Tag:

wedding Q&A

Bridechilla BlogBridechilla Podcast

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.

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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. 

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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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Bridechilla BlogBridechilla Podcast

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. 

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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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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. 

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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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30 Days Of Wedding PlanningBridechilla Podcast

398- Wedding Planning Q&A

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

One characteristic of the Bridechilla community is their desire and commitment to avoid wedding drama. There is ample opportunity for stress and drama to arise when planning a wedding. On this Q&A episode of the Bridechilla podcast, Aleisha answers questions about areas of potential drama and how to steer clear of them before and during the wedding. Hear voicemails concerning picking a venue, dealing with frendors, and how to handle disapproving family members. 

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There has to be something that, you close your eyes and picture the day. Where is that place. There has to be something that differentiates them

How to pick the right venue for your wedding

One of the hardest parts of wedding planning is deciding on a venue. Do you have a destination wedding, pick a trendy, instagramable location, or go with a more sentimental venue? Bridechilla Lauren is torn between two venues, one that she loves but has no attachment to, and another in the town where she and her fiancé met. However, she already has a venue booked. Why is she still considering another venue? Aleisha helps Lauren think through some of the pros and cons between venues and gives advice for choosing the right place.

I’m just a big believer, when you are hiring wedding vendors, whether you know them personally or not, you need to be able to rely on them

Should you hire a friendor?

Hiring a freindor, or a friend who is also a vendor, can be both a blessing and a curse. It could be mutually beneficial. You may get a discounted service and your friend gets some experience and exposure, which is especially important if they are just starting out. There is a danger that you might not get the quality of service you want or your friendship could be strained or damaged in the process. Should you use friendors? If so, what is the best way to go about it? Hear Aliesha’s answer to that and other questions from the Bridechilla community on this Q&A episode of the podcast. 

Just treat this relationship as a friendly but also a business relationship. You are absolutely a-ok to do that.

Photo by Annie Spratt 

I think weddings are a really good time to start asserting yourself in a way that you deserve to assert yourself.

Avoiding family wedding drama

Family can be one of the biggest sources of wedding drama. Bridechilla Ann is struggling with the demands of family while planning her wedding. She feels the obligation to follow their advice about the ceremony and to invite people she doesn’t really want to attend. While the goal is to have your wedding be only what you want without any obligation to anyone else, sometimes that is just not possible. Aleisha discusses how to still have the wedding you want while balancing the responsibility you have to your family. 

Photo by Haley Phelps

Keys to conflict resolution in wedding planning

Avoiding wedding drama often means that you have to address problems and issues head on. Almost everyone wants to avoid conflict. However, in life, relationships, and wedding planning, conflict is inevitable. Aleisha encourages Bridechillas to use the wedding as an opportunity to be assertive and learn how to effectively handle conflict. One helpful solution is to not consider it a fight, but rather a resolution. Listen to helpful advice about that and other wedding planning issues on this episode of the Bridechilla podcast. 

Sometime it’s good if you can turn the question onto the other person and ask them ‘What would you do if you were in my position?

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Show Highlights

  • [0:58] Aleisha talks about the booth she records in and the uncomfortable stool that she sits on to record the podcast

  • [1:46] Today’s episode is a Q&A episode, addressing questions from the Bridechilla community

  • [2:42] Bridechilla Lauren asks for help in deciding between two venues, and how to choose the one that aligns with their priorities

  • [6:02] When you have a venue already booked, why would you continue to look for another venue?

  • [7:50] Hailey asks how to handle her friend/make up artist who has been disrespectful to her during the planning process

  • [10:45] Aliesha addresses whether or not taking back a plus one invite for a friend is contentious

  • [11:38] No one likes confrontation, but there is a way to be assertive without being confrontational

  • [15:00] Bridechilla Anna asks about potential missing pages in the field guide for planning food

  • [21:15] Ann is struggling with obligation to her family and difficulty finding a church while planning her wedding

  • [26:22] What do you do when your important family members don’t approve of your life choices? Do you still invite them to the wedding and risk having drama?

  • [31:54] How you can use family members or your wedding planner to help alleviate family drama during the wedding

  • [32:47] Do you invite a friendor to the wedding even though you wouldn’t invite them if they weren’t a vendor

  • [36:05] Aleisha offers thanks to everyone who has been sharing the podcast with their friends and purchasing the Bridechilla field guide

  • [37:36] Bridechilla Amanda is planning her own bachelorette party and wants to know how to best accommodate her bridesmaids for the party since they aren’t all local

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

Photo by Adrianna Van Groningen

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394- Q&A – Making Good Wedding Planning Decisions

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

Whether it’s trying to find the right dress, book the perfect venue, or plan the most beautiful ceremony, there are a lot of decisions to be made when planning your wedding. Often these decisions can lead to stress and anxiety. It doesn’t have to be this way. The Bridechilla podcast is here to help you stress less and enjoy the process of planning your wedding.
This episode Aleisha answers wedding planning questions about weekday weddings and guests leaving early, rehearsal dinner speeches and when to not invite family members who might be antagonistic or cause trouble on your wedding day.

Listen to episode 394 of Bridechilla

How to make a weekday wedding work

Madeline is a fellow Bridechilla and Australian who has a question about her venue. While most weddings are held on the weekend, is it possible to have a weekday wedding? What impact will that have on the guests that you want to come? There are certain advantages both with the venue and with vendors if you book your wedding on a weekday. There are also ways that you can make it a bit easier on your guests while still having the wedding you want. Hear Aleisha’s advice on making the unconventional but potentially beneficial decision of having a weekday wedding.

“I really support you in booking a weekday wedding. I know they are not as convenient as a weekend wedding for guests. However as a couple planning a wedding, and working with vendors, it could be a really good opportunity to score a venue that you really like that’s otherwise not available

Photo by Jonathan Borba 

A wedding before the wedding

Tradition is only as good as the people who intend to use it. If particular traditions don’t mean anything to you, then why use them? Bridechilla Katrina and her fiance are nontraditional and want to include that part of their personality in their wedding plans. She asks Aleisha about the idea of eloping prior to the big wedding ceremony. Rather than abandoning the event with their family and guests, they want to have a small private ceremony first. However, that doesn’t necessarily sit well with some family members. Aleisha shares her thoughts on how to best handle this nontraditional approach during this podcast. 

You can have the night off child care regardless of whose kids you are feeding...

What to do with the kids? 

Mariah is engaged to be engaged to her fiance who has kids of his own. During the wedding, she’d prefer not to be at a table with the kids. She doesn’t want to have to parent or have kid-inclusive conversations on a day that is all about her and her fiance. She asks for Aleisha’s opinion on this desire and for advice on how to best accomplish this without upsetting her fiance or other family members. Listen to this episode to hear Aleisha discuss this and other questions from the Bridechilla community.

Photo by Mikael Kristenson 

Facing feuding family members

The topic of family is one that comes up in almost every Q&A episode that we have on the Bridechilla podcast. Families can be supportive, helpful, and fantastic overall. Or they can be difficult, petty, and a living nightmare. Bridechilla Hannah has two family issues that she is having to deal with while planning her wedding. One involves honoring grandparents, while the other involves feuding brothers. Hear the details of this unique situation and what Aleisha has to say about it on this episode of the Bridechilla podcast. 

Listen to episode 394 of Bridechilla

Show Highlights

  • [0:27] Aleisha introduces this episode of the podcast, which is the ever popular wedding planning Q&A episode.

  • [2:20] Madeline asks about the potential having a Thursday wedding and if people would be inclined to leave the reception early because it’s not on the weekend.

  • [6:18] Aleisha gives practical solutions for how to adjust your wedding plans to maintain the magic and make it more accommodating for guests

  • [8:17] Katrina and her fiance are untraditional and want Aleisha’s thoughts about eloping prior to the big wedding ceremony. 

  • [13:41] Mariah who is engaged to be engaged and asks about seating arrangements and what to do about her husband-to-be’s kids at the wedding.  

  • [22:54] Gina asks for guidance regarding speeches for both the rehearsal dinner and wedding day for their intimate wedding in Greece. 

  • [27:00] Bridechilla Hannah asks questions about dealing with family issues while planning her wedding. She talks about her grandparents and estranged uncles. 

  • [31:33] The wedding is all about you and your comfort level. Aleisha gives advice for dealing with volatile family members. 

  • [33:07] Don’t forget, the Bridechilla pack with the two books that Aleisha has produced is available. 

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

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392- Q&A- How to Feel Better About Yourself While Planning Your Wedding

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

Whether you are planning a wedding or just going through something stressful, it is nice to hear that other people are dealing with similar issues. Sometimes you hear about other people’s problems and it makes you feel better. Helping you get through the wedding planning process is what we are all about on the Bridechilla podcast. That’s why we are sharing problems and questions from the Bridechilla community. On this episode, Aleisha addresses questions about assigning roles and responsibilities to your wedding party, abandoning the first look, and how to know how many invitees will actually be at the wedding.

Listen to episode 392 of Bridechilla

Pick and choose your traditions

When planning your wedding, you might decide there are certain traditions that you don’t want to adhere to. Is it crazy to have a non-traditional wedding. There are many wedding traditions that you might choose to include in your ceremony. However, many customs might not make sense or be meaningful to you. Your wedding is about you, so you can choose to do whatever you want. Bridechilla Kelly doesn’t want just a traditional maid-of-honor. She wants three. Hear Aleisha’s advice for how to define roles for the three maids and how to make this unique arrangement work. 

Photo by Miguel Ángel Hernández

No matter what label we are putting on people we are asking to help, the big thing is having a discussion with them about their expectations and your expectations.

Skip the secrets

Another tradition that a lot of couples choose to do is to keep the bride’s dress a secret until the day of the wedding. They often do a “first-look” prior to the wedding and photographs. However, one bridechilla contacted Aleisha to ask what they should do if they don’t want to participate in a first look. In fact, they don’t want to keep the dress a secret at all. There is no right or wrong way to customize your wedding. Hear what Aleisha’s thoughts about skipping the dress secret and abandoning the first look.  

Plan to pause with your partner

Another way to feel better about yourself when planning your wedding is to plan for quiet moments for you and your partner during the wedding day. There is so much going on during the day, it is easy to reach the end and not remember anything. Though you want your guests to have a good time, the wedding is really about you and your partner. Aleisha encourages finding moments during the day to just pause together, reflect, and ensure that your day is truly memorable.

Photo by Jonathan Borba 

Find a place for the parents

You might think you are juggling a lot of people and relationships for your wedding. But do you have 7 parents to include in your wedding? That’s exactly how many Bridechilla Kristen has. Kristen wants to know how to include all of the parents and step parents in meaningful ways while still keeping the wedding special and according to her wishes. Hear Aleisha’s answer to that and many other questions during this episode of the Bridechilla podcast. 

Look at the day and don’t feel an obligation when it comes to having to appease all these people. That goes for everyone really

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Show Highlights

  • [0:30] After looking at her inbox, Aleisha decided that another wedding planning Q&A episode was in order.

  • [2:16] Bridechilla Stephanie wants to know a special and creative way to ask a long-distance friend to be a part of her wedding.

  • [6:11] Kelly asks for ideas for how to have three maids-of-honors and how to make each one feel special. 

  • [10:10] Is it crazy to not want to keep your dress a secret for the first look? 

  • [12:32] Courtney calls to get Aleisha’s advice on how to plan for how many people on the guest list will actually attend.

  • [22:40] Get the hardback wedding planning guide written by Aleisha at Bridechillstore.com.

  • [24:02] Kristen is getting married in July and wants to know how to deal with having 7 parents in their wedding and how to assign roles. 

  • [29:41] Aleisha invites the Bridechilla community to continue submitting questions, as there are more Q&A episodes to come.

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

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391- Wedding Planning Q&A Jennifer Charles and Kimberly Allen

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

The wedding planning process is all about creating your wedding memories before the big day happens. Jennifer Charles and Kimberly Allen of Something Fabulous join the Bridechilla podcast to answer questions and help you think about planning your wedding with the end in mind. Since 2002, they have been helping couples and corporations design unique events that focus on the why, not just the how. During this episode, they answer questions from the Bridechilla community about destination weddings, how to maintain your vision during the wedding process, and how to deal with difficult family relationships. 

Listen to episode 391 of Bridechilla

How well-suited are you for a destination wedding?

Planning a wedding requires a lot of organization and attention to detail. A destination wedding requires a completely different approach to planning. Kate asks how to handle the grooms tux for her destination wedding. Should they purchase the suit prior to leaving and travel with it, or try to get a suit at the location of the wedding? These types of issues should be considered during the planning process to ensure a smooth experience. Hear Jennifer’s and Kimberly’s thoughts about this question and much more. 

What is the memory you are trying to make and how do you want to feel about your wedding when all is said and done?”

Creating one last wedding memory

For many couples, the most important part of the wedding is the people attending. One Bridechilla shares her concern with a family member who is extremely sick and might not live to see their wedding. She and her spouse-to-be are considering holding a special pre-wedding ceremony just so they can have a memorable experience with their family member before they pass. Jennifer and Kimberly share some ideas for how they can create a special wedding memory during this difficult time.

On your wedding day, you should not be worrying about your decor and what table number goes where

Maintain your wedding vision

Because there are so many decisions and so many options, the vision you have for your wedding can easily be compromised. In a month, or ten years when you look back at your wedding experience, you want to be sure that you created the wedding memories you wanted. Whether it be dealing with overly-involved family members or difficult memories, Jennifer and Kimberly have some great tips for how to maintain the vision for your wedding throughout the planning process. 

Photo by Bekir Temel

If you are acting out of love and respect, you can’t be wrong. It’s your day!

Planning with love and respect

Jennifer and Kimberly have a philosophy of wedding planning that works for everyone. Their professional background and extensive experience has helped refine their approach to creating wedding memories. As long as you start with the end in mind, treat everyone with love and respect, and let the logistics serve your vision, your wedding can be the unique and authentic event you dream it to be. Listen to stories from their experience and learn from their expertise on this episode of the Bridechilla podcast.

Show Highlights

  • [0:50] Introduction of this episode’s guests, Jennifer and Kimberly from Something Fabulous Events. 

  • [2:56] Jennifer and Kimberly share their backgrounds, how they started Something Fabulous and how their backgrounds help them do what they do. 

  • [ 7:07] Bridechilla Kate asks about how to handle purchasing suits for a destination wedding.

  • [12:54] Aleisha, Kimberly and Jennifer answer a question about family submitted by an anonymous bridechilla. 

  • [24:15] How do you maintain your vision throughout the wedding planning process?

  • [30:46] Your personal style never goes out of style.

  • [35:50] How can you do a room flip for a reception at your wedding venue?

  • [38:19] Using a coordinator or a professional to help during the day and how they can help take care of room flip logistics. 

  • [41:55] You can have your way while still maintaining an attitude of love and respect. 

  • [45:00] How to get in touch with Jennifer and Kimberly

 

Listen to episode 391 of Bridechilla

Meet This Episode’s Guests

Jennifer and Kimberly are sisters and the founders of Something Fabulous, which is an event and wedding planning management service. They started designing experiences together in 2002 and have now done thousands of events. Their goal is to help individuals create a truly unique and one-of-a-kind event that tells an authentic story. They have an award winning team who can help create a beautiful event from start to finish. 

Show image by Bekir Temel

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

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388- Wedding Planning Q&A, with Rich

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

On this episode of the Bridechilla podcast, Aleisha’s husband Rich joins the show to answer wedding questions from the Bridechilla community. Being a part of the Bridechilla community gives you access not only to Aliesha’s knowledge and insight about planning a wedding, but also a great support system of men and women who are going through a similar journey as you. During this podcast, you’ll hear questions about appropriate tipping for a European wedding, how to deal with bad customer service from a wedding venue, and engagement gift ideas for the groom.

Listen to episode 388 of Bridechilla

A wedding day is about wearing things that make you feel comfortable and fabulous.

One year countdown

The engagement period is full of excitement. You are looking forward to a great celebration and a wonderful, meaningful marriage thereafter. There can also be a lot of stress. There are so many plans to be made, vendors to book, and guests to invite. Depending on the length of your engagement, you will have to be strategic in how you prioritize your time and finances. Ellie writes in asking for Aleisha’s advice about how to go about prioritizing her planning with one year left before the wedding day.

Photo by Alvin Mahmudov

Tips on tipping

In America, it is customary to tip generously. It is a way of showing gratitude for excellent service. However, if you are planning a destination wedding in another country, you should be sure to consider their customs. Acting like an American in other countries can often be seen as rude or pretentious. Aleisha discusses the tipping customs specifically in Italy and encourages listeners to be savvy when visiting other countries. Rather than risking the chance of offending your foreign hosts, take some time to research and understand their traditions and then follow suit. Here all about that and many more Wedding Q&As on this podcast.

The last 6 months of wedding planning really flies and that’s when things happen that you might not be ready for. Even when you are really organized you still have to be a bit ninja.Enter your text here...

Putting the service back into customer service

When planning your wedding, it is important to first know what you and your partner want. Once you are in agreement, and you have set a prioritized budget, then the goal is to make your dream a reality. So what do you do when poor customer service threatens to get in the way of your dream day? How do you handle a vendor who is inconsiderate or unhelpful when problems arise? Aleisha shares a pertinent story of how she handled a recent experience with poor customer service and gives tips for how couples can handle a similar situation when planning their wedding. 

Photo by George Coletrain 

I feel like art is something that everyone underestimates as gifts

Engagement gift ideas

When a couple gets engaged, typically the groom-to-be gives the bride-to-be a really nice, expensive ring as a symbol of their love and betrothal. Less common is for the bride-to-be to give her partner something in return. However, one Bridechilla wanted to do just that. What are some good gift ideas for your partner to celebrate your engagement. Hear Rich and Aleisha give some great ideas as they answer that and many other questions on this Wedding Q&A episode of the Bridechilla podcast.   

Listen to episode 388 of Bridechilla

Show Highlights

  • [0:43] Aleisha and Rich start the show by speaking in Spainish and talking about why Rich is joining today’s podcast

  • [4:14] Ellie asks for tips from the Bridechilla community for the one year countdown for her wedding. 

  • [8:36] How do you handle tipping vendors in Europe so that you show gratitude without offending?

  • [19:32] Bridechilla Kim asks how to deal with family who wants the partner to wear a dress when she doesn’t want to. 

  • [24:41] What do you do when you discover that your wedding venue has some issues that you don’t want to deal with? 

  • [31:04] Aleisha shares a story of bad customer service she experienced with a vendor and how she handled it.

  • [34:20] What would be a good gift to give your male partner as a way to celebrate your engagement.

  • [39:15] Rich and Aliesha give some ideas for gifts to give your fiance

  • [42:56] How can you submit a question for Aleisha and/or her guests to answer on the podcast

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

Subscribe to Bridechilla Podcast

Show image by insung yoon

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385- Wedding Photography Q&A with Cavin Elizabeth

by Aleisha
written by Aleisha

Weeks, months or even years down the road, you will likely want to look back and remember the great memories made during your wedding. You’ll want to relive that special day and see the people and places that made your wedding so great. Which is why it is so important to have great pictures taken at your wedding. On this episode of the Bridechilla podcast, Cavin Elizabeth, international wedding photographer and author of the book A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding, joins the show for wedding photography Q&A. During this conversation, Cavin gives advice about how to plan for hair and makeup, the best time of day to have your wedding, and how to have the best possible experience with your wedding photographer.

Listen to episode 385 of Bridechilla

The first look and the best look

There are several options for when to take pictures at your wedding. The more traditional approach is to take pictures after the wedding so the couple doesn’t see each other beforehand. Increasingly more common is what is called the first look, where the couple has a private time before the ceremony to see each other and have some pictures taken. Whichever way you decide to do it, it is important that you have a plan in place for getting pictures taken in a way that doesn’t interfere with your ability to interact with your guests and enjoy the event. Cavin and Aleisha discuss some best practices for planning your photography during this wedding photography Q&A episode.

Always trust your photographer. If they are giving you advice on something in their experience, they are trying to keep your best interest at heart, even if it might not be what you want to hear

Dos and don'ts for working with a wedding photographer

Taking pictures can often be uncomfortable for people. Especially at a wedding, taking a lot of pictures may not always feel natural. How can you have the best possible experience with your photographer so that everyone feels comfortable and your pictures turn out beautiful. Cavin shares some advice for how to cultivate a great relationship with your photographer even before the wedding day. She also talks about some dos and don’ts that can help your wedding pictures turn out amazing. 

How to get picture perfect hair and makeup

For brides, one of the biggest parts of the lead up to the wedding ceremony is hair and makeup. Hours before the event you have to have your hair professionally styled and your makeup applied by an expert. When it comes to pictures, what is the best practice for looking your best? Cavin explains that while the camera can do beautiful things, it can also do funny things, like diminish the look or amount of makeup you are wearing. She talks about the best approach to hair and makeup and how to find the right vendor that fits your style. 

The bride and groom did not see each other before the ceremony because it was always an arranged marriage and they didn’t want to groom fleeing the scene at the sight of the bride.

Great lighting for great wedding pictures

Great photos depend on great lighting. How can you achieve great lighting when you are in a dimly lit venue or when you are outside? A good photographer will handle the lighting scenarios and will position the people in the picture appropriately to capture the best images. Cavin talks about the importance of picking the right time of day for an outdoor wedding, and even reveals the absolute best time to plan your wedding so you will have gorgeous photos. Hear all about that and much more on this wedding photography Q&A episode of the Bridechilla podcast. 

Show Highlights

  • [0:29] Aleisha introduces this week’s guest, Cavin Elizabeth, international wedding film and photographer and author of A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding

  • [3:25] Cavin and Aleisha talk about Cavin’s unique wedding dress

  • [6:28] Bridechilla Justine and her partner aren’t doing a “first-look”. How can they get all their photos done during cocktail hour without running into the reception.

  • [10:25] Cavin gives suggestions for how to speed up the post-wedding photography by getting other shots separately or at other times  

  • [13:26] Why are groomchillas typically against the first look? 

  • [15:37] Nicole wants to know some dos and don’ts about how to get the best possible wedding day photos

  • [26:06] Cavin talks about the importance of hair and makeup to have the best possible photos

  • [29:25] Aleisha shares her makeup experience working in the television industry

  • [32:22] There are different types of makeup artists - find one that fits your style 

  • [36:21] Think about your timeline and when do have hair and makeup done when considering prep time for pictures

  • [37:11] Cavin discuss the importance of lighting and how the photographer will handle that 

  • [42:32} How you can book Cavin to take your photographs

The harsh reality of stuff in weddings often is that everything is a give-and-take.

Listen to the episode

Meet This Episode’s Guest

Cavin Elizabeth is an international wedding film and digital photographer based in San Diego. She operates a boutique studio with a focus on personal connection that makes couples more at ease while being photographed for their special day. This gives Cavin’s picture a natural, authentic and romantic look. She also wrote a book entitled A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding that teaches brides how to get the most out of their wedding photography and have magazine worthy images.

With thanks to our Bridechilla Partners

Subscribe to Bridechilla Podcast

All images by Cavin Elizabeth Photography 

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