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#143 Wedding Aesthetic. Where to begin?

The idea of designing a wedding is stressful! We’ve all been down a Pinterest hole or two, consumed with ideas and inspiration that just lead to more confusion and anxiety. Thankfully, there’s Kasey Kyprianou, a wedding designer, to help bring your significant other and your authentic selves into your big day. Through getting to know you on a more personal level, Kasey is able to transform your wishes into beautiful designs for everything from invitations to signage and more.Big TakeawaysIt is so important to have elements of what you love in your wedding. Even if you are bound by a budget, or by desires from family that is helping pay. The imagery and designs that Kasey makes can come with you to your florist and your cake designer and be used in every element to create a cohesive day.Custom design is around 5-10% of the overall budget. This number gives Kasey an idea of what and how much she can do. The baseline includes a three piece standard invitation, and there are many options for add-ons up to a full service custom design suite.TipsThink about what you love as a coupleReflect on experiences together that bring you joyEvery element could matter, be yourself and enjoy the processDon’t let yourself be shamed, if you love it, use it, it’s your big dayLinks we referencedhttps://www.revelryandheart.com/facebook.com/groups/tbwppinstagram.com/revelryandheart/facebook.com/revelryandheartpinterest.com/revelryandheart/https://www.facebook.com/revelryandheart/videos/vl.1491326007642819/691910450997725/?type=1Quotes“A lot of couples get stuck, initially, on approaching it from the wrong direction and that’s what really gets them tied up.” - Kasey“Getting to know my couples is really where I get every ounce of my inspiration.” - Kasey“My mantra is that we follow hearts, not trends.” - Kasey“When you get something that’s an invitation, that is so the couple without it being a physical picture of the couple, like damn I have done a good job.” - Kasey“I’ve given you all the tools, now fly out of the nest yourself. You can do it.” - ChristyGet In TouchEMAIL: thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.comFACEBOOK: @TBWPpodcastINSTAGRAM: @thebigweddingplanningpodcastBE SURE TO USE THE HASHTAG: #planthatweddingTWITTER: @TBWPpodcastPHONE: (415) 723-1625 Leave us a message and you might hear your voice on the show!PATREON: www.patreon.com/thebigweddingplanningpodcastSpecial Guest: Kasey Kyprianou. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#142 Don’t Forget The Honeymoon!

No matter where you are in the wedding planning process, the idea of also planning a honeymoon is exhausting. Of course, after the big day, you want nothing more than to celebrate with your partner. And thankfully, there are people who can help! Our guest, Irina Vishnevskaya works tirelessly to help plan the perfect honeymoon. Irina is part of Alle Travel, a spruced up version of a travel agency. They make it easier for newlyweds, and others, to plan the perfect getaway.Big TakeawaysDon't skip the honeymoon because you're too worn out from planning the wedding. Even if you don't know exactly where you want to go, Alle Travel can work with you to put together the perfect trip. From day one, they take the stress of planning off your hands, and let you just enjoy the ride.Use points from your credit cards to book a flight! Understand your budget so you know what will not stress you out. And since their agents are not paid on commission, you can rest easy knowing that you are going to get the biggest bang for your buck!Quick Tips
Sign up for a card like Chase Sapphire right now, so you can begin saving points for the big trip.
Think about your budget, and what you like. No one should be miserable on their honeymoon because they spent more than they wanted.
Definitely have a honeymoon, everyone who didn’t have one wishes they did.
If you can, purchase international flights about six months out, that is the sweet spot for pricing.
Let your travel planner do the hard work, so all you have to do is show up.
Don’t let a monkey steal your birth control!
Quotes“It’s lovely that you are making a living at being a travel agent. But you’re so much more than a travel agent, you’re planning people’s entire experience.” - Michelle“People would come to you because they are savvy and they do have the money and they want to take the honeymoon, but they just don’t have time or bandwidth to figure out the best way to do it.” - Christy“The first question is the where. And if your where is flexible but your budget is a little bit more fixed than that’s a really good place to start the conversation.” -Irina“Bali always delivers. It’s just because it is so budget friendly.” - Irina“You were eating top ramen for four months after that wedding.” - Christy“I love yapping about this, as you can tell. Even if someone doesn’t end up working with us, I answer emails from my heart.” - IrinaLinks we referencedhttps://scottscheapflights.comhttps://www.hopper.comhttps://flights.google.comhttps://www.zola.comhttps://alletravel.co/about/https://www.instagram.com/alletravels/Special Guest: Irina Vishnevskaya. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#141 Wedding Body Positivity

We have both had our share of clients who have big plans to lose weight or tighten up in the months before their wedding. You know, the time when you are busy working, and planning a wedding, and dealing with family AND celebrating being engaged...all in a short, pressure-cooker timeline...not the most optimal time of your life to successfully change your diet and workout routine. But nevertheless, sometimes new habits are formed during wedding planning, in a GOOD way, and these changes can set you on the path to a happy, healthy life with your partner, as a married couple.Our guest this episode is Lauren Fowler - she is a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietician and a yoga instructor.She’s talking with Michelle about Body Positivity and self-acceptance and the struggle, the journey and the basic premise of health and wellness.Big TakeawaysDon’t let the crazy wedding-day expectations get you down! Or flustered! Or feeling fatalistic about the whole endeavor! Social media can be a big trigger. Styled shoots online can be deceptive, so can the photos of gorgeous weddings that we are inundated with while wedding planning. With decor AND photogenic couples...please don’t play the compare-game. Being the best version of YOU is what’s important, not aspiring to be someone else, or look like someone else just for one day. Your partner fell in love with YOU, remember?Happy couples are gorgeous couples! Make decisions during wedding planning that will help you feel comfortable and confident on your wedding day. It’s natural to want to look your best on the wedding day (hello, that photographer wasn’t cheap!) but we encourage you not to obsess. Don’t go down the rabbit-hole of self-hate or despair. It’s not easy, but if you check in with yourself and reorient when you need to, you’ll be better off in the long term, and also meet your short term goals in a healthy way.Don’t think of your wedding day as the finish line for weight loss!Lauren’s go-to resources for healthy living:A certified dietician can help you get started, maybe a nutrition therapy plan‘Intuitive Eating’ - helping to build internal awareness about when you’re hungry and what your body needs...being mindful about eatingWork out a strategy with a certified dietician that are realistic and convenientBody Positivity - find a community!Hey! On your wedding day, EAT! Seriously - as wedding planners, this is on our day-of list. You’d be shocked how many people don’t eat at all on the big dayLinks we referencedhttps://www.indochino.com (promo code BIGWEDDING)https://dressanomalie.com - custom gowns, for all bodies!https://www.laurenfowler.cohttps://www.instagram.com/laurenfowlerrdn/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

#140 Plan Your Wedding In 90 Days

It’s possible! Some people prefer to plan their wedding in a short amount of time rather than musing over all of the details for a year or more. Who are these people? How do they do it? What makes them successful? Our guest today is David DiVincenzo - event director at Planterra Events in Detroit, and he is very experienced working with couples that opt for a short timeline - for various reasons. He’s breaking down all of the tips, tricks and best practices for us.David has been directing events for Planterra clients since 2010. He designs every aspect of a Planterra event – from its menu to décor, floral needs and every detail in between - to make his clients’ visions come to life. David brings with him 15 years of professional experience in arts fundraising, programming and event planning. He has worked at such prestigious places as Pace MacGill Gallery, the Noguchi Museum and one of Estee Lauder’s family foundations in New York. David is a graduate of both Albion College and Brooklyn College. He also attended the Atelier Léo Marchutz in Aix-en-Provence, France. In his free time, David has developed a deep understanding of wine and art. He’s also Planterra Conservatory resident pop culture expert.Big TakeawaysTIPS and TRICKS for short term wedding planning:· Choose a full-service venue (like Planterra!) If not...definitely hire a planner! And then trust the planner.· Be ready to make decisions quickly· Consider a Friday or Sunday date· Have your guest list in order· Consider invitation needs immediately· Have or be prepared to choose your wedding attire· Be open to exploring multiple options in terms of photographers, DJ’s etc.· Make sure that the funds for the wedding are in place and accessible.· Embrace that you are planning a wedding in a shorter period of time.If you are considering planning a wedding in a short amount of time - ask yourself (honestly) - are you, as a couple, decisive?More to keep in mind: It helps a lot when you trust the vendors. Be flexible and ready to compromise when necessary.Time Saving Guidelines:Create digital Save the Dates to send immediatelyOffer a digital RSVP to save time for attendeesDepending on the services offered by a venue, hiring a wedding planner can be key in making wonderful things happen in shorter timeframe.Instead of menu options, duets entrees can save time and streamline the RSVP processBe prepared for multi-tasking meetings with the venue and vendorsHave your questions set in advance and be ready to move forward with decision-making and planning efficiently. You can consolidate meetings and work with vendors to move quickly.No hemming and hawing about options and choices. You know what you want! Go for it!Links we referencedhttps://planterraevents.comhttps://www.instagram.com/planterraconservatory/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

#139 You Ask, We Answer - 17

Questions Answered1 Call - “Indian Wedding ideas?”Ask: A traditional Indian wedding takes 3 days and involves hundreds of guests. This dear listener is planning one and she wants to know if we have any best practices for her.2 Email - “Indian bride and opinionated mom”Ask: I wrote to you both earlier when my fiance and I had just gotten engaged about how to incorporate both of our cultures into our wedding weekend and I'm writing to let you know that we took your advice and are planning to have a few Indian elements in a generally western-styled wedding. We are having a sangeet the night before the wedding which will function like a welcome party where we will have Indian food and music. We are also getting married under a mandap and are planning to incorporate a few Hindu rituals into our ceremony, such as the septapadi (circles around the fire) and jai mala (garland exchange).Do you have any advice on how to handle this situation? And/or how to make our large wedding feel like an intimate affair? One thing my fiance and I have discussed is writing our own vows, but I feel very awkward sharing such an emotional and intimate part of our relationship with a bunch of strangers.3 Email “Fur babies at the wedding”Ask: I don't want to bombard your social media outlets with questions, but have you two thought about doing a Quick Focus! or an episode on ways to incorporate your fur baby into the wedding (aka pet)? Our wedding is at a hotel so we cannot bring our sweet little pup but are thinking about naming our specialty drink after him. But I am sure there are some cool ideas/examples out there of how pets were incorporated into weddings.4 Email “My family is a little bit racist”Ask: I have a potential dilemma that you two seem perfectly suited to help with given your sensitivity to LGBTQ couples (although my fiance and I are in a heterosexual relationship) and cultural groups, so I'm hoping you can help me out.Some of the members of my family are very conservative and half of my family was explicitly raised to be racist. My fiance is black and I'm white, so there are definitely some members of my family who will not approve of our marriage (or at best might consider him "one of the good ones"). The problem is that I'm not sure which family members are the ones who would be that way. It doesn't really come up at family get togethers, but I'm aware of it because of my mother's upbringing (my mom is great, accepting of all people, and supportive). I know that some members of the family have rejected this like she did, but I don't know for sure everyone's stances.I won't allow anyone at my wedding to be mistreated because of their race, sexual orientation, or anything else, but is there something I can do in advance to prevent the possibility that won't be rude of me to those who don't deserve it?Links we referencedOur sponsors for this episode!https://www.zola.com/bigweddingwww.sagebridalexperience.comwww.gilbertsvillefarmhouse.comJoin our Mailing List!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

#138 Wedding Resale

If you’re wondering how to buy some of the DIY elements at your wedding for cheap, or what the heck to do with all of the chargers, linens and vases that you bought for your wedding, this is the episode for you!Jodi Colella runs a hugely successful facebook group – Pittsburgh Wedding Community – which began in 2012 as a local resale group. Turns out there’s a huge demand for wedding items and lots of people were arranging parking lot meet ups to buy and sell wedding goods. (Now there’s over 28,000 people in that group!) The idea for a Pittsburgh Wedding Flea market was born. Now Jodi’s been producing these events for a few years and the last one had almost 1500 people attend to shop. Cost saving for buyers and sellers…plus less waste all around. We love it.Big TakeawaysWhat are sellers usually selling? Themed items that all go together - signage, tabletop decor, etc. Matching items, or bulk items also go - in bulk, which is nice and convenient. You may have purchased 50 cheap glass vases or mason jars for your wedding day. You won’t make a ton of money selling them, but you can make some (better than nothing!) - and you can get rid of it all ‘to a good home’ so to speak! Package deals often all go in one shot.Biggest hint for sellers: You need to price your items to sell. Like - at least 50% off what you paid originally. 50% is a good place to start. 40% would go even faster. Sellers are making 300-800$ depending on what they bring in. It’s worth the cost of a table at a flea market and you aren’t throwing a bunch of shit away or storing it in your garage for years! It’s a win/win.Guess what doesn’t sell all that successfully? Wedding dresses. Check out our consignment shop episode for help if you want to resell your wedding gown. But keep in mind, that designer dresses are usually the only ones that get picked up. Consider donating to a non-profit!Handmade items can pick up a pretty penny at the resale markets. Jodi sees a lot of DIY stuff at her markets. If you are creative and made signage and decor for your wedding and it all looked great on your wedding day, then you can probably sell them all to someone else to use the same way. A lot of the sellers bring photos of their weddings so that buyers can see how things looked all set up.With flowers - DIY weddings use a lot of silk and faux flowers that can easily be repurposed and sold. Sometimes Jodi sees the same arrangements circle back a third and fourth time! As wedding planners, Michelle and Christy have thrown away pounds and pounds of beautiful flowers after weddings. If you opt for faux flowers, you may be able to resell them afterwards. Instead of letting your planner trash them all.Links we referencedJodi’s flea market website: https://weddingfleamarkets.comhttps://www.gilbertsvillefarmhouse.comhttps://www.instagram.com/sagebridalexperience/https://www.morelabs.com/pages/the-big-wedding-planning-podcastThe 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

#137 Rethinking Videography with StopGoLove

Meet the guests! The team behind StopGoLove:Jared Haskell founded StopGoLove with Jason after moving back to New England from a production company in Texas. Both his curiosity and competitive nature drove him to tackle weddings after success in shooting music videos, live television, and documentary work in multiple countries around the world. Professional excellence and seeing couples thrilled with their StopGoLove experience is of the utmost importance to Jared.Jason McCutchen believes that there’s no point in doing something if it can’t be the very best. That has been StopGoLove’s motto since our humble beginning in 2010. After hearing way too many wedding day horror stories, Jason and Jared teamed up to see if they couldn’t do any better. Jason is a natural student and educator; it’s one of the reasons StopGoLove is an industry leader when it comes to new technology and shooting techniques.We take each bride and groom’s wedding day extremely seriously. We see relationship playing a huge role when finding out what is important to a couple and in making unique and personalized imagery. We are fast and we respond in a way that is both timely and helpful. Have questions? Feel free to ask at any time; we’d love to help.Big TakeawaysWhy we love videography, how the best videographers work with clients, and what to think about if you are going to hire a pro.Wedding professionals need to run their businesses like BUSINESSES - even if they consider themselves artists. If they don’t respond to your initial inquiry quickly, then corresponding with them will be an arduous process the entire planning time. Trust us on this one.And on the note of artistry...we talk to the guys about how everyone you hire to be on your vendor team for your wedding day is just that - hired help, on a team.Questions: Ask a prospective hire how they operate on the day of. How do they work with photographers? Where are they physically during the ceremony? What kind of lights do they set up (ask to see a picture)? What do they wear on the wedding day? How do they back up and store the files after the wedding day AND day-of...are they constantly backing up and charging? These are important questions and every potential pro should have answers at the ready. Plus, you have to like the videos you’ve seen and know the plan when it comes to the timeline after the wedding...how long before you get the product? And how long does the company keep your files?Songs! Licensed songs cost money. Sometimes a lot of money. So picking a couple artists that you love and asking the videographer (and then trusting them) to pick something in that style or genre is a best practice. (You aren’t going to have a Stevie Wonder song on your wedding video, sorry.)Links we referencedhttp://www.stopgolove.nethttps://www.instagram.com/stopgolove/Sponsor alert! https://www.indochino.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

#136 Rituals and Traditions with Author Eleni Gage

There are SO many cool examples of lucky symbols, tradition, and rituals in this episode, and Eleni’s book goes into detail about all of them...from burying a bottle of bourbon one month before the wedding, to tucking a penny in your shoe...there are plenty of ways to cross your fingers and wish on a star about your wedding day and DURING your wedding day. Fun stuff!A novelist and journalist who spent three years as the Executive Editor at Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine, Eleni Gage was struck by the fact that every engaged couple wants the same thing: a meaningful, one-of-a-kind wedding and a lifetime of happiness. But so many of them don't know where to start when it comes to planning that unforgettable day and filling it with significance. Having earned a degree in Folklore and Mythology from Harvard University, she decided to change that by writing Lucky in Love: Traditions, Customs, & Rituals to Personalize Your Wedding. A collection of cross-cultural connections from all over the world that focus on bringing luck to couples getting married, it's also a guide to planning a day that is unique, auspicious and utterly personal in the best way possible. Or, as Eleni likes to say, "A wedding is equal parts planning and magic. There are plenty of books devoted to the planning. This one brings the magic." She's joining us from New York, where she lives with her Nicaraguan husband—whom she married in not one but two ceremonies on the Greek island of Corfu on 10.10.10—and their two Greekaraguan children.Big TakeawaysEleni grew up in a big Greek family and incorporated a lot of those traditions into her own Big Fat Greek Wedding. She studied folklore in college and learned that most rituals in life happen around transitions...life changes, when there is a lot at stake. We develop rituals to help us think we have control over things we don’t have control over. No matter what religion you are, everyone believes in LUCK, to some extent! At the very least, no one embraces bad luck, so a wish for good luck is just natural.It’s more than just ‘Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Something Old, Something New’ - but this is a fun little rhyme that everyone seems to know about (for good luck in the marriage), at least in America. What’s the background of it? It’s an old English rhyme and it represents the past, the future, the community and then blue is a symbol of fidelity and it’s also a religious color. Also, the rhyme continues to say ‘And a sixpence in her shoe’ so brides would put a penny in their shoes for fortune and financial security.Colors! There’s a whole chapter dedicated to color in the book and it was one of our favorites.Links we referencedBuy the book! https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Love-Traditions-Customs-Personalize/dp/0525573909/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=eleni+gage&qid=1554245442&s=gateway&sr=8-1Eleni’s site: https://elenigage.comMore Labs, Morning Recovery: https://www.morelabs.com/pages/the-big-wedding-planning-podcastThe 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

#135 You Ask, We Answer - 16

Question #1Ask: The guest count is due a month out at the venue, but the RSVPs are barely due back by then. We may have a procrastinator bride on our hands! (Admittedly.) How to navigate? And is this listener’s wedding going to be awkwardly small?Question #2, Email - “Dress Regret”Ask: My fiance and I went and got wedding dresses a while back (yes, together). It was great, and we both ended up getting dresses right on that day (without going to other stores). I actually got the first dress I tried on, and I absolutely love it. Her dress is beautiful as well. In store, she loved it. We get home, and she's very upset. She's nervous it is way too sexy. It has a low cut, and she is worried about what people will think. She has a bigger chest than the women who model the dress, and so yes... Her boobs are on display. She loves the dress, just not sure about the boob part. We tried a few different things to make it less revealing... But she didn't like any of it (neither did we). She wants to go look at other dresses so we can exchange if something different catches her eye. Is there any way to make her feel more comfortable if she chooses to stick with the "sexy" dress? I'm not really sure what I should do here.Question #3, Email - “Parents helping pay and making decisions...”Ask: My parents are wonderful but live about 4 hours away and as the oldest daughter/granddaughter on both sides of my family, mine and my fiance's wedding is something that they are very much looking forward to. Since we've started the planning process, I feel like I have been struggling to figure out exactly what it is I want since my parents have very big opinions and have no reservations about voicing them.My fiance and I are very simple people and want a traditional wedding with our own personal style reflected (and we are still trying to figure that out). That being said, my parents are contributing to the wedding and so I feel like if there is something we don't have as strong of an opinion on, I kind of defer to them since they seem to care so much. Meanwhile, my fiance wants me to stand up for what I want (and I want to do that too!) but it's hard to do when we don't really know what it is that we want.Question #4, Email - “Cash registry wording”Ask: My fiancé and I have lived together for over a year and we have everything we need at home already, and quite frankly, neither of us want to deal with the clutter of storing more stuff. We have decided it would be a lot more meaningful for us to take a long, extended honeymoon traveling Europe for a few weeks and would like to only have a cash registry to help fund that trip. Personally I feel like being upfront and transparent with our guests about the intention for the fund is best, but my fiancé feels that it may seem greedy to have a registry for something “unnecessary” like an extended honeymoon to Europe. He would rather have a cash registry titled something along the lines of “life together” fund and be a bit more vague.What are your thoughts on this? Any suggestions or past experiences you could offer? We’re using Zola, which as you know, is incredible and so easy to navigate.Links we referencedhttps://www.zola.com/bigweddingThe 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!
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#134 Write The Best Toast Ever with Beth Sherman

Writing a toast or a wedding speech - or your VOWS can be daunting. You want to be personal yet universal. You want to be yourself, and also write something profound and relatable. You want to be honest and funny and touching, but you don’t want to cry all over yourself when you say your vows, or give your toast. The pressure is on! This episode is all about the toasts/vows/speeches. It’s about how to put pen to paper, to edit and curate, and to stand up and proudly speak your words to a room full of people.Big TakeawaysCan we just take a second to appreciate that Beth has written for Ellen and the White House Correspondents Dinner?! What. So awesome.A couple basic rules from Beth: A wedding toast should be about 2-5 minutes long. You want to entertain everybody in the room - you want them to have a good time. Help everyone remember why they are there. It’ a toast, not a roast. Rehearse a few times! And remember - a laugh is what brings people in, but you don’t have to keep people laughing the whole time. Lastly - come from a place of love. (One more ‘rule’ - don’t get drunk before you give the toast.)Let the people toast! Our take: if someone you love wants to stand up and give you a toast on your wedding day...let them. There are so few times in life that people stand up and verbally shower each other with love. And you should take when you can get it.Beth has a list of questions that she uses to draw out information when she is working with a client to write a toast. She needs to get a sense of the person writing the toast, and she needs a sense of the couple being toasts, and how the three people are tied together. And the basic structure is the introduction, the meat of the speech, and then the actual toast. Remember that the introduction is important so that no one listening - maybe someone that doesn’t know you - feels left behind.If you’re asking someone to give a toast at your wedding - tell them that it can be 1-2 minutes long! A guideline will help someone that might feel a little nervous about it some confidence to say yes.If you’re giving a toast at a wedding - be sincere. That’s Beth’s #1 ‘best practice’ tenant. Tell your story and the humor will come out organically. Sit down and jot down some notes without a structure. These notes will eventually become your toast, but when you are just starting out, don’t worry about the final product.When giving your toast - introduce yourself and acknowledge everyone. How does everyone there know the couple? Who are you? How do you know the couple? What do you remember about when your friend told you about the new girlfriend…(his now wife)?Links we referencedhttps://takecareof.comhttp://www.bethsherman.comThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
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