Ever been dazzled by a vendor’s “award-winning” status and thought, “Wow, they must be the best!”? Hold up, gorgeous. Before you get swept away by the glitter, let’s talk truth.

In this episode, we’re peeling back the sparkly curtain on wedding industry awards. Spoiler alert: many of these accolades are more about paying than earning. That’s right—some vendors are just buying their bragging rights. 💸

We’ll dive into:

• The reality behind those shiny badges—are they truly earned or just purchased?
• Why popularity contests don’t always equate to quality service.
• The importance of reading genuine reviews and scrutinizing past work.
• Trusting your gut over glittery titles.

Remember, your wedding is about you, not about someone else’s bought prestige. Let’s empower you to make choices based on authenticity, not just accolades.

With love and real talk,

Kathy & Christina 💕

If you are a "thick glowing goddess", or pretty much anyone with a pulse, this episode is for YOU. In this episode, our two thick glowing goddesses tackle the "I need to lose weight to fit into my dress pandemic.

Common problems among brides, bridesmaids, moms, grandmoms, etc are :

• Waiting for alterations so you can lose as much weight so your dress will be perfect. Unless you're going wicked hard-core, or jumping on the weight loss shot bandwagon, it's just not a practical task..
• Identify why you are listing to the negative tape in your brain that is living rent free in your brain. our fiancé thinks you're perfect, your friends think you're perfect and in case you don't know it, you are indeed perfect just as you are!
• We all have childhood trauma will live in our psyche. Your brain power can take over in a hard core way.
• Don't wait for that fleeting moment you feel "perfect" to live your best life. Life is short and best of all, now, so let's do this damn thing baby. You are perfect !!! Give yourself grace and work toward reprogramming your brain

In the past, the wedding industry has been guilty (and still is in certain arenas) of making a bride feel less than if she isn't skinny enough, pretty enough or God forbid she doesn't have enough money for the type of wedding you think she should have. It's time for us to stop allowing what we think others think of us and worry about what we think of us. What our partners, our families, our besties think of us is all that matters and even THAT is up for debate. Did you know you have to size up 2-3 sizes for a bridal gown and THEN alter down. That in and of itself will do a number on your emotional state.

What is the negative tape that place in your head and how do we stop it? Do you have an eating disorder? Have you ever really wanted help but not quite ready to get started? If you're finally ready and looking for help, contact https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com. We are not affiliated with nor do we specifically endorse this location. We are simply providing a local options in the DFW metroplex and providing a preliminary link to local options. Please do your own research and contact your trusted physician to begin you deprogramming journey.

References: Follow https://www.instagram.com/danaemercer/ for your daily dose of normalcy and love.

With all love, Kathy & Christina

What are the top 10 most common wedding planning mistakes most couples make? Everyone has an opinion about this but together we have pulled together the most common mistakes we hear about from couples. And you know the drill, these are in no specific order...that's not how our brains work.

1. Hiring your vendors too soon or without proper research.
2. Hiring vendors outside your budget point. And you need to know how much is allocated PER vendor and/or category for your wedding or event.
3. Paying your vendor's full price upfront.
4. Not responding to your planner or vendors in a timely fashion.
5. Not reading and/or understanding your own contracts.
6. Inviting more guests than you are prepared to accommodate or pay for.
7. Not trying on your wedding day attire. ALL of it. Everything you are supposed to wear.
8. Not talking to your photographer about THEIR timeline to meet YOUR needs.
9. Not allocating enough time for your portraits.
10. Don't let trends dictate your wedding day.

What are your thoughts? Have you experienced any of these or know someone that has? These are common and you shouldn't be embarrassed if you're guilty of one or more....we've all be there. But take a listen as we provide best practice tips for avoiding these dreaded mistakes.

Are you planning a destination wedding? Thinking it'll be easier, save you money, be fun for all involved...maybe think again. While destination weddings are magical and amazing, there is just as much work involved, if not more.

Being outside the country there are often elements that can affect literally everything you do. Island time and mountain time are real...everything takes a bit longer that it does in the states. Weather is often an issue. You have to deal with extreme heat, cold, humidity, snow, sand, etc. All those things need to be considered when planning for you, your family, your guests and your vendors. Planning for back-up options is key. Ask yourself "what happens IF??"

Don't fret, Kathy & Christina have insight that will plant seeds and provide real world experience for all the little things that can go wrong alongside all the things that will also go right. As always, the key is education, being prepared and plan back-ups. Tune in to listen and learn!

Weddings are exciting, but they can also be financially overwhelming—especially if you fall into the trap of being “venue poor.” In this episode, we break down what it means to spend too much on your venue and how it can throw your entire wedding budget off track.

We’ll walk through the numbers, common budgeting mistakes, and what you really need to consider before signing that venue contract. Plus, we’ll share expert tips on how to prioritize your spending, avoid financial regrets, and plan realistically.

If you’re in the midst of planning or just starting to think about your big day, this episode is a must-listen! Join Kathy & Christina as they jump right into what it means to be "venue poor" and how to avoid it!

Today's episode dives into the art of healthy arguing and playful banter with your spouse after the wedding day. We're talking about how to navigate disagreements, communicate effectively, fight fair, and be accountable, without letting the little things build up. Whether you're the person that can't seem to get their clothes into the laundry basket, or the one that loads the dishwasher like a psychopath, or even the one that buries everything because you think you're suppose to...we all have our stuff. And if you ever thought you were alone with the (often) dumb arguments you may be having, know that it's completely normally, healthy and we are all pretty much having the same arguments...we're just in different houses.

Because let’s face it—love isn’t about avoiding arguments, it’s about learning how to have them the right way. Tune in and start Lifting the Veil on normalizing what a "healthy" marriage looks like!

In the busy world of being engaged and wedding planning, it can sometimes be hard to "stay connected" during the planning process. Even as vendors (especially as vendors) we often let work take over our daily lives and forget the important things...including those closest to us. It's important to set aside time to be with your partner, your supporter, your loved ones. After all, that's why we are all here. We fell in love with our soulmate and that relationship needs to be nurture now and always.

Some of the fun tips Kathy & Christina share:

• Make an effort to "date" your fiancé, husband/wife, partner
• Plan a date night and do something interactive
• Practice your "kiss, kiss, kiss"
• Practice your dip, everywhere!
• Write daily love notes or affirmations for each other
• Learn each other's love language

Join us as we talk about the importance of staying connected during your wedding planning and tips for how to do so.

Oh how weddings have turned into their own living breathing organism over the years. Long gone are the days of the church wedding with the nut, mint, punch fountain reception. Today weddings are intentional curated events. But have they gone too far? Possibly!

In this episode Kathy and Christina discuss the "forgotten intent of the wedding". Rarely are couples focused on "getting married" and more about the "production" of the event. And while that's wonderful to celebrate on such a large scale, have couples forgotten why they are getting married in the first place?

Join Kathy and Christina as they discuss how to remain focused on what matters and how to leave behind expectations that have been created by what you see online.

Special thanks to @runawayvowseducation for sharing their podcast topic with us!

To view the snippet we referenced, visit:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9fkbDlOkOj/?igsh=MWZjM2J0NzJqcHlzOA%3D%3D