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Bridechilla Blog

So long, farewell… for now!

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

It’s been a significant year to say the least and I made the decision early in 2020 that I wouldn’t be producing new episodes of the Bridechilla Podcast. I have received some fabulous emails and messages asking when I would be creating new content but 400 + episodes available, I feel that I have perhaps given all that I can to the world of weddings (at least for now). I’m back in Australia and enjoying life with my family and friends. It’s great to be home!

The Bridechilla Podcast will live on with the back catalogue always available for you to listen to and the Bridechilla Guides are still available for you to purchase. I want to thank all of my listeners and supporters over the years. It’s been so much fun but life moves on and I am excited to work on my next project, whatever that may be!
I wish you happiness and health and of course HAPPY DAYS!
Aleisha x

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411- Keeping Chilla During Times of Crisis

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

We find ourselves globally in a time of crisis, economically, health-wise and dealing with anxiety and the unknowingness of what is around the corner. In this special episode of Bridechilla, I welcome wedding planner, Leah Weinberg from Color Pop Events to talk about what to do if your wedding plans have been affected by COVID-19 and how to emotionally and logistically plan ahead. We keep it light and informative and hope that is a helpful episode for all.

Listen to Bridechilla Podcast episode 411

Meditation Apps

I have found meditation hugely helpful during times of overwhelm and personal crisis. I use the Headspace app (Get 14 days of Headspace Plus free) and Leah is a fan of Calm. There are also a bunch of free guided meditations on youtube that are a great introduction to visualisation, breathing and finding a moment of stillness both physically and in your mind. 

Feeling anxious or worried? Make sure you share

This situation isn’t something that any of us have lived through before and it is normal to have feelings of worry and anxiousness when it comes to COVID-19 and how it impacts your life (and wedding plans). Like Leah explains in the podcast, it’s ok to feel disappointed or angry that your plans have possibly been disrupted or that you may have to cancel or reschedule your wedding celebrations. It’s important to be able to speak about how you feel. I know it helps me clear some of the symptoms of anxiety when I call a friend, someone that I feel comfortable being open and honest about how I am feeling.I have also been speaking to my lovely counsellor Cindi via Betterhelp.com, where we meet via video chat once per week and check-in using their text service almost daily. If you are new to counselling or are looking for someone to speak to during this time, I would highly recommend exploring your options using betterhelp.com/bridechilla (they are a sponsor of the Bridechilla Podcast but I have not been compensated for this recommendation…I truly just dig what they do! However if you use the Bridechilla link, you will receive 10% off your first month.

Coronavirus II: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Meet Leah Weinberg, Color Pop Events

Leah Weinberg is the Owner & Creative Director of Color Pop Events — a New York City-based wedding planning company that lives in the logistics, providing an unmatched focus on event details for clients.  Celebrating six years of business, Leah continues to leverage the organization skills, calm communication style, and ability to multi-task she initially developed as a commercial real estate lawyer in her previous career. Her colorful work and party planning tips have been published online and in print with Vogue, the New York Times, Bravo, Martha Stewart, and The Knot, among others. More recently, Leah was named a 20 on the Rise winner by Honeybook and the Rising Tide Society. Special Events Magazine also recognized Leah as one of the 25 Young Event Pros to Watch in the event industry.A 2020 WeddingPro Educator with The Knot + WeddingWire, Leah travels through North America sharing insight with her peers regionally, as well as at national conferences such as ALT Summit, NACE Experience, and The Special Event.

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

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409- How to be More ‘Chilla Q&A

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

This episode of the Bridechilla podcast is a Q&A episode dedicated to helping you learn how to be more ‘chilla while planning your wedding. You shouldn’t have to deal with wedstress when you are getting married. You are planning a love party. It should be enjoyable. On this podcast, Aleisha answers questions from the Bridechilla community so that you can be more confident, experience less stress, and have more fun during the wedding planning process. She addresses questions about the wedding video, what to do with children at a wedding, and how to make the most of your honeymoon.

Listen to the episode

How to get the best wedding video

It is important to consider how you will capture your wedding day so that you can revisit the experience years later. Many couples not only hire photographers, but also videographers to take and edit video of their wedding day. There are many options for video at varying price points. Bridcehilla Nina is using a service that allows you to use their cameras to create your own home videos. Aleisha discusses the pros and cons of different service levels, and reminds Bridechillas that video is a valuable investment that requires skill. 

Photo by Jakob Owens

Looking at kids, I think you need to think about the comfort of other guests as well as the children. Separating kids from their parents and letting them go feral at a kids table can be great, but they are going to need some sort of parental responsibility

What to do with children at your wedding

Depending on your feelings, children can either be a great addition or an unwelcome nuisance at a wedding. It is important to consider your expectations for children at your wedding and then plan and communicate accordingly. Bridechilla Amy and her fiance have a large family with lots of children that will be attending their wedding. She asks whether she should have the children at her wedding sit at their own table, or should they stay with their parents. 

Sometimes it is good to talk to a third party, for them to listen to the pros and cons, and go ‘Oh, well this feels obvious to me.

Photo by Mikael Kristenson

Confidently communicate your expectations

Bridechilla Liz and her fiancé are having a disagreement about getting a puppy. After listening to a prior episode of the podcast, Liz feels more empowered to be assertive and communicate her wishes. Aleisha reiterates the importance of utilizing the phrase, “That’s not going to work for me.” Being confident and making your expectations known isn’t a bad thing. It is a key to being happy in wedding planning and in life. 

Listen to the episode

Have a more ‘Chilla honeymoon

Part of the wedding planning process includes planning a honeymoon. How can you be more ‘Chilla when planning a big trip following your wedding celebration? Air travel, hotel reservations, and destination planning can be an added stress. Following the wedding, you want to be sure to enjoy quality time with your partner. Aleisha discusses how to balance time during the honeymoon so that is enjoyable and stress free. 

Show Highlights

  • [1:32] Aleisha talks about the pros and cons of having a third party speak into problems and issues in life

  • [4:18] Bridechilla Nina is getting married in a year and asks about how to handle shooting a home video at their wedding

  • [6:59]  Aleisha explains the value of wedding videography relative to the desired product and how to assign responsibilities to your family and friends

  • [11:57] Consider how you will handle the editing of your wedding video

  • [14:23] Bridechilla Amy asks for advice about how to handle children at her wedding

  • [16:54] Aleisha discusses whether you should leave kids with their parents or have a separate space just for kids

  • [20:18] Aleisha shares three steps for being more ‘chilla

  • [22:23] Liz called with feedback about being assertive with her fiance

  • [24:22] How “That’s not gonna work for me.” is a great phrase to use in wedding planning and in life

  • [27:23] How to balance alone time while visiting family in another country on your honeymoon

  • [28:40] Remember to plan days off to have quality time alone on your honeymoon as well as booking excursions or time to visit family

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

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408- Wedding Planning Q&A

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

You can enjoy your wedding planning. And the Bridechilla podcast is here to help. Rather than being worried or stressed out, you can find support and encouragement from brides and couples who have many of the same questions as you. On this episode, Bridechilla Podcast host, Aleisha shares voicemails from other Bridechillas and Groomchillas who are planning their weddings and need some extra help with logistics, dealing with family and also managing the dreaded wedding budget!

Listen to episode 408 of Bridechilla

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

Show image by Scott Broome​

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406- Enjoy Your Wedding Planning: Q&A Episode

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

You can enjoy your wedding planning. And the Bridechilla podcast is here to help. Rather than being worried or stressed out, you can find support and encouragement from brides and couples who have many of the same questions as you. On this episode, Aleisha shares voicemails from other Bridechillas planning their weddings. She addresses how to handle an unwanted tradition, giving your wedding guests guidance about their attire, and how to maintain the joy of planning even when you are around a bunch of Debbie-downers. 

Listen to the episode

Know your tradition’s history

Many wedding traditions have specific histories behind them. Though many couples continue to implement these traditions, they don’t often have the same significance in modern culture. One tradition that Bridechilla Mel is not comfortable with is the father giving away the bride. However, Mel’s Father is really excited about giving his daughter away. How can she compromise so that her father is happy without her feeling like a piece of property being exchanged in a business transaction? Hear Aleisha encourage Bridechillas to research the history of traditions and then decide if it is something they want to include in their ceremony.  

Photo by Alvin Mahmudov

Give your guests some guidance

Bliss and her partner have worked together to determine the kind of wedding they both want. Though they have different personalities and backgrounds, they decided to have a small destination wedding. Bliss is particularly excited about her color palette. She wants to know how she can tell her wedding guests so they can match the color pallette. Aleisha shares ways to tactfully give your wedding guests guidance so that everyone’s expectations are aligned. 

As a guest, for me, I really appreciate some guidance of the tone and theme of what to wear

How to connect your friends at the wedding

Through the different phases of life, you meet people who have an impact. When planning your wedding, you want to include those people in your special day. However, not all of the people that you know may have met each other. How can you help your wedding party get to know each other quickly so that the wedding weekend isn’t awkward? By taking a few strategic steps, you can ease the discomfort and break the ice so that everyone has a great time and you have a special wedding with all of your friends. 

If you are considering the use of traditions in your wedding, I think it is very important to learn a little bit about the history and what they represent.

Photo by Banter Snaps 

I truly believe that if these people are important in your life, and you in theirs, that when they come together they will be interested in learning about the other people in your life

Don’t feel bad about enjoying your wedding planning

Bridechilla Cami has started planning her wedding with her partner even though they aren’t officially engaged. They are looking forward to a multi-day wedding that will celebrate their families diverse cultures. However, because the engagement has been delayed, Cami feels like people judge her when she tries to discuss her wedding plans. How can she still feel excited about her wedding when everyone else doesn’t seem to be? Aleisha gives great advice for enjoying your wedding planning even when others want to rain on your parade. 

Show Highlights

  • [0:40] Aleisha introduces the podcast which is a Q&A episode all about wedding planning

  • [2:53] Bridechilla Mel asks about the tradition of the Father giving away the bride and how to compromise with her Father

  • [5:48] Aleisha addresses Mel’s question and talks about the history of that specific tradition

  • [9:18] Bliss and her partner are having a small intimate wedding with an understated color pallette and wants to know if she can provide a dress code for her guests?

  • [12:13] How to tactfully give your attendees some direction for your wedding

  • [15:59] Visit the bridechillastore.com to get the wedding planning guides published by Aleisha and Rich

  • [16:33] How to help the bridal party get to know each other since none of them have already met

  • [19:03] Plan strategic ways to help your bridesmaids get to know each other

  • [22:57] Bridechilla Cami wants to know how to be excited about planning her wedding without feeling bad about not being officially engaged. 

  • [25:55] If you feel unsupported in your planning, join the bridechilla community and receive encouragement and support.

  • [28:49] How to get in touch with Aliesha via social media

Listen to the episode

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

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402- Things Everyone Forgets to Plan for On Their Wedding Day

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

Are you afraid there might be something you are forgetting while planning your wedding? This episode of the Bridechilla podcast is for you. Even if you think you have everything taken care of, be sure to listen as Renee Dalo, CEO and Lead Planner of Moxie Bright Events, joins the show to talk about things everyone forgets to plan. Renee has been planning weddings professionally for over twelve years. She has seen a lot over that time and has not only great advice but also some funny stories that will help you consider things you may not have thought of while planning your wedding.

Listen to the episode

Make the most of the morning

The morning of the wedding can either be crazy and stressful or it can be peaceful and relaxing. The difference is all in how you plan the morning. Renee says that many couples fail to consider the rhythm of the morning, leaving too much opportunity for things to go haywire. She shares her own wedding morning experience that didn’t go as she had hoped. If you want to make the most of the morning of your wedding, be sure to listen to this podcast to get some ideas for how you can plan and ensure you enjoy your day. 

If you are taking some sort of public transportation, which is what I consider Uber or Lift, maybe don’t wear your wedding gown if you can help it. Maybe put that bad boy in a garment bag and carry it.

Communicate clearly to the wedding party

One of the things that everyone forgets to plan is where their wedding party will be getting ready for the ceremony. Often, couples fail to communicate clearly to the wedding party. Renee encourages couples to visit the place where their bridesmaids or groomsmen will prepare for the wedding to make sure it has adequate space and lighting. She also suggests that clear instructions be given to everyone prior to the wedding day so that the wedding party arrives and gets ready on time. 

Photo by Samantha Gades

Whatever you normally need to make your day successful, make sure you are still doing that on your wedding day. You are not a different person on your wedding day.

Do you need a ride?

Transportation is not something you want to have to worry about on the day of your wedding. You may need a ride from the hotel to the wedding venue, or from the wedding venue to the reception location. And at the end of the night, how are you getting back to your hotel? Planning transportation is another thing everyone forgets to plan that Renee highlights during this episode. Listen as she shares helpful tips for using public transportation and ways to save money when planning transportation.

End of the night planning with your partner

During this episode, Renee discusses several other things everyone forgets to plan for their wedding day. She talks about the risk of drinking too much before the wedding, what to do with your purse or wallet, and making sure every vendor is paid before the end of the night. She and Aleisha also talk about planning what will happen after the wedding with your partner. Setting appropriate expectations for the end of the night will help avoid any hurt feelings or frustration. Listen to this episode of the Bridechilla Podcast to hear all about this and much more.

Photo by @neonbrand

I think not only just knowing logistically how you are getting somewhere but what your intention for the end of the night is and communicating that is important.

Listen to the episode

Show Highlights

  • [0:40] Aleisha introduces Renee Dalo, CEO and Lead Planner of Moxie Bright Events and host of two podcasts 
  • [2:17] Aleisha and Renee talk about the two podcasts that Renee produces
  • [5:45] The focus of today’s episode are the things that people forget to think about when planning their wedding
  • [7:22] How are you going to intentionally create the morning you want to have on your wedding day?
  • [8:52] Renee shares about how her wedding morning started off in an unexpected way
  • [11:08] Know where everyone is going to get ready and that it is communicated to your wedding party
  • [13:07] What are some things that you should look for when considering where you will be getting ready? 
  • [14:21] What are you going to eat for breakfast?
  • [16:58] Renee tells the story of her experience with calming lozenges on her wedding day
  • [21:51] How are you getting to your ceremony or reception?
  • [27:02] What do you do with your purse or wallet on the wedding day? 
  • [28:45] Who still needs to be paid on the day, if anyone?
  • [32:34] At the end of the evening or wedding, how do you handle the items that need to be taken from the venue?
  • [35:20] How are you planning on getting home?
  • [38:46] The truth about wedding night sex and communicating expectations of how the wedding night will end
  • [44:47] How Bridechillas can get in touch with Renee

Meet This Episode’s Guest

Renee Dalo is the CEO and Lead Planner of Moxie Bright Events, a boutique wedding planning company based in Los Angeles. Renee turned her background of professional theater and fine dinning into a career of planning fun and elegant events that focus on personalization and intention. Renee is also the producer of two podcasts, Rock Your Wedding Biz and Talk with Renee Dalo. On this episode Renee uses her experiences as a wedding planner and a bride to talk about the things that everyone forgets to plan for their wedding day.  

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

Show image by  by Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz​

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401- Wedding Planning Q&A

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

Planning a wedding is an exciting and joyous occasion. Anticipation of the big celebration with your friends and family can be exhilarating. However, the planning process can also be daunting and confusing. The Bridechilla Community is here to support and encourage you during this special and potentially overwhelming time. On this episode of the podcast, Aleisha addresses listener questions including how to find the right vendors, helping family understand and respect your wedding day wishes, and managing the demands of preparing your new home while planning the wedding. 

Listen to the episode

Should you hire a wedding planner?

Establishing your budget is the first step to planning your wedding. Many couples try to save money by doing much of the planning themselves instead of hiring a wedding planner or coordinator. Aleisha discusses the value of hiring a wedding planner and what to expect from a budget standpoint. She also gives ideas for how to avoid extra stress when not hiring a wedding planner. The key is finding the right vendors that can best help accomplish the vision you have for your wedding. 

Photo by Amanda Vick

Think about where you are getting married and don’t just assume that ‘wedding season’ is just summer

How can an off-season wedding save you money?

There are several options that can help Bridechilla’s save money that are discussed during this episode. One way is to have an “off-season” wedding. Depending on what area you live in, there might be certain peak times during the year where wedding venues and vendors charge more for their services. Looking for values in a time other than peak season can be a cost-saver. Some couples also choose to use artificial flowers instead of real flowers to save cost and have flowers that may not be in season. Listen to this podcast to hear other advice and tips from Aleisha. 

As long as there is a balance and there is teamwork and as long as you are enjoying yourself and you don’t feel obligated to do it, great! It doesn’t make you any less of a feminist or any less in support of equality if you like to clean a bathroom.

Photo by bruce mars on

Communicating well with family and friends

Often the actions of family and friends during a wedding are well-meaning, but can be unintentionally stressful or off-putting. They may have desires or requests that could come as an unwelcome surprise to the couple. What is the best way to deal with overbearing family members? And how do you catch up with old friends who want to celebrate but who may not be invited to the wedding? How can you communicate effectively without being rude? Aleisha discusses this and much more on this episode of the Bridechilla podcast. 

I do think part of wedding planning for a lot of people is also preparing the nest, preparing the home

Preparing a home while planning a wedding

Bridechilla Ronnie’s fiancé has been very involved in the planning, which has lightened the load for her. However, Ronnie is having trouble knowing what to do with the extra time she has and has found herself doing more ordinary tasks around the house. This question leads into great encouragement for couples who are  not only planning their wedding, but also creating a new home and life together. It is perfectly natural to begin the process of preparing the home and dividing up tasks among each other. Part of the difficulty and fun of marriage is learning how to work together and that can start even in the wedding planning stage. 

Photo by Volha Flaxeco 

Show Highlights

  • [0:53] Aleisha talks about her move back to Australia from London and how it reminds her of the amount of stuff we accumulate 

  • [3:25] Whether it be wedding items or just general stuff, you can buy and sell on online marketplaces and reduce waste

  • [4:34] Is it worth it to hire a wedding planner and if so, how much can you expect to spend?

  • [9:04] How to search for a vendor using trusted recommendations and without getting overwhelmed

  • [10:39] The benefits of understanding your location and what time of year is considered wedding season

  • [12:16] What is the best way to go about using artificial flowers at your wedding?

  • [15:48] Bridechilla Hannah asks how to avoid obligation guests popping in on the wedding day while the bride and wedding party are getting ready.

  • [18:40] Hannah also asks how to catch up with friends that she might not be inviting to her wedding

  • [25:51] Ronnie asks how to handle the fact that her fiance is being very helpful in the wedding planning

  • [30:00] Part of wedding planning is also preparing the home for your marriage

  • [33:17] What do you do if you change venues and have to reduce your guest list?

  • [39:32] Aleisha talks about her honeymoon experience in Bali

  • [41:50] How to get in touch and have your wedding planning answered by Aleisha

Listen to the episode

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

Show image by  Alvin Mahmudov

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