In this inspiring episode, we welcome the delightful Dee Wild of Custom Celebrations By Dee - a marriage celebrant radiating joy, warmth and inclusivity from every pore. Based in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Dee has been officiating weddings for about five years now after realising she needed a career that allowed her to truly be herself.

Fuelled by a desire to spread more positivity after Australia's LGBTQ marriage plebiscite, Dee decided to combine her loves of writing, storytelling and being around love-filled celebrations by becoming a celebrant. From the very beginning, she has made it her mission to attract like-minded couples by showing up authentically as her full, proud, queer self online and in person.

With her vibrant presence, heartfelt spirit and firm belief that every wedding should be a reflection of the unique couple at its core, Dee is the perfect guide for today's chat on hiring inclusive, values-aligned vendors.

Dee shares her insights on:

• What inclusivity means in the wedding world, extending beyond LGBTQI+ representation to disabilities, neurodivergence, cultural backgrounds and more
• Red flags to watch for when vetting potential vendors' websites, marketing materials and initial communications
• Thoughtful questions to ask vendors to gauge if they will create an affirming atmosphere for your day
• Beautiful real wedding examples of couples who crafted ceremonies and celebrations authentic to their identities
• Practical tips vendors can implement to convey their inclusive practices
• How the wedding industry can continue evolving to better represent all couples

Whether you're a couple on your wedding journey or a vendor striving to be more inclusive, this candid conversation will leave you feeling empowered to plan with your values at the forefront. Dee's warm personality and wise perspective will have you nodding along in agreement and motivated to spread more positivity in this space.

Because at the end of the aisle, your vendor squad should excite and calm you - not cause any doubts about whether they'll honour every beautiful part of who you are.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Custom Celebrations By Dee Instagram

Find Dee

On Polka Dot Wedding: Custom Celebrations By Dee

On The Web: Custom Celebrations By Dee

On Facebook: Custom Celebrations By Dee

On Instagram: Custom Celebrations By Dee

On Pinterest: Custom Celebrations By Dee

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

Marquee weddings offer a charming blend of natural landscapes and customisable celebration spaces. Today, we're exploring what you need to know about planning a seamless marquee wedding day as we chat with Julia Vardy from the picturesque Mewburn Park.

Nestled 2.5 hours from Melbourne, Mewburn Park marries historical buildings with beautiful country surroundings. With multiple wedding spaces, including a grand clear marquee, and on-site accommodation, it's an ideal choice for a weekend escape wedding. Julia's expertise makes her the perfect guide for navigating marquee wedding logistics.

In this chat, we discuss:

• The amazing history of the family-run Mewburn Park business
• Tips for selecting the right wedding venue
• The importance of vibing with your vendors
• Pros and cons of a marquee wedding
• Key considerations for a summer marquee celebration
• Creative ways to personalize the marquee's blank canvas

From understanding power requirements to preparing for weather contingencies, Julia shares her insights on merging your dream vision with realistic planning. We'll also cover coordinating with other vendors and personalizing marquee decor to craft a unique atmosphere reflecting your styles.

Julia offers a behind-the-scenes look at running a venue, highlighting special moments that make each event memorable - from the pre-ceremony excitement to the magic of the grand reveal. Learn how to create an unforgettable experience by finding the perfect setting and thinking through all the details.

Tune in for a practical guide to planning your marquee wedding at Mewburn Park's breathtaking venue, leaving nothing to chance.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Mrewburn Park Instagram

Find Julia & Mewburn Park

On Polka Dot Wedding: Mewburn Park

On The Web: Mewburn Park

On Facebook: Mewburn Park

On Instagram: Mewburn Park

On Pinterest: Mewburn Park

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

A wedding day where everything falls magically into place - that's the power of a great wedding planner. In this month's episode of The Feel Good Wedding podcast, Sarah Johnston from Girl Friday Weddings pulls back the curtain on hiring a pro for your big day.

With over 15 years of experience, Girl Friday Weddings opened its doors in 2009. This award-winning Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane boutique wedding planning agency offers services ranging from full planning to day-of coordination. Founder Sarah Johnston has built the business around helping couples create their dream wedding, whether that's an intimate elopement or a grand affair.

In this episode, Sarah shares insider tips on how locking in a planner early on can be a game-changing move. She provides a behind-the-scenes look at the strategic decisions that elevate your celebration while keeping it budget-conscious. You'll learn Sarah's approach to assembling a dream vendor team and avoiding common pitfalls and overwhelmed feelings during planning. She also shares advice on crafting a wedding day that feels effortless, seamless and completely you.

In this chat, we discuss:

• The benefits of wedding planners
• What is an in-house planner vs an external wedding planner?
• How can you choose your wedding vendors wisely?
• The value of relationships in weddings How to beat overwhelm and prioritise what is important to you
• The wedding word budge myth
• How to make the most of your wedding budget and figure out what's important

If you're looking to better understand the role of a wedding planner and how they can help craft your perfect day, don't miss this episode

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Girl Friday Weddings

Celebrant Kate

Find Sarah & Girl Friday Weddings

On Polka Dot Wedding: Girl Friday Weddings

On The Web: Girl Friday Weddings

On Facebook: Girl Friday Weddings

On Instagram: Girl Friday Weddings

On Pinterest: Girl Friday Weddings

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.