Wedding planning can stir up complicated family dynamics, emotional pressure, and strong opinions.

In today's episode, we talk honestly about navigating family expectations during your engagement. From financial contributions and blended families to estranged relationships, religion, tradition, and setting boundaries with well-meaning relatives, this episode offers reassurance and practical tools for protecting your peace.

You'll walk away with clear grounding affirmations, boundary-setting phrases, and permission to plan a wedding that reflects your values - not your family's expectations.

Personal affirmations that you can hold close in the coming months:

• We will never please everyone, and that's OK.
• I can lovingly hold boundaries with my _______ . (fill in the blank family member)
• Other peoples' emotions are not my responsibility.
• I am allowed to say no without explanation.
• I trust our wedding vision - we know what's right for our day.

Boundary-setting taglines to keep in your back pocket:

• Thanks — we'll think about it and let you know.
• We appreciate the suggestion, but we're going in a different direction.
• We already have a firm plan for that, but thanks for the idea!
• Let's circle back on that later.

And my Golden Rule when managing family input and expectations:

Over-explaining invites further conversation and negotiation. Short + sweet shuts it down.

To wrap up this week, I would LOVE to hear from you! Whether it's about a planning challenge or question you're facing, a post-wedding day recap that you'd like to share, or simply requests for upcoming show topics, you can be in touch any time by sending me an email - kara@karasvineyardwedding.com

PS - Enjoy early access to ad-free episodes each week when you subscribe to WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST PREMIUM in Apple Podcasts.

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Today we're breaking down one of the most complicated and often emotionally charged - parts of wedding planning: crafting your wedding guest list. From where to start, to how to handle tricky family dynamics, this episode offers a clear, practical approach to navigating the process with confidence.

Bonus: I'm answering many of your real guest list questions along the way!

Tune in for a step-by-step guide that covers:

• How to get started with your wedding guest list

• Smart strategies (and benefits) of using an A-List / B-List invitation system

• How to handle plus-one expectations and non-invited guests

• Effective ways to thoughtfully trim your guest list

• Navigating family requests - and demands - with clarity and boundaries

• And more!

A detailed blog post to accompany today's episode can be found here.

A special thank you today's show sponsor:

Start your wedding website with Minted and enjoy free designs by independent artists, all of your wedding details in one place, and exclusive listener perks:
weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted

Choosing your wedding venue is the single most important decision you'll make during the planning process - and yes, that can feel like a lot of pressure.

Your venue isn't just the backdrop for your wedding day. It also sets the vibe, drives your budget, impacts your guest experience, and influences nearly every other decision you'll make from here on out. That's why this is not a decision to rush.

In today's episode of The Wedding Planning Podcast, we're breaking down exactly how to choose the right wedding venue with clarity and confidence - before you sign a contract or close doors you didn't even realize were there.

You'll learn:

• Why your wedding venue impacts every other planning decision

• How to define your wedding vision before you start touring spaces

• Smart ways to set yourself up for a successful venue search

• The most important questions to ask every potential venue

• The key differences between traditional and all-inclusive venues

• How to research and find the best wedding venues near you

We'll also talk through budget considerations, guest experience, logistics, décor implications, and how to trust your instincts when you walk into the one.

Blog post with pdf Venue Shopping Checklists

If you're newly engaged - or feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start - this episode will help you slow down, get clear, and make a venue decision that truly aligns with your vision, priorities, and budget.

A special thank you to this week's show sponsors:

• Start your wedding website with Minted and enjoy free designs by independent artists, all of your wedding details in one place, and exclusive listener perks:
weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted