#265 You Ask, We Answer - 45

On the last Wednesday of every month, Christy & Michelle answer listener questions live on the show - YAWA! This month we're answering questions about: engagement parties, a ceremony planner, a bride with fibromyalgia and eloping in France! Click HERE to subscribe and unlock all of the amazingness: Ad-free, full episodes TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center Monthly Wedding Planning Happy Hours via Zoom with Michelle Bonus Episodes and more Question #1 I got engaged in December 2020 and my wedding is in May 2022. I'm doing a destination wedding with about 40 vaccinated people. This was planned with Covid in mind. We are fortunate enough to be able to have our wedding at a winery that has a bnb which we were able to rent out for all of our guests. So we will have our own little bubble for our wedding weekend, which I'm so excited for. I do have a lot of family members who would still like to celebrate me and my fiancé and while I appreciate that, I kind of feel uncomfortable throwing any type of engagement party or bridal shower where I have family that’s attending but not invited to the wedding. I just feel like I don't want to be throwing a party and expecting people to feel like they need to help me throw a party or give me gifts or anything, especially if they're not coming to my wedding, which is absolutely not what I want. I wanted to know your thoughts on having a bigger engagement party or bridal shower as opposed to the not having a wedding that would include all those people that are invited to the precursor events. Question #2 2 questions - one is regarding a catering coordinator, and the second is about getting ready time for 6 ladies. Do I need a ceremony planner? We have booked a caterer, and their services come with "Basic Coordination". It seems like this coordination covers everything we need for planning the reception, but their planning is very hands-off when it comes to the ceremony. Do you think we should hire a planner to just cover the ceremony? What should the getting ready schedule look like? Question #3 I have a chronic illness, fibromyalgia. It can be very tolling on me. I'm wondering what advice you may have for a chronically ill bride to be? Question #4 For background, we are eloping to France next April and then hosting a small (35-ish people) dinner party at a resort venue in Sonoma County, California next May after we get back from our honeymoon. We live in Michigan with family and friends all over the place. My question is: the venue for the dinner is beautiful but I would like to add perhaps some flowers or greenery to the table. The majority of our budget is going towards the elopement and the venue/food/beverage fee for the California dinner party so I need to find a very low-cost option. I've looked into decor rentals and they are beyond what I would want to spend for a simple, 3-hour celebration dinner. I also thought of having guests each bring a bouquet to display on the table but we are already asking them to fly across the country and book accommodations so that doesn't seem fair. Links We Referenced: save-on-crafts.com The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is... Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez. Edited by Veronica Gruba Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention! Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook. Easy to get in touch with. Email us at [email protected] or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices