What if the couple getting married this weekend already said their vows privately three days ago, over takeaway dinner, in their pajamas, with absolutely no one else in the room.

Wedding ceremonies as we once knew them are being rewritten right now, not because the words matter more than they used to, but because couples are deciding who gets to be part of that moment, and when.

Today I am getting into what a private vow exchange actually looks like in practice and some of the options available to you before your ceremony even begins, why your guests will be completely on board with it, and why and why after 18 years of celebrant work I believe this shift has got very little to do with the actual vows themselves and everything to do with freedom of choice. 

Resources Mentioned:



 * Zola 2025 First Look Report: https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/the-first-look-report-2025
 * Zola 2026 First Look Report (lists private vows as a trend): https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/the-first-look-report-2026
 * Reader's Digest, Jan Goss quoted alongside the Zola finding: https://www.rd.com/article/common-wedding-tradition-disappearing/
 * The Bridal Journey, "You're Invited to the Wedding, Not the Vows" (28 July 2025): https://thebridaljourney.com/youre-invited-to-the-wedding-not-the-vows-why-couples-are-choosing-privacy-for-their-most-personal-promises/





Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast





*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*



------



This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Never Miss Moments [http://www.nevermissmoments.com/unbridely] Unbridely's recommended wedding guest photo and video-sharing tool. With your unique QR code, your family and friends can quickly, easily and securely share their snaps with you in your personalised online gallery.



Visit nevermissmoments.com/unbridely [http://www.nevermissmoments.com/unbridely] to receive your 10% discount on your gallery.



-----



Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



203: Could a Private Vow Exchange Work Better For You?

What do you do if you feel lonely even while surrounded by people who love you? This episode takes a different turn from the usual conversations on this show, discussing a topic that touches wedding vendors and engaged couples alike.

An experienced wedding photographer opens up about a period in his life when he felt profoundly lonely, even while building a career and a family he loves. 

You'll hear:

 * What loneliness can look like when everything on the outside seems to be going right
 * How isolation can creep in for wedding vendors running their own business
 * What seeking help and support can look like
 * Why the person doing most of the wedding planning can feel lonely 
 * Simple ways couples can check in with each other during the planning process



RESOURCES

If this episode brings up something for you, reaching out is the first step. These services are free and confidential.

Australia

 * Lifeline: 13 11 14, lifeline.org.au
 * Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636, beyondblue.org.au

United States

 * 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, 988lifeline.org

Canada

 * Talk Suicide Canada: call or text 988, talksuicide.ca

New Zealand

 * Need to Talk: free call or text 1737, 1737.org.nz
 * Lifeline Aotearoa: 0800 543 354, lifeline.org.nz

United Kingdom

 * Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7), samaritans.org





Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast




*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by WedSites.com [https://tidd.ly/3KR6y4t], Unbridely's recommended all-in-one wedding website builder, guest management platform & wedding planning tool.

Visit WedSites.com [https://tidd.ly/3KR6y4t] to get started on your FREE wedding website and use code UNBRIDELYPOD to get 10% off any of their paid plans.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



202: How Vendors and Engaged Couples Can Both Feel Lonely in Weddings

How do you create a wedding day that's happy and hopeful, that still feels light and fun, when there's someone who's passed away that you feel a deep need to honour the memory of?

This episode isn't about telling you whether to include a tribute or leave it out. Both are completely reasonable choices, and love doesn't disappear just because someone has, along with the instinct to want them included in some way on a day like this.

But it is about finding the middle path between ignoring a loss completely and turning your ceremony into something it was never meant to be.

You'll hear:

 * the outdoor memorial candle mistake worth knowing before you build your ceremony around one,
 * the one rule for how many tribute moments is too many before your ceremony starts to feel like something else,
 * a real story from an after ceremony cocktail hour personal touch that guests loved,
 * why choosing not to include a visible tribute can be just as loving a choice as choosing to.

Plus how to work out where the people closest to the loss stand before you land your heart on any single idea, and a personal share on being judged for the way I choose to remember your own family.



RESOURCES

23 Unique Memorial Ideas: https://unbridely.com/blog/unique-wedding-memorial-ideas



Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast



*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*



------

 

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Unbridely’s ebook How To Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Suck [https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds] 

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds



This is for YOU if you want to write the unique and heartfelt wedding vows your fiancé deserves, but don't know where to start. 🤔

AND want to get it done in 20 minutes or less. 💪



Grab your instant pdf download of the Unbridely ebook 'How To Write Wedding Vows That Don't Suck' [https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds] for just $27 now! 🧡

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

 

-----

 

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



201: If, When, and How To Honour Loved Ones At Your Wedding

Are the flowers you're dreaming of for your wedding going to be out of season when you want them, or just completely out of your budget?

Let me say first, I have so much love and respect for live flower traditional florists. They are some of the hardest working people in the wedding industry, and their artistry deserves to be recognised and valued.

This episode is not about choosing a side between real flowers and faux flowers.

But it is about the couples who’ve found a sweet spot between fresh and faux that gave them the look, the practicality, the budget, and the environmental impact that worked for them.

You'll hear: 

 * the surprising truth about how the eco footprint of high quality faux flowers actually compares to fresh, 
 * why the difference in weight of a faux vs real flower stem isn't quite as simple as you'd assume, 
 * and the questions you need to ask that could protect you from a nasty surprise on the day. 



Plus what actually happens to those faux flowers once your wedding is over and the affordability question that everybody wants to know the answer to. 

Resources: 

The Lily Pipit: https://www.thelilypipit.com.au/

The Lily Pipit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_lily_pipit/



Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast



*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*



------

 

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Easy Name Change [https://www.easynamechange.com/marriage/?ref=camilleabbott1].

You simply choose which companies you need to notify, and they send you detailed process instructions for each of your companies, plus ready to send forms, letters, and emails, so you just attach your marriage certificate to them and you're done!

More info on how to change your name after you get married: https://unbridely.com/blog/name-change-after-marriage 

For $20 off your Easy Name Change pack for September 2026, use the discount code: UNBRIDELY

-----

 

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



200: Faux Wedding Flowers Reimagined: Are They More Affordable? with The Lily Pipit

If you are feeling stuck right now, caught between styling ideas, colour palettes and hire decisions, and not sure what to commit to first, I’ve got something I want you to hear.

It sounds unrelated, but I assure you, what I learned this week at a high school book week awards night just might be able to help you find perspective and a solid direction with your wedding planning too.

It’s shifted the way I think about that stuck feeling I sometimes find myself in, the same one so many of you describe to me whether you’re trying to lock in a theme or make an important decision for your wedding.

I’m going to share the full story from that award night, why it made me rethink the pressure around the seemingly endless wedding decisions you need to make, and what you can lean into instead of day drinking, eating your feelings or calling the whole thing off.



Resources Mentioned:





Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast





*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*





-----



Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



199: Do You Feel Stuck: Are You Stressing Over Your Wedding Aesthetic?

WITH NEVER MISS MOMENTS MID-ROLL AD READ



What would you do if your fiancé wanted you to change your last name to theirs after you get married, but you're not completely sold on it? 

We had someone ask us this on socials recently, so I've brought back Gen from Easy Name Change to answer this question and three other name change questions that our followers most wanted to know the answers to. 

Including if you can change parts of your given name or names after you get married and what to do if you want to have the same last name as your baby and you’ve left it a bit late – like on the way to the hospital late. Believe it or not, it’s pretty common, and Gen walks you through exactly what to do. 

Gen was on the Unbridely podcast back in Ep19 with “3 Mistakes People Make When Changing Their Last Name After Getting Married” but that was back in 2023. So quite a few things have shifted since then. 

She’s also noticed with a new generation now starting to get married that there’s added anxiety around the paperwork and process so she’s going to talk you through how to ease that as well, no matter where you live. Because Easy Name Change has a presence across the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia and all of the processes are a little bit different. 

Plus if you're listening to this when it's released, for the month of September 2026 (like from the 1st of September all the way through to the 30th of September), there is a $20 Easy Name Change discount code waiting for you at the end of the episode to help you out too. 



Resources Mentioned:



Easy Name Change: https://www.easynamechange.com/au/

Ep19: 3 Mistakes People Make When Changing Their Last Name After Getting Married [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zHfjlQfu1kZEovqn3dYhs?si=q0oLcJbzQ3eYB03jMIUINw]



Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast





*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*



------



This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Never Miss Moments [http://www.nevermissmoments.com/unbridely] Unbridely's recommended wedding guest photo and video-sharing tool. With your unique QR code, your family and friends can quickly, easily and securely share their snaps with you in your personalised online gallery.



Visit nevermissmoments.com/unbridely [http://www.nevermissmoments.com/unbridely] to receive your 10% discount on your gallery.



-----



Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



198: What If You Don't Want to Take Your Partner's Last Name? with Easy Name Change

How many times do you expect to email one of your wedding vendors before you get a reply?

If you've got a coordinator, someone else is keeping count for you. But if you don't, you're the one deciding whether the non-response is normal or a red flag. 

I asked four full-service wedding planners, who also oversee each wedding day onsite themselves, 3 questions: 

 1. When is too long to wait on an email response? 
 2. What actually happens if a vendor cancels the week of your wedding? 
 3. When is a late vendor on the day something to worry about? 

Their answers might surprise you. And if you haven’t booked a full-service planner or a day-of/month-of coordinator, I'm also giving you the 5 steps you need to take to cover that gap yourself. 



RESOURCES

Emily Clarke from The Modern Approach [https://themodernapproach.com.au/]

The Modern Approach on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themodernapproach_/



Kelly Stephenson from Found Collective Events [https://foundcollective.com.au/]

Found Collective Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundcollectiveevents/



Nicole Bailey from Your Event Plannery [https://www.youreventplannery.com.au/]

Your Event Plannery on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youreventplannery/



Laura Shepherd from Couture Events Worldwide [https://coutureeventsworldwide.com/]

Couture Events Wordwide on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coutureeventsworldwide/



Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast




*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by WedSites.com [https://tidd.ly/3KR6y4t], Unbridely's recommended all-in-one wedding website builder, guest management platform & wedding planning tool.

Visit WedSites.com [https://tidd.ly/3KR6y4t] to get started on your FREE wedding website and use code UNBRIDELYPOD to get 10% off any of their paid plans.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



197: Should You Call Your Late Vendor? 4 Wedding Planners Answer

Are you having the same argument with your partner, over and over?

This week I chat with Beaonca Ward, a certified relationship coach and marriage and family therapy expert (or MFT) who spends her days in the thick of it with couples who are wedding planning. 

You are going to learn what a generational pattern is, and why it has this sneaky habit of showing up the second you start planning a wedding. 

Beaonca walks us through a real example of how something as simple as being close or distant from your family can change how much pressure you put on your partner, often without either of you even realising where it’s coming from.

She also breaks down what healthy communication looks like in that first year of marriage, including the exact words to use when you need a break from a hard conversation without your partner feeling shut out.

Plus Beaonca shares a statistic about how many arguments married couples have that can never actually be resolved. It’s eye watering and sounds a bit rough at first, but once you understand the way forward, I promise you it is one of the most freeing things you can learn about communication with your partner. 

RESOURCES

Beaonca Ward on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbeaonca/

Quiz: What Is Your Marriage Communication Style? https://www.beaoncaward.com/quiz [https://www.beaoncaward.com/quiz]



Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast



*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*



------

 

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Unbridely’s ebook How To Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Suck [https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds] 

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds



This is for YOU if you want to write the unique and heartfelt wedding vows your fiancé deserves, but don't know where to start. 🤔

AND want to get it done in 20 minutes or less. 💪



Grab your instant pdf download of the Unbridely ebook 'How To Write Wedding Vows That Don't Suck' [https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds] for just $27 now! 🧡

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

 

-----

 

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



196: Are You Having The Same Argument Over and Over? Here's How to Stop with Beaonca Ward

Last year a New York bride paid an online witch two dollars for a spell to guarantee sunshine on her wedding day, and the story has gone viral. Since then, brides around the world have been booking Etsy and Tiktok witches ahead of their own weddings, some paying two dollars, some paying up to two hundred. 

Is it worth it and do you believe that magic will help your chances of good weather on your wedding day? 

You'll learn:

 * Why weather anxiety in the lead up to a wedding is completely normal.
 * The exact order of operations for bad weather contingencies.
 * A story from Ep 57 guest and wedding planner, Hannah Rose, about a British wedding ritual involving a buried sausage.



Resources: 

The Knot 2026 Wedding Trends: https://www.theknot.com/content/new-wedding-trends 

Ep57: 4 Things At Your Wedding Your Fam and Friends Will Actually Care About with Hannah Rose Weddings [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4GE1lM7e5SXDo2MQBdR44a?si=US5Ci_irS2Wixb2eE7-2Og]





Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast



*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*



------

 

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Easy Name Change [https://www.easynamechange.com/marriage/?ref=camilleabbott1].

You simply choose which companies you need to notify, and they send you detailed process instructions for each of your companies, plus ready to send forms, letters, and emails, so you just attach your marriage certificate to them and you're done!

More info on how to change your name after you get married: https://unbridely.com/blog/name-change-after-marriage 

-----

 

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



195: Wedding Weather Witches: What's Your Peace of Mind Worth?

You know how it goes in wedding planning. Someone tells you emphatically, you have to do this, or whatever you do, do not do that. And some part of you thinks, noted but we’ll do what’s right for us.

This is one of those episodes.

Parts 1 and 2 of this series gave you the honest picture of love hires from the people who see them play out from first light to last song. And this episode, Part 3, is the practical part. 8 wedding vendor roles, what can go wrong when they are filled by someone without experience, who to consider booking instead at different price points, and if you are still going ahead with a love hire anyway, the specific steps to take before the day.

You’ll learn

 * Why the timeline your MC has been given is a guide, not a command, and what they actually need to do before making a single announcement.
 * The one DIY makeup product that can ruin your photos without anyone realising until it is too late.
 * What a co-pilot ceremony is in Australia and why it’s the only legal path forward in Australia if your person is not an authorised celebrant, plus
 * Why the DJ is one of the highest-risk love hire roles, and what to do if budget means a professional is not possible.

Resources Mentioned:



Wilson and Lewis Photography: www.wilsonandlewisphotography.com [http://www.wilsonandlewisphotography.com]

Luke John Photography: www.lukejohnphotography.com [http://www.lukejohnphotography.com]

Married by Jay (Jay Bingle-Brown, celebrant, QLD): www.marriedbyjay.com.au [http://www.marriedbyjay.com.au]

Mobile Make Overs Australia (Tallora Dee): www.makeoversaust.com.au [http://www.makeoversaust.com.au]

Tallora's DIY wedding makeup blog: www.makeoversaust.com.au/tips-for-brides/makeup-products-needed-for-diy-wedding-makeup [http://www.makeoversaust.com.au/tips-for-brides/makeup-products-needed-for-diy-wedding-makeup]

Amuse Event Lighting and Audio Visual (Sam Balfour): www.amuselav.com.au [http://www.amuselav.com.au]





Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast





*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*



------



This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Never Miss Moments [http://www.nevermissmoments.com/unbridely] Unbridely's recommended wedding guest photo and video-sharing tool. With your unique QR code, your family and friends can quickly, easily and securely share their snaps with you in your personalised online gallery.



Visit nevermissmoments.com/unbridely [http://www.nevermissmoments.com/unbridely] to receive your 10% discount on your gallery.



-----



Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.





Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com



194: Pt3 - Love Hires & the Ripple Effect: The Practical Guide To Getting It Right

Camille Abbott (@unbridely) · Zencastr

Camille Abbott (@unbridely)

Whether you're newly engaged, right in the thick of wedding planning or just a few days out from your big day, the Unbridely Podcast brings you the support and cheer squad you need to ditch the overwhelm, conquer your never-ending to-do list and enjoy yourself! Unbridely founder, and award-winning Australian marriage celebrant of almost 900 ceremonies, Camille Abbott, shares her experience, tips and shortcuts and invites her wedding vendor mates (photographers, florists, bridal hairstylists, musicians) PLUS new friends to help you at this incredibly exciting, but sometimes confusing, time. With actionable, step-by-step how-tos from wedding vendor professionals plus stories and advice from newly married couples, the Unbridely Podcast is your weekly wedding therapy getting you organised and prepped with less stress. Subscribe now & hit play to listen to the latest episode! Check out WedSites special offer of 10% off paid plans for Unbridely Podcast listeners with the code: UNBRIDELYPOD Buy Camille a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/unbridely For our podcast disclaimer policy, please visit: https://unbridely.com/podcast-disclaimer

Unbridely - Modern Wedding Planning