
The Complete Wedding Planning Podcast
By Josh Kingsley

The Complete Wedding Planning PodcastAug 31, 2022

Episode 99: Old School Traditions Worth Keeping
In this episode of the "Complete Wedding Planning Podcast," we dive into the topic of "Old School Necessities." Join Josh and Tara as they explore the ever-changing landscape of weddings and how modern couples are redefining traditions, and what relationship advice we can learn from this.
From personalizing and modernizing marriage celebrations to the potential benefits of holding onto time-honored customs, we discuss the delicate balance between embracing new trends and recognizing the value of old norms.
Throughout the episode, we explore specific aspects of wedding traditions that are often overlooked in the modern era. We touch on the importance of enjoying a post-dinner coffee, the value of conversing with all guests, the charm of finger foods during cocktail hour, and the significance of prioritizing the ceremony.
As always, we invite our listeners to share their thoughts and experiences with us. Have you found creative ways to blend modern elements with timeless traditions? Do you have any memorable stories related to these old school necessities? We'd love to hear from you and feature your insights in future episodes.
Tune in to this thought-provoking discussion, and get ready to uncover the beauty and meaning behind these old school necessities.
Remember to stay connected with us on social media for updates, bonus content, and to engage with our growing wedding planning community.
Happy listening, and let's keep redefining weddings together!

Episode 100: Ask the Pros: Addressing Commonly Asked Topics
In this episode, we're taking on some of the most frequently asked questions and dilemmas that couples face during the wedding planning process. From how to handle friends who aren't officially members of the wedding party to deciding who is invited to the rehearsal dinner, our expert panel is here to provide answers and guidance. They'll also offer tips and advice on topics such as how to manage phones and photos during the ceremony and reception, handling vendors, addressing seating arrangements, choosing bridal party attire, and timing the sending of save-the-dates and invitations. Join us for this insightful and informative conversation as we "Ask the Pros" about some of the most commonly asked wedding-related questions.

Episode 98: Finding LGBTQIA+ Ally Vendors
Are you looking for an LGBTIQA+ friendly vendor for your upcoming wedding, event, or gathering? We understand the importance of being able to find vendors that honor diversity and inclusivity. In this episode, we discuss finding that perfect ally vendor who can help make your occasion unique and extraordinary. We cover topics like websites with diverse couples, the importance of inclusive language and looking for year round allies. Don't miss out on finding the perfect LGBTIQA+ friendly vendor!
Our guests are Amber and Rachael, owners of new Milwaukee venue, Denizen.

Episode 97: Reviewing Weddings Trends from the Knot
The Knot is a great place to follow trends. We review the top personalization trends from this article.

Episode 96: Eight Steps Recap

Episode 94: Wedding Planning Step 8 of 8 - Building a Timeline
We conclude our epic series covering the eight steps of wedding planning. In this episode we discuss building a timeline you and your vendors can follow. For more time line tips make sure to also check out episodes 31 and 80. Guest is Danielle Wheaton from Family Roots Photgraphy.

Episode 93: Wedding Planning Step 7 of 8 - Managing the Details

Episode 92: Wedding Planning Step 6 of 8 - Picking Your Vendors
Planning a wedding is a tall task. Tara kicked off this series by presenting the 8 steps of planning a wedding. Today we continue the journey with step 6, vendor selection. Do you know what to look for in the best wedding videographer? Or the best caterer? Let's get into it.
I am joined by Joslin Williams from Complete Lancaster.

Episode 91: Wedding Planning Step 5 of 8 - Picking the Perfect Venue
Planning a wedding is a tall task. Tara kicked off this series by presenting the 8 steps of planning a wedding. Today we continue the journey with step 5, picking the perfect venue. Guest is Sue Bennet from Complete Des Moines.

Episode 90: Wedding Planning Step 4 of 8 - Picking the Wedding Party
Tara kicked off this series by presenting the 8 steps of planning a wedding. Today we continue the journey with step 4, picking the bridal party. From expertly choosing the best gifts, to who sits where, you will learn a few things. We are joined by Alex Klutchko from Complete Grand Rapids.

Episode 89: Wedding Planning Steps 2 and 3 of 8 - Guest List and Wedding Date
Tara kicked off this series by presenting the 8 steps of planning a wedding. Today we continue the journey with steps 2 and 3, building the guest list and picking your date.

Episode 95: Complete Nation
Complete Weddings + Events is your leading provider of Photo, Video, DJ, Photo Booth, Lighting and Day of Coordination services. Complete Nation is the heart and soul of the people providing the services. Get to know us better with this episode!!

Episode 88: Wedding Planning Step 1 of 8 - Setting Your Budget
Tara kicked off this series by presenting the 8 steps of planning a wedding. Today we dig deeper into step 1, which is setting your budget. We are joined by Terrie Reno from Complete Springfield.

Episode 87: The 8 Steps to Planning a Wedding
Planning a wedding is an overwhelming task, but fear not!! Tara, our planning guru is here with the 8 steps to planning a wedding. You can follow along with this wedding planning checklist in our podcast episode.
- Budget
- Guest list
- Date
- Bridal party
- Venue/planner/day of coordinator
- Vendors
- Details
- Timeline
If you want more information, you can read our blog why you might need a wedding planner in Naperville.

Episode 86: Saying Yes to Your Perfect Dress
Our guest is Melanie with Celebrations of the Heart, a bridal shop in Manhattan, KS. We cover all the important things including when to start looking, how to pick the perfect dress, how the alterations process looks, how to store the dress after the wedding and much more!!

Episode 85: Rehearsal Plan & Dinner
A wedding is a grand event comprising a series of large, small, imperative and menial events. One of the most important events is the ceremony itself where the main goal of getting married is accomplished. The gravity of this event warrants an extra step: practice. A wedding rehearsal is key to ensuring the nuptials occur without incident. Tradition after the rehearsal is a meal. Today we talk all about the rehearsal and the dinner that normally follows.

Episode 84: Post Wedding Depression & Regret
Planning a wedding is a monumental task. Most couples spend over a year meticulously managing every detail in what becomes an additional job. The wedding day comes and goes. All guests enjoyed themselves, and most importantly, you are married. A new issue emerges. All of the time and effort that went into planning is now replaced with second guesses, regret, and sometimes even depression. Today we discuss these feelings, and how to process them.

Episode 83: Should We Invite Kids or Be Kid Free?
Planning a wedding is filled with major questions. Which venue is best for us? Do we do a plated or buffet meal? Will we have an open bar? What is our total guest count? Some of these are easy based on budget and personal preference. Some are more difficult. Today we tackle one of the difficult questions: kids or no kids?

Episode 82: Maximum Guest Engagement
The big day is planned and the invites are out. All your closest family and friends have RSVP’ed “YES.” As the wedding date nears a question arises: how do you engage with all your invited guests? We discuss ways to make personal connections with guests today.

Episode 81: Global Partners in Hope and the Complete Do Good Campaign
Global Partners in Hope and Complete Weddings + Events partner for the 10th year to bring hope and sustainable infrastructure to Western Africa. Join us for a discussion with Global Partners CEO, Ian Vickers and Complete CEO, Eric Maas. Follow us for an update on the progress of the Do Good campaign. Also follow Global Partners for ways to individually contribute to the cause.

Episode 80: Timelines Tips and Best Practices
We are back with a revisit and update to the important topic of timelines. Today we will discuss how to set an achievable timeline that also fits your vision of the big day.

Episode 79: Is Venue Familiarity Important?
The perfect venue has been secured. All the look and feel visions are coming together. Now it's time to find the perfect vendors to join your day. Does venue familiarity matter? We explore that today.

Episode 78: Wedding Recap with Braden & Molly
Braden and Molly Holle join us to recap their March 2022 wedding. They discuss what they loved about planning, and why working with a multi-service team was best for them. The reception was at the Kansas State Alumni Center, and the after party was at Kites in Aggieville.

Episode 77: Wedding Straight Talk with Tia
We all know the story. The engagement is wedding planning bliss and the big day is a fairy tale. We also know these are only stories. Few things rival a wedding’s potential to incite stress and conflict. Weddings are supposed to be fun and fulfilling, but it takes a real, pragmatic approach. That’s our topic for today. Tia McAltister from Complete Carolina joins us.

Episode 76: National Wedding Planning Day Recap
This episode is a recap of the National Wedding Planning Day panel discussion. List for key points and additional commentary.

Episode 75: Celebrate National Wedding Planning Day with COMPLETE
Tara and Josh establish an expert panel from across COMPLETE Nation to discuss the hottest wedding planning topics.

Episode 74: You're Engaged, Now What? Pt. 2 - Picking A Date, Venue, and Starting Vendor Selection
You have successfully resisted the urge to plan before setting your budget and priorities. With a set budget it is set it's time to pick your date and book your Chicago wedding venue in the suburbs. Today we talk about how to do this and what comes next. References are also made to episodes 45, 47 and 54, which cover hotel room blocks, personalization and rainy days.

Episode 73: The Importance of Dating Your Spouse
Everyone has their own love story. It's important to keep your love's fire burning, and it does take work. Complete Nation offers advice from couples with different stories and amounts time together. The common advice: make sure to take the time and effort to stay connected. Make every day Valentine's Day.

Episode 72: You're Engaged, Now What? Pt. 1 - Setting Budget & Priorities
Today we are talking about the first foundational steps after becoming engaged. The bliss of a new engagement may cause you to dream of beautiful dresses and florals. But resist that urge until you have your budget and priorities set. Today we talk about how to set them.

Episode 71: Celebrate National Wedding Planning Day with COMPLETE
The Knot created National Wedding Planning Day as an annual holiday celebrated March 1st. Esther Lee, Senior Editor for the The Knot, joins to talk about how the holiday started, and to share some wedding trends. Visit The Knot content page to learn more, and join us all month for more topics to kick off wedding planning season. Full schedule below:
February 8: You're Engaged! Now What? pt 1 - Setting Your Date and Securing a Venue
February 14: Celebrate Love - The Importance of Dating Your Spouse
February 22: You're Engaged! Now What? pt 2 - Setting Budget and Priorities
March 1: Complete's National Wedding Planning Day Panel (this is the main event!)

2022 Season Preview
The 2022 season of the Complete Wedding Planning Podcast kicks off February 1 as we start the National Wedding Planning Day celebration. New episodes release all though February. Join us to as we discuss the best way to start the wedding planning process. Here is a preview of the February 1 episode, which features Esther Lee from The Knot.

Episode 70: Wedding Show Tips and Tricks
Hello and Happy New Year. Thanks for following us in 2021, and cheers to an awesome 2022. We will close out season 2 of our podcast with some helpful tips and tricks for navigating the wedding show.
Visit Josh and Complete Weddings + Events of Milwaukee at the Wonderful World of Weddings show at Wisconsin State Fair Park. Show hours are 10am-4pm Saturday, January 8 and Sunday, January 9, 2022.
Visit Tara and All About You Events and Complete Weddings + Events Manhattan at the Flint Hills Bridal Expo at the Hilton Garden Inn. Show hours are Noon-4pm Sunday, January 9, 2022.

Episode 69: Planning the Perfect Destination Wedding with a Great Travel Agent
The wedding planning is not for you. The idea of bringing hundreds of people to town for a big party just doesn't fit. Your dream is more of an intimate event with only the closest people. A destination wedding is right for you. Our guest is Niki Rakowitz with CARE Travel out of Manhattan, KS. Visit them to plan your next trip!!

Episode 68: The Perfect Honeymoon Start with a Great Travel Agent
The wedding day is almost here. The planning process has been exhaustive, but the light at the end of the tunnel is visible. Now it's time for the really fun part: the honeymoon. Our guest is Niki Rakowitz with CARE Travel out of Manhattan, KS. Visit them to plan your next trip!!

Episode 67: A New Year's Eve Wedding - Y/N?
The year is coming to a close and New Year's Eve is just around the corner. We will soon be ringing in the New Year. Will you or a friend be also ringing in the I Do? Today we talk about New Year's Eve weddings. The pros, the cons, and what to think about if planning one.

Episode 66: Take A Break
The wedding planning is in full force. Lists have been made and tasks have been assigned. Things are moving forward. Boxes have been checked and hard conversations have been had. The immersion into the wedding planning process is successful, and you are now living and breathing wedding planning. It has basically become another job. You have purchased your ticket on the Stresstown Express, and you've boarded the train. This is not a good thing. Today's topic is about taking a break and keeping sane.

Episode 65: Holiday Party Success
The wedding plans are coming together well. So well that we table the conversation this week. At Complete We Do so much more than weddings. During the winter and holiday season we focus on family and friends, just like our wedding planning couples. Today we discuss what makes a great company holiday party. Holiday parties are a great time to rent a photo booth. Let's talk about how to make a great time.

Episode 64: Winter Weddings? Yes or No
Let's talk about the weather and the seasons. When most people think about weddings the first thought is summer. However, fall weddings have almost completely overtaken as the trend in many places. We in the industry consider spring to be the official start of the wedding year. But what about the 4th season? Is winter a good time for a wedding? We discuss that today.

Episode 63: Wedding Favors
The wedding day is almost fully planned. Everything is coming together beautifully and all the big things are set. It's now time to focus on the smaller details. Today we are talking favors. This is the item that you want each guest to leave with as a memory for your big day. This is a great way to make your wedding rehearsal dinner venue, wedding dinner, and full event really stand out.

Episode 62: Group Dance
The wedding day is in full swing. It's dancing time. All of your guests have taken in the sweet first dance and parents dances, and it is now time to open the floor. What is the best way to engage the shy crowd or take the dancing crowd to the next level? Group dances.

Episode 61: Kids at Your Wedding
The date is set, and the venue is booked. Most of the vendors in your top priority list are booked. Now it's time to handle the guest list. Today we discuss the most polarizing potential guests, and, no we are not talking about that crazy uncle who can't have dinner without getting into politics. We are talking about kids.

Episode 60: Wedding Dress Faux Pas to Avoid
After you've announced your engagement and finalized your wedding venue, you can begin finalizing the décor and theme of your wedding. Your wedding dress plays a big part of that, and usually that decision is made at the forefront of the décor decision process. We've highlighted a few details to think about and faux pas to avoid as you decide on the perfect dress for your theme, location, venue and the dream party you will be throwing. Don't miss this conversation about all things dress related, including dress length, trains, neckline, shoes, veils and more!

Episode 59: After the Party is the After Party
The wedding day is here and it is going awesome!! All of the time planning has been time well spent. Family and friends from far and wide have gathered to watch a beautiful wedding and partake in an epic party. The bar has called last call. The band or DJ has signaled last song. But the party people are not done partying. So what's next?

Episode 58: More Music Advice
Wedding days are filled with fun, family, tradition and music. How do you plan the music for the wedding? That's the topic for today.

Episode 57: The Wedding Planning Home Stretch
Planning a wedding is a long process filled with late nights and big decisions. It has been going for over a year, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Today we talk about the home stretch of wedding planning.

Episode 56: The Covid Impact on Wedding Planning Timing
Planning a wedding has always been a mountain of a task. The presence of Covid has made the mountain higher. Today we are diving into the effects Covid has had on the timing of the big day and the planning steps needed.

Episode 55: Helpful Wedding Registry Tips
The wedding plans are coming together marvelously. The guest list and website are in the final stretches. It is now time to address a tradition as old as weddings themselves: the registry.

Episode 54: Tips to Prepare for a Rainy Wedding Day
The wedding day is FINALLY here!! The butterflies held off long enough to get a good night's rest. Brunch, hair and makeup, a round of golf, and many things like that are on the schedule before pictures and the wedding ceremony. Then you get a push notification from the Weather app, which adds another thing to the list: preparing for the possibility of rain.

Episode 53: Things to Consider When Deciding Band or DJ
Every good party has music and your wedding is going to be the best. So the question at hand is does that music come from a band or a DJ. There are many factors to consider, and we dive into those today.

Episode 52: Cheers to You!! Tips for Great Toasts
The wedding day is moving smoothly and going great. The couple looks amazing, the nuptials were sweet, cocktail hour was a blast, and the newlyweds have made their way into the reception. In a short period of time the MC will ask for everyone's attention and introduce the highly anticipated toasts. If you are one of the lucky ones that get to toast the newlyweds this episode is for you!!