Wedding planning might be one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do (not to sound too dramatic). There is fun throughout the planning process, of course. But chances are, you will most likely encounter some overwhelming obstacles and stressful situations. This is where the Now That I’m Engaged, How Do I Get Married? podcast comes in!
Each week, Kevin Dennis & August Yocher of Fantasy Sound Event Services sit down with a new wedding professional to talk through all the ins and outs of wedding planning. If you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve rounded up seven wedding podcast episodes covering different parts of the planning process to help you kick things off!
1. Figure Out What You Really Want
The first overwhelm you are probably experiencing after getting engaged is the huge influx of wedding inspiration and pictures coming in on your social media feeds. It can be hard to sort through everything while you’re still figuring out your wedding style, budget, guest count, timeline, and location. Where do you even start?
In our 60th epsiode, Nora Culley Tuck of Engaged with Nora breaks down the disconnect between wedding inspiration and reality. Social media tends to show you the best of the best. It can be easy to fall in love with certain ideas without understanding the true time, cost, and coordination behind them. Before this overwhelm takes hold of you and affects your planning experience, let Nora shift your mindset! She’ll teach you that understanding the “why” behind each of your choices is key to creating a wedding that feels authentic to you.
Listen to the episode: Episode 60 – The Disconnect Between Wedding Inspiration and Reality with Nora Culley Tuck
2. Find the Right Wedding Venue
Before you book any other vendor (except maybe an amazing wedding planner), you need a date and therefore, a venue. You can start some vendor research, but they can’t really reserve a wedding date for you if you don’t have one lined up. Let’s say you’ve booked some wedding venue tours, but what do you ask? What information do you need to learn in order to make an educated decision?
Ian Ramirez of Madera Estates dives into all this and more in our 58th episode. Just like wedding inspiration ideas, it’s easy to fall in love with how a wedding venue looks and picture yourself already getting married there. But before you get too carried away, Ian is here to share why couples need to look beyond the aesthetics and focus on what can truly impact your wedding day experience. While you’re touring, focus on the flow, logistics, and team behind each venue. Aesthetics have their place too, but let’s make sure we’re asking the right questions and tour with intention.
Listen to the episode: Episode 58 – Venue Tours Decoded: What to Look for Beyond Pretty with Ian Ramirez
3. Understand Who You Need on Your Planning Team
If there is one thing we preach time and time again on this podcast, it’s to get a wedding planner! The investment will be so worth it, and you will thank yourself 100 times over. After you’ve booked your wedding venue, it’s a good idea to understand the role your venue coordinator will play and if hiring a wedding planner is the right choice for you. Ask your venue what services they will provide throughout the planning process and the day of, so you can determine the level of support that you may need. There are a lot of vendors involved in making your special day happen, and knowing who will take care of what will save you a lot of stress.
You may not know the difference between a wedding planner and a venue coordinator, and that is okay! Raman Bains and Manreet Gill of Home In Stone Events break this down in our latest podcast epsiode, so you can plan with confidence.
Listen to the episode: Episode 70 – Venue Coordinator vs. Wedding Planner: What’s the Difference? With Home In Stone Events
4. Build a Wedding Budget That Works for You
It is completely normal to feel some sticker shock when you start breaking down your wedding budget. All the wedding inspiration you see online doesn’t come with a price tag attached to it. Once you’ve narrowed down your overall budget, how do you start prioritizing where these funds go? It’s not the most fun or sexy topic to discuss, but it’s critical to the wedding planning process.
Jordan Roepke of Jordan Roepke Photography dives into paying for what you value in epsiode 49. Jordan presents a values-based approach to wedding budgeting that prioritizes what matters most to you as a couple. He shares practical tips and advice while also uncovering the hard truth: “you get what you pay for.”
Listen to the episode: Episode 49 – Pay for What You Value: Why Wedding Budgeting Often Works Against You with Jordan Roepke
5. Choose Your Wedding Vendors
Okay, so you’ve booked your venue, set your budget, and have a vision for the day! Now where do you find the rest of your wedding vendor team? Searching for wedding vendors online can start to feel like a sea of sameness. What makes each vendor different, and which one is the right fit for you? And with so many options like directories, social media, referrals, and local platforms, where do you start your search?
Not to worry, because in epsiode 57, Shannon Tarrant of Wedding Venue Map breaks down where today’s couples are searching and what is actually helpful. Shannon covers how to use social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, why having local knowledge matters, and how to find trustworthy vendors. She also points out how your venue’s preferred vendor list is often overlooked, but can be one of your greatest assets.
Listen to the episode: Episode 57 – Where Should I Actually Look for My Wedding Vendors? with Shannon Tarrant
6. Create a Wedding Day That Feels Like You
Now we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty details of the wedding planning process, and asking the age-old question: how do I make this wedding my own? If you haven’t noticed, weddings are becoming more and more non-traditional. Couples are truly embracing uniqueness in their style, decor, and overall aesthetic. This can be hard to navigate, especially if you have pressure from family or even society to do things a certain way, but Jenny Mac is here to help.
In episode 42, Jenny Mac of Eloping Is Fun helps you throw out the rulebook and reframe how you look at your wedding day. She dives into how to handle the pressure of wedding planning, communicate with loved ones, and swap performative “shoulds” for meaningful choices. Traditions and trends can have their place, but creating a day that feels like you is timeless.
Listen to the episode: Episode 42 – How to Break Up with Tradition and Plan a Wedding 100% You with Jenny Mac
7. Get Ready for the Big Day!
Okay, we lied. There are more than seven episodes… We had to do a few for this last point! As you close in on the big day, there are a lot of little details to consider and remember. But that is what the Now That I’m Engaged, How Do I Get Married? podcast is for! Every wedding expert who joins us to record brings a unique perspective, plus plenty of experience and advice to share.
We sincerely hope this podcast can be a tool and asset to help you all the way from your engagement to that last dance. If there is anything we haven’t covered here in this blog or even on the podcast yet, we’d love to answer your questions! Nothing is too big, too small, or too complicated. Send Kevin and August an email at podcast@fantasysound.com, and we’ll answer it on the podcast!
Listen to these episodes:
If you’re worried you’re forgetting something and want a comprehensive list of decor and emergency items! Elena Markwood with Adoration Weddings goes into detail: Episode 55 – Wedding Day Items Couples Forget (And How To Be Prepared) with Elena Markwood
Listen to this episode with Janice Carnevale of Bellwether Events to keep your wedding morning on track!: Episode 30 – How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Morning and Stay On Time with Janice Carnevale
Another perspective we wanted to offer listeners was from married couples themselves. Couples who were in the same position as you but have now “graduated” into married life. DJ & Jacob Pingue and Meg Boyd both reminisce about their wedding days and share their favorite moments and lessons learned. A great listen if you are just starting off with the wedding planning process!
Episode 38 – Now That I’m Married, How Can I Help Others? with DJ & Jacob Pingue
Episode 14 – A New Segment: Now That I’m Married, How Can I Help Others? Featuring Newlywed Meg Boyd
Keep Planning With Us
You don’t have to know everything before diving into wedding planning! But if you’re looking for somewhere to start your journey, we hope you will tune in with us.
Listen to these episodes and more wherever you get your podcasts, and be sure to check back for new episodes each week!
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