Your I Do Crew: A Wedding Planning Podcast
By Your I Do Crew
Your I Do Crew: A Wedding Planning PodcastDec 12, 2018
Navigating Your Wedding Ceremony, with Officiant Amber!
139 - I'm super excited to share this conversation with you! It's not often that I get to "talk shop" with other wedding officiants, so it's a real treat when I do. Especially one as knowledgeable as today's guest, wedding officiant Amber Olsen. Officiant Amber is located in North Dakota, and has recently self-published a book jam-packed full of information for wedding planning couples, with lots of wedding industry insider knowledge! She wrote it from the perspective of the one person who intimately knows a couple's ceremony inside and out, the officiant.
Officiant Amber has teamed up with American Marriage Ministries to share her insight and wedding planning advice with you in Navigating Your Wedding Ceremony! This valuable guide covers everything from wedding day logistics, writing your own vows, how and where to meet ideal wedding vendors, to obtaining and completing your marriage license – and more.
With years of experience as a professional wedding officiant, Officiant Amber knows exactly what goes into creating exceptional wedding ceremonies. Whether you are a first-time officiant, or planning your own wedding, Navigating Your Wedding Ceremony will help you plan a celebration that’s one-of-a-kind and memorable.
It includes:
• Wedding Day Emergency Kit Checklist
• Wedding Vendor Questions Guide
• How to Change Your Name
And you can purchase it here at these links:
https://theamm.org/store/products/navigating-your-wedding-ceremony
https://www.officiantamber.com/navigatingyourceremony
And make sure to follow Amber online, at www.officiantamber.com, or by following @OfficiantAmber on Facebook or Instagram!
#youridocrew #officiantamber #weddingofficiant #weddingpodcast #amm #americanmarriageministries #navigatingyourweddingceremony
To Postpone, or Not to Postpone? With Regina Burns, of Rise Event Production
138: As the poet said, "To Postpone or Not to Postpone, that is the question" - or something like that! As we round out a full year of dealing with the global pandemic we've come to know as COVID-19, the wedding and events industry is still struggling to keep up with ever-changing restrictions and guidelines. And the ultimate question that keeps falling to couples is: do we postpone our wedding, or totally change our vision for our special day? It's a huge question, and it can put a tremendous amount of stress on the couple, their relationship, and even their family and friends! Enter today's expert, Regina Burns. Regina is the founder and CEO of Rise Event Production, and she is an incredible wedding and event planner. Actually, her website calls her "the Production Queen", so let's just call her 'Your Highness'! She has come to visit us today, to share her passion and compassion with our listeners. It's clear how much she cares about putting on an amazing event, that will absolutely knock the socks off of any guest - but she is also keenly aware of her clients' state of mind. She knows that couples are getting burnt out from all of the frustrations of the past year, and she is here to preach the gospel of self care! So plug in your headphones, pull up a seat, and grab a glass of delicious lemonade! (don't worry, that will make sense later)
Rise Event Production is a full-service event production company specializing in digital, live, and hybrid events worldwide! They produce corporate and non-profit meetings and events, as well as private/social events and are very active in the luxury wedding space! Their mission is to provide curated event and marketing services that are imaginative, impactful, and have the power to rise above and beyond client expectations. They bring innovation, artistry, and endless laughter to their client's journey with us.
Regina Burns has carried her genuine passion for events with her from a very young age, where she was introduced into the industry through her late Mother's production company. It was there where Regina would find inspiration, fall in love with the industry, and discover exactly what she was born to do. With a dream of becoming an entrepreneurial Event Coordinator, Regina began freelancing in her home state of Massachusetts while enrolled in design school. Upon completion, she moved to California to work alongside some of the country's most elite event professionals. Regina has produced luxury weddings and high-profile special events in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco. It was through her time in California where Regina came to realize that her dream of following in her mother's footsteps was on the horizon. When she traveled back to the East Coast in 2018, Regina brought with her extensive experience, industry knowledge and that fire that has always been inside of her for the official launch of her business; Rise Event production! Regina holds a trinity of certifications in Wedding Planning, Event and Hospitality Management, and Event Design and Styling. To pair these credentials with her innate ability for human connection is the perfect combination. Regina's primary focus is to form the unbreakable bond that exists between coordinator and client; one full of trust, loyalty and endless laughter. With her vibrant energy and warm personality, a journey with Regina is unlike any other. She will bring innovation, creativity and one hell of a good time to an event of any kind!
https://riseeventproduction.com/
https://www.instagram.com/riseeventproduction
https://www.facebook.com/riseeventproduction
#deliciouslemonade #funkylemons #reginaburns #postponedwedding #covidwedding #weddingplanningpodcast #riseeventproduction #youridocrew
How to Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Indecision while Planning your Wedding in a post-COVID19 Pinterest-fueled World. Ft. Kate Lemos Brown, of LoveWell Weddings
137 - How do you cope with the stress, anxiety, and indecision that can come with wedding planning? Especially in a post-COVID19, Pinterest-obsessed culture? The first answer is to Love Well. The second is to find the tools that can help you prioritize, systematize, and de-traumatize your wedding decision-making process! That's where our guest, Kate Lemos Brown, comes in. Kate is here to help you figure out how to start planning your wedding the RIGHT way, to make it as stress-free as possible. You should feel excitement on your wedding day, not relief that the planning phase is over!
Kate Lemos Brown is a wedding designer & coach, and the co-owner of LoveWell Weddings, a wedding planning & photography company out of Central New York. She and her husband Ty are a decade in the industry, exclusively working with couples to create unique, timeless and meaningful celebrations of marriage. Kate is the proud mama of Isaiah & Johnna and their loveable pup Charlie Parker.
Click here for the special planning worksheet! -> http://thelovewellmethod.com/your-i-do-crew
https://www.instagram.com/lovewell/
https://thelovewellmethod.com/
#lovewellweddings #thelovewellmethod #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #weddingpodcast #youridocrewpodcast #youridocrew #podcastlife #weddingtips
What to expect (and NOT expect) from your wedding planner! Featuring Leah Weinberg, Color Pop Events
136 - Things come up all the time during the wedding planning process that need to be dealt with. And the big question usually ends up being: "Ok, who's going to handle this?" Some couples like to DIY everything, while others delegate. That's why we brought in Leah Weinberg, the Owner & Creative Director of Color Pop Events in New York City, to help us talk about why it's so important to figure out what to expect (and what NOT to expect) from your Wedding Planner! Sometimes couples just don't know what their planner's roles are. Leah talks about what couples can expect from their wedding planner, expectations that the wedding planner has of the couple, and what the couple should do if they want a new planner.
Color Pop Events is a wedding planning company that lives in the logistics, providing an unmatched focus on event details for clients. Celebrating seven years of business, Leah continues to leverage the organization skills, calm communication style, and ability to multi-task she initially developed as a commercial real estate lawyer in her previous career.
Leah's colorful work and party planning tips have been published online and in print with Vogue, the New York Times, People, CNBC, Bravo, Martha Stewart, and The Knot, among others. Recently, Leah has been recognized as a 20 on the Rise winner by Honeybook and the Rising Tide Society, one of the 25 Young Event Pros to Watch by Special Events Magazine, and one of BizBash's Top 500 Event Pros in the US.
A 2020 WeddingPro Educator with The Knot + WeddingWire, Leah travels throughout the country sharing insight with her peers regionally, as well as at national conferences such as ALT Summit, NACE Experience, and The Special Event.
https://www.colorpopevents.com/
https://www.facebook.com/colorpopevents
https://www.instagram.com/colorpopevents/
#weddingplanner #weddingplanning #weddingpodcast #colorpopevents #youridocrew
They're Playing Our Song: Take your wedding music to the next level, with a custom love song about YOU. ft Allie Chipkin, Give Love Originals
135: Some couples have a special song, and some don't. But how many couples have a song that was literally written ABOUT THEM by an award-winning singer-songwriter? This week's guest is changing the game when it comes to wedding music, by creating uniquely personal, romantic, and quirky love songs for couples. And the couples are using them in so many ways - in the ceremony, at the reception, as their first dance, or even as an anniversary gift!
Allie Chipkin is a critically acclaimed folk singer-songwriter from the Hudson Valley who has recently returned to NY after 4 years in Boulder, CO. Her original songs have received recognition in notable competitions like the Telluride Bluegrass Contest, and as a singer, she has had the honor of performing the National Anthem for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Allie is the founder and CEO of Give Love Originals (GLO), a company that writes and records custom love songs for couples on their wedding day.
www.Instagram.com/giveloveoriginals
www.facebook.com/giveloveoriginals
#giveloveoriginals #alliechipkin #weddingsongs #weddingmusic #weddingpodcast #engagedpodcast #weddingplanning
What's the Wedding Collective? And how can a Designer de-stress your wedding planning? (feat. Neela Asaadi, Asaadi Graphics)
134 - So what is the Wedding Collective? It's an amazing virtual roundtable for engaged couples, hosted monthly by Neela Asaadi (Asaadi Graphics, NYC). Neela started these open forums as a way to provide a different kind of support for newly engaged couples, struggling to plan their wedding. Couples can get advice from, and share experiences with, other couples who are currently fighting the same battles. This monthly series builds a safe space with educational takeaways from a wedding industry professionals and other brides and grooms.
We also dig into Neela's primary business, Wedding Design! As the head Creative Director of a boutique NYC design studio, she uses a holistic approach with clients in a collaborative process that goes beyond just graphic design. She is ready to conceptualize, strategize and execute to ensure that her couples' visions come to life.
- www.asaadigraphics.com
- www.instagram.com/asaadigraphics
- https://the-wedding-collective.eventbrite.com/
- https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/asaadi-graphics-new-york-ny-2020901
#weddingcollective #asaadigraphics #weddingdesign #stressfreewedding #weddingpodcast #engagedpodcast #weddingplanning
Bridal Boudoir Photography - a sexy wedding day gift! With Mike Cassidy
133 - Welcome back! We are returning from our COVID-induced hiatus by covering a topic we've never touched before! What is probably the most personal, sensual gift that you could give your fiancé on the morning of your wedding day? A boudoir photobook! This is a unique take on the wedding-day-gift trend, and can be a way for brides to really up the ante, as many couples look to give each other intensely meaningful gifts on the morning of their wedding day. But how do you go about finding a boudoir photographer? What should you look for? What should you watch out for? Luckily, our guest today is Mike Cassidy, a New Jersey-based veteran boudoir photographer; Mike is here to answer our questions (yes, even Atonn's silly ones) and de-mystify the process of deciding whether or not a boudoir photoshoot is right for you.
Mike Cassidy is a boudoir photographer from New Jersey who is passionate about both photography and helping his clients to remain invested in themselves. While his clients receive an incredible experience and beautiful one-of-a-kind photos, the real service he provides is the joy and heart filling experience every time his images are viewed. Mike learned long ago, there is a lot more to boudoir photography than what immediately meets the eye, and it’s this ability to make women feel unique and beautiful which is the real reward in operating a boudoir business.
Mike started over ten years ago, and has photographed hundreds of women. Throughout the course of guiding these clients through the boudoir process, Mike discovered there were way too many women who lacked accurate information about boudoir, and even worse, some had less than satisfactory experiences with previous photographers due to this issue. He knew he needed to take action. Mike has become an advocate and resource of “real” authentic information about boudoir photography to help others make smart choices when choosing a photographer, so everyone can enjoy boudoir and have a positive experience.
http://www.mikecassidyphotography.com/
https://www.instagram.com/michaelcassidy/
https://www.facebook.com/MikeCassidyPhotography
#boudoir #njboudoir #photographer #boudoirphotography #boudoirinspiration #boudoirstudio #bridalboudoir #bride
How to Find LGBTQ+ Inclusive Vendors (Pride 2020), ft. Brittny Drye of Love Inc. Magazine
132: Happy Pride, Crew! While the wedding industry has come a long way in the past few years, for those in the LGBTQ+ community, it can still be a difficult task to find inclusive, affirming, and like-minded wedding planners and vendors. That's where Brittny Drye comes in. Brittny is the editor of Love Inc. Magazine, the leading equality-minded wedding blog and print publication, She is here to help and guide us in ways that LGBTQ+ couples can find the right wedding vendors for them, by knowing what to look out for, and where to look - as well as some of the questions that couples should be asking their vendors!
Brittny Drye is the founder and editor-in-chief of Love Inc., the leading equality-minded wedding blog and print publication. Her inclusive efforts have been celebrated by the New York Times, Forbes, The Advocate, OUT Magazine, Refinery29, NY Daily News, Cosmopolitan, and more. She is a founding editor of the Aisle Society and a member of the 2018-19 North American Advisory Board for the International Academy of Wedding & Events and a 2019 Knot Pro Educator. Forbes has touted her as “The Woman Lead the Way to a More Inclusive Wedding Industry". Officially on the rise as a leading disruptor in the event space, she's bringing the next generation of inclusive education to the special events industry.
Website: http://loveincmag.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveIncMag
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveincmag/
Don't let wedding planning ruin your marriage! With Ryan Kluttz of A Mindful Bride
131: We're back! We had to take a short break, but Your I Do Crew has been diligently interviewing EVEN MORE experts! Today, we've got Ryan Kluttz, of A Mindful Bride. Ryan helps brides who are freaking out about the wedding to be able to reduce stress and shift focus to planning the EPIC love story that is their marriage. We talked about how easy it is to lose sight of the important things during stressful times - like when you're planning a wedding! It can be hard to remember that the wedding is just the first step in the journey of a marriage, so it's vital to periodically reset your focus back on the long-term goals of building a healthy relationship and marriage. Ryan shared a number of strategies that can help any couple who is struggling during difficult times, to re-center themselves and remember what really matters.
She even created a free download for our listeners! Go to http://www.amindfulbride.co/youridocrew to download it today!
Ryan is a former wedding stationer turned Bridal Empowerment Educator, she saw all of her brides stressed at some level and realized there was not enough focus put on the marriage in a lot of cases. She believes that marriage should be an adventure and not be the start of “settling down.” She’s been married for almost 13 years. She and her husband have 2 young daughters and a mini golden doodle puppy. Together, they have hopped around the country living their life how they want to.
Website: www.amindfulbride.co
Instagram: @amindfulbride.co
Could now be the perfect time for a Microwedding? With Keenda Sisouphanh (Events by Keenda)
0130 - Everyone's wedding plans are changing right now, so is this the perfect time to re-imagine your perfect wedding? Since so many celebrations are being rescheduled or moved, due to COVID-19, now is an ideal time to re-evaluate the size and scope of your wedding, and to potentially opt for something a little more intimate. After all, this is probably the only time where no-one will be angry about getting bumped from the guest list! To help us out with this discussion, we brought in the charming Keenda Sisouphanh, a wedding planner and designer who specializes in intimate weddings and elopements. She is here to encourage couples to think about how they might want to amend their plans in light of the current pandemic. Keenda is the Creative Director of Events by Keenda, creating design-led intimate weddings for creative couples and wanderlust lovers around the world.
She graduated with a BA(Hons) in Cultural and Media studies and went on to work at BBC London and Disruptive Films Elements before entering the world of events for the last 13 years. She has a background in education and not for profit organisations, having worked at several Royal colleges as well as overseeing events for private clients across the UK including hosting club nights at Mango Lounge Cocktail bar.
You can find Events by Keenda featured in Mrs P&P, BLOVED, Coco Wedding Venues, Magpie wedding, Bridal Musings, Bespoke bride wedding blogs and in Your London Wedding Magazine. Keenda has also shared her expert tips as a guest blogger for Cutting Edge Brides, Wed Inspire and in Blushing Brides box. Her wedding planning business has also had a spotlight feature on Planning Redefined of whom she trained with.
As a female entrepreneur, she founded Fempreneurs Offline and was featured in Anne Louise Magazine telling her story about how she started her wedding business and why she wants to build a community for fellow female entrepreneurs to follow their passion and dream job.
As a Londoner, Keenda loves nothing more than to explore what the city has to offer. A self-confessed foodie, you will find her eating out a lot! Her hobbies include ballroom dancing, Argentine tango and acroyoga. She loves brunch, a good afternoon tea and gin o’clock and is definitely no stranger to karaoke.
www.facebook.com/eventsbykeenda
www.instagram.com/eventsbykeenda
www.facebook.com/fempreneursofflinelondon
To order, or buy off-the-rack? Wedding dress expert Roberta Noronha (the Bridal Finery) helps you choose!
0129: Roberta Noronha is the Co-Owner of The Bridal Finery, a bridal shop just outside of Orlando FL, and she is bringing her incredible knowledge to the table, to share her experiences and knowledge both as a female business owner and an expert on wedding dresses!
Roberta discovered her love of bridal fashion by creating custom looks for uniquely beautiful brides. Through her experience in the bridal industry, she understood how attractive it would be for a bride to have every couture designer under one roof. As Co-Owner of The Bridal Finery, she is able to grant her brides access to a one-of-a-kind designer gown, straight from the runway. By connecting with esteemed designers, she is able to select the highest quality gowns in couture bridal fashion for her brides. As a mother of two daughters, she believes that finding a wedding gown should be remarkable and memorable, and she is committed to giving an exceptional experience to every bride as if they were her own family. Born in Brazil, Roberta keeps pace with international fashion, has a true appreciation for multicultural weddings, and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. She is praised in the industry for her expert advice featured on Fox 35 News, as well as many other international publications. The Bridal Finery celebrates women in every shape, size, and height. Being a curvy woman herself, Roberta understands first hand the importance of carrying sizes 4 to 16. She humorously remembers her own challenges fitting into sample sizes in bridal.
www.facebook.com/thebridalfinery
www.instagram.com/thebridalfinery
#thebridalfinery #offtherack #weddingdress #weddinggown #couturebridal
When Disaster Strikes - plan to succeed, no matter what happens; with Emily Sullivan (Emily Sullivan Events)
0128: Even when the world ISN'T in the midst of a global health crisis, there are still SO MANY things that can go wrong at a wedding! So how do you possibly plan for anything and everything that can go sideways? Well, your first step should be listening to our expert guest this week, wedding planner Emily Sullivan! Emily is the owner of Emily Sullivan Events, a boutique wedding and event-planning firm based in New Orleans, LA, that specializes in celebrations throughout the Southeast. With a passion for entertaining, she uses her intuition and attention to details to customize each and every wedding experience for her clients.
When it comes to surviving and thriving through disasters, Emily has the market cornered. In the past 15 years in the wedding industry, she has survived 2 hurricanes directly hitting her community (during wedding season!), and most recently she was even hospitalized for COVID-19! But her smart and savvy planning skills have brought her through every challenge, and she keeps thriving! There is no-one more qualified to show you the ropes of planning your way out of a disaster scenario!
In addition to her wedding and planning expertise, Emily is a regular on-air personality in the region, as well as a sought-after national speaker, with recent and upcoming engagements including The Special Event, NACE, WeddingWire World, and Wedding MBA. She is inaugural chapter president for WIPA New Orleans. Emily has been recognized by several industry publications for her achievements and insight, including Brides, Country Living, The Knot, Southern Weddings, Style Me Pretty and Catersource.
https://www.emilysullivanevents.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EmilySullivanEvents/
https://www.instagram.com/emilysullivanevents/
https://www.intimateweddingsbyemily.com/
Vendor Webinar - adding microweddings to your offering (May 6): https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XipOKBERQASBr7dpf6Jhwg
The New Normal - Weddings in a Post-Coronavirus World
127: Uncertainty continues to swirl around the 2020 wedding season, as novel coronavirus numbers keep climbing around the world. Some communities have begun to talk about lifting the quarantine measures, which were put in place to stem the spread of infection, but what does that mean for weddings for the rest of the year? What kind of considerations need to be taken now, and for how long? Are these things that a couple is going to be able to do themselves, or is this the perfect time to hire a planner/coordinator? We talk about and answer all of these questions and more!
#2020weddings #covid #covid-19 #coronavirus #SARS-CoV-2 #coronawedding
Raising the Bar: talking wedding alcohol with Premier Pour Bartending owner Brennan Stanford
126: We're in high spirits! We got the chance to talk to Brennan Stanford, owner of Premier Pour Bartending - the premier mobile bartending solution in Northwest Ohio! Brennan and his team are pros at helping couples and groups plan their bar and alcohol needs for weddings, fundraisers, and other events. They are trained and ready to come into almost any situation, and keep glasses filled and spirits high! We talk to Brennan about liquor laws, alcohol planning, and more!
https://www.instagram.com/premierpour/
https://www.facebook.com/PremierPourBartending
#premierpourbartending #mixology #partyplanning #ohioweddings
Wedding Horror Stories - COVID-19 edition
125: Atonn and Lindsay have both had weddings in the middle of the 2020 Coronavirus crisis. Listen to how it impacted their couples, and how they coped with and dealt with the restrictions.
#covid19 #coronavirus #coronawedding #viralwedding #intimatewedding
Love in the Time of Corona - what to do when an epidemic changes your wedding plans
124: Life can throw you a curve ball pretty quickly. We have been fielding questions and frantic phone calls from our upcoming wedding couples since last week, so we wanted to put out some tips for dealing with wedding planning during this Coronavirus outbreak. We dig in to who you should call first, and what you should be asking. The best advice is the same in every situation - communication is key! Above all, remember that we are all in this together, so be safe and kind to each other. Make good and healthy choices, and wash your hands!
#coronavirus #covid-19 #coronawedding
9 Questions to ask EVERY Wedding Vendor
123: So many times, we see couples that walk into vendor meetings under prepared - just because they don't know what to ask! Going into wedding planning without knowing which questions to ask your vendors can create stress and frustration with the whole process, which can bleed back into your relationship, if you're not careful! We put together a list of the most common questions that you can - and SHOULD - ask every wedding vendor that you sit down with. These are applicable, no matter what the business or service type, so you could print them out and laminate them if you wanted to! Getting the answers to these will show the vendors that you know what you're doing, and will help you make sure that the vendor you're hiring is fully on the up & up!
The questions are:
- Will my deposit/retainer count towards my final bill?
- What happens if you are sick or have an emergency on my wedding day?
- When is the final payment due, and can we make payments? Is there a credit card fee?
- Are we able to customize the packages at all?
- What makes you my best option?
- What does your liability coverage look like?
- How fast is your response time?
- How many weddings will you take on my day? On my weekend?
- What didn't we know enough to ask?
#weddingplanning #planningseason #weddingquestions #weddingvendors #engagedandconfused
Favorite Readings: How Do I Love Thee?
122 - Atonn is back, with another of his favorite readings! Last time, he shared a very modern reading, that was fun and silly, and was largely sourced to "anonymous"! This time, he is sharing a very well known poem, from a prolific poet of the 1800s, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This is a timeless classic, brimming with stunning imagery and metaphors, and it can add an air of class and sophistication to the wedding ceremony!
#offbeatbride #offbeatwedding #weddingreadings
Happy National Wedding Planning Day! Let's talk about "What to do When" with Lauren Kay, Executive Editor of The Knot!
0121: Happy (almost) National Wedding Planning Day! Sunday, March 1 is National Wedding Planning Day, and officially marks the end of proposal season, and the beginning of wedding planning season. And what better way to kick off this season, than with an interview with an expert on the topic of wedding planning! We interviewed Lauren Kay, the Executive Editor of The Knot, on the topic of "What To Do When." We talk about what to do first in the wedding planning process, and which conversations to start with, to make sure that your wedding is everything you want it to be!
As Executive Editor of The Knot, Lauren Kay scours the globe for of-the-minute wedding trends and design secrets. She loves to share her wedding expertise with engaged couples and industry pros alike and has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America and local news segments across the country.
Lauren accepted her first wedding role at age six. After a winning performance as flower girl, she went on to star in many more weddings (including her own in 2013). She has a strong affinity for good etiquette and red lipstick and thinks a good pair of heels can transform any day. Lauren lives in New York City with her husband Adam and children George and Eleanor.
https://www.instagram.com/theknot/
#weddingplanning #theknot #nationalweddingplanningday
(CONTENT WARNING: DOMESTIC ABUSE) WHS: Domestic Abuse is not a joke.
120: CONTENT WARNING: DOMESTIC ABUSE. Atonn shares a story about a couple he DIDN'T marry, and talks about spotting the warning signs of an abusive relationship, how to be an ally, and how to get help.
https://www.breakthecycle.org/
#domesticabuse #abusesurvivor #horrorstory
Favorite Wedding Readings - Marriage Is Not Always Beautiful
119 - In over 200 weddings, Atonn has found that a lot of couples don't really have any idea of what readings to use in their ceremony, or they just aren't familiar with the different types of readings that are out there. Above all else, he always stresses that a couple can use LITERALLY anything they want! Obviously, some church weddings will probably include a scriptural reading, but wherever you're getting married, you can have whomever you want read whatever else you choose! So we are starting a new monthly segment where Atonn shares some of his favorite wedding readings - Many of them are off the beaten path, so to speak, so they are great choices for couples who are looking to have a little fun!
#offbeatbride #offbeatwedding #weddingreadings
The More the Merrier! Creative ways to include family and friends in your wedding!
118: Big wedding parties are a trend that's starting to die down, but you still want to find meaningful ways to include your friends and family into the wedding! This episode dives into some creative ways to think about having them participate in your big day - everything from ushering, to presenting the rings, to voicing their support for the wedding! You are only limited by your creativity, as we explore ways to have your loved ones do more than just dress up and stand next to you!
#weddingparty #unityceremony #weddingpodcast #weddingpro #weddingparents #smallweddingparty
WHS: Kiss and Make Up
117: This week, Lindsay recalls a Wedding Horror Story where the bride's makeup artist had a slight... miscommunication about when to show up. She didn't show up at all! Find out how this bride managed to save face, and how to manage a situation like this!
#weddinghorrorstory #weddingpodcast #weddingmakeup
Roaring into the 20s - We break down and react to 2020 wedding trends!
116: Happy New Year! It's a new year, a new decade, and it's time to take a look at the latest wedding trends! We broke down the top 20 trends, as published by The Knot, and gave our real-world, real industry take on how they would really play out!
#weddingtrends #2020weddings #roaring20s
WHS: Program Error!
115: In this episode, we get another listener-submitted horror story! Just imagine what can go wrong when you trust a friend to make and deliver your ceremony programs for you! Especially if you don't look at them until VERY close to the wedding... 😬 Hear what happened to this bride, how her bridesmaids were able to save the day, and learn how you can prevent this from happening to YOU!
#weddinghorrorstory #whs #programmingerror #youridocrew #youridocrewpodcast #weddingpodcast
Going Pro - taking officiating to the next level, featuring Lewis King of American Marriage Ministries
114: In our third and final episode with Lewis King, Executive Director of American Marriage Ministries, we talk about what to do if you officiate a wedding, and get the itch to keep officiating! If you really like the feeling and process, how do you take it to the next level? Do you keep it to just friends and family? Or do you open up a full-fledged business (like Atonn did)? Here are things that need to be considered when you decide that weddings are going to be part of your future.
Thank you again to American Marriage Ministries for letting us borrow Lewis! The AMM provides free ordination, advocacy, and training for ministers to ensure that all people have the right to get married and to perform marriages.
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanMarriageMinistries/
https://www.instagram.com/americanmarriageministries/
#amm #getordained #ordained #onlineordained #americanmarriageministries #AMMminister #officiant #weddingofficiant
"Will You Marry Us?" Tips for First-Time Officiants, featuring Lewis King of American Marriage Ministries
113: Personal officiating is on the rise, and "Will you marry us?" is a question that more and more friends and family members are getting asked these days! We return to our conversation with Lewis King, Executive Director of American Marriage Ministries, as we talk about the first things that need to be considered when you've been asked to perform a wedding, or if you simply decided it might be fun to get ordained and marry some folks! Either way, we go through a lot of things that a first-time officiant needs to know, and things that they need to consider before jumping in with both feet and agreeing to perform a wedding!
Thank you again to American Marriage Ministries for letting us borrow Lewis! The AMM provides free ordination, advocacy, and training for ministers to ensure that all people have the right to get married and to perform marriages.
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanMarriageMinistries/
https://www.instagram.com/americanmarriageministries/
#amm #getordained #ordained #onlineordained #americanmarriageministries #AMMminister #officiant #weddingofficiant
Get Ordained! ft. Lewis King of American Marriage Ministries
112: This is part one of an AMAZING series! American Marriage Ministries (AMM) provides free ordination, advocacy, and training for ministers to ensure that all people have the right to get married and to perform marriages. We met the AMM leadership at Wedding MBA, and we reached out to them for input on a topic we were working on. Well, not only did they offer to help us, but the Executive Director, Lewis King, actually flew out from Seattle, WA to meet with us and be interviewed in person! The recording session with him was amazing, and we covered a variety of topics ranging from "What is online ordination and how does it work" to "I was just asked to officiate a wedding - what now?" and so much more. We broke the session into 3 episodes, which will be published in a series. This first episode is all about the basics of online ordination, how it works, the (sometimes challenged) legality of it, and why it's so important. We go in-depth into a recent matter where the TN state legislature recently passed a law prohibiting online-ordained ministers from performing weddings, and how the AMM responded - both by challenging the statute in court, and also by GOING TO TENNESSEE AND ORDAINING MINISTERS IN PERSON! They made sure that couples were able to get married in the way they wanted, by the person they wanted. WE LOVE IT!
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanMarriageMinistries/
https://www.instagram.com/americanmarriageministries/
#amm #getordained #ordained #onlineordained #americanmarriageministries #AMMminister #officiant #weddingofficiant
The tools to create a fabulous wedding experience, with Kimberly Allen of Something Fabulous
111: So often we see couples get burned out a few months before their wedding, because they forget their "why". Kimberly Allen is here to remind couples to keep their "why" at the center of the whole wedding planning process. To use it to create a vision of the memories that you are creating, and avoid getting caught up in the stress of people pleasing. Kimberly shares real tools and strategies that will help couples to create the memories they want, without burning themselves out!
https://www.instagram.com/somethingfabulous
About Kimberly Allen, Something Fabulous — There aren’t many event professionals who can say they got their start in the circus, so Kimberly wears that experience like a badge of honor. With a background in technical theatre design, she launched her career in the entertainment industry as a jack-of-all-trades with the Big Apple Circus, Ringling Bros., and Barnum and Bailey. It was there that she got a taste for experiential design and the wonder of turning an average event into something spectacular. In the late 90s, she left the road to pursue special event services and never looked back. By 2002, she cofounded TurnKey Productions which then evolved into Something Fabulous just two years later. Today, Kimberly serves as the Chief Experience Officer, having transformed the award-winning company from a standard planning and design firm to one that is entrenched in Experience Design. With her process-driven concept and a taste for the extraordinary, she is dedicated to the mission of changing the conversation around how celebrations are planned and executed. Her electric personality and high levels of energy are contagious, whether she’s taking the stage at an industry event or hitting the dance floor (which she frequents weekly). She is passionate about creating a sense of community and opening up conversations, which has served her well for connecting with peers in an industry that is always evolving. Kimberly’s commitment to clients, guests and the industry has led to a number of recognitions for Something Fabulous. She and her team have been honored with NACE awards for design and planning services each year. Something Fabulous has also been recognized as one of the Top 25 Best Women-Owned Businesses by Working Mother Magazine, Top 14 Best Event Design, Planning Companies in Metro DC by PartySlate and was recognized as one of the top 1,000 people in events by BizBash.
WHS: Murphy's Law II - THE REVENGE
110: In this listener-submitted horror story, we hear another example of "Murphy's Law", or how anything that CAN go wrong WILL go wrong! This listener was a bridesmaid in her sister's wedding, and they encountered everything from breakdowns to power failures to acts of nature! Listen in to hear our advice on how you can prevent this from happening to you!
#weddinghorrorstory #murphyslaw #tornadowedding #weddingfails
Nurture your Wedding Body! Featuring Hanna Sender, Bride and Bliss Bridal Nutrition
109: Skip the fad diets, throw away your weight-loss shakes, and get ready to nurture your wedding body! Nutritional Therapist Hanna Sender is the founder of Bride and Bliss Bridal Nutrition, and she is on a mission! She wants to help brides-to-be get out of the mindset that they have to deprive themselves of food that they love in order to get the "perfect wedding body". Hanna is ready to show us how being mindful and making choices by quality over quantity can lead to fulfilling, sustainable lifestyle choices. She is here to empower you to find lasting joy!
#bridalnutrition #weddingbody #foodislove
Choosing the Perfect Reading for your Wedding
108: What type of reading should you have at your wedding? Who should read it?? Should you even have one?!?! Atonn takes the mystery out of picking the perfect reading to commemorate your wedding day, and offers some guidance on where to look for readings that will fit into your theme, and enhance your whole wedding experience.
#publicspeaking #weddingreading #whattosay
WHS - Life's a beach
#lifesabeach #beachwedding #weddinghorrorstory #drunkwedding #drunkgroomsmen
Yours, Mine, and Ours - 10 ways to include your kids in the wedding ceremony
106: LIVE FROM VEGAS, BABY! Since our planned guest was sick, and Lindsay was jetlagged, Atonn decided to talk about FAMILY weddings - meaning a wedding where the couple already has kids - we frequently talk about blended families as "Yours, Mine, and Ours" since it could be kids that were had together, or kids from previous relationships, or both... but whatever the situation, it creates an amazing opportunity to include the children in the wedding ceremony. What a wonderful way to symbolize the full joining together of the new family, into one cohesive unit! Now. before you make any plans, MAKE SURE THAT THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED! You don't want to create extra anxiety or difficulty for a child who feels alienated, who maybe isn't comfortable with the marriage, or public speaking. But if you respect their boundaries, and they choose to participate in a meaningful way, it can be one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences of your life!
#blendedfamily #yoursmineours #bonusparent #bonuskids #stepparent #stepkid
WHS: Water, water, everywhere...
0105: Water, water, everywhere, and not a drop to drink! What if... you woke up on the day of your wedding, and the news was on high alert - that all of the water in your area was toxic? it couldn't be used to cook, drink, wash, or anything! How do you think that would impact your wedding day? That's what happened in August of 2014 in Toledo, OH! Lindsay has this week's Horror Story, about a wedding that took place during the Lake Erie Water Crisis of 2014 - she's giving us all the juicy details!
#weddinghorrorstory #toledowatercrisis #lakeeriewatercrisis #toxicalgaebloom #dontdrinkthewater
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
104: Happy Anniversary! That's right, we've been bringing you weekly wedding tips and interviews for 2 years; that's one hundred and four knowledge bombs, horror stories, and more. So in this episode, we are feeling a bit reflective, and talk about what got us into the wedding industry, and what our first weddings were like!
How do you get to be known as *THE* Event Planner? We ask Dalia Atisha, owner of The Event Planner, Inc!
103: Lindsay and Atonn interview Dalia Atisha, a multi-award winning event and wedding planner, and the owner of 'The Event Planner, Inc'! A Certified Wedding Planner, Dalia has been planning weddings, corporate and social events from conception to completion for over 17 years! We met her at the Knot Wedding Pro workshop in Detroit, which she and her team helped to coordinate. Speaking of her team, they have an extensive and diverse list of clientele from international destination weddings and High-Ranking delegates to NFL players. The events she and her team plan are unparalleled and fashion-forward exemplifying her client’s taste and style. We love it!
Staying In Your Lane with Brooke Lauber-Cobb (Bee for the Day)
102: If we preach one message over and over, it's that wedding pros work best when we can all focus on our specialties - photographers take the best pictures when they don't have to pin flowers to tuxedo lapels; DJ's do their best work when they aren't also trying to get the wedding party lined up for the ceremony, and so on! Well, one of our favorite local vendors contacted us to talk about this exact subject! We are so excited to welcome NW Ohio Wedding Planner/Consultant Brooke Lauber-Cobb, owner of Bee for the Day, onto the podcast! Brooke is a 20+ year veteran of the wedding industry, so she knows exactly what she's talking about! She talks with us about how "Staying in your lane" helps the entire wedding process run smoothly, from start to finish - and this doesn't just apply to the wedding pros, either! We discuss how can also apply to the couple, their family, and more - all of which helps to keep everyone happy and stress free!
Find out more about Brooke and her "bees" at https://beefortheday.com or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bftdtoledo or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/beefortheday/
#stayinyourlane #beefortheday #teamworkmakesthedreamwork
WHS: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
101: This one is not for the faint of heart! Whenever people find out that Atonn works as a wedding officiant, they always ask him "have you ever had anyone say 'I DON'T', haha?" - and while the answer to that question is NO for Atonn... Lindsay has had a slightly different experience! Warning, this one might make you uncomfortable, so strap in and get ready!
#idont #leftatthealtar #callitoff
Keep wedding planning from wrecking your relationship! With Relationship & Anxiety Coach Dr Courtney Pare
100: The wedding planning process can be wonderful, significant, and rewarding, but it can also be... a little stressful at times! And when a couple is in the middle of planning a wedding, it can put even MORE stress on their relationship - so if wedding planning can be an emotional minefield, what do you do? Well that's where Dr Courtney Paré comes in! She is a licensed naturopathic doctor and holistic relationship coach with a passion for helping people create healthy relationships, with themselves and others. She specializes in helping couples deal with their underlying relationship issues and anxieties, so that they can really enjoy a happy wedding, and happy life together!
http://www.facebook.com/drcourtneypare
Weddings, Unplugged
099: What could be more frustrating than paying good money for a professional photographer to capture magical images of your wedding day, and getting your photos back only to see aunt Matilda's cellphone in the way of EVERY SINGLE SHOT? Cellphone camera photobomberers have become a modern-day plague on wedding photography, so more and more couples are choosing to have "unplugged" ceremonies. What does that mean and why should you consider it? And how do you make sure it happens? We'll answer all of these questions and more!
Success in full bloom - we interview Jen, of Beautiful Blooms by Jen
0098: We continue with our local vendor interviews with one of our favorite florists, Jen Cummins Linehan! Jen is the owner and namesake of Beautiful Blooms by Jen - a contemporary, every day florist providing customers with the freshest, most unique floral arrangements. Their goal is to bring Northwest Ohio the latest trends and techniques so their customers can be proud of what they've sent to friends and loved ones. Jen and her team strive to make their arrangements the focal point of any home or office. We talk to Jen about her start in the floral industry, some of the latest and greatest trends, and we ask her for the scoop on what couples should really be looking for in a wedding florist!
https://www.beautifulbloomsbyjen.com/
WHS: Short Term Memory Loss
097: Atonn gets all FIRED up, talking about a couple whose wedding plans went up in SMOKE. The entire ceremony had to be changed at *literally* the last minute because of CHRONIC forgetfulness and lateness. But don't worry, they kept their spirits HIGH, even when things seemed out of hand! Are you sensing the theme yet? This is one wedding that won't get lost in the WEEDS for Atonn - he will remember it forever, even if he's the only one who does! This isn't a case of the POT calling the kettle black, this is Short Term Memory Loss!
Accessories to cause a Commotion! Interview with Thea of Hushed Commotion
096: We interviewed Brooklyn-based bridal accessory Thea Bloch-Neal, founder and designer of Hushed Commotion - an incredible bridal accessory boutique. Thea creates hand-crafted, one of a kind veils, headpieces, belts, shoes, and more - all with an elegance and a nod to vintage craftsmanship and aesthetics. She is known for her use of gold detailing and unique beading, earning her a place in retailers across the globe! Her unique pieces have to be seen to be believed!
Strength in Unity! Fun and unusual wedding Unity features, from candles and sand to tattoos and fire!
095: One of the most fun and interactive parts of a wedding ceremony can be a creative and imaginative Unity feature! It's a great chance to move around during the ceremony, and break up the monotony of people standing and speaking in one place - plus it's ARTS & CRAFTS! And who doesn't love that?!? Additionally, unity features are fun because they generally include making or modifying a physical object, which can then be displayed as a decoration or centerpiece of your home. And we guarantee that there are some in this list you've never heard of!
If you'd like to receive Atonn's Unity Feature list, email atonn@weddingsfortheages.com
Let's get CooKIED! With Traci Weaver
094: Our local vendor interview this month is with Traci Weaver, the owner of CooKIED! custom sugar cookie bake shop. She creates incredibly gorgeous and unique sugar cookie designs, for a variety of occasions. Even better, we got to sample a couple of the cookies, and they taste as good as they look! Traci was a blast to talk to, and we chatted about her business, her favorite designs, some hilarious "oops" moments, and learned what it's like to bake 25 dozen cookies!
The ups and downs of planning a music festival wedding on a hill! With Desirée Adams (Verve Event Co.)
What do you get when you cross a wedding with a music festival, and then add food trucks, a record-setting rainstorm, then a heat wave, and set it all up on a steep hill? Well we're not sure what exactly you'd call it, but it sounds like a lot of fun, and a solid challenge! But this is a challenge that our guest was ready for!
Desirée Adams is a wedding planner based in Upstate New York who creates heirloom occasions for modern couples. After seven years of producing high-level events for internationally-recognized companies in Washington, DC, she took a break to focus on her young children. But she couldn't stay away for long. Three years and three moves later, she founded Verve Event Co. in 2017.
Focusing on efficiency and artful design, Desirée helps couples enjoy planning their modern wedding so they still have time for life. For her, life is too short to waste it on moments without meaning. She has received awards from the The Knot, Wedding Wire, and the International Live Events Association (ILEA). In the spring of 2019, she became one of the first wedding vendors to launch an Alexa Flash Briefing. In Ask the Planner: Wedding Tips in a Flash, Desirée answers questions that couples and vendors never knew to ask. During its soft launch, her tips were downloaded 13,000 times.
Desirée is a recovering grammar queen and loves sweating to the Pitch Perfect soundtrack. When not planning, you can find her leading dance parties with her interns (aka her kids), or buying macarons to share with her husband, her high school sweetheart.
http://verveeventco.com/asktheplanner
WHS: DJ SHROOM BOY 🍄
092: Seriously, you're going to have to hear this story to believe it. Lindsay was shooting a wedding a few years back, where the couple decided to save some money by hiring a DJ from craigslist. Now, we've always said to cut costs where you can, but we almost NEVER suggest skimping on the DJ - and that mistake definitely came back to haunt them! This DJ was ready to party, and he even brought some of his own party... supplies... with him!
Ride in style! with Brandon Johnson, Team Johnson Limo
091: We love bringing you information from wedding vendors who are innovating in their field, and this week's guest is no different! In fact, he boasts SEVERAL world exclusives in his industry, including a double-decker mega-party bus, a stretch hummer limo WITH A PATIO, and a new stretch limo with a MOBILE SPA! Brandon Johnson is not just the owner of Team Johnson Limo, he's also the head innovator! Once he gets an idea into his head, there's not much that can stop him - and we're going to find out where his ideas started, and where they are taking him!
Thrifty and Nifty!
090: Nobody likes to think about their wedding budget, because it seems like no matter what you plan to spend, you always end up going over... sometimes WAY over. So we've compiled a list of different ways to trim up your budget, without downgrading your wedding. We focused on finding ways to cut costs in places that your guests can't or won't notice, so that you can afford to keep the things that are most important to you!