Bridal Rebellion Podcast | Disrupting the wedding industry (with a lot of LOVE)

You can plan your wedding with more play and less than 5 minutes of stress. It is possible! Meet Emelie Archer Pickett (AKA Foxy), founder of ForbiddenLife.com and a contemporary shaman who brings animal medicine to those craving a more soul-aligned, wild life. In this episode of the Bridal Rebellion Podcast, we discuss how to plan your wedding and live yoru life with more playfulness + way less stress, the pros and cons of an open marriage, how to improve communication + intimacy in your rleationship, and the benefits of integrating your spirit animal into your wedding and life.

It's time to give the wedding ceremony just as much attention as the reception. Meet Reverend Mandi Neiser, founder of Married by Mandi.ca.Mandi is a Non-denominational "freelance" Minister who helps newly engaged couples bring a vision of their dream ceremony to life. Mandi helps couples hone in on what is important to them by asking lots of questions and getting to know each couple on a personal level. By doing this, every couple Mandi marries is blessed with a unique and personal ceremony that reflects their ideas, traditions and beliefs.  In this episode of the Bridal Rebellion Podcast, we tap into Mandi's unique perspective as a minister and discuss the process of creating your dream ceremony, the best questions to ask a potential officiant when interviewing for the "job", and how to make your ceremony more interactive and engage your guests.

What's your wedding hashtag? It's time to start thinking about the ways social media can enhance your wedding and guest experience. Meet Sophie Pyle, founder of Tweet the Bride. Sophie loves people, social media, and photography. She spent a few years photographing hundreds of high society events as the DC editor of Guest of a Guest, and several more luxury media brands. Now, Sophie is helping brides and grooms create beautiful wedding photos and timely updates on social media through her company, Tweet the Bride. In this episode of the Bridal Rebellion Podcast, we discuss the benefits of integrating social media into your wedding, how to create your wedding hashtag and how to communicate with your guests. "Weddings were meant to be instagrammed." -Sophie  

Ashleigh Waddle Garnes is one of the most lovable brides you'll meet. By tapping into her creative side, she's been able to reduce waste for her 300+ wedding. In this episode of the Bridal Rebellion Podcast, we discuss how to stay organized when planning a massive wedding on your own, how to add craftiness and creativity to your own wedding, how to reduce waste, and how to add mega personality to your big day.  

How is your wedding making the world a better place? More and more engaged couples are asking themselves this very question. The savvy business partners behind Repeat Roses, Jennifer Grove and Laura Parliment, are helping couples pay it forward via their own wedding bouquets. The average wedding produces between 400 - 600 lbs. of garbage. Jennifer and Laura are determined to reduce waste while also spreading kindness to those that need it the most, our elderly. In this episode of the Bridal Rebellion Podcast, we discuss how to pay it forward through your wedding, how to have a positive wedding planning mindset, and the legacy and experience behind Repeat Roses.

We all love wedding inspiration (hello Pinterest!). And there is plenty of it floating on the web ...but how do you make inspiration actionable? Enter Jess Levin, co-founder and CEO of Carats & Cake. Jess is helping connect aspirational couples directly with premium local vendors. This is the new digital way of shopping for vendors online and it's not only empowering couples, it's also forcing vendors to step it up in a big way. In this episode of the Bridal Rebellion Podcast, we discuss how to balance your online and offline wedding planning experience, how to select and manage your all-star wedding vendor team, and how to avoid bridal planning overwhelm.

When's the last time you shared your love story - the full story - with your friends and family? If it's been a while, you may need some help digging through all the juicy details. You may need a skilled journalist to ask you the right questions, to trigger the romantic memories from your early days in love. You might need Denise Oliveira, a Brooklyn-based writer and the co-founder of Prequels. Denise has a masters degree in journalism from Columbia University and has written love stories for The New York Times, Huffington Post and GayWeddings.com. Denise believes that "everybody should have their love story documented for themselves in the future and also for their kids and grandkids." I couldn't agree more. In this episode of the Bridal Rebellion Podcast, we discuss how to tell your own unique story, how to plan your wedding in a way that is true to you, and how to plan a kid-friendly wedding (Denise has great tips to share from her own wedding this spring!).

There's an app for that. Seriously, brides - there is an app for your wedding. It combines the beauty of a modern website with the ease of your iPhone. I have a mad crush on the brilliant folks behind one of the leading wed tech companies, Appy Couple. Appy Couple allows you to upload your guest list to your iPhone, interact with guests before, during and after the wedding, and even host champagne toasts within the app. It's a party in your hand. In today's episode we discuss how to integrate electronic invites with traditional paper invites, how to brand your own wedding, how to communicate with your guests in a fun way, and much much more with Maggie McMillen, the branding genius behind Appy Couple.

It's time to STOP glamourizing fad diets + cleanses and START living healthy lifestyles. Brides - you are beautiful. Don't go loco because magazines tell you that you need to look like a waif model. Healthy is in. And a healthy lifestyle that is full of pleasure - no pain allowed! - is possible and extends beyond the I DO. In today's episode we discuss how to integrate nontraditional + healthy ideas into your wedding decor and planning, how to avoid crazy diets, and how to become the healthy + gorgeous bride that you already are today with Carlene Thomas, a registered dietician nutritionist and founder of Healthfully Ever After.        

What's more magical than getting married in an exotic location miles away from your home? Umm...nothing. I will warn you, if you listen to today's show, you will want a.) to travel the world asap, b.) to celebrate your wedding somewhere far, far away from home and c.) one helluva statement piece designed by Chelsea Bond. In today's episode we discuss the benefits and challenges associated with destination weddings, how to engage your destination wedding guests, and the process of creating a customized jewelry piece for your wedding with Chelsea Bond, a self-taught, award-winning jewelry designer.      

The power of request can transform a wedding. In today's episode we discuss the taboo subject of crowdfunding your wedding through an online campaign, how to create a community through your wedding, and how to build your relationship with your partner during the engagement with Kari McGee, a radical bride from Ojai, California.  

There is a ginormous difference between a good photographer and a great photographer. If you don't believe me, check out Storey Wilkin's collection of wedding photos from the past 11 years. It's magical. Listen to today's episode to find out what questions to ask prospective photographers, how to create a vision statement for your wedding, and why wedding albums are more important than ever with Storey Wilkins, the founder of Storey Wilkins Photography in Ontario.

Why spend a ton of money on designer jewelry and accessories when you can rent just as easily? Let's face it, your budget is limited ... but a limited budget doesn't mean you shouldn't look fabulous on your wedding day. Rentals are changing the wedding world in a much-needed way. Join me as I discuss how technology is changing the wedding space, valuable tips for time management (from a Type-A expert!), and why rentals are the way to go with Brittany Haas, the founder of Happily Ever Borrowed.        

When it comes to the engagement, our culture doesn't like to talk about the dirty word we call doubt. The crazy part is that we actually need doubt in our lives during huge transitions like marriage. Join me as I discuss how to deal with transition in a healthy way, why you should grieve during your engagement, and how to create customized rituals for your own engagement and wedding with Sheryl Paul, MA, international counselor, founder of Conscious Transitions.com, and the author of The Conscious Bride and The Conscious Bride's Wedding Planner. Did I mention she's been on Oprah?      

In a perfect world, bridesmaids are besties, meant to be celebrated and dressed up in love (and silk!). We know dresses have the ability to empower women and make them feel sexy, smart, and way cool ... so why do we dress our bridesmaids like cupcakes? Don't do it! Join me as I discuss the power of sisterhood and warrior women, the importance of rituals (and dance parties) for your bridesmaids, and what makes one helluva wedding with Tijana Beca and Melissa Osborne, the founders behind Ash + Light NYC.        

Your friends and family want to give you gifts, but they are super busy. So make it easy on them. And while you're at it, make it a fun experience too! Join me as I discuss the psychology of gift giving, why cash registries can help you create the life you want and how to create a giving experience that feels less like a transaction and more like a gift with Dana Ostomel, founder and Chief Gifting Officer of Deposit a Gift.

Your groom actually wants to plan the wedding. So let him! It's time to loosen up and relinquish some control. Join me as I discuss why grooms are stepping up and taking the lead with the honeymoon, rehearsal dinner and more with Chris Easter, co-founder of The Man Registry and Groom's Advice.

When it comes to making wedding decisions, less is more. Way more. Join me as I discuss why Pinterest is dangerous for brides, why DIY isn't for everyone and how to ask for help with Fallon Carter, the rebellious NYC founder and wedding planner behind Fallon Carter Weddings.com.

Why do we still accept outdated and totally sexist wedding traditions? Bride-to-be Jenny Johnston decided to question the rulebook and plan her wedding in a radical new way with a non-public engagement (yep - that means no Facebook announcements!). Jenny has kept the traditions that she loves most and tossed the rest. Learn how to rebel against archaic traditions and create greater impact through your own wedding with Jenny Johnston.   

Do you want your wedding guests to chill at their tables with their beef wellington all night OR do you want them to meet new friends, play games or possibly find a new romance (or hook up!)? Connecting your guests before, during and after the wedding is now possible with Guesterly. Join me as I discuss how to create an interactive & fabulous wedding with Rachel Hofstetter, the founder of Guesterly.com