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BONUS #3: Talking About Money & Wedding Costs With Loved Ones

The Great Wedding Budget Debate: Surviving Your Family's Financial Opinions. I was inspired by last night’s Wedding Planning Happy Hour. This was a HOT topic and I felt it was one that needed to be shared with all of you. Takeaways
Start thinking about these family members, who are financially contributing to your wedding as investors
Don’t react to their sticker shock!
If you don’t have an iron-clad budget spreadsheet, you are not ready to talk about money with them.
Getting a credit card specifically for wedding costs is a great idea if done responsibly
If you’re hiring a wedding planner or month of coordinator, make sure you find out their communication boundaries and expectations. 
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 hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode

#349 How To Keep Your Relationship Thriving (and your partner alive)

Planning a wedding is like playing a game of Jenga with your relationship. One wrong move, and the whole thing can come crashing down. But fear not, my dear friends! That's where premarital counseling comes in - it's like adding extra support to your shaky tower of love. Trust me, you don't want those pesky issues popping up later in marriage like an unwanted pimple on your wedding day. Listen in as Michelle interview’s Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT and co-founder of OURS premarital counseling.
Click HERE to become a premium subscriber and unlock all of the amazingness:
Ad-free, full episodes
TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center
Monthly Wedding Planning Happy Hours via Zoom with Michelle
Bonus Episodes
and more
Our GuestElizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT is a couples therapist and the cofounder of OURS Premarital Counseling. She is also the author of I Want This To Work, an inclusive guide to relationships. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband, 5 year old son, and labradoodle.Topics We Covered
Get Ahead of the Game: Tips on Being Proactive and Taking Action
Dealing with Déjà Vu: Managing Recurring Issues in Your Relationship
The Big Talk: Discussing Intimate Topics like Sex and Money with Your Partner
Opposites Attract...or Do They? How to Handle a Partner Who's Your Polar Opposite
Stress Less, Love More: Navigating Life's Tough Times as a Couple
When Opposites Collide: Making Your Lifestyles and Differences Work for Both of You
Family Ties and In-Law Blues: Setting a Game Plan for Dealing with Family Culture
Money Matters: Understanding Each Other's Financial Philosophy
Preventative Measures 101: How to Keep Issues at Bay in Your Relationship
Stand Up for Yourself: Saying No Without Compromising Your Beliefs
Celebrate Diversity: Embracing Your Differences as a Couple
Finding Common Ground: The Art of Compromise in Relationships
LinksOURS Use Code: BIGWEDDING for 15% off the Full Premarital ExperienceElizabeth’s Written WorkOURS on IG: @ours.wellnessElizabeth on IG: @lizlistensThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez
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 hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode

#348 Real Wedding Retrospective with Lindsey (Leardi) Higgins

Lindsey is a long time listener and she just got married to the love of her life, Brent. From her favorite part of the day, to her biggest surprise to the part she disliked the most, we are learning from Lindsey’s freshly married wisdom. Not only that, but we got a hold of the audio that her videographer captured. Brent was wearing a lapel mic the whole time and they both forgot. You are going to LOVE hearing behind the scenes as Lindsey and Brent experience their wedding day. Lindsey is also sharing her list of Wedding Rules that she made for herself. UH-mazing sh%t!Topics We Covered
Lindsey’s Wedding Rules
Going from planning mode to having fun on the wedding day
The pressures of wedding planning
The pressures of “all eyes on you”
Dealing with post-wedding blues
How to be well-rested for your wedding day
Why they chose to do private vows 
Leardi-Higgins Wedding Vendors/Services:WedTextsReception Venue: The Guild https://www.theguildkc.com/Ceremony Venue: Powell Gardenshttps://powellgardens.org/Catering: Garozzo’s Ristorantehttps://www.garozzos.com/Photography + Videography: Streetcar Studios, Jim Barcushttp://www.streetcarstudios.com/Cake + Dessert Bar: Bloom Baking Co.https://bloombakingco.com/Florals + Rentals: Good Earth Floral https://www.goodearthflowers.com/Ceremony Music: Forte Quartethttps://fortequartet.org/ Cocktail Hour Singer: Talya Groves https://talyagroves.com/DJ: Fernando Productions Jared Maib https://fernandoproductionskc.com/djjared/Transportation: Showtime Transportationhttps://www.limokc.com/Hair + Makeup: Skyline Salon (featured on Queer Eye!)https://www.skylinesalon.com/Month-Of Coordinator: Common Ground Events, Julia Pattersonhttps://www.commongroundkc.com/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 hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode

BONUS #2: Michelle & Jose Luis on Marriage

Michelle and her husband have been married for 21 years. On this episode we share some things learned along our continuing journey. *This episode originally aired on our Patreon feed back in November of 2022.

#347 You Ask, We Answer - 63

On the last Wednesday of every month, we answer wedding planning questions from our listeners. Michelle’s co-host for this episode is Dixie Bagley, a wedding planner, venue owner, bakery owner and friend of the pod.Do YOU have a wedding planning question? Call and leave us a voicemail at 415-723-1625 -or- email us hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.comQuestions We Answered:
Someone proposed at my wedding and I am upset about it! Am I an asshole?
What do we call this unique pre-wedding party? 
Please help me with the wording. Both sets of our parents are divorced and my mom is paying for most of the wedding
My fiance hates getting his photo taken and doesn’t want an engagement shoot nor photos taken of him on the wedding day. Help!
Which vendor should I book next?
I fired my partial planner, but should I hire her back for Month Of? 
About Our Guest:Dixie Bagley is owner of The Farm in Rome, Georgia, a European farm estate set in the north west Georgia mountains. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside weekend wedding experience. In addition to her venue, Dixie is the owners of The Sweet Bar Bakery, Dixie Events, and she's also a Venue Coach with The Bridal Society.Links We ReferencedThe Farm Rome, GAThe Sweet Bar BakeryThe 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 hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode

#346 How To Crowdfund Your Wedding

Most couples DON’T have the money for a luxury, high-budget wedding. In fact, many of you would prefer it if your guests would contribute financially to the wedding and/or honeymoon instead of buying you a gift.In this episode, Michelle interviews Sara Margulis, co-founder of Honeyfund and dives deep into the tactful way to ask your guests for (dare we say it??) money!Topics We Covered
What is crowdfunding and how to use it for your wedding
The best way to introduce this concept to your wedding guests
Is it tacky or bad etiquette to ask for money?
Pitfalls to avoid when asking guests for money instead of gifts
How to get started even if you’ve already started planning
Creative ideas of things you can use a Honeyfund for
Links We Referencedhttps://www.honeyfund.com/Honeyfund on Shark TankAbout Our GuestSara Margulis is an enthusiastic champion of love and travel. As co-founder and CEO of the popular honeymoon registry Honeyfund, she is focused on a singular mission: helping all couples make their honeymoon happen. That’s because couples who travel together stay together. According to research, couples who start their marriage with a honeymoon and continue to travel are more likely to be happily married 11+ years later.Sara's winning appearance on Shark Tank in 2014 propelled her into regional, national and international speakerships and media. She’s sought as an expert on a variety of topics including weddings, honeymoons, personal finance and empowerment, marketing and entrepreneurship, and women in business.Honeyfund has been around for 16 yearsThe 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 hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode

#345 Ceremony Wisdom from Celebrity Officiant Clint Hufft

Planning a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event and it should be an unforgettable experience. If you want to make your wedding ceremony truly memorable, there are some key elements to consider. From professional officiants to unique I do’s, there are plenty of ways to make sure your wedding stands out from the rest. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can create an unforgettable wedding ceremony that will be remembered for years to come.Celebrity Officiant Clint Hufft joins Michelle to discuss the many ways a wedding ceremony can be extra special, unforgettable, and deeply about you. Topics We Covered
How to design a memorable and personalized ceremony
How to select a wedding officiant 
Amazing advice on how to write your personal vows
The order of a ceremony
The inside scoop on Paris Hilton’s wedding
The inside scoop on Brittany Spears wedding  
As a Non-Denominational Officiant, Clint has been blessed to marry hundreds of couples from all over the world. The variety of backgrounds, traditions, cultures and Spiritual beliefs is astounding. No matter what the ceremony contains, the true magic is in the eyes of each couple as they pledge their love and commitment to each other. Reverend Clint Hufft officiates wedding ceremonies of all kinds—from spiritual to secular, single religion to interfaith, cultural to LGBT.Links We ReferencedClint's Website Weddingceremonychoices.comWedding Ceremony PodcastWedding MBA PodcastMitzvah Party PodcastCandid Conversations by CatersourceSpiritual Cake PodcastThe Jew Next Door Podcast 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.

BONUS #1: Our Last Patreon Happy Hour

This episode is the audio recording of the last Patreon Happy Hour (1/26/2023) and it was sooooo good! Listen in as we laugh, learn and love one another.Some topics covered:
Retrospective with a newly married member
The wedding day taking place in multiple spaces
Inviting folks to multiple events
Bar options
Covering where folks are getting married
Is an after-wedding follow up call with vendors worthwhile?
Links We Referenced:https://www.paperlesspost.com/https://flowermoxie.com/https://www.bindleandkeep.com/ https://www.bridesbyyoung.com/This bonus episode is ONLY available to subscribers of this Premium Feed. Love you all so much!!!xoxo,Michelle

#344 Prioritizing The People That Lift You Up

Guest Deesha Dyer gives Michelle her "Real Wedding Retrospective" and tells us how she and her husband, Wes only invited those that they truly loved the most. Click HERE to become a premium subscriber and unlock all of the amazingness:
Ad-free, full episodes
TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center
Monthly Wedding Planning Happy Hours via Zoom with Michelle
Bonus Episodes
and more
Topics We Covered
How Deesha and Wes invited only those who support and lift them up
How Deesha and Wes made their guests feel honored and special at the wedding
Making the wedding about their community
Recognizing when to keep looking for the dress and not to give in
Hybrid zoom and in-person weddings
Special menus
Moving out of event planner mode into guest of honor mode
Getting married at an older age than what you see in the wedding industry
Deesha Dyer is an American public servant who served as the White House Social Secretary for the U.S. President Barack Obama from 2015 to 2017 Deesha Dyer is an award-winning strategist, community organizer, and seasoned public speaker with an online community of 38,000 people. For nearly two decades, she has produced social impact campaigns across entertainment, politics, philanthropy, and business, specializing in causes that create tangible change. Her most recent endeavor is Hook & Fasten, a social impact firm that is dedicated to building partnerships between communities and companies around the world. Links We Referencedhttps://www.deeshadyer.com/https://instagram.com/deedyer267 Hook and FastenThe Decatur HouseThe Bar: Episode 227Modern RebelMinuteman Pressbell hooks - All About Loveillvibe CollectiveLatosha BrownChildren of the Gospel ChoirThe 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 hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode

#343 You Ask, We Answer - 62

David Tutera is back as Michelle's co-host! On the last Wednesday of every month, we answer wedding planning questions from our listeners. These are always chock full of information that EVERYONE can benefit from. We have so much fun and we love our listeners for reaching out and interacting with us. Listen and learn, peeps!Click HERE to subscribe and unlock all of the amazingness:
Ad-free, full episodes
TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center
Monthly Wedding Planning Happy Hours via Zoom with Michelle
Bonus Episodes
and more
Do YOU have a wedding planning question? Call and leave us a voicemail at 415-723-1625 -or- email us hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.comDavid Tutera is a globally known, tremendously successful, wedding & entertaining expert with over 30 years in the industry. Beyond his tremendous success as an event expert and designer, David is also a sought after television personality, fashion and accessory designer, entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, and the visionary behind the David Tutera brand, which includes various product lines, as well as educational opportunities, such as the David Tutera Mentorship Program and The David Tutera Experience for planners, designers, and event professionals. Oh, and it’s worth mentioning that David is someone that Michelle has looked up to for inspiration as an entrepreneur and event professional since she started in the industry. 🙂David has just written a book about his life titled ‘Journey to Joy’ which is available now.Topics We CoveredHow to honor a pregnant sister of the bride and all the complicated feelings around itIdeas for the wedding processional orderInviting estranged family to the weddingWhat if a vendor won’t send a contract? Should you invite your month of coordinator to the rehearsal dinner? Communication issues and apparent lack of investment with a plannerWhat tables and decorations are necessary at the receptionLink We ReferencedDavidtutera.comAmazon.com/Journey-Joy-Unveiled-David-Tutera/dp/1667875523 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 hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode