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#302 - How To Get Organized For Wedding Planning

People jump into wedding planning without really getting themselves set up for success. Planning a wedding is a lot like taking on a second part time job where you’ll be spending hundreds of hours planning, in addition to all the other things you already have going on in your life, at work, with family and more.Which is why, this special episode is all about guiding you toward the smoothest planning road possible.My 5 tips to get you set up and organized for your wedding planning journey.#1 - New Email Address for the wedding only - I recommend signing up for a Google.
You have a personal email, you have a work email, now you have a wedding email. When you’re done with wedding planning, you can close it.
Only check it at certain times. Keeps you focused at work if you do.
When you sign up on wedding websites for discounts, you won’t be spammed in your other email inboxes.
It comes with Google Drive - all the tools you need - sheets, docs, slides.
#2 - Google Voice
Google Voice is a free service. A single phone number that you can call or text from. I have the app on my iPhone and it rings from there. You can set up a voicemail outgoing message as well. You can set up a Google Voice account on either your computer or mobile device, and immediately begin placing domestic and international calls, or sending texts.
Privacy - You don’t have to give your personal number to potential vendors at a wedding expo.
Keeps your personal or work phone clear of wedding communication.
#3 - Social Media Accounts
Helps keep your personal or business feed free of wedding related content. Remember, once the wedding is over, you won’t need to be seeing this stuff anymore. You can move on to your next life event.
DM’ing may start happening with vendors too.
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok, Pinterest…
#4 - Weekly wedding planning sessions
Talking about your wedding planning tasks all the time is no good for your relationship. Do yourselves a favor and keep notes on items that need to be covered for your scheduled wedding planning meetings.
They may change to bi-weekly once all vendors are hired and you are in your lull phase of planning.
Keep your life organized. Wedding Wednesdays?
Add standing meetings to your google calendar.
#5 - Priorities
It’s time to talk about what is important to each of you when it comes to the wedding. This is going to drive every decision you make AND influence your wedding budget.
This is an exercise for you. Each of you does this first part alone. No influence from your partner. The scale of 1-10
To get a free PDF of this exercise, go to www.thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com/priorities
Links we referenced!Master ClassSign up for a free personal google account here: https://accounts.google.com/signup/v2/webcreateaccount?flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=SignUpwww.thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com/priorities - Free PDFPlan your wedding using The Big Wedding Planning Master Class. A self-paced digital course created with love for you by Christy & Michelle.The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...
Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba.
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics.
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#301 - You Ask, We Answer #53

Our monthly episode of You Ask, We Answer; where we take time to listen to our audiences questions, select top trending picks, and answer them on the show. This month we've got co-host Mark Allan Groleau joining Michelle as a special co-host. Mark is a professional full time wedding officiant and a trainer of officiant and celebrants all over the world as he helps to teach others how to officiate an unboring ceremony! Mark and Michelle dive into your most sought after questions, and answer questions ranging from 'two languages and two religions', all the way to officiating 'non religious weddings'. Listen in and get ready to learn!Question #1:Is it too much for me to ask to be copied on emails she sends to our vendors regarding our wedding?Question #2:Ceremony readings that aren’t religious? Also, ideas for a unity ceremony that aren’t super cheesy or overdone (like the sand mixing)?Question #3:I’m using Unboring wedding academy and my moms best friends are our officiants. Having 2 officiants instead of just 1? Any advice or tricks?Question #4:I’m not changing my name so at the end of the ceremony what should they say instead of “the new mr and mrs. blank”?Question #5:Considering asking a friend to be an officiant. How do we go about asking? Should we pay for their certification/license?Question #6:How to go about choosing an officiant when you’re not a part of a church?Question #7:How to tell your parents that you don’t want to use their pastor?Question #8:Ways to make the ceremony more personalized to you and your fiancé?Question #9:Best way to incorporate 2 religions or 2 languages?Question #10:What suggestions do you have for an officiant in a ceremony with cultural elements that not all guests may be familiar with? (I.e. Chinese Tea Ceremony, jumping the broom, Filipino sponsors, Areas, etc.)Question #11:What’s a good thank you gift for your female officiant who is a friend?Question #12:What should your officiant wear?Question #13:When/how do they enter the ceremony?Question #14:How does an officiant approach “housekeeping details” like asking everyone to silence their phones or to stick around for a group photo when the couple recesses down the aisle, etcQuestion #15:Where is the best place to fit a handfasting ceremony into the larger wedding ceremony?Question #16:My officiant said he doesn’t come to the rehearsal!! What do we do?Links We Referencedhttps://www.unboringweddingacademy.com https://unboringwedding.comMark's no stranger to the podcast so if you haven't heard him previously head back to:Episode #150 - Will you Marry UsEpisode 241 - The Big Wedding Planning Masterclass.The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#300 - Real Wedding Retrospective: Rosie and Will

Woot Woot! Today we are celebrating 300 Episodes of The Big Wedding Planning Podcast! We’re toasting this milestone with guests Rosie and Will. Wedding planning clients of Michelle, the couple was married in October of 2021. Their wedding happened just as Covid restrictions were lifting, which surprisingly brought its own unique set of challenges. Rosie and Will chat with Michelle today about what they learned, share advice on what they might have done differently, and reflect on the moment that brought them together for a lifetime.Big Takeaways
There were about 86 guests in attendance. Most of the wedding took place outside, at a family friend’s house.
In regards to covid precautions, they only required a negative covid test.
The caterer had been used by a family member before so they felt confident booking them.
Challenges and Tips
Unfortunately, their catering company was sold during the pandemic and sadly the couple has yet to receive their deposit back.
Even under pressure, do your due diligence.
Family style food was a cost-savings for the couple.
Make sure you and your partner are on the same page with timing throughout your wedding day.
Rosie and Will purchased their own alcohol and ended up with way more than they needed.
The pair purchased spirits as well as beer and wine, but waited until after dinner to put the spirits out. A great cost savings tip
Their favors were custom matches.
Rosie's father has passed away. So to honor him, they lit candles at the beginning of the ceremony for him and Will's grandparents. It was a symbolic way of feeling their presence at the wedding.
They tried to save money on lighting and ultimately wish they had paid a professional to do the lighting for them.
Be thoughtful about where you seat your elderly family members.
Upon reflection, the pair wishes they had done a first look.
If Rosie could go back, she would have purchased a second dress for post wedding ceremony festivities.
Remember to find time to eat. The day goes by quickly.
Links We Referenceddanipadgettweddings.com culinaryeye.comThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...
Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba.
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics.
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#299 - Smart financial decisions for a long-lasting marriage

“Don’t get married! Don’t do it!” Those were the words of advice our guest of today’s podcast used to share with his friends and family. As one of Atlanta’s award winning Divorce attorney’s, Aaron Thomas, a graduate of Harvard Law School, has spent years working with couples during the painful side of marriage, watching them come to an end. Today, Aaron is happily married himself and no longer advocates against getting married, he does however, offer uplifting and positive advice for the consideration of prenups when planning a wedding.Michelle's discussion with Aaron, helps demistify why prenups get a bad reputation and how they can be a useful tool for couples who want to start their financial relationship in an intentional, transparent, and fair way.Big TakeawaysThree Things that lead to a successful financial relationship:1. TransparencyDisclose all your assets and debts when you come in.2. CommunicationMake agreements on certain spending habits. For instance, Aaron and his spouse communicate any time they are going to spend over $500.3. FairnessBuckets of spending are important. For instance, asking about spending that $500 is only when it is coming from the couple spending bucket. Then each person has their own account as well.If things do come to an end, can we handle it in a way that treats both of us fairly and kindly?
Even if you never get divorced, having a pre-nup can do wonders for your relationship. In setting up the agreement, both people must lay out their entire financial situation, and this creates a vulnerability and understanding of each other that may never otherwise come.
The pre-nup doesn’t just have to be about what happens if the marriage ends, you can add in comments about how money is spent and handled DURING the marriage.
Creating budgets helps the couple experience things together on equal footing.
You can create a pre-nup after getting married, it’s actually called a post-nup! If you can’t add the pre-nup in right now, at least have the conversation. Talk to your partner about your finances!
Links We Referencedprenups.com aaronthomaslaw.comEvite.com/BigWeddingFlower Moxie Use code BigWeddings for $25.00 off your purchase!The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#298 - What’s happening at TBWPP + Introducing a new series

We've got some super fun announcements for you on today's brand new bonus episode of The Big Wedding Planning Podcast! Michelle opens up about the exciting career path she's on, her mission to give you increased access to even more wedding planning secrets, as well as giving you more insider access to everything you need for planning wedded bliss.Hint hint...here's one of the major announcements you aren't going to want to miss.
Michelle is starting a new series exclusively for Patrons of TBWPP. This bonus episode is your sneak peak into what's ahead for you when you become a member too.
For $6.99 per month, you'll gain access to episodes like these, where Michelle will release 2 ad-free episodes per month + invete you to a monthly Zoom Happy Hour where we can all hang out, laugh, have fun, inspire and help each other out with wedding planning.
Patreon is going to be a vital lifeline to the continued growth at TBWPP.
On today's special Patreon episode, you'll listen to our guest share the issues of getting her fiancé to focus on making decisions with wedding planning. After doing the research, and having the options ready, her fiancé has so much work in his regular life that the decision fatigue has effected his ability to contribute to the planning process. In order to avoid friction in the relationship, Michelle gives advice on how to ask her fiancé for help by scheduling dedicated planning times, and how to work together for a smooth remainder of the planning.We're able to produce this podcast because of YOUR support. If you want to learn more, check out our Patreon Page.The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...
Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba.
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics.
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $5 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#297 - All About Home Weddings with David Tutera

Home weddings are so much fun and include some of Michelle’s favorite wedding planning moments. On today’s episode she’s chatting it up with one of our favorite guests, David Tutera. The pair discusses the challenges not previously considered when using a home as a wedding venue as well as all the wonderful, intimate emotion that surrounds a wedding of this nature. Listen in because you are going to learn a lot!Tips:
You can buy handheld candles that are usually used for memorials. They prevent wax drippings and you can raise the cup up to make sure the flames are safe.
If you don’t want a lot of dancing, you can create moments like musicians that cut in between smaller sections of dancing.
A rental specialist would be a helpful vendor if you are not having a planner. They will know what kind of rentals are needed to make the event go off without a hitch.
Caterers do not want to use your kitchen, and you probably don’t want them using your kitchen anyway.
Make sure your spaces are not far apart from each other, so there isn’t a lot of moving around. Consider what your guests have to walk through.
Permits! Know what kind of permits you might need in your area. HOA, city ordinances, fire department, police department, etc.
Liability insurance is crucial!
Purchasing your own alcohol might not actually save you that much money. Hiring caterers/bartenders is a much more practical idea.
Have someone available to keep up the cleanliness of toilets. Restroom facility rentals come with attendants!
Valet is the way to go.
Several months prior to your wedding, send a note to your neighbor with a gift that tells them about the event. Then the night before, give them a nice bottle of wine or food.
You MUST have a generator. Get a movie-quiet one if you can.
Lighting is very important, not only for safety but for aesthetic reasons too.
Do not water the grass! Turn off the sprinklers at least a few days before the wedding.
Check with your caterer about the trash! Get them haul it away. It will cost extra but it sooooo worth it.
Decibels and energy should increase before the ending of the night, that way you can start to quiet things down gradually. The host can give a thank you and that helps guests know it’s time to leave.
Links We Referenceddavidtutera.com experience.davidtutera.com instagram.com/davidtutera facebook.com/TheDavidTuteraThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#296 - You Ask. We Answer #52

Our monthly episode of You Ask, We Answer; where we take time to listen to our audiences questions, select top trending picks, and answer them on the show. This month's show has Kelly McWilliams on as a co-host. Kelly is a wedding planner and a podcast host herself. She and Michelle speak each other's language in helping people planning their weddings. You'll get double the expertise as Michelle and Kelly give you answers to everything you're dying to know.Question #1:You had a lot of great episodes on your podcast about multicultural weddings and how to make people feel included, but I was wondering if you have more tips about how to include people that communicate in different languages?Question #2:We are hoping to stay in $25,000-35,000 for 50 person wedding. Is that too small a budget for a wedding planner around the Washington, DC area? Also if you know any planners in the area, I would love some recommendations.Question #3:When do we send out the invites? and when should we make the RSVP by date?Question #4:What would you suggest that we do to keep our guests entertained and kind of provide structure for the evening?Question #5:My fiancé, Doug, and I are having a weekend style summer camp wedding. Guests will arrive at 5:30pm Friday for a BBQ then leave on Sunday at 11 am after brunch. There is a full day of activities planned on Saturday (lake activities, ropes courses etc) and our ceremony is scheduled for 6:30. The wedding is this June, so it will still be daylight. I do not want to miss many of the daytime activities on Saturday, but I know I need to set some time aside for my hair and make up. My plan is to start getting ready at 3:30 with a close group of friends, then do the first look and pictures at 5:30. I have planned a wine class for the guests that starts at 3:30, that majority of our guests will attend. (I am a professional wine buyer and have lots of wine professional friends, so I have enlisted a few to do the class) I do not mind missing the wine class and intentionally scheduled it at this time to start getting ready. So my question...Is this a reasonable timeline for that portion of events or do I need to allocate more time for hair, make up and pictures? I know many timelines have the bride starting to get ready 6 hours+ before. Side note, I am not planning on hiring a hair and make up artist and mostly because of the tight timeline.Question #6:The other question is about insurance. We are required to have limited liability insurance and our venue will allow us to add ourselves to their policy for the weekend for $350. Should we get additional insurance in case anything happens to our other vendors or the venue itself? It sounds like the insurance that we are purchasing through the venue just covers if something happens to our guests during the wedding.Links We Referencedhttps://www.kellymcwilliams.comhttps://www.kellymcwilliams.com/blog/this-vs-that-wedding-podcast(This Vs. That Podcast)https://www.bellanottedc.comhttps://bellwetherevents.comhttps://wedding.reporthttps://www.theexperientialwedding.comQR Code GeneratorThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...
Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba.
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics.
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $5 per month, you get bonus episodes, special newsletters and Zoom Cocktail Hours with Michelle!
Special Guest: Kelly A. McWilliams.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#295 - Without A Hitch. Author Mary Huddleston

Have you ever wondered about the crazy fun, interesting, and shocking things celebrity wedding planners see behind the scenes? The author of this really cool new book titled: "Without a Hitch" joins Michelle today on the podcast. Author Mary Huddleston is a a former wedding planner to celebrities and to people who have spent insanely large amounts of money on weddings.Mary's new book isn't a documentary necessarily, but is based on the things she's done and seen in her career. The main characters of the book are relatable at times and over the top hilarious at others. Whether you're planning a wedding now, or you work as a wedding planner yourself, you're going to laugh your head off reading this book. In the mean time get to know Mary on today's show as she offers up a few sneak peaks with Michelle.Big Takeaways
The more money and family involved, the more drama.
A good wedding planner has your back and acts as a liaison between you and the vendors and more. Sometimes, they even act as a therapist. It’s important to really connect with your planner.
When it comes to day-of coordination, Mary also does not advise it. Minimum, she recommends hiring a planner three months out. They need to have time to give advice and review everything. It can’t happen in one day or month of. If you hire someone earlier on they can fix problems, negotiate contracts, and do all the magic that planners do.
Tips and questions to ask a wedding planner you might not have thought to ask:
How long have you been doing this?
How often have you worked at this venue?
Make sure they are the kind of person who can stand up for you when needed. 4. Do you have experience doing the type of wedding we’re doing?
Links We Referencedhttps://www.instagram.com/mrssouthernsocial/ https://www.pinterest.com/mrssouthernsocialofficial/ https://mrssouthernsocial.com/ https://mrssouthernsocial.com/book-club-guide/ https://pleasebeseated.comThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#294 - A Wedding Day Disaster Turned Good

A year ago, our guest on today’s show, Jordan Hager, reached out to Michelle with a story you won’t want to miss. Her email was titled: “My wedding story when all vendors cancelled.” She shares once-in-a-lifetime experience which begins on the day Texas, experienced the worst ice storm the state had ever seen. Jordan’s story is one of hope and a powerful reminder to those of you planning a wedding that yes, you will experience stress and drama during the process of getting married, but keeping your focus on the end result of marrying your sweetheart is really what it’s all about.Jordann Hager is 27 years young and currently lives in Colorado Springs with her husband Matt and their sheepadoodle puppy, Bodhi (bo-dee). Jordann spends her days working in Pediatrics & Family Support Services and her nights working as an associate wedding planner. Jordann is known for her love of pink and her quick wit and is often referred to as “The Actual Elle Woods”.Big Takeaways
In the intensity of everything changing, and needing to be adjusted last minute, Jordann was able to stay optimistic, and work with her people to create a magical wedding day.
Having a wedding planner was ultimately the only way her wedding was able to still happen. Amanda, her planner, put out fires, found last minute substitutes, and never stopped working.
Jordann’s biggest advice for staying sane on the big day is marry your best friend. The goal of the day is to get married, and in the end, if that happens that it was a successful day.
Choose a wedding planner that you would want around you if everything went wrong.
Links We Referencedinstagram.com/jordann.hager instagram.com/dovetail_jordann dovetailweddings.cominstagram.com/dovetailweddings instagram.com/makeupbymaddz_ saloneforte-hair.com themansionatcolovista.com instagram.com/themansionatcolovistaaustinstuartphotography.com instagram.com/austinstuartphoto kalocatering.com instagram.com/kalocatering hellotara.com instagram.com/taralyonsphotographyThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#293 - All About Print Materials

On today's episode of the podcast Michelle connects with the lovely Claire White, owner of White Ink Calligraphy. Listen in as Claire answers all those questions you want answers to about any type of print material you're going to need for your wedding.Claire White puts pen to paper in Nashville Tennessee and has been serving the wedding industry for five years. White Ink started out as a calligraphy studio and has recently expanded to offering full invitation services, graphic design and printing services. White Ink assists their clients with wedding details from Save the Dates to the place cards at their wedding reception, and everything in between.Big TakeawaysFrom Chava: Any tips for creating your own invitation/invitation suites? We want to design the invitation ourselves but how to best execute once we have the design. What card stock would you recommend? Any specifics on how to utilize a cricut?From Anamaria: Ways to save money on custom invitations.From Hope: What is the best way to find postage that will compliment your invitation suite without the ability to customize stamps? Do you ever have issues with return addresses printed on the back of envelopes being sent back instead of to the intended recipient because it isn’t on the front in the upper left hand corner?From Brigit: The whole USPS mailing process. Anything we should know about weight/stamps/ hand canceling (I know I've heard that term before but think it's more expensive??)From Laura: What’s the best way to address invites in the modern age?From Amber: What recommendations do you have for seating chart styles and formats (ex. Grouped by tables or alphabetically) in light of Covid and higher likelihood of people not being able to come last minute and maybe needing to shuffle some people around. Especially for outdoor weddings where escort cards are likely to fly away.From Jessica: Recommendations on what information to actually include on the invites/inserts? -From Natasha: What's the etiquette for sending out 2 different invitations? One set for the bride's family and a different one for the groom's side. I feel like certain family members need to be told specific things and others do not.From Nika: Any advice on mailing invites abroad? My save the dates took 6 weeks to get to parts of Europe.From Manda: Do I have to include physical rsvps or can I just have people go online? I don’t want to be tacky- but also think this could save a good bit of money.From Cassy: If its OK to add a leaflet about a welcome party in the invitation suite, why is it bad form to add the reception invitation to the suite? Why do people recommend mailing them separately?Links We Referencedetsy.com store.usps.com/store/results/stamps/_/N-9y93lv?_requestid=304204emilypost.comcrane.com/etiquette-guideqr-code-generator.comwhiteinkcalligraphy.cominstagram.com/whiteinkcalligraphylittlepostagehouse.com/vintage-postage-curated-collections enfieldpost.commagnoliapostage.comThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices