Setting a realistic wedding budget that works for you is one of the first steps you’ll take after getting engaged - and ideally before making any big wedding decisions. 

So if you’re newly engaged (or maybe just need a wedding budget reset!), you’re in the right place. 

To streamline the process, today's show is a step-by-step guide on exactly how to create a realistic wedding budget that gives you plenty of space for all the things that you value the most.

Let’s face it, a wedding planning experience without ANY financial stress is unlikely.   Investing thousands of dollars in anything naturally comes along with doubts and anxiety. 

But I’m here to break things down into manageable pieces, so that you can have a stress-free financial plan in the months ahead!

Complete blog post for today's show >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/wedding-budget

Whether you’re in the early stages of formulating your overall wedding vision, or you’ve got a specific wedding scenario you’d like to review, I have 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy calls available >>> Click here to learn more & book a call today

Get ready to explore the beautiful world of bridesmaid dress shopping!

Tune in & discover how you can enjoy a successful online bridesmaid dress shopping experience, including:

• Professional bridesmaid styling ideas, 
• Struggling with piecing together colors or patterns in a mismatch dress situation?  No worries!  Lulus free bridal concierge service makes the process 100% stress-free.
• The 5 KEYS to creating a cohesive visual palette with mismatched dresses, 
• The biggest benefits to mismatched bridesmaid dresses,
• And 3 HOT WEDDING TRENDS to be on the lookout for as we enter 2025.

Shop the 2025 Lulus Bridesmaid Collection here

Get free, one-on-one assistance from our expert team of bridal stylists with Lulus Bridal Concierge

My sister Kate's wedding, April 2022 - we coordinated our Lulus dresses from California, Maine, Canada, British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico - if we can do it, anyone can!! 😅

Today we're joined by Lulus Senior Buyer, Cher Irlandez.  Cher has been with Lulus for 5.5 years, and recently got married in her hometown of Las Vegas.  Her experience in the fashion industry as both a Developer and Buyer, along with her own recent bridal journey, gives her a unique perspective that I’m really excited to share with you.

Trust me, I know that wedding planning can be stressful, overwhelming, and a complete PITA at times.   

That's why I compiled a list of 40 uplifting wedding planning affirmations for you to tune in to any time you need a mental wedding refresh:

• Our wedding celebration will be a perfect reflection of us.

• I commit my attention to our top priorities & tune out the rest.

• We cannot control the actions or inactions of others.

• A meaningful wedding is within reach.

• I chose love over anger.

• I let go of feeling judged by others.

• We are becoming a stronger couple throughout our engagement journey.

• We are worthy of a meaningful wedding celebration.

• A beautiful wedding does not have to cost a lot of money.

• I chose gratitude.

• We do not need to invite everyone we know to the wedding.

• Our decisions are perfect for us.

• I release all negative thoughts about our budget.

• There is no space for overwhelm in my engagement journey.

• Tune in for so many more!

You made it all the way here??  You deserve a BONUS ... within the bonus! 

Here's a list of 50 Budget Items Couples Fail To Plan For, so that you can have them on your radar as you move ahead into your engagement.

I hope you LOVED the Engagement Starter Kit. 

There's SO much more to come ;)

We'll talk again soon!

Cheers, Kara

Need more?  Book a 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy Call here.

Tune in to this bonus episode for a list of "10 Things To Do After Getting Engaged" -

The days & weeks after saying "YES!" are a whirlwind of fun & excitement.  From sharing the news with your loved ones, flashing that ring every chance you get, and dreaming of cakes and dresses, you're definitely at the start of an unforgettable time in your lives ...

And I couldn't be more honored to be a part of it.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for including me in your engagement journey.

I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.  

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

In this bonus workshop, we'll explore exactly how to get started defining - and refining - your wedding vision. 

This is a valuable exercise that I would love for you & your partner to do separately, then come together to compare what each of you saw.

I don't expect that anyone will have all the answers the first time, or see every single last detail in crystal clear focus.  

The point isn't to get it "right" on the first try, but rather to begin to clear your mental slate and give your imagination the space to roam towards a wedding celebration that's perfect for the two of you.

This means clearing all negative beliefs, expectations, or wedding experiences you've had up to this point.  IT'S TIME FOR A FRESH START!

There's a PDF available for you to record your thoughts here >>> Your Wedding Vision.pdf

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

From nightmare meetings with wedding planners, to renting a mansion & our "DIY" heavy approach, in this bonus episode you'll hear the full details of my own wedding planning journey.

The couples who give up on the new approach to planning that we focus on here on the Wedding Planning Podcast will likely stay stuck exactly where I was in the story I'm sharing today, after meeting with the awful 3rd wedding planner.

They’ll do exactly what most couples do, and freak out over how much there is to do, how much things cost, and how complicated it feels to go off the beaten path …

They'll cave when someone is critical of a fun idea, and pull back when they feel judged for something that they did or didn't do. John and I faced skeptical, judge-y eyes too many times to count throughout our entire planning process - but that's another story, for another time.

And they’ll fall back to the status quo wedding planners, the big corporate websites, and the free checklists to plan a cookie cutter wedding for them, without ever even knowing the priceless opportunity that has slipped away.

The opportunity to design the wedding that YOU actually want, and to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your loved ones that leaves a lasting sense of love & connection for decades to come.

And to miss out on that, is quite simply, heartbreaking.

But here's the final, most important part of this very long email:

Unforgettable, life-changing weddings don't just "happen".

They don't just magically arise from the mountain of printouts and free checklists, and magazines, budget calculators and Pinterest boards and reels that you consume on loop.

And just having a wedding vision isn't enough, without continued support, encouragement, and ongoing direction.

So my wish for you is these three things:

• The patience to let your wedding vision fully unfold,

• The courage and confidence to trust in your vision, and let it guide all of your decisions, big & small,

• And the support and encouragement that I promise to bring each week to our time spent together.

Thank you so much for being here today, and thank you for inviting me to be a part of such a special time in your lives - it means the world to me.  

Cheers, Kara

Here inside the Engagement Starter Kit, you'll find everything you need to plan a simple, meaningful, and affordable wedding.   

The four episodes released this week - that's just the beginning!  Coming up next week (available now to Apple Premium Subscribers), you'll enjoy four more "Engagement Starter Kit" Bonus Resources, carefully crafted to help you going forward:

• Bonus Workshop: Clarifying Your Wedding Vision
• A detailed version of my engagement story, including ALL the ups & downs we experienced,
• An "Ultimate Engagement Checklist" with 10 steps to getting started with your plans
• And an audio version of 40 uplifting wedding affirmations / mantras for when things get stressful + overwhelming!

And don't forget, there are over 50 free episodes of the Wedding Planning Podcast available to you anytime, anywhere your busy life takes you.  Simply visit your favorite podcast player, and be sure to follow the WPP for a new episode every Wednesday.

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

Thank you for being here, and thank you for your support of the Wedding Planning Podcast.  It's a huge honor to be a part of such a special time in your lives, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to help shape your dream wedding!

Cheers, xo Kara

You’re a couple who values informed choices, intentional decisions, and ACTIONS that are in complete alignment with who you are and what you value most.

And at this point in the Engagement Starter Kit series, you know the importance of a well-defined wedding vision that honors your personal priorities and values.  

But how do you tie it all together within a carefully designed wedding planning strategy when it comes down to actually making important wedding decisions like hiring vendors, choosing entertainment, and selecting your guests?

In this episode, uncover how to:

• CONFIDENTLY MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS about all of your wedding elements, big & small.  Whether it's choosing something as big as your venue, or as small as guest favors, this new way of planning will guide you step-by-step to trust your intuition as you select the best options for YOU.

• SEE ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS CLEARLY when you adopt a "behind-the-scenes" point of view that shows you the inner workings of wedding product & service pricing, contracts, timelines, and more.

• USE THE 3 KEYS TO TAKE ACTION that is always in complete alignment with who YOU are, and what YOU value.  And yes, that includes saying NO to anything that doesn't align with your vision & priorities!

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

There's a very powerful shift that happens when your engagement season AND your wedding celebration centers around your values & priorities … and nothing else.  

Welcome to Part Two of the Engagement Starter Kit Bonus Series from the Wedding Planning Podcast!

In this episode, discover exactly how to:

• CREATE A VIVID, SHARED VISION of your wedding celebration.

• INTENTIONALLY DISCUSS YOUR VALUES + PRIORITIES with your partner.

• TRANSLATE YOUR VALUES INTO ACTION for every single strategical decision you make throughout your engagement.

• PRIORITIZE CONNECTION AND SHARED EXPERIENCE over the never ending list of "stuff" that you find on traditional wedding checklists.

It's no secret that weddings have changed A LOT over the past couple of years.  It's finally time to embrace an updated planning strategy that prioritizes & honors YOU.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

Welcome to Part One of the Engagement Starter Kit Bonus Series from the Wedding Planning Podcast!

There are 3 KEYS to a stress-free, joyful wedding planning experience ... 

... and you won't find them anywhere on Google, TikTok, or Pinterest.

The first key?  DEFINING A CLEAR WEDDING VISION.

Embracing a positive and empowering wedding mindset can magically free you from the endless cycle of stress, overwhelm & expense that so many couples are trapped in.  

In this episode, explore exactly how to:

• IDENTIFY YOUR TOP WEDDING PRIORITIES, and commit to standing up for them.

• CONFIDENTLY MAKE WEDDING DECISIONS that reflect only the things you value most.

• TUNE OUT THE NOISY WEDDING INDUSTRY that's always buzzing in the background, clamoring for your time, attention, and money.

• SIMPLIFY EVERY SINGLE WEDDING DECISION YOU MAKE with an unbelievably simple formula.

That's why I offer completely personalized, one-on-one wedding strategy calls to support you throughout your engagement.  I LOVE sharing free resources and weekly shows with you, but nothing can replace the personalized quality and value of working together, one-on-one.

I've been a wedding industry visionary for 14 years, and trust me when I say that I've seen & heard it all ... and the great news is that there is always a creative solution or workaround waiting to be discovered.  

Book just one call to get a few specific questions squared away, or book a series of calls for ongoing support throughout your engagement:

On the fence about hiring a wedding videographer?  You’re certainly not alone!  

In my experience, hiring a videographer is the number one vendor that engaged couples are undecided about.  It’s an important decision, and a really big investment.

So you might be surprised to learn that in a post-wedding survey, 98% of couples asked reported that they regretted NOT having a video made of their wedding day.  

Because videography is such a huge topic to unpack, today I have an expert special guest joining us >>>  Meet Ken Foster, who is a lead shooter for Shutter and Sound.  

Shutter and Sound is a very small group of filmmakers dedicated to turning your big day into a work of art.  They help you relive the tremble in your partner's voice, the joyous applause, or that unexpected dance move during the reception. It's all there, woven into a high-end film that's uniquely yours.

Tune in to the full show for an Ultimate Guide to Wedding Videography, and learn why 98% of married couples recommend having a video of your wedding day:

• We're on the fence - how to decide if we should hire a videographer
• How I hired a videographer for my own wedding (at the 11th hour!)
• Benefits of videography vs. still photography
• Budgeting, packages, and pricing
• Research tips for finding the perfect videographer
• Wedding videography package options
• Biggest mistakes & complaints couples have about videography
• How to prepare for being in front of the camera
• The MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO on your wedding day
• Budgeting intentionally and honoring your personal priorities as you plan

And for those wondering about locations: Shutter & Sound has 14 major U.S. cities covered, including spots like Boston, New York, L.A. and D.C. Plus, they're all about adventure, and are more than willing to travel for your big day.

Simply visit shutterandsound.com, explore their beautiful website including detailed pricing information and sample videos, and be in touch via email with the “Contact Us” link.  

Cheers to you & a beautiful wedding celebration!