just the beginning of dozens of strategic recorded meetings that walk you through an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding.  Sign up for a totally free 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package by visiting www.wedpodcast.com
Jan 16, 2022

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

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