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 an absolutely magical night.
I wish all the same for you!
xo, Kara
PS: From your engagement ring to your wedding day, you can protect your most cherished memories with BriteCo. Visit brite.co/wedpod for a fast, free quote today and unlock peace of mind knowing that you're covered!
Affordable & beautiful Save the Date announcements and wedding invitations - how hard can that be??
Well, if you’ve spent 3 hours on a Saturday getting lost down the rabbit hole of 9 different wedding invitation websites, then you know that finding a practical solution that fits your style and your budget is much easier said than done.
Today I’m sharing a complete guide to wedding stationery, from Save the Dates to invitations. We'll even review all of those mysterious extras like fancy paper type, additional enclosures, wax seals, envelope liners, and more.
And if you’re on a budget and looking to keep your invites as minimal and affordable as possible, I’ve got some exclusive listener savings to share totaling over $300! See below for links & resources.
LINKS + SPECIAL OFFERS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S SHOW:
- 25% off Save the Date announcements >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted
- 830+ Wedding Invitations w/ matching website, Save the Dates, QR code & extras >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/invite
- $50 stationery credit to use towards your save the dates and / or invitations when you create a wedding website >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/website
- Redeem your FREE Wedding Invitation Sample Kit here
Setting a realistic wedding budget that works for you is one of the first steps you’ll take after getting engaged - and ideally before making any big wedding decisions.
So if you’re newly engaged (or maybe just need a wedding budget reset!), you’re in the right place.
To streamline the process, today's show is a step-by-step guide on exactly how to create a realistic wedding budget that gives you plenty of space for all the things that you value the most.
Let’s face it, a wedding planning experience without ANY financial stress is unlikely. Investing thousands of dollars in anything naturally comes along with doubts and anxiety.
But I’m here to break things down into manageable pieces, so that you can have a stress-free financial plan in the months ahead!
Complete blog post for today's show >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/wedding-budget
This week, I have an inbox full of your wedding flower questions to share!
I also put together a list of the top wedding flower mistakes that I see couples make, to further help guide you to "DIY wedding flower SUCCESS".
Today we're reviewing:
- How much should 5 relatively simple bouquets cost? I’m being quoted over $1200, which feels so ridiculous.
- Visiting a flower farm to pick stems w/ my bridal party - how early should we pick & arrange them so that they are still fresh?
- How much time should we allocate to making the bouquets & centerpieces in the day or two before the wedding?
- Downsides to ordering flowers online? Considering Costco but the prices seem too good to be true
- We definitely want to do flower bouquets for me & bridesmaid and a simple flower on the guys’ jacket, but do you have any ideas for creative centerpieces that are more affordable than flowers?
From your engagement ring to your wedding day, you can protect your most cherished memories with BriteCo. Visit brite.co/wedpod for a fast, free quote today and unlock peace of mind knowing that you're covered!
Additional resources mentioned in today's episode:
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
Wedding flowers are high on the list of things that couples rate "not very" to "not at all" important to them. So why spend thousands of dollars on elaborate, professional floral centerpieces and bouquets? There are so many simple, beautiful & affordable alternatives -
Today I have an 5-part formula for you to follow so that you can have beautiful, top quality flowers ... for an affordable price tag.
And the tips I’m sharing today don’t have to be just for your wedding - you can use the same guidelines for any event, including engagement party, bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, or any special event you’ll host between now & your wedding, and even beyond.
Tune in and explore exactly how you can maximize the QUALITY AND VALUE of your wedding flowers using 5 simple guidelines.
PS: From your engagement ring to your wedding day, you can protect your most cherished memories with BriteCo. Visit brite.co/wedpod for a fast, free quote today and unlock peace of mind knowing that you're covered!
RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S SHOW:
Bulk Florals & Arrangements from Costco
Find a flower warehouse / wholesaler near you! Simply search, "floral wholesaler near me"
In San Diego? Here's my favorite flower / decor wholesaler
Get ready for a fun show today! Here’s a road map of where we’re going:
I have a recap of my brother-in-law's 3/30/25 wedding in Rochester, MI. I'll share what was amazing, a detailed rundown of the venue / flow of events, how they took advantage of cost-saving opportunities, their solution to kids at the wedding, and lots more valueble takeaways!
I also have an inbox full of your questions on everything from:
- How to blend "nostalgic elements" into our wedding celebration?
- Responding to requests to invite more people (ew)
- Managing pre-wedding stress
- Proactively planning how to spend our time throughtout our wedding weekend
In the Detroit Metro area, and looking for an amazing venue? We LOVED it:
Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI
Be in touch with your wedding questions and / or show requests anytime by visiting weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact.
Talk soon!
PS: From your engagement ring to your wedding day, you can protect your most cherished memories with BriteCo. Visit brite.co/wedpod for a fast, free quote today and unlock peace of mind knowing that you're covered!
Creating your wedding reception seating chart can QUICKLY become one of wedding planning’s biggest pains.
Between crazy family members, divorces, step-parents, hook-up’s gone wrong, introverts, extroverts and lots of alcohol - your seating chart can quickly begin to feel like a jigsaw puzzle from hell.
This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re going to review some easy tips & tactics for designing your reception seating chart. Simple stuff that will ease the pain, and take this task from dreaded to done!
Resources & links from today’s show:
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Find helpful online seating chart tool recommendations here,
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Search “wedding seating chart” on Etsy for lots of custom options,
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Browse KVW custom place card holders here,
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And enjoy tons of creative seating chart ideas on this Pinterest board.
A special THANK YOU to this week's show sponsors:
From your engagement ring to your wedding day, you can protect your most cherished memories with BriteCo. Visit brite.co/wedpod for a fast, free quote today and unlock peace of mind knowing that you're covered!
Get answers to all of your wedding cake + dessert questions in today’s show!
From everything to researching bakeries, booking cake tastings, hidden fees to be aware of, unique dessert alternatives, and budget-friendly cost saving tips, we're covering it all in today's sugar-coated show.
Links mentioned in our convo:
- The complete blog post for today's show is linked here >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/cake
- TLC rounded up a group of experts to share the most popular wedding cake flavor combos for last year, and here’s a complete "sampling" of their list.
- CAKE TOPPERS on Etsy that are customizable, simple, and super affordable,
- Browse thousands of beautiful SUGAR FLOWER DECORATIONS from independent business owners on Etsy
- Best way to save the top layer for our one year anniversary? Here’s a link to a very simple "cake saver" from Amazon.
- 30 Delicious Alternatives to Traditional Wedding Cake
A special thank you to today's show sponsors:
Affiliate shopping links from Amazon & Etsy support the show at no additional cost to you - thank you for your clicks!
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.