Wedding Wednesdays with weddingsonline

The wedding ceremony is more than just a formality, it's the heart of the day, where couples make it official and share their vows in front of loved ones. But with so many elements to consider, planning the ceremony can feel both exciting and a little overwhelming. In this episode, I'm joined by Irish wedding solemniser and all-around wedding expert Romy McAuley. We're walking through how to build a ceremony timeline, and trust me, you'll come away with a clearer vision and plenty of inspiring ideas.

Congratulations on your engagement and welcome to the world of wedding planning! This is an incredibly special and fun season of life, but before you get carried away with hiring a horse drawn carriage and a pair of flying doves, we're here to share what you should consider before you start planning your wedding. Wondering where to start? Then this is for you!

 If you're feeling a bit anxious about your upcoming wedding, you're not alone! We know it can be overwhelming to balance the excitement of your Big Day with all the stress that comes with it. In this episode, we'll be diving into practical tips and techniques to help you stay grounded, present, and calm on your wedding day.

Today, we're diving into something that often gets overlooked but is SO important: your wedding stationery timeline. From save-the-dates to thank you cards, we're talking about how to manage all the paper pieces that will make your wedding experience complete—and stress-free! And if you're planning a wedding here in Ireland or across Europe, I've got some tips that are especially relevant to your needs. So, grab a cuppa (or whatever you're sipping on today), and let's get into it.

Welcome to Wedding Wednesdays with weddingsonline! In today's episode, we're tackling one of the most common struggles couples face during wedding planning: sticking to your budget. We know how easy it is for costs to spiral out of control, but don't worry—we've got you covered! Tune in as we walk you through 6 simple yet effective steps to help you stay on track and make your dream wedding a reality, without the financial stress. Let's dive in and take the first step toward a budget-friendly celebration! Episode 81: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/wedding-wednesday-wedding-expenses-couples-always-forget-to-plan-for-episode-81/ Free wedding planning app: https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/weddingsonline-ie/id6503473769

“Having a personal wedding planner is a complete waste of money, I can do it all myself” - this statement couldn't be more wrong. In today's episode, we're tackling some of the most common misconceptions about hiring a wedding planner—things you probably didn't know!  We'll be busting myths like they cost too much money, they take away control, and they only make things look pretty. If you've ever wondered if a wedding planner is right for you, this episode is a must-listen! Get ready for some eye-opening truths and helpful insights to make your wedding planning journey a little easier. This week's guest experts: Everita Kenny - https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/everita-kenny-weddings Lena Freitag - https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/lena-freitag-weddings Julaursa Weddings - https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/julaursa-wedding-planner-in-france Emerald Aisle Events - https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/emerald-aisle-events

If you've got a dog who is also your bestie, then you've probably already started thinking about how you can include them in your Big Day! There are a few things to consider before making this decision… and then, if you decide to go for it, then we've got some logistics and things to help make this experience really special for your pup. This week's guest - Paula from Dogs Trust: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/wedding-favours-dogs-trust-ireland Episode 36, How To Plan A Wedding That's Accessible and Disability-Friendly: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/wedding-wednesdays-how-to-make-your-wedding-accessible-and-disability-friendly-episode-36/ Dog-Friendly Wedding Venues in Ireland: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/our-favourite-dog-friendly-wedding-venues-in-ireland/

We're not talking about big expenses and extravagant purchases, but the little touches that help your guests to feel cherished. These are charming ideas that add a little bit of luxury without overdoing it and going over budget!  We're saving the best one for last, and it won't cost you anything!

If you're engaged and planning your wedding this year, then I've got a few simple but life-changing New Year's Resolutions for you! These will help you stay focused, within your budget and sane throughout your wedding planning journey. 

Congratulations on your engagement!! This is a very exciting time and worth celebrating. You might be feeling a little overwhelmed and unsure of what to do first, so I'm breaking it down for you with a short list of things to do first. 

If you are engaged over the Christmas holidays, you'll probably be spending lots of time with friends and family! And they will have lots of questions about your Big Day. Many of them will be asking how they can help… well, with so many decisions to be made, it might feel overwhelming deciding what to delegate. So take a peek at our list!

It's no surprise that weddings cost a lot of money. And while there are some really creative and clever ways to save LOTS, there are also some money saving ideas that can totally backfire!  In this episode, I'm listing a few ways that you might be tempted to save money that can backfire on you. The outcome will depend largely on your priorities and the things you want to focus on, so not all of these scenarios will be a total disaster – but they might be!

While planning your wedding, there will be plenty of big wedding decisions to make. We're talking about the big hitters - your venue, your photographer, the legal stuff. But there will also be things that pop into your mind, things that aren't quite as important but you may struggle to find a straight answer for.  So in this podcast episode, we're covering the 6 things you definitely haven't thought of yet… but you will at some point. I've got the answers for you!

If you are a sustainability-conscious couple looking to limit your carbon footprint with eco-friendly wedding practices and partnering with suppliers who have ethics at the heart of their business… then you're in the right place! This week's guest experts are Hazel from Coill Design, Joanna from SIÓG Botanicals and Joe from Rathsallagh House!

How many couples enter into their wedding planning journey with zero experience and no clue what to do? Most of them! So if you're feeling completely clueless and overwhelmed, you aren't alone. As a former wedding planner, there were a few lessons that even I had to learn by planning my own wedding. So, to prevent you from the stress of figuring it all out on your own, here are 5 things I wish I knew before planning my wedding.

Every week, suppliers and venues attend and host wedding showcases across the country. But what's all the fuss about and should you attend a wedding showcase? If you do, what can you expect to experience and how can you get the most out of your time? We're covering it all in this week's episode!

No matter what happens on your wedding day, something will go wrong. It's just science.  The good news is that if you end up legally married to your partner at the end of the day, you can consider it a success! So no matter what happens, your wedding will be awesome.  But, if anything goes wrong, there's something you can do!

You may be in an awkward situation where people closest to you just don't understand what's important to you. Maybe your bestie keeps recommending suppliers she used for her wedding but just don't match the style you're after. Or maybe your mom keeps overwhelming you with ideas and suggestions that you don't love.  Either way, it's time to advocate for your wedding vision and priorities! In this episode, we're sharing how to do it.

Today, we're having a little bit of fun! I asked you to share your wedding icks with me, and boy, you delivered. I got so many responses from people who have experienced some truly icky things at weddings. I'm joined by a special guest, my husband Glen, and we're chatting through some of the wedding icks you sent in. Along the way, we'll drop some pearls of wisdom and some creative ways to avoid giving your guests – and yourself – the ick. Before we begin: there's no judgement here. We're having a little bit of fun and seeing what people love and don't love about weddings they've attended.

This week we're talking about major wedding timeline mistakes. We're not looking at the timeline for the day (although there is a link to an episode all about that right at the end). Instead, we're looking at the timeline of how you plan your wedding and when you make certain decisions. I promise, this will make wedding planning much less stressful for you!

Wedding traditions aren't for everyone. In fact, if you are feminist, a modern couple or same-sex, some of these traditions simply won't work. So in today's episode, I'm breaking down 7 wedding traditions, why we do them and what you could do instead. If any of these traditions give you the ick, you can just ditch them. Note: if you embrace any of these traditions (I did!), no judgement here either. Your wedding, your way.

There are a few steps to finding the perfect wedding dress! From understanding your silhouette to having a realistic wedding dress shopping timeline and everything in between, we're covering it in this week's podcast episode. A special thank you to this week's guest expert: Dawn from Lamelia Bridal Studio.

There are three groups of people who need to get to your wedding on time: the suppliers (you don't have to worry about them), your wedding party and your guests. Today we're talking about practical things you can do to make sure everyone gets to the wedding on time and there are no delays or hiccups to your schedule.

While planning your wedding, there are several hundred tasks to be done! Getting the timing right is the secret to remaining sane. I've shared many times before that there are some tasks that you must leave for the home stretch (things like creating a seating chart). But there are also tasks that couples tend to put off… today I'm sharing a list of tasks that you absolutely can't leave to the last minute!

If you've ever started creating a wedding budget or enquired about prices, you've probably asked: Why are weddings so expensive? And you're not alone! In fact, you might be tempted to think that suppliers are just adding on the 0000s because you've uttered the word ‘wedding'. Today, joined by two fabulous guests – Caroline and Elaine from HIGM! Help I'm Getting Married – we're going to break it down for you. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly why suppliers charge what they do, how to prioritise the wedding day elements that mean the most to you, and how to save money if things are tight! Join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/helpimgettingmarried

When booking your dream wedding venue there are a few questions you probably have, and some you might not know you should have!! I'm going to list a few questions that you should ask when talking to prospective wedding venues and then I'm going to hand over to three wedding coordinators who are going to share common questions that they are asked (as well as the answers).  A HUGE thank you to this week's wedding experts: The Grayson, Silver Tassie Hotel & Temple House Estate

If you are booking wedding venue site visits, then I've got something very special for you! Whether you have already secured your venue and you want to book in another visit, or you're on the hunt for your dream venue and you're booking visits, then this is for you. I've got 7 guest experts joining me today! They are wedding venue coordinators who really know their stuff and they are helping me to answer your questions about how to nail your wedding venue site visit. This week's guest experts are: Julie from Cloughjordan House, Mary from Diamond Coast Hotel, Tee from Arklow Bay Hotel, Leone from Castleknock Hotel, Raina from The Johnstown Estate, Denise from Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Sligo, and Lynn from Springfield Hotel. 

In this week's podcast episode, I'm breaking down EXACTLY what a wedding MC is, what they do and whether or not you need one. Spoiler: it's more than just making announcements.

With just one week to go, your head is probably spinning! Take a listen to this episode, where I'm breaking down EXACTLY what you need to be thinking about, which tasks to do and what you can delegate. You'll breeze through your final week with as little stress as possible.

Cocktail hour or pre-drinks is that period of time between your ceremony finishing and your reception beginning. During this time, you'll be taking photos with your wedding party and photographer, videographer and content creator… and your guests… well that's up to you.  This week's guest experts:  Lena Freitag: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/lena-freitag-weddings Jeff Stanford Typewriter Poet: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/jeff-stanford-typewriter-poet Alex The Great Hypnotist: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/alex-the-great-hypnotist

If you are trying to decide between assigned seating or letting guests choose where to sit, you're in the right place! By the time it comes to this part of your wedding planning, you've already made hundreds of other decisions. We don't blame you if you're feeling a bit confused and unsure of what to do. In this post, we have cleared defined assigned seating vs no assigned seating, we've listed pros and cons, and offered some helpful alternatives.

Once you've selected your wedding venue, your next task is to consider how you can bring everything together beautifully. This is where wedding table shapes come in! You may be asking yourself: Who is going to sit where? How many tables can we fit in our venue? How many people can fit at each table?

I've made a list of 10 things that everyone forgets to plan for their wedding. And when I say they are make or break, I'm not exaggerating! The great news is that most of these won't cost you anything extra, but will help you to plan a stress-free wedding that's enjoyable for everyone. Dates for 2025: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/important-irish-dates-for-2025/

I'm using my experience as a wedding planner, blogger and podcaster to share the 7 things I'd do before booking any wedding suppliers... as well as which suppliers I'd book first! Helpful links: Sign up with weddingsonline - https://www.weddingsonline.ie/planner/register Download the weddingsonline app - https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/weddingsonline-ie/id6503473769 Join the 'Help! I'm Getting Married' Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/helpimgettingmarried Free 12 month checklist - https://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/your-12-month-wedding-planning-checklist/

If you've ever had a question about wedding ceremonies in Ireland, this is for you! Join us for the final part in this series, where guest experts are answering your most common wedding ceremony questions. This week's theme is all about the legal side of things!  THANK YOU to this week's guest experts: Keane Harley, Brenda O Grady, Lorraine Walker, Brian Twomey, and Steve Rawson! 

If you've ever had a question about wedding ceremonies in Ireland, this is for you! Join us for part 2 of 3, where guest experts are answering your most common wedding ceremony questions. This week's theme is all about wedding ceremony content!  THANK YOU to this week's guest experts: Soulful Ceremonies, Catherine O Connor, Pat Clarke-Browne, Celebrancy by Rebecca, and Celebrant Lisa

If you've ever had a question about wedding ceremonies in Ireland, this is for you! Join us for part 1 of 3, where guest experts are answering your most common wedding ceremony questions. Visit weddingsonline.ie/blog for a written version of this podcast episode, along with links to the guest experts.

Your guests' first glimpse of your wedding is through the invitations! Just like your personalities and style, as a couple and just like your wedding theme, your invitations can be as unique and personalised!  In fact, there are a few elements in each wedding invitation which provide opportunities for couples to add their personal style. A big thank you to Donna from Amore Stationery and Hazel from Coill Design for sharing their expert advice in this episode! 

I had the privilege of interviewing the fabulous Catherine Casey of The Marketing Club. She recently got married and we chatted about her wedding, including some very special personal touches, her horrific wedding dress experience and a piece of advice I've never heard a bride give before (it's good).

Today we're talking about bridal hair care! There are four common mistakes brides tend to make, so I've enlisted the help of two fabulous wedding hair care experts. They're helping me to articulate what these mistakes are, how you can avoid them and what you can do instead. Emma K Creative Styling: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/emma-k-creative-styling Dani Pattison Hair: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/dani-pattison-hair

It's destination wedding planning time! Today we are specifically talking about the planning side of things. I'm joined by two guest experts who know what they're talking about with all things destination weddings.  A HUGE thank you to Moments by Elisa and James of VisitMalta for joining me today!

If you are stressed about your wedding, then this is for you! Whether you're getting married next week, you're about halfway and you're stressed about the budget, or you've just begun and you're overwhelmed by all the tasks to get done… there's something here for everyone! Today we're getting really practical and dealing with wedding anxiety! Wedding Planning Checklist: https://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/your-12-month-wedding-planning-checklist/ Guided Meditation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/442VJtJgkb17hN1MqSyWvP?si=7vLvIudLShCHPfcd6-FjzA&nd=1&dlsi=486aeaca00f14084 How To Be More Present: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4GXW6SzV6WIpX7T5AVD9Ae?si=ip-W6uuMShmTNslgy1u2mg&nd=1&dlsi=39cd0cf569ee4d5e

It's our 100th episode and we're talking about wedding regrets. In fact, we got such a great response to the question ‘Do you have any wedding regrets?‘ that we're sharing a bunch of the most common ones! First up: this episode isn't here to scare you. Instead, you'll learn what other couples regret, and exactly how to plan so you don't have regrets of your own. References: Ep 43: Wedding morning timeline: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7nY58Q40p4RMoqY8ffgS2J?si=ab16e71ac084460e Ep 90: Wedding timing mistakes: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rdw9sZKWtvzRN9agytaDq?si=2d0c500295e9465f Ep 44: Top tier of your wedding cake: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ebSp8he5IRRdFHgWN1qdQ?si=ed88011ed17c4eaf Ep 50: Wedding cake sizing guide: https://open.spotify.com/episode/28AsuNnTLtAMePY47v1RCD?si=0e8b03c4835e4113 Ep 79: All the wedding photos you'll ever need: https://open.spotify.com/episode/74765HCn3T09rKIzctWKOE?si=d368b61f91eb4b9c

Oof, this is a tricky one to navigate. If you're wondering what to do if you hate your bridesmaids dress, then this is for you! First up: it's usually the bride who chooses what everybody will wear and often this is a representation of the theme of the wedding and the bride's style. So, keep in mind that the dress usually isn't meant to highlight you. Brides always go out of their way to pick something that's flattering on most body types but sometimes you just hate the dress! It may be that your style and the bride's are different and the dress just isn't something you love. Or it might be that the dress doesn't fit you properly and it's actually unwearable.

Here's what makes a wedding feel cheap: When you try to replicate a big, expensive wedding and make cheap swaps. I'll walk you through some things I've seen couples do, and some things you might be tempted to do… I'll tell you why it feels cheap and what you can do instead!

The best thing about this wedding trend is that it gets guests involved in the action!!! It's all about creating moments where guests are involved and not passively watching the wedding happen around them.  Today I'm going to share some really cute and creative ways you can host interactive wedding entertainment.

The First Dance is a beautiful moment where you dance together in front of your loved ones. But it's not for everyone!  Maybe you don't like all eyes on you, maybe you have two left feet or maybe you just want to do something different! Check out these first dance alternatives…

Finding your Dream Wedding Venue is one of the most important factors in planning your wedding.  The venue will determine your whole wedding vibe, look and feel you are after, for this reason, you must sit down and discuss with each other exactly the type of wedding you want and atmosphere you wish to create.  You also need to decide on guest numbers, and you need a defined budget set in place before you start. Once you've thoroughly discussed this then you should be ready to start the exciting first step – Finding Your Dream Venue! At the end of this episode, I'll share a brief list of ways that you will know that you've found ‘The One' - so make sure you listen to the end!!!

This episode is a little different, because it was filmed LIVE at the weddingsonline Awards Gala Dinner earlier this month. I chatted with some of Ireland's best wedding suppliers and asked for their top tips for couples. So if you've ever wanted to hear golden nuggets of mind-blowing wedding tips from the pros, then this is it! A HUGE thank you to our fabulous suppliers for revealing their top tips: Lyrath Estate Hotel, Ballykealey House, Sensational Events, Bryan McDonnell and weddingsonline's own Dearbhaile Shiels!

If you are neurodivergent, it doesn't mean you can't have the wedding of your dreams!  When we picture weddings, we often have visions of a big, lavish affair with lots of beautiful decor and a celebration fit for royalty. You might feel like this is the type of wedding you have to have, and maybe it's what you want. But maybe the idea of the wedding itself is causing too much stress to bear.  Maybe it's the fear of being the centre of attention, perhaps you have sensory needs or social anxiety about crowds… Well, the wedding is a moment to commemorate the day you've chosen to exchange vows and commit yourself to your partner. So you can get married the way you want to!  A BIG thank you to this week's guest experts: Edel O'Flynn - https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/edel-oflynn-registered-solemniser#media Entwined Wedding Videography - https://www.weddingsonline.ie/suppliers/entwined-wedding-videography

If you are choosing to do a First Dance at your wedding, then this episode is for you! There are a few common First Dance mistakes that couples make - but you don't have to. Take a listen to these mistakes and exactly how you can avoid them…