Wedding Planning Podcast

STREAMLINE + SIMPLIFY has been a tagline for the WPP literally since I created the show way back in 2015. (Look closely, it's even on our old logo!) Not only are these two of my favorite words in the English language - that I try and live by in ALL aspects of my life - more specifically, they perfectly summarize my approach to wedding planning. Every situation you’ll encounter throughout your engagement can be examined through the lens of simplicity and potentially scaled back or streamlined in some way that will make your life easier, more affordable, more relaxing, and overall, more enjoyable. Often we find ourselves in the midst of a planning roadblock and the first instinct is to explore your options. In the first example we’re going to talk about today - a couple who has family in 2 different places, many of whom don’t want to travel, you might consider … getting married in each place, what would that look like? Getting married where we live? Getting married on an island with just us? In all the feelings and family dynamics and charged emotions that fly around throughout your engagement season, it’s sometimes easy to get lost in a million far-fetched options ... when the simplest, most streamlined option is left by the wayside. On that note, today we’re going to explore some common wedding planning scenarios where things can escalate and become verrrrrrrrrry complicated, very quickly. I’m going to do my best to point out some straightforward, simple solutions that I hope will make your engaged life EASIER, MORE AFFORDABLE, and put a stop to waking up in the middle of the night with your mind racing over how many passed appetizers there should be, how many people should be in your wedding party, and how much ice to buy for your welcome party. Ready to get started? Tune into the full show for so much more! Thank you for supporting this week's show sponsor, Susan's Travel Services! susan@susanstravelservices.com

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: Find helpful online seating chart tool recommendations here, Search “wedding seating chart” on Etsy for lots of custom options, “Do It Yourself” seating chart signs here, Browse KVW custom place card holders here, And enjoy tons of creative seating chart ideas on this Pinterest board. 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!

Today we're doing a detailed review of critical LAST MINUTE wedding details that you’ll want to stay on top of in the 1-2 weeks leading up to your wedding day. Even if your wedding is still months away, this show is perfect for you to proactively make notes about some of the things you can anticipate in those final weeks before the big day! A detailed blog post / show recap of everything we reviewed can be found here. Links to the Pinterest boards mentioned in today’s show: Wedding Planning Podcast Checklists A huge thank you to today’s show sponsors! If you’re newly engaged and wondering where to even begin with with your wedding plans, then you’ll definitely want to grab a FREE Wedding Planning Podcast Engagement Starter Kit. I’ve packaged up a 4-part bonus audio series that reveals 3 essential keys to a stress-free and FUN wedding planning experience. Better yet, you’ll have instant access to EIGHT additional bonus planning resources, each carefully designed to make your engagement season full of joy, and free from overwhelm. This is a completely FREE gift from me to you, and I hope you love it! 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!

Save yourself piles of unwanted stress when you proactively anticipate these 8 wedding planning "blind spots"! Over the past 8 years of producing the Wedding Planning Podcast, one of my favorite pieces of feedback from you is some variation of, “WOW, we never would have even thought of that!” I love sharing wedding planning ideas and strategies that go beyond what you might find if you simply google something, or browse through a quick article on a wedding website. Don’t get me wrong, we cover the basics here too - but I LOVE digging down deeper to find the solutions and options that aren’t quite so obvious, and that might offer a really creative way to put a unique spin on your day, make your guests’ experience that much more incredible, or save you a ton of money by simply making a little adjustment or swap. Today we’re going to cover EIGHT wedding planning “blind spots” - areas that past couples and listeners of the podcast have pointed out as things they wouldn’t necessarily have thought about during their planning, but that became clear after listening to an episode, or in some cases, after their actual wedding was over and done with (and it was too late …) If you’re in the early stages of planning, hopefully we can catch a few things now, so that you don’t find yourself a year or two from now saying, "if only we knew then what we know now!" I know you have literally millions of options in terms of wedding websites, blogs, magazines, and other podcasts, and I thank you from my whole heart for spending this time with me, and for including me in your wedding planning journey. It’s a huge honor, and a huge responsibility that I hold with endless respect and gratitude, thank you. I’ll meet you here again next week, same time, same place! Cheers, xo Kara 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!

Creating a simple, info-packed WEDDING WEBSITE is the easiest, most hassle free way to easily share information with your wedding guests. Join me today for a detailed wedding planning workshop on exactly how to create an amazing wedding website - zero technical skills required! To get started, choose your wedding website design from an incredible community of independent artists & designers when you visit Minted Weddings. FREE Minted wedding websites include all the tools you need to get started, and you’ll even receive a $50 credit towards your wedding stationery when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/website. In today's show, we're covering what to include on your website, what not to include, and lots of priceless details on how to leverage this incredible tool to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER over the coming months. I also have a really fun & interactive extension of your website that will make connecting with your guests a breeze between now & wedding day. Even if you’ve already got a wedding website up & running, I hope you’ll stick around for today’s conversation - I have lots of important website elements to share that many couples miss, and I want you to be able to leverage your wedding website to your FULL ADVANTAGE over the next few months ... making your life easier, and of course, your guests’ lives easier as well! A quick outline of what we're going to cover in today's meeting: Home Page Events Travel & Accommodations FAQ Page Your Story Wedding Party RSVP Details Links to your registry & don't miss my BONUS TIP for keeping in close contact with your wedding guests throughout the coming months via a private Facebook Group! Here's a link that explains exactly how to set one up. PS - A special thank you to today's show sponsor, Susan's Travel Services! 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!

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 BONUSES! Get a FREE Wedding Planning Journal from our friends at Minted when you click here Redeem your FREE Wedding Invitation Sample Kit here And of course, an extra special thank you to Susan's Travel Services: 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, 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: too good to be true Additional resources mentioned in today's episode: Wedding Flowers by SeasonWholesale Flowers from COSTCOWholesale Flowers from FIFTY FLOWERSCreative Centerpieces, show dated July 2023(I said "June" in the show, my apologies!) A special THANK YOU to Susan's Travel Services for making today's episode possible! susan@susanstravelservices.com

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. RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S SHOW: Bulk Florals & Arrangements from Costco Wedding Flowers by Season Find a flower warehouse / wholesaler near you! Simply search, "floral wholesaler near me" In San Diego? Here's my favorite flower / decor wholesaler A special thank you to Susan's Travel Services for making today's episode possible! 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!

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're joined by Susan from Susan's Travel Services to talk about the endless benefits and of hosting a Destination Wedding. Tune in for the full scoop on this ever-popular wedding hosting trend, including: The huge TIME, STRESS & MONEY-saving opportunities that this wedding format presents, The importance of having a TRUSTED ADVOCATE when planning such a high-stakes, international event, INSIDER INFO you simply must know about your overall planning timeline, finding vendors, and making your guest list, "too good to be true"And so much more! Susan has personally helped me plan TWO unforgettable vacations, and I can guarantee there will be many more! Her genuine love of travel and new experiences - and wanting to SHARE that with her clients - is evident in every single step of working with her & her team. For a FREE viritual consultation with Susan, visit her calendar linked here. And don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast during your initial consultation for $200 off your destination wedding booking, or $50 off your honeymoon. Cheers to you & the trip of a lifetime! A note from Susan: I am so excited to work with you and talk about a Destination Wedding! With over 28 years in the business and over 350 destination weddings planned, I have lots of insight and experience. It's a huge love for me! Some things to know before we meet: Where are you thinking on getting married? When are you thinking on getting married? Will there be kids at your wedding (under 18)? What do you think your wedding budget is? We will talk all about this, but just to get things started! Thank you again! Susan

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: 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 - A special thank you to today's show sponsors: If you’re newly engaged and wondering where to even begin with with your wedding plans, then you’ll definitely want to grab a FREE Wedding Planning Podcast Engagement Starter Kit. I’ve packaged up a 4-part bonus audio series that reveals 3 essential keys to a stress-free and FUN wedding planning experience. Better yet, you’ll have instant access to EIGHT additional bonus planning resources, each carefully designed to make your engagement season full of joy, and free from overwhelm. completely FREE gift from me to you 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! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists? Yes please! Get started building your wedding website today with www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted and take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.

Tune in for answers to your wedding questions in a brand new episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast: >>> As always, you can submit your wedding questions here, or send me an email: k a r a {at} weddingplanningpodcast.co >>> Keep in touch on Instagram! Follow @weddingplanningpodcast If you’re newly engaged and wondering where to even begin with with your wedding plans, then you’ll definitely want to grab a FREE Wedding Planning Podcast Engagement Starter Kit. I’ve packaged up a 4-part bonus audio series that reveals 3 essential keys to a stress-free and FUN wedding planning experience. Better yet, you’ll have instant access to EIGHT additional bonus planning resources, each carefully designed to make your engagement season full of joy, and free from overwhelm. This is a completely FREE gift from me to you, and I hope you love it! 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!

Believe it or not, there is a specific formula to experiencing a streamlined, stress-free wedding planning journey - and it has just 3 KEY INGREDIENTS. Today in Part One of the Wedding Planning Podcast Engagement Starter Kit, you’re going to discover the FIRST KEY to streamlined, stress-free wedding planning. And what we’re talking about today can still apply to you ... even if you’ve been engaged for months (or years!), you've already started booking stuff, or maybe even finalized most of the big decisions. It’s never too late for a heart-to-heart refresh + refocus on the core reasons why you’re planning this wedding in the first place! FREE GIFT TIME! >>> I have ALL four parts of this magical series packaged up and ready for you to binge listen to after today’s show, along with lots of additional bonus resources and free gifts. To access the full Engagement Starter Kit planning package right now, for FREE, simply CLICK HERE, Or visit wedpodcast.com when you have a hands-free moment. Yes signing up requires your email address, no I will not spam email you a hundred times a week, and no it does NOT require a credit card or any payment whatsoever. Enjoy! xo Kara PS - Thank you for supporting this week's show sponsor, Susan's Travel Services. 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!

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. FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists? Yes please! Get started building your FREE wedding website today when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted & 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 honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Today we’re going to chat about a handful of ways when trying to "save" money on your wedding can totally BACKFIRE. Aside of college educations, new homes and new cars, your wedding likely has one of the biggest price tags you’ve ever paid. You’re spending tens of thousands of dollars - of course you’re trying to save money when possible! FULL BLOG POST HERE >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/wedding-pitfall In today's show, let’s explore some common areas of wedding planning where couples to try to cut a corner, save some money, leave something out, and then sadly have it backfire in terms of lost money, lost time, lost sanity - and sometimes all three. If you find yourselves at a cost-saving opportunity crossroads and you don’t know which way to turn, I have some smart questions to ask yourselves, and potential vendors, that I hope will guide you towards making the best decisions for you and your wedding day. So when you find yourself wondering, hmmmmm ... should we cut that corner? What are the potential outcomes or pitfalls that might come of it? Hopefully after today’s show, you’ll have some solid answers to some of the most common situations, so that you can make the best decision for you. For one wedding, that might mean hiring a photographer off craigslist for $500. For another couple, that will NEVER be an option that’s on the table. And you know what? Both sides are totally fine ;) Full blog post available at www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/wedding-pitfall A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Take advantage of expert travel 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.

This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're going to sort out some common misconceptions and FAQ's about wedding planners and day of coordinators. Today's show is a de facto "Part II" from last week's conversation, where we ran through a general overview of hiring a planner and / or DOC. When I got married, I wasted a lot of time researching and interviewing planners before I realized that A.) I didn’t HAVE to hire anyone, and B.) John and I had all the tools we needed to plan OUR perfect wedding day. And side note, shocker - obviously, none of the wedding planners I interviewed ever mentioned to me, hey by the way, did you know that you could actually just do this on your own? Thankfully I came around to that, but it took lots of wasted effort and stress to get there. Flash forward to today - I literally created the Wedding Planning Podcast so that any engaged couple could tune in and use the episodes and the tools we review in the weekly shows to plan their own wedding - no professional or pricey wedding planner required. Spoiler alert before we even dive in - I definitely DO NOT think you have to spend thousands of dollars to hire a professional wedding planner! Some alternatives? Try checking out the sites we mentioned in today's show, including your local Craigslist postings, Thumbtack.com, taskrabbit.com and fiverr.com I also know that there are countless wonderful wedding planning professionals out there, and for some couples it’s a really smart investment … and we’ll get into all of that that much more in today’s show. Click here for the full blog post from today's show. A special thank you for supporting our valued show sponsors who made this week’s free episode possible! 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! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists? Yes please! Get started building your free wedding website today when you visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted. Even better? You'll also receive a $50 credit towards wedding stationary when you use a Minted Weddings website - no code needed!

"The more thought & intention you put into your wedding plans throughout your engagement, the richer your wedding celebration will be." Should we 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 super important part of your engagement journey. A full show recap (AND a sneak peek into next week's episode!) can be found in this blog post >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/hiring-a-wedding-planner A special thank you for supporting this week's show sponsors, who make these free wedding workshops possible! 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! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists? Yes please! Get started building your free wedding website today when you visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted. Even better? You'll also receive a $50 credit towards wedding stationary when you use a Minted Weddings website - no code needed!

Your wedding planning questions, answered! Tune in for answers to all of your tough wedding situations, including: To submit your wedding questions, please visit our website >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact 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! Take the stress out of meal planning this New Year when you visit factormeals.com/wedding50 and use code wedding50 to get 50% off!

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 the Wedding Planning Podcast is here for, and I hope you love today’s workshop on crafting your wedding guest list! A special thank you to this week's show sponsor, Susan's Travel Services: 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!

Join thousands of INTENTIONAL + JOYFUL engaged couples who know that the wedding celebration of their dreams is possible ... even if right now, planning an entire wedding feels a *little bit* overwhelming! Be sure to hit FOLLOW wherever you listen, and each Wednesday you'll enjoy a FREE, down-to-earth + straight-to-the-point wedding planning "meeting" where we explore everything from: I have an open door and love to hear your wedding questions, stories, thoughts & suggestions for upcoming episodes! You can be in touch anytime by visiting weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact And speaking of our website, it’s a great place to find past episode recaps, and special offers from our tight-knit community of incredible show sponsors. They literally make these free shows possible, and by supporting them, you are supporting your favorite wedding planning podcast, for which I am incredibly grateful. If you’d like to go beyond the free weekly episodes and book a personalized 1-on-1 call, you can explore lots of flexible and affordable options by clicking here. I know that you have literally millions of choices when it comes to online wedding planning content, and it’s a huge honor to be a part of such a special time in your lives. A huge congratulations on your engagement, and I can’t wait to get started in the next episode!

This is not your average "wedding budget" conversation. 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 actually have in your budget. Sounds amazing, right??? 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 $5,000 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 the $72 billion dollar wedding industry’s agenda, and focus on a more fulfilled engagement season that centers around YOU. THANK YOU for supporting 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! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists? Yes please! Get started building your wedding website today with www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.