The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast

When it comes to wedding planning, there are a lot of decisions that you and your fiance will have to make as soon as you get engaged. But with those decisions comes a lot of opinions...and expectations...and judgment...from your family, your friends, society and even yourselves! On today's episode, I'm diving into five big wedding planning choices you will be making and how to not feel guilty about choosing what's right for you and your spouse-to-be! 

Heads up: This is going to be a bit of a controversial episode! In this one, I'm coming for your koozies, your engraved tumblers and your custom, matching robes. IMHO a lot of traditional wedding party gifts are trash and as the incredible bride or groom that you are, I know you can do better. Give your closest loved ones something they actually want and take the stress out of this part of wedding planning! 

Money is one of the biggest things couples fight over...both during wedding planning and marriage. And it's also the number one cause of divorce! Figuring out how you and your partner want to manage your money together and sort out your personal finances is so important. Tune in to hear my tips for the first money conversation you should have, the things to consider when deciding how to split your money, and why you need to have a monthly money meeting! 

While I loved my wedding day, mistakes were definitely made in the planning process! Learn from my wedding planning mistakes so you can avoid them on your wedding day! 

It's so easy to spend your entire wedding day in your head. After months and months of wedding planning, you may be too busy worrying about the reception or regretting your outfit choice to remember to stay present. But you want to be in the moment on your wedding day! Tune into this episode to hear my top tips for staying present and grounded on your wedding day so you don't miss a special moment! 

Tired of the same old bridal showers? Don't know what the point of an engagement party is? Definitely don't want to go to Vegas for your bachelorette? Not sure you need a rehearsal dinner?

Then you're in the right place! Today's episode of The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast is all about flipping all of your pre-wedding events on their heads. Throw out tradition, think creatively and host events that really feel like you. 

The Post Wedding Blues: That sadness that sets in when you wake up the morning after your wedding and say, "That's it? It's just over?" The so-called 'best day of your life' has ended and now you're upset about it. So, how do you navigate your way through those post wedding blues? On today's episode of The Unconventional Wedding Planning podcast I'm sharing 8 ways to help combat the PWBs and actually wake up with a smile on your face in a post-wedding world! 

Is your partner dragging their feet when it comes to wedding planning? Has your fiance barely lifted a finger while you've been drowning under a mountain of wedding tasks? Are you starting to grow resentful of having to do it all yourself?

I believe both partners should be 100% responsible for planning their own wedding. After all, it's a day for both of you, so both of you should put in the work. But that looks different in every relationship. What kind of involvement are you looking for from your fiance? How do you have that conversation with them? What do you do if they don't want to be more involved in the wedding? Tune in to find out! 

PS: Thanks to befan526 for suggesting this episode topic! 

Are you an introvert planning a wedding? Do you hate attention, dread hanging out with large groups of people and shy away from the spotlight? Same. And while it may feel like the wedding industry is not geared towards people like us, there are lots of ways to create a wedding that is introvert-friendly and not spend your whole engagement worried about all of the people involved in your wedding day. 

PS: Thanks to Megan S for suggesting this podcast episode topic! Want to suggest a topic or leave me some feedback? Let me know in the Q&A box (only available on Spotify). 

Want to have the best honeymoon ever after your epic wedding? Let me help you make that happen! We just got back from our 3-week honeymoon (want to know where we went? You'll have to listen to find out!), and it was awesome. But we definitely messed up on a few things. This week I'm sharing our honeymoon story plus 10 tips to help you have the most amazing honeymoon ever. Happy wedding planning and happy honeymoon planning! 

I've talked a lot about wedding regrets on The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast and now... it's time to admit my own! On today's episode I'm sharing 12 regrets I have from my wedding day, looking back now that I'm married and the day is behind us. All in all, I loved my day and these regrets don't keep me up at night. But if I had to do it all again, there are a few things I'd change. I hope by sharing my regrets you don't make the same mistakes I did and learn from my advice! 

Wedding planning can be STRESSFUL! And while I can't eliminate the stress entirely (unless you throw the whole plan out the window and go elope today which...I definitely considered!), I believe these 7 tips will help all engaged couples focus on what matters (hint: your marriage!), cut down on wed stress, and enjoy the wedding planning process a little bit more!  

We made it down the aisle despite... my dress not fitting, needing to fire and hire a new officiant and photographer, getting a visit from Aunt Flo and 11 more disasters that all happened in the few weeks before our wedding day! Wedding planning is full of disaster-prone situations and odds are you'll face the toughest ones just before your wedding day. But you will make it through and still have the most incredible wedding! Plus, every disaster is just a funny story to tell afterwards, right? 

On today's episode I'm sharing 10 things I wish I had known before my wedding day. And now that you know these things before your wedding day, you can learn from my mistakes and have an even more amazing day! Happy wedding planning to all of the engaged folks, brides and grooms to be, out there! 

In today's episode of The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast I'm breaking down my actual wedding budget using the real numbers from my wedding! I'm sharing what I originally budgeted, how much I ended up spending, what I splurged on and where I saved, and how my numbers measure up to what wedding media tells us we "should" be spending. Whether you're planning a low budget wedding or something more luxurious, hearing the real numbers always helps. I think you'll find lots of money saving and money savvy tips in this episode! 

We did it: WE'RE MARRIED! On today's episode of the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast I'm sharing our complete wedding story - from wedding weekend events to ceremony details we loved and everything in between. I know this is a longer episode but I hope you don't mind me gushing all about our big day. And I hope your big day is just as magical! 

PS: Just because I'm married now doesn't mean the podcast is going anywhere. I've still got lots of great episodes to share with you! 

The wedding comparison game: A fun little game all engaged couples play when they compare their wedding to every wedding they attend or see on social media in the months leading up to their big day. Toxic thoughts include: "Why didn't we get the 3-foot high centerpieces? They look so good" and "Thank god we went for the chicken instead of this awful fish" and "A sparkler exit? Now I want one!"

Whether your wedding "wins" or "loses" when you compare, it doesn't feel great. You're inviting in toxic thoughts and it's an ugly place to be leading up to your own wedding. Stop comparing your wedding to everyone else's with the six tips in today's episode! 

This week on the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast I'm back with 10 MORE wedding traditions you can skip. From parent/child dances to who pays for the wedding, this is a list of items that people are begging engaged folks to just retire already. I'll go through the list, give my take and hopefully give you something to think about. Do these traditions work for you? Will you be including them in your wedding?

This is part 2 of last week's episode. If you missed last week's, be sure to head back and listen to it! 

Based on: https://www.buzzfeed.com/asiawmclain/people-are-confessing-wedding-traditions-they-hate 

What wedding traditions are people so over that they are begging you to skip them? Find out in today's episode of the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast! And find out whether I agree that these traditions should be skipped, plus some food for thought on whether you should skip them or include them. 

Based on: https://www.buzzfeed.com/asiawmclain/people-are-confessing-wedding-traditions-they-hate

Stay tuned for part two next week! 

Trying to make your wedding more feminist and inclusive? Tired of all this "man and wife" and "honor and obey" stuff? Refuse to wear a big white dress or call anyone your "bride tribe?" Then this episode is for you! And even if you are wearing white and changing your last name, there are still lots of things you can do to make your wedding more feminist and inclusive - which just means a more welcoming, equitable and loving environment for you, your spouse and all your loved ones! 

Wedding planning ain't easy. If you haven't had to make a hard decision as an engaged person planning a wedding...it's coming! Whether it's cutting your guest list, going over budget, changing venues, firing vendors or dealing with changing pandemic restrictions, hard decisions have to be made. Tune into this week's episode to listen to the story of my latest hard decision (finding a new officiant and photographer 27 days before our wedding!!!) and the lessons you can take with you for your next tough call. 

After months (or years!) of planning, you've finally made it. Today is your wedding day!

If today is your wedding day, start the day off with this 12 minute episode that will get you in the perfect mindset for your big day ahead. Deep breath. You've made it. And you only have one job today: get married. As long as you do that, your day was a success! With this episode, I want you to be as present as possible for every moment of your big day. Happy wedding day! 

PS: Even if you're not getting married today, give this episode a listen! It will remind you what your wedding day should feel like and help you make the right decisions in your wedding planning. 

On today's episode of The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast we're diving into live streaming! Even if you're not getting married in pandemic times, you may want to consider a live stream. It's a great way to connect with guests all around the world.

We're chatting about: 

• Why you might want to live stream your wedding
• Free VS professional live stream options
• 3 big mistakes you don't want to make (that I've seen as a virtual guest!)
• How to share your virtual wedding with your guests
• Our DIY live stream wedding set up (that costs less than $100!)
• Last minute considerations on the big day

PS: I'm recording this episode about a month out from my own wedding. I'll record an update if our live stream doesn't go well! 

Based on a recent Insider article, I'm breaking down 11 things the experts say you can skip at your wedding reception. Should you really skip them? What are the pros and cons? And what can you do instead? When it comes to your wedding reception, there really are no rules so at the end of the day, you do you! 

Happy wedding planning, engaged couples! 

Article: https://www.insider.com/things-you-should-never-have-at-your-wedding-reception-2021-8

We've talked budget saving tips on the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast before but today we're getting DRASTIC about it. If you want to have the ultimate budget wedding, tune in for these tips that are sure to save you a lot of money, but aren't for the faint of heart. 

Whether you call it a bachelorette, a hen do or a stagette - or you're having a bachelor party, stag night or buck and doe - I think it's time we admit that these pre-wedding parties have gotten out of control. Remember when we used to just go out for drinks and dancing with our best friends? Now it's a week off work, flights to Mexico, five-star villas, all new outfits and more. These parties have become A LOT. While I'm all for having fun with friends, we need to reassess why we have these parties and figure out how to make them more affordable, less stressful and more true to us. 

Don't worry - I'm not going all woo-woo on you. 

Today's episode of TUWPP is all about wedding planning mantras. These are the things you should keep in mind while planning a wedding to help you focus on your goals, prioritize your marriage and ensure your planning aligns with your values. It's not all tablecloths and taffeta! Sometimes it's important to zoom out and focus on the aspects of a wedding and marriage that are most important to you. 

AKA: How to actually spend time with your spouse on your wedding day! So many newlyweds say they barely got to see their spouse on their wedding day because they were too busy talking to the caterer, catching up with relatives, or getting ready with the wedding party. So I've found 10 moments throughout the wedding day for you and your spouse to actually spend some time together and celebrate your marriage, just the two of you. 

Welcome back to a minisode (mini episode) of the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast! Today we're answering the question: Do you need to have a wedding rehearsal and/or rehearsal dinner? Find out my thoughts on this week's episode! 

Back in episode 50 I shared 9 common wedding planning regrets and how to avoid them. So for episode 70, I'm back with 11 more regrets you should watch out for on your wedding day. We're covering everything from long reception lines and uncomfortable heels to DJs who don't have your song and bad photographers. Tune in to make sure you avoid these wedding planning regrets! 

Based on this article: https://www.buzzfeed.com/lizmrichardson/wedding-day-regrets

Back with part two of your wedding planning checklist and timeline. We're picking up where we left off with everything you're "supposed" to do from six months until the day of your wedding. Along the way I'm offering my advice and perspective, as well as where I'm at with my wedding planning so you can feel better about yours! 

Welcome to your wedding planning checklist and timeline! On today's episode I'm taking you through what a typical wedding planning checklist and timeline says you should be doing, from 12 to 6 months out from your wedding. Along the way I'll let you know where I'm at with my planning and whether or not I think the regular wedding media has this checklist right or wrong. 

This episode of the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast is all about VOWS! From how to decide if you want to write your own to how to write them and delivery on the big day, this episode is going to cover it all. Grab your fiance or fiancee and listen up before you start writing your own wedding vows! 

In this episode:

• How to decide whether you want personal vows or traditional vows
• Combo vows! Perfect for those who want vows that are personalized but not written from scratch
• When to write your vows
• Where to write your vows
• Vow writing date night
• The vow writing process + writing tips
• Why you need to practice your vows
• How to deliver your vows on the big day
• How to save your vows after your wedding

When your wedding planning just feels stressful, chaotic and like way too much work, it's time to focus on the FUN side of wedding planning. Tune in to hear 12 fun wedding planning tasks that you and your partner can do together! That's not to say your fiance is off the hook for the not so fun side of wedding planning, but you can reel them in with these fun tasks first! 

Tune in to hear:

• 12 fun wedding planning tasks you two can do together, from cake tasting to practicing your first kiss!
• How to make all wedding planning tasks fun
• What to do when you just need a break
• And my soapbox rant about grooms who think it's okay to give an opinion but not help with the planning! 

Going over your wedding budget and over-spending SUCKS and can make you feel super guilty. But we don't want to spend our entire wedding planning journey feeling horrible and guilty every time we have to pay a deposit or swipe our credit card. Tune in for four ways to help you deal with the guilt so you can enjoy your wedding planning experience, but still spend responsibly. 

Hiring friends to be your wedding vendors (or friendors) isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure, they know you well and will probably do it for a discount, but that comes at a cost. Tune in as I share the dangers of hiring friends for professional jobs for your wedding, and some tips if you still want to hire a friend or if you need help turning one down. Happy wedding planning! 

In today's episode: 

• 4 reasons why hiring your friends as vendors is a bad idea
• What happens if you're not happy with your friend's service?
• How to turn down a friendor
• Other ways to honor your friends
• The best way to still hire a friendor without ruining your wedding (or worse, your friendship!)

Planning a wedding is tough enough but now add in family dynamics? Yikes! What is the best way to involve your in-laws in your wedding planning? How do you work through differences and reach a compromise? When can you force your fiance to deal with it? Why is it easier to call your mom than your mother-in-law? Tune in and find out! 

Turn down free money? Yeah, maybe. On today's episode of The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast I'm diving into 11 reasons why you should pay for your own wedding, even if it means turning down your parents' contribution. In case you're not totally convinced, I'm also sharing some budget wedding tips for how to compromise with your parents and work with them on planning your wedding budget. Listen up, engaged folks! Money problems are the #1 cause of divorce so this is a must-listen episode! 

So you're planning to go on a honeymoon...congrats! As a big travel lover, the honeymoon is one of (the most?) important part of my wedding planning. On today's episode I'm sharing 15 things you need to know before you book a honeymoon. Whether you love travel or have never been on a plane, you'll want to listen to this episode. There's a perfect honeymoon out there for every engaged couple! 

Uh oh! You made a decision about your wedding and now you've changed your mind. But it's too late! What do you do when you have wedding regrets? 

Wedding planning is a tough job and you're likely going to make a call now that you will regret by the time your wedding day rolls around. But hindsight is 20/20! Whether you decided to postpone, downsize or go virtual and now regret it, or you bought a dress or booked a venue that you now hate, here's how to deal with wedding regrets. 

Have you watched the latest wedding show on Netflix, Marriage or Mortgage? If so, you're going to want to tune in while I dish about the show - my overall thoughts on the premise, whether each couple made the right decision, and where the couples are now! I start off with a spoiler-free discussion of the show so if you're not sure if you want to watch, tune into this episode to get a little taste.

The big wedding planning question: to DIY or not to DIY? We've been told that DIY projects are what makes a budget bride and that if you want to save money and have a personalized wedding, you need to bust out the glue gun and get on Pinterest. But are DIY projects worth it? When is it a good time to DIY? And can you enlist your wedding party to help? 

Trying to plan a wedding during a pandemic is no joke. But with restrictions changing almost daily, when do you decide to pull the plug? When do you make a call on whether your wedding is going forward as is? When do you decide to elope, downsize, postpone or change vendors? Tune into this episode of The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast to find out! 

This episode of the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast is all about that awkward conversation...when you have to tell someone they're not invited to your wedding. Listen in as we chat about who you need to have this conversation with, how to stick to your guns, and exactly what to say. Seriously, you can copy this word for word! If you have to tell someone they're not invited to your wedding, listen to this episode for a confidence boost and practical tips. Good luck! 

Today's episode of the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast is all about wedding invitations. And because this isn't a podcast about etiquette or tradition, we're not going to go over how to formally invite people or how many inner envelopes you need to have. This episode is all about the point of invites, how to save money on your invites and how to modernize them. Plus, the one traditional aspect I actually think is worth keeping! 

Sometimes wedding planning feels frivolous. Or silly. Or ridiculous. Or just unnecessary. Especially when something big and real and awful happens in our lives, it can be hard to muster the same enthusiasm for napkin colors or invitation font choices. So what do you do when you're dealing with something heavy in the middle of planning your wedding? Whether it's the death of a loved one or a lost job, it can be hard to keep going with your wedding plans when your life is shook up and put into perspective. Listen along for my tips on how to keep going, how to plan without guilt and why weddings really are meaningful. And if you are in this situation, my heart goes out to you! 

If you're planning an unconventional or non-traditional wedding, sometimes you need to break the news to the people in your life ahead of time. How do you tell dad he won't be walking the bride down the aisle? How do you tell mom no one wants her hand-me-down veil? How do you let your best friend know you won't be having a bachelor party? Listen in for my tips on how to break the news of your unconventional wedding and how to stick to your guns and have the wedding you and your fiance want! 

So what happens if you're a bride and you don't want your father to give you away? Do you have to have your dad walk you down the aisle and hand you to your groom? What if you're two brides or two grooms...then what do you do? Tune into this episode of the Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast to hear my reframe on the aisle walk and other options if the patriarchal idea of being "given away" just doesn't sit right with you. Plus, tips for how to break the news to your dad if he's always envisioned walking his little girl down the aisle! 

This week's episode is a mini update on my own wedding planning: We set the date! I'm sharing where we're at with our wedding plans, when our wedding is (fingers crossed!) going to take place and how setting the date has totally reignited my wedding planning excitement. I hope you have something exciting to celebrate in your wedding planning this week!