About two years ago, my partner of seven years got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Before the reality and excitement of our engagement had a chance to set in, we were fielding questions on catering halls and stationery. It was uncharted territory for the both of us—until recently, we were blissfully unaware of the peculiar politics of building guest lists and seating charts, the exorbitant markups on anything wedding-adjacent, and the very existence of the decorative chair rental business.
All we really wanted was to host a celebration of our love story alongside everyone who had played a part in it, one that felt genuine to who we are. Gratefully, especially for folks like us eschewing the traditional, there's been a major shift in wedding planning over the years allowing for newfound flexibility in what your day can look and feel like. Alongside that push came some much needed diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the wedding industry that look beyond the predominantly white, upper class, heteronormative model of marriage, offering festivities that honor the cultures, identities, and interests of every soon-to-be-wed couple.
At the end of the day, all a wedding truly needs is two people who want to recognize their love and commitment to one another—as publicly or privately as they so desire. All the other particulars, be they centerpieces or hotel blocks, are secondary. If you need a helping hand to cut through the noise and get to planning your big day in a way that's wholly your own, this collection of wedding planning podcasts and audiobooks will give you all the encouragement you need to follow your heart, trust your gut, and get down the aisle without getting bogged down by external presumptions.
One of the first hurdles we ran into (and continue to collide with quite routinely) is how to set a budget, save up, and plan our day in a way that won't break the bank. It might seem pretty straightforward, but once you're wading neck deep through contracts and deposits, you learn it's much easier said than done. Shortly after we got engaged, and only weeks away from celebrating her own wedding, a dear friend gifted my fiancé and me with a copy of Meg Keene's A Practical Wedding, and it has proved a vital guide to all the basics of planning through the lens of affordability and pragmatism. From prioritizing what matters most to navigating difficult conversations with family and friends to creating spreadsheets capable of keeping every little detail organized, this listen is essential if you're coming face to face with the wedding industry for the first time.
Admittedly, when it comes to wedding planning, there's an air of absurdity that you have to embrace. I say this from a place of experience, having shamefully spiraled comparing swatches of green and eucalyptus fabric. Sometimes you just need a reminder to leave the stress behind and have fun with the exhilarating, slightly wacky process of tying the knot. Aleisha McCormack's Bridechilla Podcast has been a delightful relief from the nagging quest for perfection. Needless to say, this companion audiobook follows suit. McCormack's laidback, tongue-in-cheek tone and warmth are a balm for anyone in need of affirmation and comfort, whether it's ditching the details that don't really matter or talking through uncomfortable financial matters. Narrated in the author's euphonic Aussie accent, this listen is ideal for queuing up when you need a mental break from addressing invitations.
Long before she was the host of Betches Brides, Fallon Carter made a name for herself as one of the most in-demand wedding planners in the world as the founder and creative director behind Fallon Carter Events. So, as you might expect, she has no shortage of worthwhile counsel and knowledgable insights to share with listeners. Every episode, Carter sits down with real brides to iron out the details and untangle sticky wedding situations, guiding them through the uncertainties of event planning with empathy and humor. If you've found yourself at an impasse—be it with family spats, budgetary concerns, or a difference in opinion with your partner—tune in to this podcast for some valuable perspective and actionable advice.
If you're looking for a wedding planning podcast that emphasizes inclusivity and amplifies the wide spectrum of couples saying "I do," wedding planner Michelle Martinez's The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is an advantageous add to your library. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Martinez has encountered pretty much everything along the way, and on her podcast, she gets candid about every minute consideration. Want to include your pup in the ceremony? Nervous about your two left feet sabotaging your first dance? Working with your caterers on safely providing meals when you or a guest has a life-threatening food allergy? Or simply looking to make your celebration more environmentally sustainable? No matter how niche your wedding dilemma is, you're more than likely to find it covered here.
Inspired by the lack of media representation in the wedding world, best friends Ashleigh and Toniah founded Hue I Do (formerly known as The Black Wedding Podcast) back in October 2019. Since then, they've chatted with guests including Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of Therapy for Black Girls and DJ R-Tistic on topics ranging from writing your own vows to bringing a destination wedding to fruition. An invaluable resource for couples looking to hire diverse wedding vendors and any listener in search of a perspective that honors their own identity, this podcast is a modern gem for the industry's emerging new era. (If you're looking for more content, the hosts also created a fascinating social media miniseries called Aisle Tell You What, which focuses on memorable marriages from Black history and pop culture, as well as shares inspiring thoughts on traditions and fashion.)
Wedding industry veteran Sarah Lizabeth Barker, who has worked in planning, florals, and venue coordination, offers a start-to-finish guide on creating a celebration you'll remember fondly for years to come. For many people (myself included!), their wedding day will be the first major event they've ever organized and orchestrated. This handy field guide will keep you on track, whether it be when to send out your save the dates or how to keep a level head when things inevitably don't go exactly according to plan day of. Featuring anecdotes from real life couples and valuable information on everything from negotiating contracts to heading out on your honeymoon, this Dummies guide has you covered.
As exciting as your wedding day is, it's important to also keep in mind that there's something even bigger around the bend—marriage. Even the most compatible long-term partners might have trouble with this transition, and the countless others that may come along the way. Ada Calhoun, who penned one of our favorite memoirs of 2022 with her Also A Poet, lends some perspective to the institution in this collection of observations and advice about modern marriage. Honest about all the ups and downs without ever underselling the beauty of love and companionship, this is a great listen to play on an introspective date night with your partner.
While this listen isn't explicitly connected to wedding planning, it's an essential resource for anyone who might be struggling with their relationship with their body while getting ready for what is ostensibly the biggest day of their life. It's so difficult not to get lost in the messaging about looking your best on your wedding day, especially when you don't align with the thin, white, cis, able-bodied standard championed by culture and society. And that mounting pressure far too often leads to changing something about your day-to-day physical form—be it your teeth, skin, hair, or weight—in the process. (I've personally come to loathe the phrase "shredding for the wedding.") Enter Sonya Renee Taylor's brilliant manifesto championing the transformative power of radical self-love and acceptance. Compassionate and paradigm shifting, this is a vital listen for anyone yearning to embrace their own body and work towards dismantling the systemic shame that too often surrounds matters of surface appearance.
