Our guest in this episode Patricia Jackson from Ruban Bleu Weddings and Events
in Dallas, Texas. Patricia loves seeing and making people happy. She’s a true
believer in love and enjoys hearing other people’s love stories, which is what
inspired her to get into the wedding industry.
Patricia emphasizes the importance of taking room to breathe during the wedding
planning process. She has seen so many couples forget to do just that. Her
greatest piece of advice is to take it one day at a time rather than trying to
accomplish everything at once. It can be helpful to make lists and give yourself
plenty of time to check off what needs to be done.
When you work with Ruban Bleu, they act as your personal secretary. You let them
know what you want, and they will follow up and find the right venue for you.
They don’t add pressure or encourage making rash decisions. It’s your wedding,
and Patricia ensures you take the time you deserve and choose wisely.
Patricia is only a phone call away for her clients. She’s a planner, a
people-pleaser, and strives to think outside of the box to find solutions. As a
wedding planner, it’s her job to breathe with the client when they are stressed
and help them create the wedding day of their dreams. While doing so, she also
helps you stay on budget so you can plan a wedding within your means.
A man contacted Ruban Bleu out of Louisiana, and although they are out of town,
he really wanted to work with them. He had a vision of proposing to his partner
outside, having the venue situated like a restaurant. They were able to find the
perfect spot to bring this vision to life. She walked him through it every step
of the way, including mirroring getting on one knee so he wouldn’t forget. It
was one of the most memorable experiences of Patricia’s career.

Ep. 49 Plan Your Wedding Like a Pro with Patricia from Ruban Bleu Events

What are common mistakes couples make when planning their wedding? That’s what
we’ll discuss today. While there are many parts of a wedding that have the
potential to go sideways, there are three common mistakes couples tend to make
when planning their wedding — especially when they don’t hire a wedding planner.
One major mistake is not realizing that when you don’t hire a wedding planner,
you’ll have to do a lot of planning and coordinating on the day-of. If you
really want to have more time to sit back and enjoy your big day, don’t try to
do it all on your own. You should always ask for help from family and friends or
hire a planner.
Another big mistake is booking your venue before you have a clear vision for
your wedding day. The aesthetic of your venue will determine a lot about your
wedding, so knowing what’s really important to you before you decide on a venue
is a must. It will also influence the number of people you can invite. You
should also make sure the wedding venue you choose keeps you aligned with your
budget.
The third common mistake is feeling like your wedding has to follow certain
traditions. As a couple, it helps to understand the flow of a typical wedding
day. That said, you can always customize and tweak it in a way that feels more
aligned with you.
Intentional thinking and questioning, like those found in the Your Pocket
Wedding Planner, can help you gain clarity on your priorities. Use this tool to
figure out what you want as an individual, and then come together with your
partner to see what you agree on and where you’ll need to meet in the middle.
https://yourpocketweddingplanner.com/free-7-days-trial

Ep. 48 Top 3 Mistakes of Wedding Planning

The Custom Engagement Ring Shopping Experience : with Co founder of Wove Brian
Elliot

Ep. 47 The Custom Engagement Ring Shopping Experience: with Co founder of Wove Brian Elliot

In this episode you’re going to learn how to plan your wedding like a
professional. You’ll discover three tips gathered over several years of watching
over a hundred couples go through the process of getting married. Planning can
be exciting at first, but can easily become overwhelming if you don’t have the
right strategies in place.
The first tip is to get a clear vision on what you want before you start
planning for your wedding day. You have to know what you want before you can get
what you want. It’s important to define your dreams for the big day as clearly
as possible, especially when it comes to your priorities. This should include
effort by both partners to ensure you both get what you want.
Secondly, weddings are often the biggest financial commitment a couple makes
together. This is all the more reason to stay very organized and on budget. If
nothing else, create a separate checking account where all of your wedding
purchases come out of. This will help you track every single expense related to
your wedding.
Lastly, if you really want to plan your wedding like a pro, you need to start
networking. Knowing the right people with the right experience will help you
avoid mistakes along the way. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask your
vendors tons of questions. If you’ve never planned a wedding before, it’s
helpful to have as much support as you can along the way.
Planning a wedding can be intimidating, but with the right strategies, it can be
made much easier and more fun.
https://yourpocketweddingplanner.com/free-7-days-trial

Ep. 46 Mini Series: Plan Your Wedding Like a Wedding Planner

On this episode of Dream Day Radio we’re joined by “The Vow Whisperer” Tanya
Pushkine. Tanya has been helping couples deliver amazing vows for years and
began pursuing this as a business professionally three years ago. She claimed
the url and quit her corporate job to start her own business in the wedding
industry.
The number one mistake Tanya sees couples make when planning their wedding is
not thinking about their ceremony until the last minute. The ceremony is the
reason why everyone is truly there, so it needs to be a priority. That said,
ceremonies should be 30 minutes or less ⁠—30 minutes of magical, memorable
moments.
A fear of public speaking is very common, and this can make creating and
reciting your vows really tough. Tanya works with her clients closely in writing
and practicing their vows. She helps her clients cultivate confidence in
speaking their own written words. This allows her clients to clearly convey
their love and emotions during their ceremony.
Reciting vows is about so much more than what is simply written on a piece of
paper. How you say the words matter too. You want to annunciate, avoid mumbling,
project your voice, and stand tall. Tanya doesn’t just work with couples. She
also officiates, works with other officiants, and also supports family members
and friends who have an upcoming speech for a wedding. Ultimately, the couple
should always have the final say and maintain control of planning their
ceremony.
Tanya emphasizes planning as much ahead as possible for a blissful wedding.
There are important details you don’t want to overlook, especially when it comes
to your ceremony. To cap off the episode, Tanya shares one of her most memorable
experiences working with a couple⁠—one that ended in a shocking twist. It’s a
story you have to hear to believe.
www.thevowwhisperer.com [https://www.thevowwhisperer.com/]
https://yourpocketweddingplanner.com/free-7-days-trial/

Ep. 45 Planning for the Ceremony with The Vow Whisperer

Looking for ways to save on your wedding day? If so, this episode is for you.
The wedding industry does not necessarily emphasize planning within a budget,
but if you know the best places to save, you can definitely find a way to create
your dream wedding without going overboard on expenses.
One of the most important steps you should take in the beginning is determining
your priorities as a couple. This may be different for each partner, and that’s
okay. You can each honor what one another needs and wants. Being intentional
will help you stay on track and plan the wedding you truly want.
Another tip is to book vendors for their smallest package. You can always
upgrade if it’s absolutely necessary, whereas it’s more difficult to downgrade
later down the road. By booking their smallest package, you know the vendor is
yours and you can tailor your package from there. When possible, choose
companies that send you DIY kits. Taking on some of the work yourself can save
you quite a bit of money.
Stationery is another wedding must-have that can either cost you hundreds or
thousands of dollars. Instead, try using Canva customizable templates. If you
were to order customized stationary, it would cost you thousands of dollars.
Designing and printing your own in Canva, using templates and printing them,
only costs a couple hundred dollars.
Lastly, keep track of all of your expenses. You can even create a bank account
specifically for wedding funds. Every transaction will be recorded in this
account, so you can see exactly how much money is being spent and on what.
Making your wedding money work for you is what it’s all about.

Ep. 44 Mini Series: 5 Easy Ways to Save Thousands of Dollars Planning Your Wedding

Find out on this episode of Dream Day Radio why I am so obsessed with weddings.
I’m getting personal and deep about why they are my passion. Spoiler alert: it’s
not all sunshine and rainbows. I didn’t even realize the answer to this question
until I dug into the subconscious layers of my brain.
It took another business owner, photographer Stephanie Zakas, to help me unravel
my why. Although it’s been a while since we’ve spoken, I can say that every time
I talk to her, I learn something new about myself. Talking with her has helped
me explore my childhood and how I felt isolated during it. I craved connection
and close relationships, but ultimately, felt like I never fit in.
My mother died in a car accident when I was six-years-old. Her death was very
traumatic and changed the course of my life forever. I had no confidence in
myself and who I was, and I was terrified to talk to people. Even though my
father remarried my first stepmom when I was young, I never felt like I wasn’t
given the parental guidance I needed in childhood. I eventually moved in with my
grandparents and resolved to start over.
At 20-years-old, I got married to someone I was not compatible with. It lasted
for three years until I filed for divorce. Once I filed, I felt like I could
breathe again. I wanted to believe in love, and I knew in my heart and soul
there was someone out there who God created for me. I wouldn’t settle until I
found that person. I may have made some mistakes along the way, but I’m grateful
for where I am now. I prayed it would be obvious when I met my person, and it
was.
My love for weddings stemmed from my loneliness as a child. I only ever wanted
to feel seen and understood. Weddings remind me that love is good. When I can
witness a couple’s heart at their wedding, I feel honored. It truly is a gift.

Ep. 43 Mini Series: Why I Am Obsessed With Weddings

How should you create your guest list? Listen in as I discuss the essential
starting point for assembling your guest list and keeping the stress out of the
process.
It’s important before you book your venue to know the approximate size of your
wedding and the number of guests. It can help you to put a lot of different
things in order right from the beginning.
To start, brain dump every single guest you can think of that could be there.
Write it all down in a document, using Google Docs or a similar service.
Handwriting out everyone’s information is fine too, but using a computer program
is going to make editing and copying that list a lot easier and clearer down the
road.
Next up create categories for your guests. Groups like friends, family, and
co-workers can help you visualize how big both sides of the wedding will be.
This isn’t narrowing down the list, this is just so you can see how big both
your and your partner’s guest lists are.
The third step is to imagine that you absolutely have to cut your existing list
in half. Who would you keep on that list? You can even go further and restrict
it to 40 people. This will help you to put into perspective who are the most
important people at your wedding.
Now go through the list by category and ask yourself some questions. Have you
spoken to this person in the last year? Do you see them outside of the
workplace? Ask yourself these questions to get clarity on just how important
they are to your wedding.
Instagram: @yourpocketweddingplanner
[http://www.instagram.com/yourpocketweddingplanner]

Ep. 42 Mini Series: First 3 Steps to Making the Guest List

On this episode of Dream Day Radio, we’re talking with Melissa from
WedBrilliant, a unique wedding planning service that helps you connect online
with vendors. Melissa was inspired to create WedBrilliant after she struggled to
find vendors for her out-of-state wedding. Not being there to vet or meet
vendors was an obstacle, and WedBrilliant was created to bridge this gap.
Melissa describes WedBrilliant as a matchmaking service for wedding vendors and
couples who are looking to plan their wedding. The goal of the service is to
connect couples with vendors easily to make wedding planning as easy as
possible. Once you know your date and your budget, you can begin finding the
right vendors for you.
So many couples get engaged without realizing how much different vendors may
cost. Melissa recommends staying within budget and allocating your funds based
on where your priorities are as a couple. Book with vendors who understand your
vision and share your goals for your wedding. Avoid giving into pressure or fear
that vendors will book up, because it may lead you to book with vendors who are
not well-suited to you.
The vendors on WedBrilliant are crowd-vetted and reviewed by real couples. When
you get bids based on the service you’re looking for, you have the opportunity
to check them out and decide if they are right for you. A sign of a great vendor
is keeping the conversation focused on you, the couple (instead of focusing on
themselves).
Melissa believes the secret to wedding planning bliss is sharing the burden. You
shouldn’t feel like you have to take it all on by yourself. Asking for help from
family, friends, and vendors is a normal part of the process, so don’t be afraid
to delegate. When you take the stress out of wedding planning, you get to enjoy
your engagement that much more.

Ep. 41 Booking Wedding Vendors with WedBrilliant

Have you ever wondered what the secret is to making a solid, impactful speech?
Today’s guest, Eddie Rice, can show you how. Eddie Rice is the author of Toast:
Short Speeches, Big Impact, which is all about writing speeches that won’t bore
or tire your audience. There is a fine art to crafting an amazing speech, and
Eddie has tips to help you craft one.
About ten years ago, Eddie entered a humor speech competition. In the second
round, Eddie bombed on stage. He felt deflated and defeated, but his mentor was
there to encourage him. Despite this challenge, he kept going to Toastmasters,
honing his public speaking skills, and slowly getting better. If you want to be
a great speaker, you have to learn to turn these obstacles into positive
experiences.
The number one mistake guests make during their wedding speech is turning their
toast into a roast. Remember: it’s a wedding, not your stand-up debut. Don’t
tell stories you shouldn’t or try to embarrass anyone. If you want to make your
speech unique and memorable, find a book or song that’s unique to the couple and
quote that at the end.
A great wedding speech starts with a simple outline. Eddie recommends using the
one-story structure. All you have to do is introduce yourself, explain how you
know who you’re toasting, say one great story to honor them, give some heartfelt
advice, and then close with your personalized quote. It’s that easy.
When making a speech, keep it short, use stories, and put effort into your
structure. Don’t forget to rehearse in advance for the best outcome. If you want
to learn more about making a great speech, you can find Eddie’s book on Amazon
and other online retailers.

Ep. 40 How to Write a Speech That Doesn't Suck

Dream Day Radio's podcast empowers budget conscious couples to plan the wedding
of their dreams minus the stress! Hannah Rita interviews wedding professionals
and couples to get the insider details that will save you money and time!

Hannah Rita

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