To me, a wedding is not only a beautiful event that allows me to exercise every organizational trick that I possess. It is the beginning of a union where new families are formed and a one-of-a-kind love is celebrated. As a recent bride, I got to experience being on the “other side.” My experience as a wedding planner and my husband, Joe’s, experience as a wedding photographer allowed us to have a unique perspective for our own wedding. Now, together, Joe and I want to share what we know and what we've learned with engaged couples who need to know how create their perfect wedding day. My goal is to give every couple the means to have as few “things I’d change if I were to do it over” moments.
Wedding trends come and go, with a few that have the staying power of becoming a “tradition.” We compiled a list of wedding traditions & trends that we're happy to see are on their way out or that we'd love to see on their way out. In no particular order, they are: Receiving LinesWhy don't we love receiving lines? Simply put, they don't provide you a valuable use of your precious time on the wedding day. A better option is to provide yourself with ample cocktail hour/reception time to greet your guests and mingle. Dollar DancesTacky. Besides the fact that this would need to be adjusted for inflation, doing any game on your wedding day to “ask” for money is tacky.Garter & Bouquet TossesAs a culture, we're starting to admit the cringe factor that is involved with this tradition. Whether you cringe because you think it's sexist or you cringe just because it's outright awkward, let's let this one go. Send offs and other activities that require the participation of all wedding guests.The difficulty of coordinating all of your guests into an organized activity is a stress that you can easily remove from your wedding day. Along with this point, most weddings are missing some guests already by the end of the night which can mean an anticlimactic send off. Sparklers & alcoholSomewhat on the same note as send offs, planning a sparkler send off is problematic, especially because the guests have been drinking. It's not only difficult to coordinate, it's also risky.Best man first looksA little because it's cringy, a little because it could indeed be a disappointment for the groom. Cheesy signageI take issue with signage that errs on the “cutesy” side rather than the elegant side. Personal opinion :).Cake smashesNot the best way to begin a happy marriage. Preserve that makeup right up to the end of the night and savor the cake instead. Advice to run from marriage “Yes dear” comments These last two are basically in the same category. Negative comments about marriage are not life giving in any context, but they are especially inappropriate at a wedding. Culturally, we've allowed ourselves to promote a lot of negativity about the partnership & commitment of marriage. It's time to start making life giving, encouraging comments about marriage again!
Choosing wedding vendors involves much more that simply price shopping. Ria shares her insight and techniques in how to choose reliable wedding vendors that will make your day wonderful!
At the risk of this episode sounding like a self-promotion, Ria and Joe share why they truly believe that a wedding planner is not only necessary...but inevitable.
The morning of your wedding day should be exciting and joyful. Most of the time though, lack of planning and staying organized can cause it to be the most stress-filled portion of your day. It doesn't have to be that way though. Ria and Joe share their advised methods for maximizing your peace and enjoyment the morning of your wedding.
Ria shares her technique of choosing 3 non-negotiable priorities for your wedding day to help structure your planning process.
During your wedding planning, it's important to stay focused on your relationship. Don't let and stress or complications involved in making your wedding day keep you from growing as a couple.
This was not a happy episode to make. We have seen so many couple's dream wedding days get cancelled or postponed and it's so hard to watch. We hope that these thoughts and resources will keep your excitement for your big day alive. Hang in there.
What is the difference between being a minimalist and being cheap in wedding planning? Minimalism is more than a style, it is a way of making efficient use of your resources.
Do you need a wedding to get married? A marriage and a wedding are two different things.
You know the best way to guarantee that your wedding day leaves you feeling disappointed? It's not what you'd think.
Have you thought about how you want to feel on your wedding day? Not what you will do or what you will say but how you will really feel? In this episode, Ria and Joe talk about why planning for an atmosphere is essential to getting the most out of your wedding day. We also get introduced to baby Jade!
How to handle opinionated family and friends and how to avoid stress on your wedding day and throughout the planning process.
How to save, spend and budget your money for your wedding.
Joe and Ria both love weddings and have found a new appreciation for them since having their own.
What vendors you have hired to help create your wedding day will have a dramatic effect on your peace and enjoyment of the entire event. In our inaugural episode of this podcast, Joe and I discuss what sets great wedding vendors apart from the crowd.
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