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.
