To Dos Before I Do Wedding Podcast

Question: How can I get wedding vendors to give me discounts? www.todosbeforeido.com

So today on the podcast, it is part 1 of my series: how to be an efficient bride.  I’ll be talking about communicating with your wedding vendors.   When Jeff and I got married, I was very organized when it came to planning our wedding and also handling correspondence with our wedding vendors.  I wanted to make sure that during any communication I had with our vendors, I was clear and concise with my questions or responses .. I felt like the more organized I was, the more it would save both Jeff and I and our wedding vendors’ time.  I absolutely loved all of the vendors that we worked with during our wedding planning process and one in particular, even joked around and nicknamed me a “professional bride!” This was even before the launch of the TO DOs BEFORE I DO Wedding Podcast!  I think she dubbed me a “professional bride” because not only did I love and enjoy all aspects of mine and Jeff’s wedding planning process, but I also was an efficient

Today on the podcast it is Friday which means I’m sharing my Five on Friday with you!  On today’s Five on Friday segment, I’m going to talk to you about what I consider my top 5 responsibilities for the Mother of the Groom.  If you’re engaged and listening to this podcast, feel free to share this episode with your mother or soon to be mother in law!   Traditionally speaking, most of the time it is the mother of the bride that is absorbed in most of the wedding planning responsibilities, while the mother of the groom takes on a more behind the scenes or back seat role. However, times are changing and nowadays, it is more common for both moms to take on a significant role in the wedding planning process and if you’re a mother of the groom, know that you too have a special role on the big day.  So, here's are my top 5 responsibilities and roles for the mother of the groom. Call the bride’s mother   Decide what you are willing to spend   Create a

Question: What are some of the 30 day last minute to dos that people forget about?

I had the opportunity to interview a newlywed couple who will be featured on TLC’s hit show, Say Yes to the Dress!  The couple, Jevie and Michael Stegner, were such a delight to meet with and interview.  Jeff and I had the best time getting to know them and hearing about their shopping experience at Kleinfelds, the application process for Say Yes to the Dress and how the production crew filmed their wedding day.  I mentioned that they are newlyweds … and when I say newlyweds, I mean it!  During the time of our interview, Jevie and Michael just said “I Do” 6 days prior! Because their wedding was so fresh on their mind, they also shared their insight on the highs and lows of their wedding planning process and they provide engaged couples with advice on how to not get too stressed out and overwhelmed.     www.todosbeforeido.com

On today’s episode, Jeff shares his suggestions and ideas for gifts for the bride on the morning of your wedding day!   Guys, its time to give a little gift showing your gratitude for all that she’s done in preparation for the wedding and to celebrate this new chapter in your lives!   1. Bag or tote with new initials 2. Jewelry to wear on wedding day 3. Keepsake handkerchief 4. Surprise Day of pampering on your honeymoon 5. Book of love letters

Question: How can the groom be more helpful during the engagement?    Answered from the grooms perspective by Jeff!   www.todosbeforeido.com

I’m super excited about this episode!  I had the opportunity to interview Karley Kiker, the author of the book Hitched in a Hurry: The ultimate how-to for a speedy “I do.”  Karley’s book is a guide for brides planning their weddings in six months or less. It is full of useful tips, charts, and organizational tools tailored to fit tighter timelinesand it also has interviews with real-life couples who’ve turned their short engagements into lifelong love affairs.   Karley was such a sweetheart to talk to and she shares some great wedding tips and advice to help you plan your wedding in shortened time frame.  Also, regardless if you’re having a speedy engagement or a longer one, her insight can benefit all couples who are planning their wedding and preparing for a lifetime of wedded bliss!   Hitched in a Hurry’s website: www.hitchedinahurrybook.com Book is available at:Barnes and Noble and Amazon Karley Kiker’s website:www.karleykiker.com &

  Your invitations set the tone for your wedding.  It is the first glimpse your guests will receive of what to expect on your wedding day. Make sure you and your fiance don’t forget about these 5 important tips, so that your first impression is a good one!   Stamp your RSVP envelopes   Number your RSVP cards   Weigh and measure a completed invitation suite   Stamp your invitation envelopes   Mail your invitations by dropping them off at your local post office   www.todosbeforeido.com

Question: I'm wondering if you included Filipino traditions in your wedding and if you had more insight about variations for them. Candle, Cord, Veil, coins, etc. We are Catholic but will be having our ceremony outside of church, but want to include these traditions. Have you seen any interesting twists on these? www.todosbeforeido.com

I’m super excited to share today’s episode with you! Today, you’ll learn about the world of wedding expos and as an attendee, how you can successfully navigate your way around a bridal show!     I had the privilege of interviewing Courtney Taylor, the owner of Taylored Weddings and Events which is a full-service event planning and design company serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With the goal of producing impeccable weddings and parties, the Taylored Weddings & Events experience offers inspiration, thoughtful planning, and energy sure to leave you with memories to last a lifetime.   Not only is Courtney the owner of Taylored Weddings and Events (side note - what a perfect name for her business!), but I’m lucky to also call her one of my dearest friends.  Meeting in college through our sorority, Courtney and I have been friends for 10 years now and we continue to support each other and be there for one another … she was actually one of my bridesmaids wh

Today on the podcast, it is Friday and I’m sharing my latest Five on Friday with you.  Today’s list covers 5 personalized wedding favor ideas. Wedding favors are a way for you to thank your guests for celebrating your new marital status by sending them off with something special.  Here are 5 of my favorite personalized wedding favors. CD or flashdrive with your favorite songs Sunglasses or flip flops Luggage tag A Deck of Playing Cards Picture frame

Question: I wanted to know your thoughts on what are some things I could do for my maid of honor that are special and beyond what I will have for my bridesmaids? My MOH is my older sister and she's had her hands full with planning with me, my mom, her friends, and some other weddings for her friends. How can I ensure that she gets an extra cherry on top in terms of gifting?  

So on today’s episode of the podcast, I’ll be talking about destination weddings.  A destination wedding is an opportunity for couples to celebrate their marriage at a gorgeous destination of their choosing that is away from home. A lot of times when people talk about destination weddings, they think about a tropical wedding location, but destination weddings don’t always have to be by the beach.  Destination wedding couples get married all over the world. Jeff and I have had the honor of attending a couple of our friend’s destination weddings - one in Jamaica and one in Sonoma, CA.   This episode focuses on figuring out if a destination wedding is for you.     What makes an engaged couple good candidates for a destination wedding?  If you’re newly engaged and haven’t set your wedding venue or date yet, Huffington Post had a great article about figuring out if a destination wedding is a good fit for you and your fiance.  Some couples know

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing my latest Five on Friday list with you. Today, I’m giving you 5 gift ideas to give your groom on your wedding day.   Since your significant other gifted you with that gorgeous engagement ring on your finger, it’s only fair that your groom gets a little something special on the wedding day too – not including the best gift of marrying you, of course! Here’s my list of 5 gift ideas for your groom.   A nice camera   A year subscription for his favorite liquor   Watch or cuff links   Surprise wedding guest   Excursion or activity during your honeymoon

Question: “I am thinking about so many things, and one very important to me, is how I can honor my Mother at my wedding.  She passed away in 2008 from ALS.  I am not sure that my partner and I will have a program for our wedding. Would a memorial candle be appropriate?  If so, I am wondering where it should be placed, and when it should be lit, etc.  I am not sure that I want to leave an open chair for her, and I cannot think of anything to hang from my bouquet.  I would love to hear your thoughts and advice.”

This episode isn’t focusing on the wedding details and planning process behind your big day.  Instead, it is focusing on the topic of strengthening your relationship with your fiance.  I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again, you guys know that I love weddings and all of the details that go into making an event a special celebration. But what I love most about wedding planning is knowing the big picture…that vision that is developed from the beginning. It is ultimately the pledging and promising of forever between two people -- that’s what made me realize why I love weddings so much.   A lot of times, couples can get so caught up in all of the details and timelines during the wedding planning process, that they get lost in the excitement and commotion of the planning and sometimes lose sight of the big picture. I wholeheartedly believe your engagement should be savored and enjoyed.  Your engagement is also a time for you and your fiance to build upo

Today on my Five on Friday list, I’m sharing 5 Pinterest boards you should follow.  These boards are all about the bride - to help you figure out your bridal style for your wedding day.  Pinterest has really helped couples create wedding inspiration boards to help them figure out different elements of their wedding. Pinterest is a great free resource for couples to get wedding inspiration and also keep their ideas organized in one place.  You can create a variety of boards for different categories like gowns, hair ideas, make up suggestions, floral designs, wedding favors and so much more.  You can pin preexisting ideas to your Pinterest boards or you can upload your own ideas and link them to Pinterest.     I’ll admit, even before Jeff and I were engaged, I was guilty of creating a wedding Pinterest board with some of my favorite wedding ideas!   In fact I know that I’m not alone when it comes to creating a wedding board even before Jeff put a ring on

Today on Wedding Wednesday Q&A, I’m answering a question from Rachel.  She’s a bride to be who is planning a destination wedding.  Her question is: how do I travel on a plane with my wedding gown?   This is a great question!  I’ve had a few of my friends who planned destination weddings and I always wondered how they safely transported their wedding gown from point A to point B.  For me personally, I didn’t have a destination wedding and I was already freaking out when it came to carrying my gown from my car to inside the hotel!  It of course was covered and hidden in a garment bag, but I was just so nervous whenever it was handled and in transit!  So, I can only imagine how destination wedding brides feel when have to travel on a plane with their gown!  Plus, going through airport security and walking around the airport, even without carrying a wedding gown, is already something most people don’t enjoy.     Since I personally

Today on the podcast, I’m talking about wedding registries.  In my “I’m Engaged, Now What?” series, I briefly touched on the this step, but because it is such an important part of your wedding planning process, I’m going to talk about it more in depth in this episode.   Setting up your wedding registry gives you and your fiance the chance to create the ultimate wish list for your home and new life together. What could easily be considered one of the most fun parts of planning a wedding sometimes ends up becoming stressful or overwhelming for couples.  I hope this episode helps de-stress this step in your wedding planning process. Include your fiance! Take your significant other’s wants and needs into consideration too. After all, you two are building a home and life together, so you want your future spouse to have a say in some of the wedding registry details. When you are determining which stores or sites to register at, it's always a good idea to inquire a