Podcast

Episode 124: Bailing as a Bridesmaid

What do you do when you are asked to be a bridesmaid and you said yes but as the wedding approaches you start to realize that you can’t do it? Today I explore the strategies for having uncomfortable conversations and highlight the importance of coming to the table with a genuine approach and treating the issue as something that you and your friend can tackle together.

Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions,

Episode 123: Dress Shopping: A case Study

There are so many challenges with setting boundaries with family members during wedding planning. Today we discuss a recent client call I had where we tackled the issue of navigating relationships during wedding planning. The bride in question faces a dilemma as she wants to go dress shopping with her mother but is concerned about upsetting her stepmother. While it may be tempting to keep the peace and avoid confrontation, it's important to listen to ourselves and speak our truth, even if it feels uncomfortable. By doing so, we are creating a shift in the relationship dynamic and asserting our own needs and identity.

Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions,

Episode 122: Final Days freak out

I have been receiving inquiries from brides who are feeling overwhelmed and anxious just days before their wedding, expressing various feelings of disappointment, anxiety, and sadness about different aspects of their big day. One of the reasons people may be hesitant to acknowledge their fears and stress as they approach important milestones is the fear that everything will fall apart if they admit to it. There is a worry that opening up will bring up too many unresolved issues that cannot be addressed before reaching their goal.

Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions,

Episode 121: Enjoy it, They say

There’s a lot of pressure to enjoy the wedding planning process, despite the overwhelming reality many brides face. Everyone is telling you to enjoy it, but the experience may not always feel enjoyable or like the best time of your life. Those people who say "enjoy it" are often reflecting on their own experience and wishing they had fully embraced the complexity and sacredness of the journey. In this episode, we discuss acknowledging the stress of planning a wedding and reassuring you that you are not alone

Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions,

Episode 120: Your Wedding is a poem

Weddings can also be viewed as performances, where couples may feel pressured to impress others or seek validation through social media. I suggest reframing weddings as poems, emphasizing their brevity and ephemeral nature. Just like a poem with a few lines can be beautiful and impactful, a wedding is a concentrated emotional experience. In this episode, we discuss how a wedding is an offering - a gesture of love and gratitude to our community, family, and friends. It doesn't have to be perfect or extravagant, but it should come from a place of abundant love.

Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions,

Episode 119: Man in the Middle

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of navigating relationships with in-laws during wedding situations where the groom finds himself caught between his family of origin and his new wife. I emphasize the importance of understanding that strong emotions from the family of origin are normal during weddings, as they signify a changing family structure. However, the groom's desire to keep the peace by avoiding conflict only perpetuates the discord between the bride. Effective communication, setting boundaries, and establishing individual relationships with in-laws are all vital components of successfully overcoming these challenges.

Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions,

Episode 118: You are not your wedding

Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions, and it's important to navigate them with self-awareness and self-compassion. While it's natural to pour our hearts and souls into making our wedding personalized and unique, we must remember that it is just one day in our lives and should not define our entire being.

In this episode, we discuss how it's okay to look back on our wedding and realize that maybe we would have done things differently. This doesn't mean we made a mistake or messed up; it's a natural part of the learning process. Weddings offer us an opportunity to explore different themes in our lives and learn more about ourselves.

Where the groom finds himself caught between his family and his new wife.

Episode 117: Be Nice

Today's topic is self-compassion, which is often dismissed as basic and cliché but is actually crucial for finding peace in relationships and alignment in wedding planning.

It is important to be kind to ourselves and explore the concept of self-compassion beyond the surface level self-care.

In this episode, we discuss the three components of self-compassion and the impact they can have on our emotional well-being.

Today's topic is self-compassion.

Episode 116: If You Can, Fix It

Couples often realize they've made errors while planning their wedding, such as inviting too many guests and needing to cut the list down.

I acknowledge the overwhelming nature of wedding planning and the immense pressure to please others.

However, I encourage you to take action to rectify mistakes, even if it involves uncomfortable conversations or financial loss. It's a misconception that suffering and burden are honorable, so it's essential to prioritize one's own happiness and desires.

Couples often realize they've made errors while planning their wedding, such as inviting too many guests and needing to cut the list down.

Episode 115: Things Fall Apart

Weddings and life can sometimes fall apart.

I encourage couples to remember that they are not alone on their wedding day and to reach out for support from loved ones or professionals if necessary. I believe that accepting this reality can ultimately lead to healing and personal growth.

In this podcast episode, I discuss acknowledging when things have fallen apart and how you can embrace them.

I encourage couples to remember that they are not alone on their wedding day and to reach out for support from loved ones or professionals if necessary

Episode 114: Part of Me

Sometimes we feel like we are having an identity crisis when we are planning our wedding.

There's this whole invisible set of norms, responsibilities, duties and expectations when it comes to getting married. Add on to that the tradition of changing your name, which obviously would have pretty significant identity implications.

In this episode, we discuss this identity crisis through different parts of who you are and how sometimes those different parts can have conflicting thoughts about your wedding.

Sometimes we feel like we are having an identity crisis when we are planning our wedding.

Episode 113: Best Day Ever (Maybe)

When you think back to your best day ever was every moment of that day planned out?

Your wedding day doesn’t need to be planned out to the tiniest detail in order for you to love it.

In this episode, we are diving into the concept of the "best day ever" trope that is often associated with weddings. We discuss how this idea can create pressure and unrealistic expectations, causing disappointment for some individuals when their wedding day doesn't live up to these standards.

It's crucial to put some emotional distance between the concept of the best day ever and the pressure it brings.

When you think back to your best day ever was every moment of that day planned out? Your wedding day doesn’t need to be planned out to the tiniest detail in order for you to love it.

Episode 112: Little Love Things

The inspiration for this episode came from a client who was feeling disconnected from her fiancé as their wedding approached.

They desired a more meaningful and connected lead-up to their big day, but life's distractions and stressors had taken a toll on their relationship. Together, we discover that it's not about creating grand gestures or extravagant dates, but instead focusing on small bonding moments that keep you on the same page.

By prioritizing these small gestures, you can strengthen your relationship leading up to your wedding day and beyond.

The inspiration for this episode came from a client who was feeling disconnected from her fiancé as their wedding approached.

Episode 111: All the Feelings

Wedding planning can come with its fair share of pressure and expectations, but it's essential to prioritize the internal work and emotional journey that accompanies it.

It’s important to embark on this journey with an open heart, allowing yourself to fully experience and process your emotions. Sometimes, things may fall apart during this transition, but it's through these cracks that we can rebuild ourselves in a more authentic way.

In this episode, we are discussing how to embrace the full range of human emotions so you can celebrate your wedding day with joy.

Wedding planning can come with its fair share of pressure and expectations, but it's essential to prioritize the internal work and emotional journey that accompanies it.

Episode 110: My Mom Hates My Dress

What can you do when your mother don’t approve of your wedding dress but you love it?

Sometimes we have to prioritize our own happiness over the expectations and desires of others, even if it means disappointing our own mothers. This leads us to contemplate how many times we have sacrificed our own desires in an attempt to please others, potentially leading to a life of constantly seeking validation and approval.

In this episode, we explore the underlying factors that contribute to this issue, ranging from financial concerns to body image insecurities, questions of identity, and the dynamics of parental relationships.

What can you do when your mother don’t approve of your wedding dress but you love it?

Episode 109: A Generous Take

Today I want to talk about having a generous take when it comes to your wedding.

It centers around viewing everything that happens during wedding planning through the lens of generosity.

Being generous means pausing before reacting negatively and instead trying to understand and support others. By adopting a generous mindset, brides can strengthen their relationships and create a more positive and meaningful wedding journey.

Today I want to talk about having a generous take when it comes to your wedding.

Episode 108: Plus One Drama

In this episode, we are discussing the sensitive topic of plus ones when it comes to wedding invitations.

The guest list is often a challenging aspect of wedding planning, as it determines not only who will attend but also has budget implications. Etiquette books offer guidelines on who should receive a plus one invitation, such as engaged couples or those living together.

However, I believe that there is no one-size-fits-all rule and that couples need to have open conversations to draw the line.

In this episode, we are discussing the sensitive topic of plus ones when it comes to wedding invitations.

Episode 107: We Lose the Way

Many individuals look back on their wedding day with regret because it didn't align with their initial expectations.

In this episode, I emphasize the significance of pausing and reassessing one's desires amidst the whirlwind of societal pressures and expectations that come with wedding planning. It’s okay to make a pivot and change the style, venue, and guest list of your wedding.

When feeling lost or angry, it's important to pay attention and listen to the underlying message that is trying to get our attention. By deciphering this message, we can bring more peace to our lives, weddings, and relationships.

Many individuals look back on their wedding day with regret because it didn't align with their initial expectations.

Episode 106: Remove the question mark

Too often, brides go into their wedding day with a sense of uncertainty about how they will feel.

They worry about factors like the weather, logistics, and even the behavior of others, leaving their emotional state up to chance. However, we have more control over our feelings than we may realize.

In this episode, we discuss how it’s essential for brides and grooms to take the time to imagine how they want to feel on their wedding day and set that as their goal.

Too often, brides go into their wedding day with a sense of uncertainty about how they will feel.

Episode 105: Q&A mom issues

In this episode we are discussing the involvement of mothers and mother-in-laws in wedding planning.

Tensions can arise when a couple's vision clashes with the desires of their parents, but it’s important to understand their intentions.

I highlight the significance of the community aspect of weddings and the joy that comes from sharing this special day with family and friends. Plus I give advice on striking a balance between expectations and finding a way to give mothers or mother-in-laws a moment in the spotlight without overshadowing the couple.

In this episode we are discussing the involvement of mothers and mother-in-laws in wedding planning.

Episode 104: Q&A Burnout

In this episode, I am answering your questions around burnout.

We discuss tips for managing burnout and involving your fiance in the wedding planning process, prioritizing energizing activities and having open conversations with your partner.

Ignoring your feelings during your wedding planning process can create distance especially between you and your partner so it’s best to address any issues head on.

In this episode, we discuss tips for managing burnout and involving your fiance in the wedding planning process, prioritizing energizing activities and having open conversations with your partner.

Episode 103: Q&A In The Moment

In this episode, I am answering your questions.

We are discussing how to handle being in the spotlight when you don't enjoy it, particularly for more introverted brides and how to savor the engagement period and ensure it is fully enjoyed.

I emphasize the need to approach wedding planning with intentionality, to embrace each moment, and to appreciate the love and support from family and loved ones.

In this episode, I am answering your questions. We are discussing how to handle being in the spotlight when you don't enjoy it and how to savor the engagement period and ensure it is fully enjoyed.

Episode 102: Core wedding memory

Creating lasting wedding memories is an exhilarating journey.

In today’s episode, I am sharing a story with you about one of my first memories of being at a wedding and how sometimes less is more.

It’s the bride who sets the tone for the entire wedding so it’s important to be in the moments and really present.

Creating lasting wedding memories is an exhilarating journey. In today’s episode, I am sharing a story with you about one of my first memories of being at a wedding and how sometimes less is more.

Episode 101: It Could Have Been Better

In this podcast episode, I want to reflect on a recent conversation I had with a client who wasn't completely satisfied with her wedding, even though it went well overall.

It got me thinking about the importance of self-validation and not relying solely on external validation. I believe it's crucial for individuals to give themselves some space and grace before reflecting on their wedding experience.

In this podcast episode, I want to reflect on a recent conversation I had with a client who wasn't completely satisfied with her wedding, even though it went well overall.

Episode 100: Loving Kindness

Do you want to find a way to soothe and center yourself during stressful times?

In the 100th episode, I’m sharing a simple practice called the loving kindness meditation that can help you do just that.

I encourage you to make the practice your own and use it as a tool to find alignment and grounding in your life, especially during the stress and sacredness of wedding planning.

Episode 99: Bridesmaid Drama

A lot of my work as a bridal coach is to help you deal with the emotional experience of being a bride, and it's often a lot harder than we thought it was gonna be.

It has a lot to do with the friendship stuff that goes on, especially female friendships around weddings.

In this episode, I’m discussing figuring out why you want them in your wedding, how to be on the same page with expectations, and taking the stress off you and your bridesmaids.

A lot of my work as a bridal coach is to help you deal with the emotional experience of being a bride, and it's often a lot harder than we thought it was gonna be.

Episode 98: Best Planner advice

Are you planning a wedding and feeling overwhelmed by all the advice out there? I recently came across a TikTok video that really stood out to me and I wanted to share my thoughts on it with you.

The wedding planner in the video emphasized the importance of having a peaceful, joyful, and flexible attitude, and how it can make a huge difference in the overall wedding experience.

In this episode, I’m discussing setting the right tone and energy for your wedding so you can feel peace and joy.

Are you planning a wedding and feeling overwhelmed by all the advice out there? I recently came across a TikTok video that really stood out to me and I wanted to share my thoughts on it with you.

Episode 97: You Can't Get It Right

There are so many societal pressures and internalized beliefs surrounding weddings.

Brides should be focusing on experiencing and enjoying their wedding rather than trying to achieve a certain standard.

In this episode, I want to remind you to reflect on your own beliefs and to alleviate the pressure and stress that you may feel when planning your wedding.

Episode 96: My Bridesmaid dropout story

I have a confession to make: I was a bridesmaid drop out.

I wanted to offer a different narrative to someone who is in the midst of being a bridesmaid in a wedding.

In today’s episode, I’m telling my story about being in a wedding for a friend from college and how I knew it wasn’t a good idea for me.

I have a confession to make: I was a bridesmaid drop out. I wanted to offer a different narrative to someone who is in the midst of being a bridesmaid in a wedding.

Episode 95: Your Wedding is Art

I love a good metaphor.

It's such a useful way of getting our brain into a little bit more of a creative space, which helps with problem-solving and just being a little lighter and less sort of rigid and dialed in on getting results and getting things perfect the way that we want them, which often happens in the wedding world

In this episode, we are discussing how your wedding is a great way to express yourself and the importance of taking a step back to view your wedding as art.

In this episode, we are discussing how your wedding is a great way to express yourself and the importance of taking a step back to view your wedding as art.

Episode 94: Emotional Elegance

Challenges always come up when you are planning a wedding.

Your wedding is such a rich time of both challenge and opportunity to really learn more about yourself and figure out where your edges are that you really wanna lean into.

Where you need help and where you need more insight, and just where you need more peace and compassion.

In this episode, I’m talking about emotional elegance and how it can help you navigate this bridal experience.

Challenges always come up when you are planning a wedding. Your wedding is such a rich time of both challenge and opportunity.

Episode 93: Go to Bed Angry

Have you ever gone to bed angry at your partner?

Most people always advise you never to go to bed angry after getting married, and I disagree with that. Sometimes going to bed when you're angry is the best thing you can do because being tired, or just fatigued itself will totally exacerbate conflict.

In this episode, we discuss how sleeping is the key to resolving conflict and why your brain needs rest to understand your side of the argument fully.

Have you ever gone to bed angry at your partner?

Episode 92: What We Are Not Doing

Do you know you can not do things at your wedding and you don’t need to give an explanation?

There are so many opinions about weddings and what they should and shouldn’t include. One of the most stressful parts of wedding planning can be the marketing and the standards around what you're supposed to do and have at your wedding.

In this episode, we discuss constraints, being unapologetic, and knowing just how powerful and strong it can be to declare and own those nos for yourself.

Do you know you can not do things at your wedding and you don’t need to give an explanation?

Episode 91: After the Ring

How can you deal with the highs and lows that come with getting engaged?

After receiving the ring from your fiance, you get overwhelmed with excitement and are just on a high of good emotions. But you can get a little caught off guard by the feelings of anxiety or fear that come after that high of getting engaged.

In this episode, we discuss going public with the engagement, fundamental issues, and knowing it’s very normal to feel some discomfort in your relationship as you're starting to look at it with a whole new lens.

How can you deal with the highs and lows that come with getting engaged?

Episode 90: How You Do one thing

How you do one thing is how you do everything.

We seem to think that once our wedding is over our life, friendships, and family dynamics will return to normal. Understanding that the discord and disconnect that we as the bride are feeling around our wedding ceremony may actually point to a much bigger issue.

In this episode, we discuss boundary setting, figuring out the things that bring you joy, and understanding how our life can change after our wedding.

How you do one thing is how you do everything. We seem to think that once our wedding is over our life, friendships, and family dynamics will return to normal.

Episode 89: Loving Boundaries

How do you set healthy boundaries with friends and family around your wedding?

There seems to be a big talk on social media about setting boundaries during your wedding. A lot of people talk about boundaries in this really harsh way. Like setting a boundary, which basically means just keeping people out and I really like to imagine the boundaries much more like picket fences. It is meant to mark your space, your safe haven, and your zone where you are in charge.

In this episode, we discuss setting healthy boundaries during your wedding, your common ground, your limitation, and your yes to set those boundaries.

How do you set healthy boundaries with friends and family around your wedding?

Episode 88: My Fiancé is Over It

How do you deal with a super stressed-out partner who says they can't wait for the wedding planning to be over?

There are a number of reasons this could happen. It could be because your partner wants to get back into ordinary life where you're not talking about vendors, guest lists, spreadsheets, and all those things that really clutter up your free time.
Your fiancé could also be feeling this way because there is a disconnection between the two of you during your wedding planning process.

In this episode, we discuss understanding why your fiancé could be feeling this way about wedding planning, instead of feeling insulted and reactive toward your fiancé.

How do you deal with a super stressed-out partner who says they can't wait for the wedding planning to be over?

Episode 87: Friendship Fallouts

What to do when you are planning your wedding and you have a falling out with one of your bridesmaids?

This topic came up from many conversations with brides and bridesmaids on TikTok. Understanding that sometimes it takes spending a lot of time planning a wedding to realize your friendship was over.

In this episode, we discuss friendships falling out, understanding the dynamics of your friends have changed, and realizing the friendship isn’t worth your investment of time, energy, effort, or money.

What to do when you are planning your wedding and you have a falling out with one of your bridesmaids?

Episode 86: Weight Loss & Weddings

What is going on with weddings and the weight loss pressure brides have?

This is a question I received from someone on my bridal email list. We talk about what is going on with weddings and weight loss and why the pressure is so intense to be so thin on your wedding day.

In this episode, we discuss diet culture, capitalism, and patriarchy. We dive into how they work together when having a mindset of being thin on your wedding day.

What is going on with weddings and the weight loss pressure brides have? We talk about why the pressure is so intense to be so thin on your wedding day.

Episode 85: What's the Point?

There gets to a point in the wedding planning process where you’re just like, what is even happening because there are so many things changing.

You start to notice a conflict between friends or family members during the wedding planning that was not there before and you begin to question, what is the point? There can be a lot of work, money, and effort and it can just be a lot but remind yourself that your wedding will be worth it.

In this episode, we discuss the bigger picture of why weddings are so wonderful, making real sacrifices, and understanding you will be overwhelmed.

There gets to a point in the wedding planning process where you’re just like, what is even happening because there are so many things changing.

Episode 84: How to Handle the Goodness

How do you process and take in all those gifts and good wishes and people showing up for you, people supporting you, and people celebrating you on your wedding day?

This is a question I got from one of my one-to-one bridal coaching calls. She thought everyone who came to her wedding was doing so much for her, and it was amazing and she appreciated it, but it also felt uncomfortable and it just felt like too much.

In this episode, we discuss feeling a little bit overwhelmed by all of this goodness coming at you, gratitude, and ways to give thanks to the people or gift you on your wedding day.

How do you process and take in all those gifts and good wishes and people showing up for you, people supporting you, and people celebrating you on your wedding day?

Episode 83: Parents Will Have Feelings

After putting a post on Tik Tok, I realized there are a lot of brides that deal with their parents having feelings, good or bad about them getting married.

We don't want our wedding to fracture or damage or stress or strain our relationship with our parents.

In this episode, we discuss processing our feelings with our parents so we can avoid conflict and war over your wedding details.

After putting a post on Tik Tok, I realized there are a lot of brides that deal with their parents having feelings, good or bad about them getting married.

Episode 82: Bridal buffer

What do you do on the day of your wedding to ensure you don't fall off the cliff emotionally?

In the last few client sessions I’ve had with brides they have all asked, how they can make sure that on their wedding day, they don’t freak out and have a meltdown.

In this episode, we discuss how we plan ahead to invoke a bridal buffer. How we would designate a person that's gonna be your go-to for everything and take the stress off you on your wedding day.

What do you do on the day of your wedding to ensure you don't fall off the cliff emotionally?

Episode 81: Bridal Blues: I hate my Photos

Wedding drama is usually never what it seems. Lately, I've been getting a lot of post-wedding phone calls from brides who've already gotten married and they are still processing what just happened.

They are seeking validation for being upset at what happened at their wedding.

In this episode, we discuss how one bride was upset with her wedding photos but what her photos really showed her were the areas of her life that were causing discomfort and pain.

Wedding drama is usually never what it seems. Lately, I've been getting a lot of post-wedding phone calls from brides who've already gotten married and they are still processing what just happened.

Episode 80: Grief & Weddings

How do you get through your wedding after you have lost a loved one? This is something a lot of women deal with on their wedding day.

Today I’m talking with Meredith Lynch about going through her wedding after she lost her mother. She left the emotional part out and did what she felt was right for her on her wedding day.

Meredith is a writer and pop culture analyst who lives in Los Angeles. In this episode, we discuss hiring a wedding planner instead of having bridesmaids, and the experience of planning and having a wedding after a parent passed away.

How do you get through your wedding after you have lost a loved one?

This is something a lot of women deal with on their wedding day.

Episode 79: Bride as Disruptor

There has been so much talk about Megan and Harry with the Netflix series that came out.

This had me thinking about how a bride is a disruptor. Adding someone new to your family dynamic can be uncomfortable.

But so many beautiful new, wonderful things come when the status quo is disrupted in this way.

In this episode, I discuss how being the disruptor can be a good thing even though it’s also uncomfortable and can cause some issues.

Episode 78: Q&A Bach Party Problem

Wondering how to deal with your bachelorette part when you have different friend groups?

This is a question I got from one of my one-to-one bridal coaching calls. The bride originally hadn't invited one group of friends simply because she just thought it would be more complicated. This actually caused more problems by not inviting them.

In this episode, we discuss blending two friend groups, surrendering, and setting expectations when it comes to your bachelorette party.

Wondering how to deal with your bachelorette part when you have different friend groups?

Episode 77: Bridal haunting

There are two people that mess you up in your bridal moment- your past and your future.

With all of the constraints, pressures, and realities of actually bringing these wedding ideas into real life, it can cause such friction that you then think that conflict means you're doing something wrong.

In this episode, we discuss giving yourself grace for both your past and future self and knowing you made the best decision at this moment.

There are two people that mess you up in your bridal moment- your past and your future.

Episode 76: Detail Drama

There are just so many details, and when you really think about a wedding. If the whole idea is just two people getting married, besides that, everything else is just details.

We want these details to mean something. We want them to show us who we are. We want it to be this curated image of our best selves and truly show our taste level and our intention and style and depth.

In this episode, I discuss how to let all the little details of your wedding be messy and imperfect.

There are just so many details, and when you really think about a wedding. If the whole idea is just two people getting married, besides that, everything else is just details.

Episode 75: Grounding in Gratitude

Gratitude is the key to your whole wedding experience. I know it can be really trite or obvious or too basic. But it’s fundamental.

When you are frazzled and overwhelmed and anxious or feeling not enough and needy or insecure I need you to ask yourself, am I grateful?

In this episode, I discuss how gratitude can change your relationship, health, and self-esteem.

Gratitude is the key to your whole wedding experience. I know it can be really trite or obvious or too basic. But it’s fundamental.

Episode 74: Navigating the Holidays

You've got your holiday traditions and what you envision. Then you've got what you wanna do as a couple. Then there are your in-laws and what they're expecting and hoping for. It can get to be a lot.

Then you're also carrying with you all of the memories and the history of all of those holidays from your past. For some people, those are all really good memories but for a lot of people, those can be also really a mixed bag.

In this episode, we discuss the dynamics that come up during the holidays and I give you my five tips for managing family gatherings with your fiancé or your new partner.

You've got your holiday traditions and what you envision. Then you've got what you wanna do as a couple. Then there are your in-laws and what they're expecting and hoping for.

Episode 73: Wedding Wake Up Call

Your wedding is calling you to wake up in some way.

It’s a powerful time to awaken to what’s going on for you. For some people, it's a wake-up call to art, beauty, and ceremony.

To others, it's a wake-up call to old patterns that don’t serve them anymore

In this episode, I’m discussing how your wedding can open your eyes to so many possibilities and life-changing events.

Your wedding is calling you to wake up in some way. It’s a powerful time to awaken to what’s going on for you. For some people, it's a wake-up call to art, beauty, and ceremony.

Episode 72: Don't Miss the moment

We are taught to think that getting engaged and planning our wedding are moments of joy, excitement, accomplishment, success, and a feeling of wholeness, completeness, integrity, and all of these things.

But they never feel the way we thought they were going to feel. It's always a bit more disorienting, complex, and overwhelming while being very underwhelming at the same time.

In this episode, I want to help you learn how not to miss the moments. It can be really easy to overlook tending to and preparing that emotional part of the experience.

Episode 71: The Repair

When you are planning your wedding, the stakes are really high. There are so many things to worry about like time, money, family, culture, and tradition.

Not to mention that it’s a huge change in your life!! Since tensions are high, there are bound to be conflicts.

In this episode, I’m discussing how to de-escalate and calm things down in a loving way so you can have a healthy relationship and bond.

Episode 70: The Subtle Shift

Today I really want to bring it back to basics and talk about the subtle shift. It's all about that shift that happens in our relationships when we get engaged and start the wedding planning process. It's kind of this invisible unfolding that goes on once you go through that proposal experience.

You have to reroute yourself. You have to reconsider things. You have to relearn and re-decide your inner landscape and your closest relationships.

In this episode, we unpack the process you go through once you become engaged and the shifts that happen in your life.

Today I really want to bring it back to basics and talk about the subtle shift. It's all about that shift that happens in our relationships when we get engaged and start the wedding planning process.

Episode 69: Diamonds & Doubt

Feeling doubt about your relationship when you are newly engaged or even knee-deep in wedding planning is a scary place to be. Nobody wants to feel doubt when they've got that diamond ring on.

That's just not the time and our culture doesn't really make room for this.

In this episode, I want to talk about normalizing having some doubt at this time in your life and why the engagement period is the perfect time to give your doubt some space to play out.

Feeling doubt about your relationship when you are newly engaged or even knee-deep in wedding planning is a scary place to be. Nobody wants to feel doubt when they've got that diamond ring on.

Episode 68: The Problem with Joy

Are you in the middle of planning your wedding but you can't experience the joy in the way that you thought you would?

With getting engaged and planning a wedding, there's just so much love. It's such a joyful time and yet so many women are having a tough time with how to handle that joy or how to not rob themselves of experiencing that joy that is right at their fingertips.

In this episode, I wanna talk about the problem with joy and why we are not really acknowledging the issues that come with joy.

Are you in the middle of planning your wedding but you can't experience the joy in the way that you thought you would?

Episode 67: Art of the Ask

You want to have the perfect wedding right?

You want to have control over your wedding and be in charge of everything.

But you also don’t want to burden people and feel like you should just handle it all yourself.

In today’s episode, I’m discussing building up your muscle of asking for help. You can’t do it all (and you shouldn’t either). People want to help so let them in.

Episode 66: Mother Daughter Drama

Are you worried about how you are going to handle your mom’s energy on the day of your wedding? Your relationship with your mom is getting harder and more annoying as your wedding day approaches and you really want the dynamic to change before then.

We need to remember that our mothers are going through a lot too. Your wedding day is a very emotional day for her too and it can make her act, well, a little kooky.

In this episode, I discuss how to navigate his new relationship with your mom and what you can do to have an enjoyable experience for both of you.

Are you worried about how you are going to handle your mom’s energy on the day of your wedding? Your relationship with your mom is getting harder and more annoying as your wedding day approaches.

Episode 65: The Dress

Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the major moments where all of the pressures that are unique to a bride come together.

It's one of those moments that you think about as a child.

But it’s not just about the pretty dress, it's all of these undercurrents that are happening too. It can be heartbreaking, stressful, and overwhelming but also poignant and memorable.

In this episode, we discuss the pressure of finding the perfect wedding dress and what that can make us feel like.

Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the major moments where all of the pressures that are unique to a bride come together. It's one of those moments that you think about as a child.

Episode 64: Sweat the Small Stuff

Your whole life you have been told to not sweat the small stuff.

Well, today I am telling you that you should be sweating the small things especially when it comes to your wedding.

Sweating the small stuff is a way to wake up a little more to the present moment. That is one of the things that culturally is always such a struggle in this sort of go, go, go atmosphere that we're all striving and trying to get somewhere.

In this episode, I explain why you should pause and think about the small things and how they can help you after your wedding too.

Your whole life you have been told to not sweat the small stuff. Well, today I am telling you that you should be sweating the small things especially when it comes to your wedding.

Episode 63: When Death Comes

There is a poem I put at the beginning of my book, Whispers to a Bride, called When Death Comes.

The concept of both poetry and weddings is so compelling to me. Weddings and poetry sort of get shunned and discarded a bit culturally because they do seem frivolous and extra and not useful.

I decided to include this poem that has been special to me. I think it encapsulates why this work matters.

In this episode, I dive into this poem and what it means to being a bride

There is a poem I put at the beginning of my book, Whispers to a Bride, called When Death Comes. In this episode, I dive into this poem and what it means to being a bride.

Episode 62: The Goodbye

I have so many women who come to me with this feeling of unsettledness and feeling a little bit of grief and anxiety about just saying goodbye to their old lives.

Especially if they've really grown to love the little routines that they've created for themselves, the friendships, the patterns, and the habits and their living space.

In this episode, I want to normalize these feelings. Every transition, no matter how exciting, there's some nostalgia for leaving behind the life we had before.

It doesn't mean anything is wrong with you or your fiance or that you shouldn't be getting married.

I have so many women who come to me with this feeling of unsettledness and feeling a little bit of grief and anxiety about just saying goodbye to their old lives.

Episode 61: The Book

The book, Whispers to a Bride, is finally here!!!

If you didn’t know I have been writing a book. Whispers to a Bride is about the emotional experience that a bride goes through. It also has tips and tricks and solutions for how to handle all of that emotional upheaval.

In this episode, I explain why I wrote this book, who it is for, and how it will benefit you.

The book, Whispers to a Bride, is finally here!!! If you didn’t know I have been writing a book. Whispers to a Bride is about the emotional experience that a bride goes through.

Episode 60: Museum

I want to introduce you to the museum metaphor.

Think of a museum in terms of your post-wedding, what do we do with all the feelings that come after the wedding?

There's always gonna be sort of a low after a big high of your wedding and it’s hard to let go.

In this episode, I help you understand why you need to put your wedding in a museum and give it time before you revisit it again.

I want to introduce you to the museum metaphor. Think of a museum in terms of your post-wedding, what do we do with all the feelings that come after the wedding?

Episode 59: Enoughness

There is always this question of enoughness in the back of our minds.

Am I doing enough? Is this too much? It simultaneously feels like way too much and yet completely not enough.

That feeling is just so frustrating.

In this episode, we are diving into what to do when this feeling of enoughness creeps in and how you can apply it to other areas of your life too.

There is always this question of enoughness in the back of our minds. Am I doing enough? Is this too much? It simultaneously feels like way too much and yet completely not enough.

Episode 58: Pity Party

In all the past episodes of this podcast, we have been focused on positivity so you can explore this time in your life (your engagement and wedding) with more happiness and ease.

But it is also important that we carve out time for a pity party.

We need to have light and dark. We can’t have one without the other.

In this episode, I want to dive into why we need to experience hard emotions and embrace them.

In all the past episodes of this podcast, we have been focused on positivity so you can explore this time in your life (your engagement and wedding) with more happiness and ease.

Episode 57: Whys

One of the best ways to address so much of the wedding drama you experience is a really simple, beautifully elegant practice of asking WHY. So much of what happens with weddings is based on all the assumptions and expectations and cultural norms.

We lose track of what’s actually inside. What we really want. What really matters to us.

In this episode, I discuss why it’s so important to apply the question to your relationship first and then apply it to your wedding. As you are brainstorming options continue to ask yourself why this makes sense, why this appeals to you, and why you thought this was important.

One of the best ways to address so much of the wedding drama you experience is a really simple, beautifully elegant practice of asking WHY.

Episode 56: Anxiety Hacks

When you really think about weddings, the thing most people remember isn’t any specific detail, it’s how it felt.

It’s the energy, the mood, the vibe. We try to achieve this with all of the elements like decor, food, lighting, and music, but the strongest factor in creating the wedding vibe you want is your own energetic presence.

In this episode, we discuss how you set the tone for your wedding day and how to prepare for how you will feel on that day.

When you really think about weddings, the thing most people remember isn’t any specific detail, it’s how it felt.

Episode 55: Identity Crisis

Becoming engaged changes how a woman sees herself. For some, it’s the completion of an aspect of their identity. For others, it is more of a threat to the identity they have created for themselves so far in life.

Whether you waited for the ring or it happened faster than you anticipated, you need an adjustment period to integrate this new identity, this new framework for your life into your understanding of yourself.

So, if it feels like you are having an identity crisis, you are doing it right!

Episode 54: Golden Relationship ratio

I am so excited to give you probably the quickest but most important, profound little thought as you are heading into your marriage.

I call it the golden relationship ratio.

The golden relationship ratio is five positive interactions for every negative one. For every eye roll, criticism, freak out or fight, you need five positive interactions with your partner.

I am so excited to give you probably the quickest but most important, profound little thought as you are heading into your marriage. I call it the golden relationship ratio.

Episode 53: Bridal Bigness

A really fun way to get back to peace is by connecting to your bridal bigness. Bridal Bigness is the idea that you, as a bride, are part of a much bigger energy, and that energy has the peace, power, and emotional capacity that you need.

Your bridal bigness is the antidote to fear, anxiety, stress, overwhelm, people pleasing, and insecurity. It is your creativity, your calm, your grace. It’s the quiet sense deep within that trusts things will be ok, somehow.

In this episode, we will discuss how your bridal bigness is something you can tap into on purpose when you feel like you’re feeling drained, stressed, or depleted

Episode 52: Prenups

Let’s talk about the touchy situation of prenups. This can be an uncomfortable conversation to have. The automatic response can be to be offended.

We don’t want to ever think that our marriage could end. I want you to think about prenups the same way you do a fire escape plan. You never want to think that your house will catch on fire but you want to be prepared.

In this episode, I am going to help you think of prenups differently and in a loving way.

Let’s talk about the touchy situation of prenups. This can be an uncomfortable conversation to have. The automatic response can be to be offended.

Episode 51: Broken Engagements

I can remember hearing stories of a wedding being called off and thinking it was the most intense, heartbreaking yet fascinating thing.

I mean, isn’t being engaged the most exciting perfect time of your life?

How did you say yes and then only a few short months later, you are saying no?

In this episode, we are exploring how one’s mind can change about something so major when so many people were watching.

I can remember hearing stories of a wedding being called off and thinking it was the most intense, heartbreaking yet fascinating thing.

Episode 50: Time

This feeling of time collapsing around a wedding makes people intensely invested and erratically emotional in surprising ways. Weddings are important in terms of chronological times that we count with years and days but it’s also important in the other sense of time known as kairos or deep time.

Kairos moments are about intangible things like connection, flow, and celebration and a kairos moment is so powerful it can sustain you for years.

In this episode, we talk about the concept of time and the not so subtle pressure on women to time this wedding perfectly.

This feeling of time collapsing around a wedding makes people intensely invested and erratically emotional in surprising ways.

Episode 49: Love Languages

Today we are talking about one of my favorite topics - love languages.

Love languages are a framework for how to show and receive love in a relationship.

It helps you understand your partner better and be able to show them love in a way they will respond to.

In this episode, we discuss the 5 love languages so you have a better understanding of how to show your partner love and how you like to be shown love also.

Today we are talking about one of my favorite topics - love languages.

Love languages are a framework for how to show and receive love in a relationship

Episode 48: Q&A Day of Tips

Today I am sharing some questions that I get for the day of your wedding.

You want your wedding day to go smoothly but sometimes things happen.

In this episode, we are going to talk about how to stay in the right mindset, gracefully getting out of conversations, and remembering your parents.

My hope is that the answers to these questions will help you feel calmer as your wedding day approaches.

Today I am sharing some questions that I get for the day of your wedding.

You want your wedding day to go smoothly but sometimes things happen.

Episode 47: Surrender

There comes a moment when you transition from doing to being.

You have to let go of trying to control every aspect of your wedding and just surrender.

Let things be. You can’t control everything but you can accept everything.

In this episode, I’m talking about surrender and how when you do it, you can actually enjoy your wedding.

There comes a moment when you transition from doing to being.

You have to let go of trying to control every aspect of your wedding and just surrender.

Episode 46: The Arrival Fallacy

Today we are going to talk about one of the biggest issues facing brides- the arrival fallacy.

The arrival fallacy is the mental and emotional illusion that when you arrive, once you get there, achieve the goal, and arrive at your wedding day, you will have lasting happiness.

This is why so many brides and couples are willing to suffer through a tough wedding planning journey.

In this episode, I offer 3 ways to combat the arrival fallacy so that you feel connected and understood as you head down the aisle.

Today we are going to talk about one of the biggest issues facing brides- the arrival fallacy. The arrival fallacy is the mental and emotional illusion that when you arrive at your wedding day, you will have lasting happiness.

Episode 45: The Art of Nothing

This is another framework for getting into the feeling state that you want for your wedding day.

It’s the art of noticing.

There will be a lot to see and take in and the art of noticing will let you be intentional about what you take in, what you notice, and what you celebrate which will have you feeling better.

In this episode, I share how stopping to notice your wedding is magical and fun and makes you appreciate it so much more.

This is another framework for getting into the feeling state that you want for your wedding day. It’s the art of noticing.

Episode 44: Perfectionism

I have noticed with brides and weddings, it really brings out this perfectionist monster. There's all of a sudden this idea that their wedding should or could possibly be perfect, and they should look perfect and act perfect and everyone else should be perfect.

The whole thing just takes on a life of its own and the perfectionist, the bad part of perfectionism really comes out. I get that it feels really true that you are a perfectionist, you have a very keen eye, you have a high standard, you have a specific sense of style you are very professional, and you want everyone else to be very professional and only submit the highest standard.

In this episode, we are discussing how there’s no perfect bride or wedding and why it’s impossible to leave space for the imperfect.

I have noticed with brides and weddings, it really brings out this perfectionist monster. There's all of a sudden this idea that their wedding should or could possibly be perfect,

Episode 43: Vibes

So much of wedding talk is about wanting to create a vibe.

So many brides think a lot about how to create the vibe they going for on their wedding day. And while the atmosphere (venue, decor, etc) communicates certain energy or vibe, the strongest factor in creating the wedding vibe you want is to learn how to communicate it with your own energy.

In this episode, we are discussing how you can create the vibe you want for your wedding now just imagining it.

So much of wedding talk is about wanting to create a vibe. So many brides think a lot about how to create the vibe they going for on their wedding day.

Episode 42: I Just Want to Elope

Is it bad to be knee deep in planning and just ask yourself and your fiancé “wouldn’t it make more sense to just elope?” Whether it's the complicated logistics of hotel blocks and transportation, the unhappy family members who aren’t getting their way, the ballooning expenses, or just the overwhelm of the sheer amount of decisions.

Maybe it’s just that the wedding has become a bit of a monster that has taken over your entire relationship and you miss the life you had before wedding planning.

In this episode, we are talking about how it’s normal and predictable to be completely over it and want to just bag it all and elope.

Is it bad to be knee deep in planning and just ask yourself and your fiancé “wouldn’t it make more sense to just elope?”

Episode 41: Feel Good on the Big Day

How can you manage your feelings on the big day?

How can you make sure you feel the way you want to feel?

You want to feel good. You want to enjoy it. You want to be happy. You want to be present and soak it all in. But how?

It can feel like it’s the thing you have the least control over. You think that you have to wait to see what happens in order to know how you are going to feel.

In this episode, I just want you to flip the paradigm a bit. Your wedding day isn’t going to tell you how to feel, you are going to tell your wedding day how your feel.

Episode 40: the story of your wedding

I want to remind you today that your wedding is a changing thing. At one point, it was a dream, a vision, or a fantasy. Then at some point, your wedding becomes a possibility. You are dating someone you can envision marrying, suddenly the possibility of your own wedding is within your reachable reality.

Then if you are engaged and planning a wedding, your wedding becomes a choice, a reality, and an event. It can become a source of joy, and pain. It can be a dream, a nightmare, or both at the same time.

Then as your wedding gets closer, it’s a day, an event, and a significant moment in time. Then, poof, it will be done. It will be over. It will be gone and it will morph into a memory, a photograph, a story.

I want to remind you today that your wedding is a changing thing. At one point, it was a dream, a vision, or a fantasy. Then at some point, your wedding becomes a possibility.

Episode 39: What Do You Yearn For?

When we think about weddings, we think about what we want them to be. Where we want them, what it will look like, the flowers, the music, the dress, the food, the dance floor, the guest list, and all the details. We think about Pinterest, Instagram, and Tik Tok. We think about the movies we have seen, we think about the weddings we’ve been to, and the images that have been in our minds.

I love that. I want you to have what you want. Whether it is peonies, a mermaid cut dress, a black and white dance floor, or a major design moment with your escort cards. I am so into all of it. Yet, if we don’t ask ourselves the deeper question, our wants can feel really empty. They can fail to deliver on the happiness that they seemed to promise. In this episode, I want you to ask yourself a million times what do I want and let yourself go nuts.

Episode 38: Your Wedding Demands It

Weddings seem to come with demand. It requires something of you and you usually aren’t prepared to think about it or tackle it. It can seem really unrelated to your actual wedding, yet it becomes an obstacle that stands right between you and your happy day.

Shouldn’t it be as simple as just making decisions and choosing things that work for our budgets and preferences and cultures and families?

In this episode, I am discussing that whatever your wedding is demanding of you, how to stop trying to scoot around it and how to go towards it.

Episode 37: The Field

There is a quote by the Persian poet Rumi, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there.”

I mean, can you even take it. This idea is just so fabulous. Just think of all the ways you can apply this to the drama happening in your world right now.

So much of the conflict I see with brides is around wanting to do things right or litigating who did something wrong and our brains get really stuck in right and wrong land.

In this episode, we discuss if it is really important to be right and what it can cost you.

There is a quote by the Persian poet Rumi, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there.” I mean, can you even take it. This idea is just so fabulous.

Episode 36: Bridal beauty

Bridal beauty is a huge industry. Many brides will whiten their teeth, start botox, start working out, diet, get facials, get manicures, go tanning, or get eyelash extensions.

So many things go on in the glam world when a woman is planning a wedding.
There is so much pressure to look the best you’ve ever looked.

In this episode, we are going to pause and acknowledge the weirdness of the bridal beauty industry. It’s alright to want to look your best, but it’s also okay to keep getting better.

Bridal beauty is a huge industry. Many brides will whiten their teeth, start botox, start working out, diet, get facials, get manicures, go tanning, or get eyelash extensions.

Episode 35: What Wants to Happen

So many brides have strong visions of their weddings. Often based on old visions, movies, Instagram, or Pinterest.

We get so so bombarded by trends and images it can be really difficult to know whether what we want is authentically true to our deepest desire or whether we have been specialized to want it.

In talking to brides throughout the pandemic who have had to shift and postpone and replan and unplan, it really drove home the usefulness of this concept- what wants to happen?

In this episode, we are going to be diving into how to come at your wedding with a little bit of a looser hold on that wedding vision.

So many brides have strong visions of their weddings. Often based on old visions, movies, Instagram, or Pinterest. We get so bombarded by trends and images it can be really difficult to know whether what we want is authentically true to our deepest desire.

Episode 34: Le Pause

Have you ever heard the phrase Le Pause?

Le Pause is a french baby sleep training technique where when you hear your baby cry in the middle of the night, you don’t rush straight away to get them, you give it a pause, and see if they resettle.

I love this idea and I am advocating that we bring Le Pause to the bridal journey.

Most brides jump right to wedding planning as soon as they are engaged but what if we took a pause here instead?

I love this idea and I am advocating that we bring Le Pause to the bridal journey. Most brides jump right to wedding planning as soon as they are engaged but what if we took a pause here instead?

Episode 33: My Friendship Lesson

Today I just want to give you a little lesson on friendship from my own wedding.

When it comes to choosing a bridal party, it can be hard to choose between family and friends. For my wedding, I decided I wanted a small bridal party so my friends wouldn’t feel burdened because being a bridesmaid can be draining.

But there’s a lot that happens on your wedding day and I learned that I should have trusted my friends more and have had the nuanced conversation.

Today I just want to give you a little lesson on friendship from my own wedding. When it comes to choosing a bridal party, it can be hard to choose between family and friends.

Episode 32: Why Brides

Today I want to answer a question I get a lot - why brides? People want to know why I don’t focus on couples.

The answer is simple: the male experience of getting married is very different from a woman’s. Wedding culture shows this focus on the bride and what her wedding means about her.

It all comes back to the history of weddings and the different viewpoints we have had on weddings.

Listen in as I discuss why I am committed and secure in my decision to focus my work on brides.

Episode 31: Let Them be Wrong

If you are like me, you want people to understand you, to get you. I have learned that there isn’t always room for it, in the place, time, or setting that you want.

So let them be wrong.

I am obsessed with this mantra right now. There is something so freeing about it and it comes up so much in wedding planning.

In this episode, we are going to dive into relieving your anxiety with this one simple phrase - Let them be wrong.

If you are like me, you want people to understand you, to get you. I have learned that there isn’t always room for it, in the place, time, or setting that you want. So let them be wrong.

Episode 30: Bridesmaid Ghosting

Where do my friendships fit in once you get married?

We know weddings cause the relationship group to shift beneath us but friendship really is connected to our survival

In this episode, I am going to be talking about a trend I’ve noticed around bridesmaid ghosting. When your nearest and dearest just sorta going silent and it’s obviously really stressful on a bride.

Where do my friendships fit in once you get married? We know weddings cause the relationship group to shift beneath us but friendship really is connected to our survival

Episode 29: Wedding Essence

What is the first thing you should do when planning a wedding?

In this episode, we are talking about the essential ingredient you need before you even start planning your wedding - your intention.

Listen in as I discuss the importance of getting quiet and really deciding what you want out of your wedding.

What is the first thing you should do when planning a wedding? In this episode, we are talking about the essential ingredient you need before you even start planning your wedding - your intention.

Episode 28: Guest List Drama

One of the biggest issues coming up lately is the guest list drama.

We start feeling badly about not inviting people, like friends that we have lost touch with or certain family members. Plus there’s the issue with people who don’t RSVP or decline the invitation.

There is no rule that you have to invite someone because they expect to be invited.

One of the biggest issues coming up lately is the guest list drama. We start feeling badly about not inviting people, like friends that we have lost touch with or certain family members.

Episode 27: Hard Conversations

As you have noticed weddings bring up a lot of things for a lot of people.

You are probably going to find yourself having to have a lot of tricky conversations that you never saw coming.

The most important thing you can do is have them. Giving people you care about the dignity of a face-to-face conversation is a beautiful gesture that can change the tone and trajectory of a relationship.

As you have noticed weddings bring up a lot of things for a lot of people. You are probably going to find yourself having to have a lot of tricky conversations that you never saw coming.

Episode 26: How to Decide

As a bride, you're going to be making a lot of decisions and it can easily lead to overwhelm. This is one of the biggest causes of bridal blues and overwhelm: just too many decisions.

One of the biggest blocks to knowing what we want is that we don’t let ourselves just simply want what we want. We are afraid of our own desires.

So let’s talk about a few ways to make decision-making easier and less draining.

As a bride, you're going to be making a lot of decisions and it can easily lead to overwhelm. This is one of the biggest causes of bridal blues and overwhelm: just too many decisions.

Episode 25: Sibling Situation

The sibling experience is probably one of the most under-discussed aspects of the family drama unfolding during engagements.

I think so many times people underestimate the siblings’ thoughts and feelings and what they go through when their sister gets married.

It's so important to remember that you getting married is completely reshaping your family.

The sibling experience is probably one of the most under-discussed aspects of the family drama unfolding during engagements.

Episode 24: Simple Stress Solution

One of the things I hate the most about the dominant narrative around weddings is the image of the constantly stressed-out bride. Stress isn’t meant to be a prolonged state.

Stress is fine and to be expected when tackling big, new, or complex challenges but it should subside.

Wedding stress can be very tricky but listen in as I discuss, identifying your stress, tools to use to ease your stress, and rewarding yourself.

One of the things I hate the most about the dominant narrative around weddings is the image of the constantly stressed-out bride. Stress isn’t meant to be a prolonged state.

Episode 23: Regret Proof Your Wedding

One of the reasons making all the wedding decisions can be so stressful is that you don’t want to have any regrets. You are spending a lot of money and the photos will last forever and you don’t want to look back and regret your color scheme or your dress or even your bridal party choices.

What if I told you there were no wrong choices. There were the choices that you made for the reasons and circumstances the present situation allowed.

One of the reasons making all the wedding decisions can be so stressful is that you don’t want to have any regrets. You are spending a lot of money and you don’t want to look back and regret your color scheme or your dress.

Episode 22: Great Expectations

If there is one thing I could tell every couple getting married, it’s that the biggest risk to your engagement journey, from wedding planning to the big day to the newlywed year- is expectations.

Expectations are those notions that live inside our heads that we are mostly unaware of. We kinda think it’s just normal, or we mistakenly think that everyone shares the same expectations. We tend to live inside our own expectations.

If there is one thing I could tell every couple getting married, it’s that the biggest risk to your engagement journey, from wedding planning to the big day to the newlywed year- is expectations.

Episode 21: Home for the Holidays

In today’s episode, we are talking about the holidays - so many images of family togetherness, elaborate meals, festive decorations, favorite movies, gorgeous gifts, and lots of laughter (or this is what Hallmark movies make us believe it should be).

But the holidays can be a source of anxiety, overwhelm, frustration, and sadness for a lot of people. This makes the holidays a lot like weddings, in our mind it’s all pretty and happy and fun but in reality, it’s so much more complicated than that.

Episode 20: How to Start a Fight

One thing we know about marriage is that there will be conflict. It’s inevitable.

So many people try to avoid it, thinking if they can just not fight that they will be better off. Of course, avoiding conflict isn’t a healthy move- issues will linger, resentments will build. The most interesting thing about marital conflict is that it’s mostly unresolvable. Yikes!

So all the energy and passion that goes into those fights doesn’t tend to get us the outcome of resolution that we so desire.

Episode 19: Help. Thank You. Wow.

Wedding planning can be tough- the opinions, the pressure, the money. But we do it because it’s also magical- the ritual, the dancing, the dress. In many ways, the journey from engagement to the wedding day is rocky for good reason.

You are going to have to decide how you are going to manage yourself within this new ecosystem of married life. It can be stressful and draining while also exciting and beautiful.

Episode 18: Wedding Happiness Guarantee

One of the most intense things about planning a wedding is that after all the time and effort and money, how do you even make sure you are happy on the actual day?

So many things could potentially happen. There is so much riding on this day- can those 8 hours live up to the hype of your own expectations, your childhood fantasies, months of planning, so many conversations. It certainly is a lot of pressure.

One of the most intense things about planning a wedding is that after all the time and effort and money, how do you even make sure you are happy on the actual day?

Episode 17: Trust

Today I want to talk a little bit about a big topic. Trust.

For couples getting married those same trust issues are still there, just slightly different. So often we want a road map or a checklist or a diagnostic test to determine whether the person we love can be trusted. That question “how do I truly trust someone?” is a tough one. But it’s also the wrong one. A lot of what’s underneath the notion of trust is control- we are yearning to control how we will be treated ahead of time and trust is the name we put on it.

Today I want to talk a little bit about a big topic. Trust. For couples getting married those same trust issues are still there, just slightly different..

Episode 16: Nothing has gone wrong here

Today I want to talk about a little mantra- Nothing has gone wrong here. It’s a sentence or a thought that you can choose when shit hits the fan. When you are planning a wedding, I promise you that will happen.

There is just something so magical about wedding planning but it brings up so much for so many people. Weddings make people super reflective about their pasts, their futures, their hopes, their dreams, their regrets, their heartbreaks.

Listen in as I discuss, choosing your own thoughts, how to overcome bizarre challenges, and finding evidence to support your thoughts.

Episode 15: Rest

Today I want to talk about rest. I am a huge fan of rest and our culture often vilifies rest and we end up feeling guilty for resting thinking we should be working. When we should be resting, it’s so easy to press play on another episode on Netflix or scroll Instagram.

But today I want to talk about a type of resting called Intentional Resting. It’s a concept developed by Dan Howard and I have found it to be really powerful.

Listen in as I discuss, a powerful way to use rest to prepare for your wedding, how resting helps your relationships, and affirmations to use to invoke the feeling of rest.

Today I want to talk about rest. I am a huge fan of rest and our culture often vilifies rest and we end up feeling guilty for resting thinking we should be working.

Episode 14: Can You Just be Happy for Me?

Getting engaged is that short window in life where everything is magical and full of hope and possibility.

So why would anyone need a life coach during this time?

Most people who have been through this season of life will tell you that it is far more of an emotional rollercoaster than most people anticipate.

Listen in as I discuss, how maybe more time is needed, looking at the way you talk about your engagement, and giving others grace.

Getting engaged is that short window in life where everything is magical and full of hope and possibility. So why would anyone need a life coach during this time?

Episode 13: Love Maps

In today’s episode let’s talk about marriage prep. So little focus is placed on marriage prep.

It’s so important to take the time to reflect on what our marriage is going to be about and the principles and pillars that make up the years ahead of us.

Listen in as I discuss, laying out a road map that works for both of you, why you should start practicing your love map, and how love maps can help conflicts in your marriage.

Episode 12: Weddings without Religion

More and more people are marrying people of different faiths, cultures, and traditions. This means that the default church wedding that we always see in movies doesn’t play out that naturally for so many of us.

How much of what we believe in is just because it’s what we were taught growing up?

Listen in as I discuss, why you don’t have to have a religious ceremony, keeping your identity in your wedding, and the magic of creating something new.

Episode 11: Hold Two Things

I want to give you a really simple reminder that is key for your wedding but also for your life and it’s a phrase I come back to time and time again and it’s, hold two things.

It’s about the duality of life. There are always opposing things happening at the same time.

Listen in as I discuss, the importance of holding two things, how holding two things can make your wedding day better, and the feeling you will get by holding two things.

I want to give you a really simple reminder that is key for your wedding but also for your life and it’s a phrase I come back to time and time again and it’s, hold two things.

Episode 10: Premembering Your Wedding

I want to talk today on the podcast about a fun little exercise that helps brides with energy management and preventing those bridal blues.

Once it’s all said and done, all we have left of our wedding is the memories. But you don’t have to wait until it’s over to start remembering.

Listen in as I discuss, the visualization that you can use to premember your wedding, how to stay in control of your emotions, and controlling your energy.

I want to talk today on the podcast about a fun little exercise that helps brides with energy management and preventing those bridal blues.

Episode 9: How to Write Your Vows

In addition to being a life coach and helping brides with their wedding drama, I am also a wedding officiant.

I love helping couples create their own ceremony that is true to them and the history of their families.

In this episode, I’m giving you the 6 part structure to writing your vows that is easy, fun, and keeps your vows balanced.

Episode 8: What's In a Name?

The name change. It’s a big part of getting married. Most of us assumed we would change our names when we got married. Until the time comes to change your name. It’s weirdly unnerving.

Suddenly you are supposed to just have a different name. Talk about an identity crisis. Even though you expected it, it feels weird.

Expect it to be uncomfortable. Decide for yourself what you want to do. Think about your career, your kids, and then talk to your fiance. You might be surprised to hear how much it matters to him or the opposite. He might really want you to keep your name.

The name change. It’s a big part of getting married. Most of us assumed we would change our names when we got married. Until the time comes to change your name. It’s weirdly unnerving.

Episode 7: Creativity & Constraint

As I am recording this, it’s the summer of 2021- we are crawling out of a pandemic after nearly a year and a half. A pandemic that locked down most of the country, and the world, and obviously also shut the wedding industry down in its tracks.

The rescheduling began. Things got complicated but also, people got really creative. People started to have these insanely intimate and beautiful ceremonies. They zoomed them. They wore their dress, they had incredible floral installations, they had them in yards, in front of fireplaces. We called them micro weddings but they were maximum on love, romance, beauty, detail.

Episode 6: Your Parents

Our culture is so singularly focused on the romantic love narrative that I think it really misses out on the love story that’s also wrapped into the wedding day- specifically with our parents.

Parents think about the day- who they will be on that day, how they will feel, it’s a completion of their job in many ways. They think about how they pay for it.

The bottom line is your parents are going through a major change and all of the emotion that comes with it. They are dealing with the relationship reshuffle, the new family dynamic, and the new life phase

The bridezilla myth adds this extra layer of stress for brides. They are so worried about becoming a bridezilla that they are not processing their emotions of what is actually underneath that.

Episode 5: Wedding & Friendships

Sometimes our friendships can suffer when we get engaged and start planning a wedding.

Yes, change changes things. Nothing has gone wrong, avoid the instinct to cut people off and try to make them understand. Allow your friends to have that processing time.

In this episode, I am going over the five different themes as ways our friendships can suffer when we get engaged.

The bridezilla myth adds this extra layer of stress for brides. They are so worried about becoming a bridezilla that they are not processing their emotions of what is actually underneath that.

Episode 4: bridezilla myth

In today’s episode, we are going to take a look at what the term, bridezilla, does for women, brides, and the wedding industry.

The bridezilla myth adds this extra layer of stress for brides. They are so worried about becoming a bridezilla that they are not processing their emotions of what is actually underneath that.

Listen in as I discuss, what the term bridezilla means, how society puts pressure on brides, and what you can do if you feel yourself becoming a bridezilla.The bridezilla myth adds this extra layer of stress for brides. They are so worried about becoming a bridezilla that they are not processing their emotions of what is actually underneath that.

Listen in as I discuss, what the term bridezilla means, how society puts pressure on brides, and what you can do if you feel yourself becoming a bridezilla.graph

The bridezilla myth adds this extra layer of stress for brides. They are so worried about becoming a bridezilla that they are not processing their emotions of what is actually underneath that.

In today’s episode, we are talking about all the negative emotions that brides feel that we don’t really make space for in our culture.

We expect brides to be all smiles and pretend that nothing is wrong. We don’t give brides the opportunity to have the full range of emotions that a change like this requires.

Listen in as I discuss the 4 squares of the change cycle you go through as you prepare for your wedding.

Episode 3: Bridal Blues & Change

We expect brides to be all smiles and pretend that nothing is wrong. We don’t give brides the opportunity to have the full range of emotions that a change like this requires.

Episode 2: what is wedding drama?

In today’s episode we are diving into wedding drama and why is it never about what it’s about. Wedding drama is real but it has the potential to be magic.

So much of wedding drama is letting go of your old life and stepping into a new one. Brides feel so much pressure leading up to their weddings and that’s when the drama can set in.

Listen in as I discuss, the pressures of social media, listening to everyone else and not ourselves, and the impact your wedding can have on your friendships.

So much of wedding drama is letting go of your old life and stepping into a new one. Brides feel so much pressure leading up to their weddings and that’s when the drama can set in.

Episode 1: What is bridal coaching

Welcome to the Whispers to a Bride Podcast. In this first episode, I am explaining the fundamentals about what is bridal coaching and how it can help you.

There is so much focus on wedding preparation and looking good for your wedding but we don’t focus on how to have more peace in your own mind, your own heart, and your relationships.

Listen in as I discuss, how bridal coaching can help your entire married life, the missing piece I discovered to planning a wedding, and the importance of relationships during this time.

There is so much focus on wedding preparation and looking good for your wedding but we don’t focus on how to have more peace in your own mind, your own heart, and your relationships.