Essential Wedding Podcast

In episode 21, Whitney reflects on an article from Martha Stewart Weddings called "8 People You Shouldn't Feel Obligated to Have in Your Wedding Party." She shares whether she agrees/disagrees with the article's advice on these 8 types of people, based on the weddings she planned for her own couples. She also adds two more types of people you also should be thinking about as well! This is a shorter episode, intended to answer this important question and hopefully help listeners assemble their own wedding party lineup.

Welcome to Essential Wedding Podcast! We’re in episode 20, which is the second episode in a two part series called Planning During a Pandemic. My guest is Bonnie Chase, who is the Owner and Founder of Bliss Events. Let me share some details on Bonnie. Like most expats who live and work in Mexico, Bonnie moved to Cabo and fell in love with it. With a background in event-driven marketing, she began working almost exclusively on events with an emphasis on weddings and becoming the premiere Cabo Wedding Planner. While she proudly employs a team of event planners, she personally cultivates and maintains a relationship with every client. As we chat, Bonnie and I share a list of reasons that maybe it would be best to plan your wedding now, and we also discuss a list of reasons why may actually be better to wait. Bonnie tells us all about what it’s like to tour venues right now, how weddings are changing as a response to this pandemic (with some specific advice for how to keep you and your guests safe on the day-of), what to do if your wedding cannot continue as planned, an important clause that needs to be in your wedding contract for ‘just incase’ situations such as these, how to gracefully let guests know you’ll understand if they’re uncomfortable traveling or attending group settings right now, and some really nice words of encouragement from Bonnie as well as some must-know advice for couples planning right now. If you have any questions for me, please head over to @essentialweddingpodcast on Instagram. You’ll see the titles for this series called “Planning During a Pandemic” so please leave your question in the comments so I can answer it inside the episode. If you’d like a PDF of the content in podcast episodes, formatted in a really pretty user-friendly way that will be invaluable to your planning process, head over to the website essentialplannerco.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I’ll make sure those PDFs head your way every time I release a new one. And finally, if you’d like to follow Bonnie Chase you can find her at eventsbybliss.com and on Instagram at @eventsbybliss.

Hi, friends! In today's episode we are moving into episode 1 of the two-part series, "Planning During a Pandemic." At this extraordinary moment of our lives, I think we're all looking around for some sort of clarity and even guidance about how we can best manage these times. If you're engaged, or you were hoping/planning to become engaged, the feelings of uncertainly are likely compounded and are probably having a major impact on what this season feels like for you. So it is especially important to me to show up well for you, friends! You probably have questions like: Should we stick to the original date we have (which we made before this all began) and now it’s coming up? We don’t have a date yet so when should we be thinking about planning our big day? How is this pandemic going to impact the vision I’ve always had about what my wedding day would someday be like? What can we still do and what will need to change? Should we still try to have a big wedding or should we be thinking about something smaller, or destination, or maybe even just the two of us? How should I come to the day that would have been our wedding day but we had to cancel? So to answer all these questions (and more!) I invited Liz Higgins, LMFT to be my expert guest in this episode. Liz is the founder of Millennial Life Counseling, a practice focused on helping couples and individuals create epic marriages, relationships, and lives in the modern world. IN THIS EPISODE: We have a conversation about what it means to be engaged, in this covid-19 season, through the lens of maintaining a strong, unified, connection with each other. So many engaged couples are more stressed than ever. How to deal with the added stress you two may be feeling. Conflict between partners is also on the rise. How can couples show up well, and even use conflict, in a healthy way? How to decide whether to get married sooner (maybe even stick with a wedding date you already chose prior to the start of the pandemic) or whether it's best to wait it out. Other thoughts to be taking into consideration (i.e. "should we scale down, make it a destination, cut our budget", etc.) How to take care of yourselves and each other, even amidst the extra highs and lows being tossed your way. How you two can make the most of your engagement season. Our ideas for some fun bonding activities that will bring you two closer. Suggestions for how to use empathy, especially on the extra hard days. How to honor the day that would have been your wedding day, which you two had to cancel or reschedule.

In this special (short) episode, the host of The Essential Wedding Podcast speaks directly to listeners about her heart behind this podcast and what is gained by listening every week. She shares her passion for treating the wedding day as 'Day 1' of a lifelong adventure, and then shares how engaged couples can live this season to it's fullest by having important conversations and taking part in the daily practices that successful marriages are built on. This podcast is SHAKING UP the wedding/marriage institutions (it's about time, right?!) to encourage weddings days that are personal (sorry, mom and dad!) and marriages that last.

Hi, friends! In today's episode we're talking through all things destination weddings! If you're thinking that a destination wedding might be the way to go on your big day (whether it's in a different part of your state, in a different country, or even on the other side of the world) this episode is going to inspire you and equip you with tons of helpful advice. As always, I brought in a subject-matter expert to chat with and today's guest is the fabulous, Zohe Felici. IN THIS EPISODE: First, I answer a question from @pattipechan77 about her destination wedding. Then I introduce today's expert guest, Zohe Felici @felicievents. Based in Santa Barbara, CA (a very popular city for destination weddings) Zohe plans weddings both locally and internationally, fundraisers, corporate events, mitzvahs and large international festivals with over 20,000 attendees. She has served as the President of the Board of ILEA-VSB (International Live Events Association, Ventura Santa Barbara Chapter) and was the Immediate Past President of ISES (International Special Events Society). Zohe also owns and blogs for SantaBarbaraWedding.com. She is recognized as THE wedding and special event venue expert for Santa Barbara. Exciting Side Note: Zohe was a part of the coordination team on Sophie Turner and Joe Jona’s beautiful wedding in France. QUESTIONS: Does having a destination wedding mean having a smaller guest count? How could we incorporate the local flavor? How could we coordinate our destination wedding plans with honeymoon travel plans? What costs would we be responsible for covering (for our guests and for wedding party)? What other events should we host over our wedding weekend? Will our guests expect a welcome gift? When should we send out our save the dates and invitations? How much time should we request for RSVP returns? Should we provide transportation for our guests? Would guests bring gifts to our destination wedding? How would we manage the logistics of getting those gifts back home? What types of gifts would be specifically relevant to our destination wedding? What is the etiquette for requesting that guests send our gifts to a certain place or in a certain way? How can we learn about and work the cultural differences and local customs into our destination wedding (especially if it's international)? How can we learn about the laws of the country we’ll be married in? Should we hire a wedding coordinator based where we live or based one where we’ll be getting married? What are the best reasons to have a destination wedding? and more. WE ALSO DISCUSS: Why it really makes sense to book a wedding coordinator and not just rely on the venue’s site manager. How differences in work ethics and just general business operations between you and the vendors you’ve contracted for your big day (especially if the vendors are international) could impact you in your planning process Tips and tricks for communicating well and defining expectations with your vendors. The best time to take engagement photos. You can see more of Zohe's wedding and event passions by visiting www.FeliciEvents.com and www.SantaBarbaraWedding.com

Hi friends it’s Whitney! Welcome to season 2 of the essential wedding podcast! I’m so glad to be back and I am BEYOND excited to start rolling out new episodes for this season because I think they’ll answer MANY important questions and will guide you SO well through this once in a lifetime season in your life! These next 15 episodes are going to be fire! If you are new to the essential wedding podcast, welcome! If this means that you are newly engaged, or thinking about becoming engaged, or a newlywed CONGRATULATIONS! I’m so honored to have you here with me! In today’s episode (which is episode 16) we talk about your wedding party and we cover what you should and shouldn’t expect from the people you choose to fill these esteemed roles. We start from the basics of what you’ll need to know. So what is a maid of honor and a matron of honor? What is the difference? When might you have a man of honor? What are bridesmaids and groomsmen? We discuss all the titles and their typical responsibilities. Then we discuss what it looks like to be in someone’s wedding party -- both in terms of the time commitment and financial commitment involved. What does it cost on average? By the way, if you’re working through The Essential Wedding and Engagement Planner (and you can learn more about that online at essentialplannerco.com) this is on pg 74. Then we move into some of the stickier subjects — like, what do you do if someone in your wedding party isn’t holding up their end of the deal? Maybe you feel like someone is flaking out or not being supportive. Or maybe they're bringing the drama! We talk about what you can do in those circumstances. We also answer questions like: Should a member of your wedding party automatically get a +1 on your wedding day? Should you ask someone to be in your wedding party because you were in theirs? What do you do if someone can't afford the costs (i.e. can you pay for one person but not everyone?) Those are just some samples of what we cover so start the episode to hear them all! :) My expert guest is seasoned wedding coordinator, Christina Kwitoski. She is the right hand gal to the owner of the wedding coordination company All About You Events, based in Newport Beach CA. Christina also has a masters degree in Organizational Management and I really appreciate all the wisdom and authenticity she brought to our episode. You're going to love her!

Is it harder for Millennials and Gen-Zers to trust their partners more than it has been for past generations? Do social media, dating apps, and even cheating apps make temptation too hard to resist? What about the other places where trust is key in marriage -- such as finances, supporting our dreams and coming along for the ride, rebuilding broken trust, and more. In episode 15 "How To Trust Your Spouse (with all the things)" my guest is the delightful Anne Streett, who is an LMFT Associate and specifically works with millennial couples at Millennial Life Counseling in Dallas, Texas. IN THIS EPISODE: We start off on the subject of monogamy. I’m curious to hear whether Anne is seeing that monogamy is becoming less desirable seems less realistic within millennial and gen z relationships — especially with all the temptations that the internet, dating apps, etc. provide. Anne says that even in the case of having an affair, you're essentially looking for monogamy in someone else. Millennials are given so much information everywhere you go. It’s easy to see all the ways you can go wrong. Even engaged people are kind of stuck because they’ve decided they want to get married but they still don’t feel prepared. They want more information. I always say (laughing)“you can never prepare a millennial enough.” Some of the Many Benefits of Marriage: (1) Married people live longer. (2) They have fewer strokes and heart attacks. (3) It lowers your chance of being depressed. (4) You’re even more likely to survive cancer for a longer period of time, or to survive a major operation. (5) Your goals and purpose stretch beyond yourself and go to the other person that you share your life with. We long to be attached and bonded. Affection is so necessary, and we end up being very emotionally isolated without it. Apps present these endless choices to you. It almost morphs it into a game, rather than a serious search. “Swipe right” one more time could have a slot machine effect and it’s addictive. There’s a strong hesitancy in millennials to label anything as serious too soon. And Anne think that is more of a fear of vulnerability than it is a fear of monogamy. In order to have a successful, monogamous relationship you have to be transparent and vulnerable with each other. And that can be such a big task. So many millennials really don’t want to start over in a new relationship because dipping your toe into the vulnerability pool feels so investing, and you can feel so violated when it doesn’t work out. We discuss the trend of changing the traditional words in marriage vows from “til death do us part” to something like “for as long as this is serving us” or “for as long as we both want this.” Trust in Managing Finances Together: Trust regarding the management of finances together. What is your emotional attachment to money? What does money mean to you and how did you get there with that? Does that look the same for your partner? What issues arise from that? The money mistakes couples might make as a result of witnessing how their parents managed money. The arrangements will vary between couples, and there is no one way, but the point is to be open and honest; and to understand where you’re each coming from. Should you merge your finances? Is it a smart idea to keep a savings account on the side, incase your relationship doesn’t work out? Trusting Your Partner to Remain A Partner Wherever the Future Takes You Two Building Trust Into Daily Practice Anne gives us a list of 5 Ways to Create Trust that Lasts

Is it time to start thinking about your wedding color palette, style inspirations, and the emotions expressed through your wedding aesthetic? Friends, you are going to LOVE this episode! Make a statement, stretch your dollars with high-impact choices, and feel confident that your wedding's style will be forever timeless. My guest in today's episode is celebrated wedding planner + stylist, Michelle Durpetti. Since the inception of Michelle Durpetti Events in 2008, Michelle has planned and produced over 300 weddings and events including some of Chicago’s most notable, celeb-studded events such as the Chicago Gateway Green’s annual Green Tie Ball, the Fiera Italiana, in conjunction with the annual Columbus Day Parade, for the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, and the Chicago Hunter Derby. Michelle was recently named one of the Top 50 Planners in the country by Partyslate and has been featured both nationally and locally by publications such as Inside Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Grace Ormonde, Modern Luxury Weddings, Strictly Weddings, Today’s Chicago Woman Magazine and more. In this episode: Michelle walks us through her journey as a planner and stylist over the last 20+ years and she shares where she goes for inspiration. What is the difference between a wedding coordinator, wedding planner, and a wedding stylist? We both share why you should not hire a day-of coordinator. Why you should spend a minimum of one month with your wedding coordinator (“month-of coordination.”) How to make sure your wedding has a rhythm and a nice energy to it. How to make your vendors your “creative partners” and how to choose vendors who have the right attitude and insight to make your day SO special. Michelle tells us about the first meeting she has with her new clients and the very special, and unique, night out she plans with them. Lots of advice and suggestions for the types of places a couple should look for wedding style inspiration - travels, movies, celebrity crushes, a historical figure, favorite stories, favorite books, landscapes, periods of time. How to take the visuals and translate them into words everyone can understand. It's a fine art! "You’re creating a day where you are going to look at this person and pledge to be their partner in good and in bad. And then you’re going to throw a big party, in your way, to celebrate that you just did that. And you’re going to be surrounded by the people that you like most when you do it. That should not hurt. That should not feel unpleasant." - Michelle What to do when you love the idea of something but you don’t think there is any way you can actually incorporate it into your special day. Start with your passions and look inside yourself. Because it can be so easy to lose sight of who you are and what you love when you allow yourself to become overwhelmed by outside influences (such as Pinterest and Instagram). How this industry is actually designed to cause overwhelm. It’s a huge machine now that is designed to “lessen authenticity.” That’s why so many creatives, and stylists, are actually fighting for authenticity. Are you experiencing Style FOMO? What to do when you’re having a hard time committing to one aesthetic when there are so many other options out there. How can you combat Style FOMO? How to get to the point of feeling creatively satiated. Michelle talks to us about the changes she’s been seeing in the wedding industry lately, specifically more eco-conscious weddings and couples being more mindful of their carbon footprint and having less waste. How to make style choice that are timeless. The incredible advice Michelle gives her clients when they’re feeling stressed or losing sight of what matters most. I LOVE this!!

In Episode 13 I'm SO excited to have two incredible guests! We're talking about how to argue well in a relationship. And I think it's a very fitting topic for engaged couples, because this season can often come with a bit of turbulence. SO many things are changing within your relationship and you're sharing so many new experiences together. Sometimes that can make everything feel more charged, and it can amplify emotions. It may be a relief to hear that arguing is actually a very normal part of planning a wedding and a marriage together, and so in this episode we talk about how arguments can lead to growth and an even closer bond, if you can be intentional about following the steps you'll learn in this episode from Anne and Sharla. So DEFINITELY give this one a listen, friends! In this Episode: ON ATTACHMENT NEEDS We all have a need to be loved and desired. And when these needs aren’t being met it impacts our behaviors in negative ways. We interact with those we love the most in ways that leave us disconnected. And then we start to question our love for each other. -Sharla ON EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) EFT is looking at places couples are “stuck” in and getting unstuck. And understanding both people’s attachment needs. -Sharla We have a pattern of standard responses in an argument. We call it a 'dance’ or a negative cycle that couples get into. -Anne ON ANGER Anger is often more of a display than an actual emotion. And it’s typically used to cover something else up. It’s easier to express anger than to be vulnerable, for example. Anger feels easy to portray for most people. It’s easier to portray anger than it is to portray pain, hurt, sadness, and the wounds that you have. -Anne When we see anger as therapists, it’s a protest. How can we get underneath that anger that’s so easy to access and find out, ‘what are you protesting?’ ‘What are you not getting, or what is happening for you in this relationship on a deeper level?’ - Sharla If it’s easy for one partner to get to anger, then the other partner normally pulls away in one way or another because they can’t bare the anger coming at them. That leaves the partner feeling more alone, and even angrier. But the person who is pulling away is actually attempting to preserve the relationship. Arguing well means staying present, even in the hard places. -Sharla When you feel disconnected, your attachment needs fall to the wayside. Practicing being present for one another -- turning your phone off, sitting with one another engaging in conversation, checking-in with one another, starting your morning just with a cup of coffee without the distractions -- is really critical. - Sharla ON DEPRESSION Sue Johnson says “depression is a natural response to the loss of connection.” -Anne ON PERSPECTIVE Sharla tells a hilarious story about a new bowl she purchased, and from her son’s perspective it looked like a butt. So he called it the “butt bowl” and at first Sharla insisted it was not. But then she got down and looked at the bowl from her son’s perspective and realized that’s exactly what it looked like to him. So sometimes in an argument both people are right. It’s just a matter of stepping outside of your position and seeing things from your partner’s perspective. ON EMOTIONS Our cognitive side of our brain cannot override the emotional side of our brain. Our emotions override everything, so we need to get comfortable with our emotions. They’re our friends. -Sharla

The 5 Love Languages is the name of a book by Dr. Gary Chapman and published in 1992. Ever since then, it has remained firmly on the NY Times Best Sellers List and we’ve all been captivated. In Dr. Chapman’s sessions with couples he discovered that every person ‘speaks’ one of 5 love languages; which basically means that when he/she is spoken to in this way, he or she feels emotionally connected. In this episode I am joined by therapist Melissa Risso, MA, LMFT, CST, who regularly uses the 5 Love Languages in her sessions with couples to better understand them, and to help her couples better understand themselves and each other. Melissa thinks this book is TRANSFORMATIVE and basically requires all her couples to buy it! Melissa breaks down each of the 5 love languages and gives us tons of examples of how each of the languages may express themselves within a relationship. Then she gives us tips and tricks for implementing the 5 Love Languages into our own lives (in our romantic relationships, friendships, work relationships, parenting, and even for ourselves). Next, I am joined by real-life married couple, Jen and Denton Sturdivan. Jen is a personal friend of mine and she and her husband, Denton, were first exposed to the 5 Love Languages 13+ years ago, when they went through premarital counseling. They found it to be such a helpful tool that they went on to lead and teach it to groups at their church. Jen and Denton are kind enough to share their respective love languages, and share some fantastic insight into how their love languages have changed over time (and how they’ve met each other’s changing needs), and how they show up well for their marriage. They also share some words to live by which they received through marriage mentors who have guided them over the years. To take the 5 Love Languages Quiz and learn more about your own, visit 5lovelanguages.com About Melissa Risso, MA, LMFT, CST: A prominent voice in the effort to reverse the stigma of how we learn about mental and sexual health, Melissa Risso has worked extensively as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and AASECT (pronounced A-sect) Certified Sex Therapist throughout California. Versed in tending to the needs of a wide demographic range, Melissa currently offers her expertise in multiple settings, including offering individual and couples therapy in her private practice located in San Mateo, CA. She also currently teaches graduate coursework for counseling psychology students at several San Francisco Bay Area college campuses and is currently studying intimacy, pleasure, desire, and relationships as a researcher for her Ph.D. dissertation in Human Sexuality from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) located in San Francisco, CA.  Featured in publications including The Hudsucker, Womanista, EXaholics, and the Pillow app, Melissa's podcast "Let's Do It with Melissa Risso" promotes positive conversations around both mental and sexual health. Valuing proper education about sex and mental health without stigma, Melissa has dedicated her career to the positive growth of her clients and the general public. She has also been voted as the San Francisco Bay Area Leader by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) eight years in a row, is Certified in Gottman Therapy Levels 1 & 2, a UCLA Leadership Award Winner, a Certified California Domestic Violence Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and a 2018 scholarship award winner for the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists' (CAMFT) Clinton E. Phillips Award.

We're discussing wedding vows and going through everything you need to know to decide whether you'd like to stick to reciting traditional vows or changing it up a bit and following the growing trend of writing your own personal vows. My social media intern, Emily, joined me in this episode and we think there are definitely benefits to both. So we I walk you through them all! In this episode we discuss: The history of wedding vows Examples of traditional wedding vows The pros/cons of reciting traditional wedding vows Statistics on how many couples choose traditional and personal vows The pros/cons of reciting personal vows Advice on writing your personal vows and some things you'll definitely want to include (and avoid including). Where to go for additional help with writing your vows Other ideas/alternatives for vows which may strike a happy medium of you and your fiancé are torn about which way to go Suggestions for how to use or display your vows after your wedding Some other fun ideas for personalizing your wedding day

This is episode 10! Which means we are officially in double-digits here at Essential Wedding Podcast. Woot woot!! Thanks for coming along for the ride, friends and I promise it will only get better and better! The Enneagram is a system of 9 personality types and it combines traditional wisdom with modern psychology. It has gained quite a bit of mainstream popularity - especially over the last several years - because it's a highly effective and accurate tool that helps people get to know themselves (and each other) better, with deeper levels of understanding. The Enneagram test is used for personal and spiritual growth, relationship dynamics within all types of relationships, and it is also commonly found in the work place. My guest in today's episode is the lovely, Michelle Joy, M.A., MFT. Michelle is a certified Enneagram teacher and one of the foremost experts on the Enneagram. She was even a chosen speaker at the  International Enneagram conference, 2019  Michelle also co-leads Marriage Prep 101 Workshops for Engaged, Newly Married, or Seriously Dating couples with her husband, Dan Joy, for couples interested in Bay Area premarital counseling. I am so honored and appreciative that she shared her time and wisdom with us and I think you are going to learn SO much in this episode, friends. Head to https://essentialplannerco.com/podcast/ for the show notes.

** disclaimer: Chip and Joanna are not episode guests ** A conversation with Liz Higgins, founder of Millennial Life Counseling about how Chip and Joanna have cultivated such a healthy and happy relationship, and why we're all so captivated by them. Liz explains that they have an interdependent relationship, which is what all marriages should aspire to be in their own unique ways. Here is what we chatted about in today's episode: - Why you want an interdependent relationship. - Have Chip and Joana found the secret sauce? And can we get some!? - What do do when your reliance on your partner has gone into over-drive. - Friends who get into a relationship and then fall off the face of the earth. - How to achieve a good balance within all the relationships in your life. - What is a co-dependent relationship? Does it sound like yours? - Why is it unhealthy to constantly feel like you want to fix, take care of, change, or rescue your partner? - Want to know when studies show we are most attracted to our partners? - Why is it so important to encourage your partner to feed his/her passions? - Why relationships need ‘stress bark.’ - The houseboat story that launched Fixer Upper and how it’s a metaphor for the impactful moment that occurs in so many relationships and makes them stronger. - Fights and arguments are not bad, they’re actually quite good. We have to normalize them because when you get through them you get to the next, better, phase of your relationship. Liz walks us through her 5 Tips for Cultivating Your Own Interdependent Relationship: (1) Take care of yourself for your partner, and your partner should take care of him/her self for you. (2) Always continue to know and discover your partner. Never assume you know everything. (3) Prioritize your relationship. Do things every day that fit into the type of relationship you want to have. (4) Do things apart. See your friends. Go spend time with other relationships in your life. It’s very important to spend time with other people who support your relationship. (5) Talk about the hard things. Go through the difficult phases. Don’t just fight your way through them, but instead prioritize communicating about them. It will help you feel like you can come to each other with anything. A big part of having an interdependent relationship is knowing you can stir up difficult feelings in your partner but they’ll be able to handle it.

I knew I wanted to do an episode where we’d cover ALL the must-knows about booking your wedding photographer. It a huge decision, right friends? On pages 98-99 of The Essential Wedding and Engagement Planner I provide a list of questions to reference when interviewing potential photographers. And I EASILY could have devoted an entire section to this in the planner, but I didn’t want to overwhelm. So…. instead I invited an incredibly talented, fun, and business-savvy photog to jump into Episode 8 with me so we could discuss ALL things photography in a casual (yet thorough!) conversation. Friends, my guest today is Laurelyn Savannah and you are going to ADORE her! She is a Wisconsin-based wedding photographer (she also offers brand photography) and she’s in her 9th season of capturing love stories. She has shot over 120 weddings and her business continues to grow like crazy. Laurelyn Savannah Photography has been featured in Wisconsin Bride Magazine, The Knot, Inspired by This, Style Me Pretty, Ruffled, Grey Likes Weddings, and Wedding Chicks. In our episode, we cover: The pros and cons of working with a company where the owner is also the photographer vs. a larger company where you meet with a representative and then get paired with a photographer? How to know when you meet with a wedding photographer who matches your personality and energy level? Is that important? The benefits of doing your engagement session with your wedding photographer. Inspirations for choosing the setting of your engagement session. Finding a photographer with the right signature style. Is it ok to ask your wedding photographer to recreate photos you saw on Pinterest? The minimum number of hours any wedding photography package should include. We’ll walk through a hypothetical wedding day timeline together so you can think about your photography hour-by-hour. Should you do a First Look? What are the pros and cons? The types of weddings that may or may not benefit from having a second and even a third shooter. A big reason your photographer might not be able to capture all your detail shots. How to make the most of your time with your wedding photographer What if you don’t want your photos posted on social media? Why is it so important to hire an experienced WEDDING photographer, and not just a talented photographer? Laurelyn shares stories of some of the most intentional moments she’s captures. How to incorporate your personal stories and values into your wedding day. Why the connection you have with your wedding vendors is SO crucial to the success of your wedding.

Yay! It's time to start considering potential venues for your big day! To make sure you're all set and fully prepared this episode is PACKED with helpful tips and advice. In episode 8, I start with a list of 8 Decisions to Make Before You Begin Touring Venues Then, I have a conversation with Jen Loller, who is the owner and site manager of the super popular, high-demand, family-owned wedding venue, Maravilla Gardens in Camarillo, CA. She also owns and operates The Venue Projects, where she consults for other wedding venues and helps them develop a vision for their location and brand, and then helps them fine-tunes their operations and overall process. Jen gives us SO much insight into the process of choosing the best wedding venue for your big day, including: Why it’s crucial to have a great relationship with the staff at your venue. How to look for red flags on a contract. Why some venues require that the couple book certain “required” vendors. Minimum amount of time for setup and strike What is a Food and Beverage Minimum? How to make sure you’re not backed into a corner on catering costs. Negotiating the right food and beverage minimum. What is the difference between a Site Manager and a Wedding Coordinator? Why hire a wedding coordinator? What Plan B scenarios should you ask about before you book your venue? How to make intelligent decisions in the planning process and then let the day unfold. What are the red flags to look for in a venue’s contract? Should your venue be able to cancel your wedding? How can you protect yourself? If your venue is planning to make changes (updates, renovations, etc.) do they have to communicate that to you? What if you want to bring a pet? How to arrange that with your venue. _____________________________________________ Inside the episode, Jen tells us about the insurance company that specializes in wedding and event insurance. In case it's helpful to you, here is a link to their site: RV Nuccio & Associates exclusively does wedding insurance https://www.rvnuccio.com/ _____________________________________________ Follow Maravilla Gardens: mgardens.com Follow The Venue Projects: thevenueprojects.com _____________________________________________ Follow Essential Wedding Podcast & Essential Planner Co. on Instagram: @essentialweddingpodcast  | @essentialplannerco

Sara Reden and Jesse Flower-Ambroch are my guests this week and I am still on such a high from our conversation. Sara is my oldest friend in the world, and she has always lived a life of mindfulness. After meeting her now husband, the equally-mindful Jesse, they combined forces to plan a wedding day that was a beautiful representation of their shared passions and interests. Now 6 weeks past their wedding, we reflect on their beautiful day to discuss: Allowing the locations they selected for their ceremony and reception to dictate guest count and several other elements of their day. Whittling down to the essentials and allowing their wedding day to take shape organically, based on what was most important to them. Planning a zero-waste wedding ceremony in nature. The pros and cons of relying on a network of friends and acquaintances to hire as wedding vendors. Blending Jewish and Buddhist backgrounds/faiths. Special readings and personal vows. Transforming an industrial space into a wedding reception. An intentional, seasonal, farm-to-table menu that was a feast for the senses. Foodies will LOVE this part! Jesse, a sound engineer walks us through his process of choosing lyrics, instruments, and vibrational frequencies to create playlists that set the right mood. At the end of our conversation, Sara and Jesse individually shared their favorite parts of their day and, friends, have your tissue box handy. _____________________________________________ Follow Sara Reden: sarareden.com/ Follow Jesse Flower-Ambroch: jfasound.com/ _____________________________________________ Follow Essential Wedding Podcast & Essential Planner Co. on Instagram: @essentialweddingpodcast  | @essentialplannerco

Liz Higgins, LMFT is back! And this time we're talking about the common fears couples face during their engagement season. Why fears bubble up, how to face them, and why they're actually a good thing because they can help us grow. * In This Episode: Tackle your fear like Dory the fish: "Go Through It, Not Over It " (Finding Nemo) Doing the Work on your relationship helps couples build on their strengths. Just like someone sees a personal trainer or a business coach because they're trying to get to the next level; couples who lean in to these conversations while they're engaged see the rewards in married life. The most common fears couples have during this season. How they're perfectly normal and what they're trying to tell us. How our dating culture is changing within the millennial generation and how it's shaping our values. Why we should NEVER say "Happy Wife, Happy Life" -- and other outdated views. Why Liz says "we repeat what we don't repair." Instead of coming to marriage with a preconceived notion of what your roles will be, or default to the type of marriage your parents might have/have had, be intentional now about how you'll show up. About Liz Higgins, LMFT Liz Higgins is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Dallas, TX. She is the founder of Millennial Life Counseling, a practice focused on helping couples and individuals create epic marriages, relationships, and lives in the modern world. Liz’s relationship blogs have been featured on The Huffington Post, Today, The Gottman Institute Blog, Prepare-Enrich, and more. Liz has a publication in the AAMFT Magazine, and continues to write and speak on millennial trends related to couple dynamics. _____________________________________________ Follow Liz & Millennial Life Counseling @millenniallifecounseling milleniallifecounseling.com _____________________________________________ Follow Essential Wedding Podcast & Essential Planner Co. on Instagram: @essentialweddingpodcast  | @essentialplannerco * page 59 in Essential Wedding & Engagement Planner

Being intentional throughout the planning process goes a long way in creating space for unforgettable moments to naturally blossom. We share insight and make suggestions for ways to create these opportunities within your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. It is your day, and you are welcomed and highly encouraged to challenge everything and create a day that represents the most thoughtful and authentic reflection of you two. A conversation with Laura Seguin, Founder and Lead Coordinator of Moments 2 Memories Events. Whitney and Laura reflect on the hundreds of weddings they coordinated together to spotlight some of the MOST memorable and thoughtful moments from many of them. In This Episode: Selecting your officiant: - ask someone you know or hiring a professional (and some pros and cons of each). - who you know that could be great in this role - how to spend time with your officiant so he/she can design a very personal ceremony Infusing traditions into your ceremony: - ethic traditions - religious traditions - family traditions - elements of your parents' weddings which you could incorporate into yours Fun ways to include your pet(s) in your weddings Ways to honor those who who have passed away Ways to include those who cannot be physically present at your wedding How to tell the story of your relationship & help guests get to know your new husband/wife Give your Cocktail Hour a fun identity of its own: - signature Cocktails - hors d' Oeuvres - entertainment - special Style Choices - toasts at Cocktail Hour (who knew?!) Plan a meaningful reception: - should someone say a prayer or blessing? Who? - special events you'll want to select a song for (beyond "All the Single Ladies" Beyonce for your bouquet toss) - how you can share your passions and interests with your guests. Did someone say eco-friendly centerpieces? Locally-sourced meals? No waste? - add a personal touch to your favors by supporting local business and give your guests a taste of the regional flavors - tear-jerker suggestions for unforgettable dance floor moments End the night on a high. Keep your guests at your wedding until the very end and leave them saying, "this was the best wedding ever!" About Laura Seguin: Laura is the founder and lead coordinator at Moments 2 Memories. She is originally from Jacksonville, FL and grew up in Memphis, TN before moving to Los Angeles in 2005 with hopes of perusing a career in film. During that time, she worked events for catering companies, restaurants and hotels. Years later she was offered a job as an assistant wedding coordinator (by Whitney) for Wish Wonder Dream and she found her real passion: WEDDING PLANNING! Now, as the owner of Moments to Memories and with 10+ years in the industry, Laura says she loves what she does more and more every day! Her clients are everything to her. When Laura is not planning unforgettable moments with her clients, she enjoys creating priceless memories with her son, volunteering within her community, planning trips around the world with friends and her son (next stop, Australia!), going to Disneyland and Six Flags, attending concerts, and relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine and my rescue cat, Lucy. _______________________________________ Follow Moments to Memories Events @m2meventsla www.moments2memoriesevents.com _______________________________________ Follow Essential Wedding Podcast & Essential Planner Co. on Instagram: @essentialweddingpodcast  | @essentialplannerco _____________________________________________

A conversation with Liz Higgins, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Owner of Millennial Life Counseling. Whitney and Liz deep dive into all things premarital planning and discuss the types of conversations and decisions a couple can make in their engagement season so they're clear and very well prepared for married life. Some highlights of the conversation include: Why choosing the right partner is of course very important, but definitely isn't the only ingredient for a happy marriage. A joyful, fulfilling relationship requires more. In this episode, we discuss what 'more' looks like as daily practice. Despite what some of us previously assumed - myself included - it's not crucial that both people in the relationship complete the work on themselves (as individuals) prior to getting married. Often, it is getting married that inspires us to rise and become our best selves. So it's perfectly fine to 'do the work' after you get married. How you two can write your marriage mission statement and define your core values -- and why they're both super important. The difference between interdependent relationships (healthy) vs. codependent relationships (unhealthy). We discuss some of our favorite celebrity couples and dig into what they do to achieve true interdependent partnership. Why Liz doesn't feel that compromise really works for modern day couples. How you and your partner can have the right kinds of conversations so both of your needs are met and compromise isn't required. Going to premarital counseling doesn't mean there is something wrong with your relationship -- it actually means there is something very right.

Get ready for pure wedding planning gold in this new episode of the podcast, “Your Wedding Budget: What is Essential?” My lovely guest is Karen Nguyen, owner of Wish Wonder Dream which is one of the top Wedding Coordination companies in SoCal. In this episode: We start with a fabulous exercise called "What is Essential" so you can identify what the top 3 priorities are for your wedding day and what you can scratch right off your list.* Then we'll cover... Establishing a budget you two are comfortable with. How to talk to your parents about contributing to your budget. Setting boundaries from outside influences.. especially people with big opinions! How it can save you a ton to consult a wedding coordinator prior to signing the dotted line at your venue. What order to head in when it’s time to book vendors. The most common way a budget spirals out of control. How to light a fire in your planning process. And SO. MUCH. MORE. This episode is jam-packed with advice and must-knows! I also share my list of Top 7 Ways Couples Waste Money at their Wedding and I walk you through a full wedding budget breakdown.** FRIENDS, PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A REVIEW. THANK YOU! *pages 21-22 in Essential Wedding & Engagement Planner. **pages 25-26 in Essential Wedding & Engagement Planner.

The premier episode. A conversation with Wedding Photographer, Lifestyle Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Student of Life and Nature, Amanda McKinnon on "How to Bring Your Best Self to Wedding and Marriage Planning." Conversations to encourage mindfulness and intention during your engagement season. A breath of fresh air for frazzled brides and grooms, this podcast explains the A-Zs for wedding planning so couples are empowered to plan the day of their dreams with clear and practical tips and advice. All the while, couples are also guided toward building the foundation for a flourishing marriage through insight and guidance from experienced mentors. To learn more about Amanda McKinnon, please follow her in Instagram @amanda_mckinnon. Follow This Podcast on Instagram @essentialweddingpodcast.