Advertise on podcast: Dream Day Radio : Wedding Planning Podcast

In this episode you’re going to learn how to plan your wedding like a professional. You’ll discover three tips gathered over several years of watching over a hundred couples go through the process of getting married. Planning can be exciting at first, but can easily become overwhelming if you don’t have the right strategies in place. The first tip is to get a clear vision on what you want before you start planning for your wedding day. You have to know what you want before you can get what you want. It’s important to define your dreams for the big day as clearly as possible, especially when it comes to your priorities. This should include effort by both partners to ensure you both get what you want. Secondly, weddings are often the biggest financial commitment a couple makes together. This is all the more reason to stay very organized and on budget. If nothing else, create a separate checking account where all of your wedding purchases come out of. This will help you track every single expense related to your wedding. Lastly, if you really want to plan your wedding like a pro, you need to start networking. Knowing the right people with the right experience will help you avoid mistakes along the way. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask your vendors tons of questions. If you’ve never planned a wedding before, it’s helpful to have as much support as you can along the way. Planning a wedding can be intimidating, but with the right strategies, it can be made much easier and more fun. https://yourpocketweddingplanner.com/free-7-days-trial

On this episode of Dream Day Radio we’re joined by “The Vow Whisperer” ​​Tanya Pushkine. Tanya has been helping couples deliver amazing vows for years and began pursuing this as a business professionally three years ago. She claimed the url and quit her corporate job to start her own business in the wedding industry. The number one mistake Tanya sees couples make when planning their wedding is not thinking about their ceremony until the last minute. The ceremony is the reason why everyone is truly there, so it needs to be a priority. That said, ceremonies should be 30 minutes or less​​⁠—30 minutes of magical, memorable moments. A fear of public speaking is very common, and this can make creating and reciting your vows really tough. Tanya works with her clients closely in writing and practicing their vows. She helps her clients cultivate confidence in speaking their own written words. This allows her clients to clearly convey their love and emotions during their ceremony. Reciting vows is about so much more than what is simply written on a piece of paper. How you say the words matter too. You want to annunciate, avoid mumbling, project your voice, and stand tall. Tanya doesn’t just work with couples. She also officiates, works with other officiants, and also supports family members and friends who have an upcoming speech for a wedding. Ultimately, the couple should always have the final say and maintain control of planning their ceremony. Tanya emphasizes planning as much ahead as possible for a blissful wedding. There are important details you don’t want to overlook, especially when it comes to your ceremony. To cap off the episode, Tanya shares one of her most memorable experiences working with a couple⁠—one that ended in a shocking twist. It’s a story you have to hear to believe. www.thevowwhisperer.com https://yourpocketweddingplanner.com/free-7-days-trial/

Looking for ways to save on your wedding day? If so, this episode is for you. The wedding industry does not necessarily emphasize planning within a budget, but if you know the best places to save, you can definitely find a way to create your dream wedding without going overboard on expenses. One of the most important steps you should take in the beginning is determining your priorities as a couple. This may be different for each partner, and that’s okay. You can each honor what one another needs and wants. Being intentional will help you stay on track and plan the wedding you truly want. Another tip is to book vendors for their smallest package. You can always upgrade if it’s absolutely necessary, whereas it’s more difficult to downgrade later down the road. By booking their smallest package, you know the vendor is yours and you can tailor your package from there. When possible, choose companies that send you DIY kits. Taking on some of the work yourself can save you quite a bit of money. Stationery is another wedding must-have that can either cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Instead, try using Canva customizable templates. If you were to order customized stationary, it would cost you thousands of dollars. Designing and printing your own in Canva, using templates and printing them, only costs a couple hundred dollars. Lastly, keep track of all of your expenses. You can even create a bank account specifically for wedding funds. Every transaction will be recorded in this account, so you can see exactly how much money is being spent and on what. Making your wedding money work for you is what it’s all about.

Find out on this episode of Dream Day Radio why I am so obsessed with weddings. I’m getting personal and deep about why they are my passion. Spoiler alert: it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I didn’t even realize the answer to this question until I dug into the subconscious layers of my brain. It took another business owner, photographer Stephanie Zakas, to help me unravel my why. Although it’s been a while since we’ve spoken, I can say that every time I talk to her, I learn something new about myself. Talking with her has helped me explore my childhood and how I felt isolated during it. I craved connection and close relationships, but ultimately, felt like I never fit in. My mother died in a car accident when I was six-years-old. Her death was very traumatic and changed the course of my life forever. I had no confidence in myself and who I was, and I was terrified to talk to people. Even though my father remarried my first stepmom when I was young, I never felt like I wasn’t given the parental guidance I needed in childhood. I eventually moved in with my grandparents and resolved to start over. At 20-years-old, I got married to someone I was not compatible with. It lasted for three years until I filed for divorce. Once I filed, I felt like I could breathe again. I wanted to believe in love, and I knew in my heart and soul there was someone out there who God created for me. I wouldn’t settle until I found that person. I may have made some mistakes along the way, but I’m grateful for where I am now. I prayed it would be obvious when I met my person, and it was. My love for weddings stemmed from my loneliness as a child. I only ever wanted to feel seen and understood. Weddings remind me that love is good. When I can witness a couple’s heart at their wedding, I feel honored. It truly is a gift.

How should you create your guest list? Listen in as I discuss the essential starting point for assembling your guest list and keeping the stress out of the process. It’s important before you book your venue to know the approximate size of your wedding and the number of guests. It can help you to put a lot of different things in order right from the beginning. To start, brain dump every single guest you can think of that could be there. Write it all down in a document, using Google Docs or a similar service. Handwriting out everyone’s information is fine too, but using a computer program is going to make editing and copying that list a lot easier and clearer down the road. Next up create categories for your guests. Groups like friends, family, and co-workers can help you visualize how big both sides of the wedding will be. This isn’t narrowing down the list, this is just so you can see how big both your and your partner’s guest lists are. The third step is to imagine that you absolutely have to cut your existing list in half. Who would you keep on that list? You can even go further and restrict it to 40 people. This will help you to put into perspective who are the most important people at your wedding. Now go through the list by category and ask yourself some questions. Have you spoken to this person in the last year? Do you see them outside of the workplace? Ask yourself these questions to get clarity on just how important they are to your wedding. Instagram: @yourpocketweddingplanner

On this episode of Dream Day Radio, we’re talking with Melissa from WedBrilliant, a unique wedding planning service that helps you connect online with vendors. Melissa was inspired to create WedBrilliant after she struggled to find vendors for her out-of-state wedding. Not being there to vet or meet vendors was an obstacle, and WedBrilliant was created to bridge this gap. Melissa describes WedBrilliant as a matchmaking service for wedding vendors and couples who are looking to plan their wedding. The goal of the service is to connect couples with vendors easily to make wedding planning as easy as possible. Once you know your date and your budget, you can begin finding the right vendors for you. So many couples get engaged without realizing how much different vendors may cost. Melissa recommends staying within budget and allocating your funds based on where your priorities are as a couple. Book with vendors who understand your vision and share your goals for your wedding. Avoid giving into pressure or fear that vendors will book up, because it may lead you to book with vendors who are not well-suited to you. The vendors on WedBrilliant are crowd-vetted and reviewed by real couples. When you get bids based on the service you’re looking for, you have the opportunity to check them out and decide if they are right for you. A sign of a great vendor is keeping the conversation focused on you, the couple (instead of focusing on themselves). Melissa believes the secret to wedding planning bliss is sharing the burden. You shouldn’t feel like you have to take it all on by yourself. Asking for help from family, friends, and vendors is a normal part of the process, so don’t be afraid to delegate. When you take the stress out of wedding planning, you get to enjoy your engagement that much more.

Have you ever wondered what the secret is to making a solid, impactful speech? Today’s guest, Eddie Rice, can show you how. Eddie Rice is the author of Toast: Short Speeches, Big Impact, which is all about writing speeches that won’t bore or tire your audience. There is a fine art to crafting an amazing speech, and Eddie has tips to help you craft one. About ten years ago, Eddie entered a humor speech competition. In the second round, Eddie bombed on stage. He felt deflated and defeated, but his mentor was there to encourage him. Despite this challenge, he kept going to Toastmasters, honing his public speaking skills, and slowly getting better. If you want to be a great speaker, you have to learn to turn these obstacles into positive experiences. The number one mistake guests make during their wedding speech is turning their toast into a roast. Remember: it’s a wedding, not your stand-up debut. Don’t tell stories you shouldn’t or try to embarrass anyone. If you want to make your speech unique and memorable, find a book or song that’s unique to the couple and quote that at the end. A great wedding speech starts with a simple outline. Eddie recommends using the one-story structure. All you have to do is introduce yourself, explain how you know who you’re toasting, say one great story to honor them, give some heartfelt advice, and then close with your personalized quote. It’s that easy. When making a speech, keep it short, use stories, and put effort into your structure. Don’t forget to rehearse in advance for the best outcome. If you want to learn more about making a great speech, you can find Eddie’s book on Amazon and other online retailers.

In today’s show, you’ll learn tips for being more comfortable in front of the camera. So many people feel awkward and uncomfortable, especially if they’ve never had professional photos done before. The idea of having your photo taken can be intimidating, but there are things you can do to increase your confidence in front of the camera. Wearing an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident is one of the best ways to prepare for your photoshoot. If you’re not sure what that should be, you can always lean on Pinterest to get ideas. For example, if you’re booking an engagement session, you can search for “engagement photoshoot outfit” and consider which looks you like. Remember that during your photoshoot, the photographer will be directing you and having you move around in different poses and locations. Staying busy will help you loosen up and feel much less awkward in front of the camera. When posing, think about making angles and avoiding facing the camera straight on. If you’re still feeling nervous, you can always practice taking photos with your partner. This practice will help you get to know what poses make you feel and look good. Getting to know your photographer a little better may also put you at ease. Try to approach the shoot focusing on the fun and the experience rather than how your photos may turn out. Your photographer should be able to assure you, direct you, and put you at ease. Outside of that, you can plan a great outfit, practice taking photos in advance, and use your angles when posing. Be sure to hire a trusted photographer who will prioritize your comfort and help you relax the day of your session.

Are you in the midst of planning a wedding but not making the progress you want to? On this episode of Dream Day Radio, you’ll learn all about the guide that can help you with that. Wedding planning is tough, especially if you have a vision but you’re not sure how to bring it to life. The planning process would be so much easier if you had an accessible resource to help guide the way. Imagine having a community of wedding planners⁠—experts⁠—who can help you plan your big day. That’s why Your Pocket Wedding Planner was created. It meets your wedding planning needs without all the stress and late nights scrolling through Pinterest. This resource is going to make crossing tasks off your list that much easier and help you ditch the feeling of overwhelm. No couple wants to look back on their big day and remember how stressful the planning process was. Your Pocket Wedding Planner is a tool that helps to ensure nothing gets missed in the process. It’s an online guide that has how-to videos and step-by-step guides to get you through the wedding planning process with ease. Your Pocket Wedding Planner also gives you access to an exclusive online community where you can find even more support and resources, including wedding planners to help answer your questions. Between the guide and the group, you’ll have everything you need in your pocket to plan your wedding. Connecting with experts and people planning a wedding at the same time as you is going to be so beneficial. You deserve to have the wedding day you really want, and it starts by ironing out the details of your guest list, budgets, boundaries, unique details, and more. Get Your Pocket Wedding Planner to plan your dream wedding with zero regrets.

We’re joined by Hannah’s husband Cameron today as the couple take us through their wedding story. It begins when, a few weeks before their wedding, Hannah was on her way to the spa and got into an accident. Cameron was in shock when he got the call. He got in the car and drove as fast as he could to the hospital, arriving so fast he even beat the ambulance there. Thankfully, although hurt, Hannah was going to be okay. She was home from the hospital a few days later to recover. Their wedding day was fast approaching, and they were already very well prepared. Hannah was grateful for this because it gave her the chance to figure out some of the new obstacles she was facing, like being able to get around on her casted legs. Hannah rented a suite in a boutique hotel the night before her wedding, which was perfect for when hair and makeup arrived for her bridesmaids the next day. When it came to getting their photos done, Hannah was less than impressed. She didn’t agree with all the photographer’s choices, but does acknowledge that she herself was physically limited at the time. Thirty minutes before the ceremony, Hannah’s Dad called and said he was lost. Knowing he was going to be walking her down the aisle soon, this was pretty stressful. That aside, the ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Hannah loved their pastor, and the church and service were stunning. One thing Cameron and Hannah regret is the wedding food they chose. They wish they would have picked something that wasn’t made in bulk and that they had tried more samples. Overall, Cameron and Hannah have some great memories from their wedding day. That said, they look forward to planning an amazing vow renewal to redeem some of the aspects they wish they handled differently.

This time we are joined by travel agent Stacey Bauer who is here to talk about all things honeymoon planning and budgeting. Stacey owns Travel B Travel Agency where she works with 15 agents to book honeymoons, vacations, or any travel you might need. Honeymoon couples tend to look for some downtime after the big day, so Stacey works with them and their budget to find a quiet location that works for them. With the pandemic, Florida has become a much more popular destination, but people are looking to travel again. Also recommended are cruises. First-time cruises are often budget-friendly and a great way to see the world and relax. Booking ahead in these times can be daunting, but you can purchase trip insurance that can help negate the effects of possible cancellations. Each individual case is different and you should always look into your options when booking your trip. Travel consultants can help you navigate the waters when it comes to unexpected delays, illnesses, or reschedules. Having an expert in your corner can really lighten the load and decrease stress. Weddings don’t need to be any more stressful than they already are, and getting expert help from the get-go will minimize it. When it comes to travel hacks, Stacey has some ideas. Look to be flexible in your dates for pricing, and look ahead to anniversary dates in the future and how that will impact pricing. Travel advisors also help to save you time and money and work within your budget. Since 2020, travel has changed, but it is beginning to return to normal. A lot more restrictions and regulations are in place and constantly changing, so a travel advisor can help. Travel B: www.mytravelb.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Travel-B-100502457991980/

Clinical psychologist Dr. Morgan Anderson joins as a guest on this episode of Dream Day Radio. We’ll be talking about attachment style, relationships, family, and boundaries. Dr. Anderson has her own podcast and coaching program directed at helping women go from an anxious-avoidant attachment to embodying a securely attached, confident woman who can have great relationships. Dr. Anderson breaks down the different types of attachment styles and dives into how these influence your adult relationship functioning. Many women spend decades stuck in unhealthy attachment styles. Dr. Anderson loves the program she’s created because it helps women reach secure attachment in just eight weeks. One thing so many couples struggle with is boundaries, and this can impact the wedding planning process. The fear of abandonment and the desire to people please can be strong. What Dr. Anderson wants people to remember is this: boundaries are a good thing. They don’t hurt relationships; they actually help relationships by preserving them for the long-term. Before you can set your boundaries, you need to know what those boundaries are. This requires trust and a strong foundation within yourself. You can start by asking yourself what you’re feeling and what you need to feel supported throughout the day. If you’re planning your wedding and you find family members or friends are overstepping your boundaries, check in with yourself. Give yourself credit for realizing that you have to express your needs. Approach the conversation using “I” statements and don’t be afraid to let the other person know what you need. It may be difficult at first, but over time, enforcing your boundaries will become a natural part of your relationships.