Family; you can’t live with them and you can’t live with them. But they’re everything, right? And you still love them MOST of the time. Today I want to chat about the different (read: crazy/difficult/upsetting) family dynamics that you may be concerned about in the lead-up to your wedding. The step parents, half siblings, divorced parents and uncle who’s not really your uncle that your Dad can’t stand. You’ll learn about: Why you can (and should) let go of the idea of a perfect wedding (or a per...
Jul 21, 2025•25 min•Ep. 145
Stop me if you’ve heard this one.. A bride-to-be excitedly plans an elaborate proposal to her bridesmaids, self-care products in ribbon-secured boxes or personalised tote bags topped off with a card that reads: “Will you be my bridesmaid?” Within a few short months, there are at least a couple of chat groups to communicate the colour palette the dress code, important dates, and to discuss the bridesmaids’ responsibilities. If you haven’t said stop yet, let me save you from wondering. This is whe...
Jul 14, 2025•27 min•Ep. 144
How do you find that sweet spot between what you want for your wedding and what your family expects? Is it even possible to create a celebration that feels true to you, without leaving anyone important out, or blowing your budget? And how many hours drumming at your wedding reception is too much? Today, I’m yakking it up with Ashley and Tim, a newly-married couple from Maine in the United States who wrestled with those questions and somehow managed to pull off a wedding that was intimate, meanin...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 143
Have you ever been in the middle of a date with someone and noticed some little warning signs; maybe they only talked about themselves, didn’t ask you any questions, or ignored your boundaries. And you thought, “Hmm, that’s a red flag, right there”? Well, just like in dating, your search for the right wedding vendors can come with its own set of warning signs. And ignoring those red flags can lead to real headaches like forfeited booking fees, last-minute scrambles when a vendor cancels, or wors...
Jun 30, 2025•41 min•Ep. 142
Q: What do Star Wars, The Avengers, and modern weddings have in common? A: Sometimes, one epic event just isn’t enough. In today’s world of global connections, blended traditions, and evolving expectations, more couples are discovering that a single celebration might not capture everything they want—or everyone they love. But what does it really mean to have more than one wedding event? And how do you pull it off without feeling like you’re starring in your own Hollywood blockbuster, complete wi...
Jun 23, 2025•20 min•Ep. 141
One of the most common questions engaged couples ask me is, “What’s the average price for a wedding photographer?” And it’s a great question—but booking the right photographer isn’t just about price. It’s about finding a person and package that is right for you, and your budget, but also your personalities and values. And it could mean the difference between capturing every unforgettable moment at a price that still fits your budget and having a wonderful time doing that OR missing out on the me...
Jun 16, 2025•18 min•Ep. 140
What if your wedding wasn’t just a party, but the kind of getaway you’ve always hoped for—something that really feels like it was made just for you and your favourite people? Maybe it’s on the rooftop of a warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, or a chateau in the south of France. How do you make this kind of big dream come to life, and what’s possible when you start planning something from overseas? In this episode, I’m chatting with Rachel from Apricity Event Co, the New York-based wedding planner w...
Jun 09, 2025•36 min•Ep. 139
Picture this: The reception is going off, the dance floor is packed, and out of nowhere, a guest decides it’s the perfect moment for an impromptu karaoke performance on top of the couple’s table. The song? “I Will Survive.” The table? Didn’t. We’ve all heard stories about wedding guests who, let’s just say, left a lasting impression for all the wrong reasons. Maybe you’ve even witnessed a few moments yourself—guests who turned up wearing white, brought uninvited plus-ones, or made themselves a l...
Jun 02, 2025•23 min•Ep. 138
Did you know that the side you choose to stand on for your wedding ceremony could affect everything from your wedding photos to your physical comfort, right down to whether or not your veil behaves or misbehaves? It sounds like such a small detail, but this is one of those decisions that can spark surprisingly big opinions from family members, your wedding party, and even your vendors. But is there really a right side to stand on for your ceremony and when it comes down to it, does it really mat...
May 26, 2025•19 min•Ep. 137
Do you and your fiancé avoid talking about money, or end up fighting every time the topic of money comes up? I don’t think you’ll be shocked to know that, when you’re planning a wedding and building a life together, how you handle money, individually and together, can quite literally make or break your relationship. And yet, so many couples don’t know how to start the conversation, or realise how much their money habits are shaped by their childhood and their family. In this episode, I sit down ...
May 19, 2025•45 min•Ep. 136
Have you ever wondered why some wedding dancefloors explode with energy while others never quite get off the ground-and what you can do about it? This is Part 2 of my conversation with the amazing Tania who is the heart and soul of Entertainment business, Choons & Moovz. In this episode, Tania shares how your wedding party can help set the mood early, what to do if you have a lot of smokers on your guest list, and why your bar’s location can make a surprising difference to the success of you...
May 12, 2025•28 min•Ep. 135
Are you stressing about how to keep your guests entertained at your wedding or worried that your dream dancefloor might be a ghost town before the night is over? What if I told you that the secret to an unforgettable wedding reception isn’t about the perfect playlist (or no-playlist)? If you’re planning your big day and want to make sure the party is one that you and your family and friends talk about for years to come, you’re in the right place. I sat down with Tania Smith, the powerhouse behin...
May 05, 2025•29 min•Ep. 134
Wanna know the worst email or DM a wedding vendor receives? It simply says: “how much?” Reaching out to wedding vendors can feel a bit like the early stages of dating, right? Those initial messages are kind of like you're feeling your way to see if you two click, and as awkward as it might seem with your wedding vendor team, you want to make a great first impression. You really do, because it can mean the difference between booking someone that will go out of their way to understand you and your...
Apr 28, 2025•24 min•Ep. 133
We all know the well-worn adage, “you get what you pay for”. But let me throw another one in there: “it’s like comparing apples with oranges”. Because a wedding vendor who is charging well below the market average for what they do or what they supply is completely different from one that knows their worth, their costs and what it takes to be in business for longer than a year or 2. It's possible and in my research for this episode and experience over the past 16+ years, highly likely, that your ...
Apr 21, 2025•23 min•Ep. 132
Ready to ditch the wedding rule book? In case you missed it, in Part 1, Monty Haron, the rogue celebrant, blew our minds with his unconventional takes on ceremonies. He introduced the idea that ‘tradition is just peer pressure from dead people’ and talked about ways to change that. Now, in Part 2, we're getting tactical! How do you implement alternatives to heteronormative wedding customs? Monty’s here to share practical advice on everything from rewriting the processional to dealing with family...
Apr 14, 2025•34 min•Ep. 131
What if you could rewrite the rules for your wedding day? For couples who don’t fit the traditional mold—or simply want to ditch outdated customs—creating a ceremony and an entire celebration that truly reflects their love can feel a little overwhelming. In this episode, Monty Haron, an Australian celebrant with a very special flavour, joins us to explore the best alternatives to wedding customs without leaning on heteronormative traditions. Honestly, our conversation was so good and we were hav...
Apr 07, 2025•44 min•Ep. 130
What is the one accessory that everyone needs and deserves on their wedding day? A confident smile. Today I’m chatting with your dental fairy godmother, Dr. Naomi Goldman, about how engaged couples can plan to rock their very best smile. Naomi will teach you: the transformative role of cosmetic and restorative dentistry in enhancing smiles, particularly for weddings, the top 3 treatments engaged couples are investing in, a patient story that illustrates the incredible emotional and psychological...
Mar 31, 2025•35 min•Ep. 129
What if I told you there's a way to make your ceremony as unique and as vibrant and as deep and as weird and quirky as your relationship? Today I'm digging into the world of non-traditional wedding readings. Forget the same old scripture passages, unless that's your jam, in which case there's nothing to see here. But I want to talk about poems that speak to your soul and make your heart skip a beat. Song lyrics that make you cry, and even quotes from your favourite TV show or movie that make you...
Mar 24, 2025•26 min•Ep. 128
Do you really need more than one outfit for your wedding day? Is it just another wedding industry or consumer-driven extravagance, or are there more practical reasons and even history and cultural significance behind the perceived increase in multiple outfit changes on a wedding day? In this episode you’ll learn why brides (not excluding others who want to get into the 2nd outfit fun, but mainly brides) are embracing more than one wedding day look, what kinds of 2nd outfits are popular and avail...
Mar 17, 2025•23 min•Ep. 127
Imagine waking up the morning after your wedding, still basking in the glow of the previous night's magic, and receiving a link to a treasure trove of candid photos and videos from your special day. Within 24 to 48 hours, you can relive the laughter, tears, and joy through hundreds of unedited and edited moments captured by a wedding content creator. Sounds great, right? But here's the real question: “When is it a smart move to book a content creator for your big day, and when might you be setti...
Mar 10, 2025•26 min•Ep. 126
What are wedding vows? How long should wedding vows be? Can my vows be funny? In this episode, your host of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast, Camille Abbott, a multi-award-winning Australian celebrant of 1000+ ceremonies, will break writing your wedding vows down into 8 easy steps. She helps walk you through how to write vows, that you can feel super confident and proud of, in around 20 minutes. If you’re truly freaking out about saying your vows too, make sure you listen to Camille...
Mar 03, 2025•22 min•Ep. 125
Are you the kind of person who feels the allure of crafty things? If you are picturing a relaxed cocktail wedding vibe, surrounded by your family, and would love to add more of a personal touch to your day with some DIY details, then you have to meet Tracy. Tracy and David, are a gorgeous recently married couple from Western Australia who planned a DIY, family-centric wedding after a whirlwind 12-year-long engagement. Tracy shares how she created her own centrepieces and hanging arrangements, ho...
Feb 24, 2025•31 min•Ep. 124
Planning a wedding that truly reflects you both can feel overwhelming at times, right? With so many options, it's tough to know where to start, what works and what doesn't. But what I’d love to encourage you to do is to forget about fleeting “trends” – because I want to explore some ideas that are genuinely creating magical moments in 2025 weddings. And I’ll also shed light on some outdated approaches that couples are happily leaving behind. And when I say wedding trends, I’m not here to dictate...
Feb 17, 2025•20 min•Ep. 123
What's your relationship with your parents worth to you? This episode was inspired by a real-future mother of the bride and Unbridely Podcast listener, who reached out to me about her own daughter’s wedding. The Mum left me a voice message because she was wondering how to broach the topic of offering money to help pay for her daughter’s wedding and how to make sure that it came across to the soon-to-be-weds as helpful, thoughtful, intentional and not controlling, or just throwing cash at them. S...
Feb 10, 2025•33 min•Ep. 122
Have you ever walked away after a conversation, or been driving home and thought: “oh man, I should’ve stood up for myself” or “I should have said what I really felt” or worse still you couldn’t think of anything in the moment but you realise what you should’ve said afterwards. It's a scientific fact that once you get engaged (maybe 2nd only to when you get pregnant) you’ll be on the receiving end of more uncomfortable dare I say STUPID questions than you’ve ever been asked in your entire life. ...
Feb 03, 2025•20 min•Ep. 121
What if I could guarantee that your wedding favours don’t get left behind at the end of the night? In this episode, I’m joined by Charlotte from Charlotte Bedoes Illustrations , a live wedding illustrator who specialises in doing stunning watercolour portraits of your guests (and you) in front of you, on the day. In real time, she creates a wedding favour, an experience, and a keepsake all in one! You’re going to learn: How Charlotte has brought this trending wedding service from TikTok and the ...
Jan 27, 2025•22 min•Ep. 120
When was the last time you forgot something? It might have been as recently as this morning when you left your travel mug of coffee on the kitchen bench or went to the shops without shopping bags. But when it comes to your wedding day… that’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. And while you’ve likely put a lot of thought into the big picture—your venue, what you’re wearing, and even your vows—you’d be surprised how easy it is to overlook some of the smaller, yet absolutely crucial details. It’s almost ...
Jan 20, 2025•39 min•Ep. 119
Are you feeling the pressure to wow your wedding guests with a perfect first dance? What if I told you that stressing over the choreography, for 99.9% of people at least, is totally unnecessary? Today, I'm joined by Joel and Clara from JC Dance Co , Canada to ask them why they believe many couples approach their first dance all wrong — and how you can make yours a memory you'll actually LOVE instead of a performance you dread. In this episode, you’ll learn the biggest misconceptions couples have...
Jan 13, 2025•37 min•Ep. 118
How can you be sure you’re planning a wedding that your family and friends will actually enjoy? In my job as a celebrant here in Australia this wedding season, I’ve been reminded of some of the basics of wedding planning and how, frequently, it doesn’t matter how big or modest your budget is. These concepts are about making a welcoming and comfortable space for your guests so they want to stay, and in fact, when the lights come on after last drinks have been called: 1) There’ll still be people t...
Dec 02, 2024•27 min•Ep. 117
If you had a dollar for every time your family or friends asked, 'What’s the dress code?' or ‘Can I bring a +1’ you’d have enough to pay for the open bar. But seriously, there’s a way to cut the volume of those repeat questions pretty much in half. So before you hit the 'delete guest list' button, consider this: your wedding website is like your very own virtual assistant, and the FAQ page means that they’re working for you 24/7. It’s like the 'Frequently Asked Questions' section on your favouri...
Nov 25, 2024•29 min•Ep. 116
