Episodes
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Wedding trends come and go, with a few that have the staying power of becoming a “tradition.” We compiled a list of wedding traditions & trends that we’re happy to see are on their way out or that we’d love to see on their way out. In no particular order, they are:
Receiving LinesWhy don’t we love receiving lines? Simply put, they don’t provide you a valuable use of your precious time on the wedding day. A better option is to provide yourself with ample cocktail hour/reception time to greet your guests and mingle.
Dollar DancesTacky. Besides the fact that this would need to be adjusted for inflation, doing any game on your wedding day to “ask” for money is tacky.
Garter & Bouquet TossesAs a culture, we’re starting to admit the cringe factor that is involved with this tradition. Whether you cringe because you think it’s sexist or you cringe just because it’s outright awkward, let’s let this one go.
Send offs and other activities that require the participation of all wedding guests.The difficulty of coordinating all of your guests into an organized activity is a stress that you can easily remove from your wedding day. Along with this point, most weddings are missing some guests already by the end of the night which can mean an anticlimactic send off.
Sparklers & alcoholSomewhat on the same note as send offs, planning a sparkler send off is problematic, especially because the guests have been drinking. It’s not only difficult to coordinate, it’s also risky.
Best man first looksA little because it’s cringy, a little because it could indeed be a disappointment for the groom.
Cheesy signageI take issue with signage that errs on the “cutesy” side rather than the elegant side. Personal opinion :).
Cake smashesNot the best way to begin a happy marriage. Preserve that makeup right up to the end of the night and savor the cake instead.
Advice to run from marriage“Yes dear” commentsThese last two are basically in the same category. Negative comments about marriage are not life giving in any context, but they are especially inappropriate at a wedding. Culturally, we’ve allowed ourselves to promote a lot of negativity about the partnership & commitment of marriage. It’s time to start making life giving, encouraging comments about marriage again!
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Sit down with us for a Scotch as we discuss practical steps for hiring your wedding vendors! We've found that much of the wedding planning advice that is found out in the wild doesn't provide actionable steps for successfully processing through vendor options and coming to the point of knowing who you want to hire. Here we start with sourcing your initial list of vendors, how to cull the list down, and questions to ask as you interview your top picks.
Step #1: Compile list of vendors servicing your wedding region.
You can create this list from Google searches, The Knot searches, or any vendors that you've already hired. Make a list of 15-20 vendors to start.Step #2: Cull your list. Go through each vendor's website, checking out visual representation of their work. Check out their reviews and look for any red flags regarding communication or customer service. Don't check pricing! Remove any vendors who you aren't excited about. Your goal is to trim each category down to 3-5 vendors.
Step #3: Email your top contenders. Introduce your story briefly and ask the vendor about their availability for your wedding date (or season if your date isn't chosen yet). Provide the vendor with a few times that you have available for a phone call with the best number to reach you. This step also gives you the chance to further filter vendors based on the speed and clarity of their response.
Step #4: Talk with any remaining vendors on the phone. This conversation mainly will be serving the purpose of acquainting you with the vendor and assessing how comfortable you feel with them. At the end of the conversation talk about pricing and how to fit the budget pieces together.
Step #5: Confirm with your vendor choices that you are indeed hiring them and take the necessary steps to sign the contract and pay the deposit. Courtesy tip: send a quick email to the other vendors who you won't be hiring to thank them for their time and inform them that you're passing on their services.
Extra tips:
Hire your highest priority wedding vendors first to prioritize allocating your budget to areas that you're most willing to spend. Check with your venue before hiring further vendors to ensure that you aren't looking at vendors who are not allowed to work on premises.Have fun with this process!
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Ria Hy (Wedding Planner)
Website - www.radiantevents.net
Facebook - Radiant Events
Instagram - @radiantevents_flxJoe Hy (Photographer)
Website - www.joehy.com
Facebook - Joe Hy Photography
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“I don’t need a wedding planner” is a statement that I often hear, and one that has the potential to take the wind out of my sails. Despite my hurt feelings (:)), I do understand where a couple’s hesitation with hiring a professional stems from. I’ve heard many fears about a wedding planner “taking over” and imposing their own vision on your wedding day instead of working to create the wedding day that you desire. Brides have expressed fears of not being involved in the planning process to the level that they desire being involved. In this episode, we discuss some of these fears and how to avoid a negative experience with your planner.
Even the most organized, creative, and capable couples will always end up with a wedding planner (day of management). Let me explain. Throughout the engagement, you’ve probably taken the time to research & hire vendors, stress over seating charts, and spend and exorbitant amount of time on Pinterest. And then the wedding day rolls around, if a professional isn’t hired there are a few scenarios that will play out. Scenario number one: you will be the day of coordinator. Questions will be directed to you, you’ll be responsible for making sure that guests are comfortable and vendors have what they need to fulfill their services. Scenario number two: you rely on the venue coordinator or another vendor to take over day of management. For couples who fall into this category, you will still find yourselves in scenario one for the most part. The venue coordinator’s role is to serve you from the venue’s standpoint primarily. Scenario number three: the “Darwin method.” This scenario is where the loudest person in the room takes over. For better or worse, they will make your wedding day happen according to whatever information or inspiration they may have. (We all know who this person in our lives would be!)
When you hire a professional planner, you get the chance to communicate your vision prior to the wedding. Your wedding planner will be your advocate with vendors and family. Give yourself the gift of being the bride or groom and not the planner!
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Links from this episode:
Shout out to Glenora Wine Cellars! - www.glenora.comJoin our Facebook Group! - Radiant Weddings
Ria Hy (Wedding Planner)
Website - www.radiantevents.net
Facebook - Radiant Events
Instagram - @radiantevents_flxJoe Hy (Photographer)
Website - www.joehy.com
Facebook - Joe Hy Photography
Instagram - @joehyphotography -
We took on a new aspect of wedding day stress in this episode. Admittedly, this may have been one of our most fun episodes to record due to our juvenile sense of humor but I hope that we were able to convey information to you that will help with planning for a wedding morning filled with calm anticipation.
It’s very easy to overlook the pre-ceremony portion of your day when planning & delegating tasks. Your first order of business should be to consult with your hair & makeup artists regarding a schedule for styling. You should have a time slot for each person’s styling which you then will communicate to your bridal party members. Remember to let them know any additional information from your stylists about the condition that their hair should be to prepare for styling. Second, appoint someone to deliver snacks & drinks to your getting ready location. Third, appoint someone to keep luggage and wedding day apparel organized.
On a wedding morning, we often come into getting ready rooms that are cluttered and and disorganized. This inevitably leads to a frantic search for a missing pair of underwear or other important detail. We recommend keeping all extra luggage in a separate bedroom from the getting ready space. Before you start getting ready, bring all wedding day apparel into one easy to access location (dresses, shoes, jewelry etc.). Make sure that all of your bridal details needed for detail shots (dress, veil, jewelry, shoes, invitation etc.) are set aside for the photographer. Ask your “luggage and apparel” appointee to pack all of your personal belongings into your overnight bag if you’ll be staying in a different location on your wedding night. Lastly, appoint your bridal party members to go through the space and make sure that all personal belongings are packed up and organized before you leave the getting ready space.
Listen to more from the Radiant Weddings Podcast! - www.radiantevents.net/podcastJoin our Facebook Group! - Radiant Weddings
Ria Hy (Wedding Planner)
Website - www.radiantevents.net
Facebook - Radiant Events
Instagram - @radiantevents_flxJoe Hy (Photographer)
Website - www.joehy.com
Facebook - Joe Hy Photography
Instagram - @joehyphotography -
In this episode we discuss the importance of creating flexibility within your expectations of your wedding day. Although it is necessary to have a vision and plan for your wedding day, it is also necessary to allow for alternatives in case those plans change as you go. There should only be one circumstance that would truly ruin your day-not getting married. Besides that, I suggest determining your three top priorities that are most within your control.
These three "non-negotiables" could be something like having a religious ceremony or the song that you play for your first dance. They should depend as little on other individuals as possible and be fluid to fit a variety of scenarios. As the most important elements of your day, these non-negotiables will help guide your planning process. If wedding plans should need to change, these will be the things that you keep in mind as you replan.
Links from this episode:
Radiant Weddings Episode 6Join our Facebook Group! - Radiant Weddings
Ria Hy (Wedding Planner)
Website - www.radiantevents.net
Facebook - Radiant Events
Instagram - @radiantevents_flxJoe Hy (Photographer)
Website - www.joehy.com
Facebook - Joe Hy Photography
Instagram - @joehyphotography -
We’ve reached our tenth podcast episode! In this episode we discuss the fact that it’s easy for couples to overlook the maintenance and nurturing of their relationship while wedding planning due to the sheer number of decisions that need to be made. Thankfully, there are some practical ways to ensure that you are planning your wedding together. As always, communication is key to hearing each other’s desires and needs in how the day is planned. We also discuss the need for taking time to just date and have dedicated time away from talking about the wedding or wedding plans.
A few other significant notes from our conversation are:
1:00 Joe's thanks to the "little people" who produce our podcast...namely himself.We're were on the news! WETM interviewed us about the Covid-19 impact on weddings. We spoke about wedding delays, elopements, and changing plans. I loved the opportunity to represent this industry that I love and talk about the struggles that vendors and couples alike are facing. There was only one little note in the article where they named Joe as co-owner of Radiant Events...a promotion that I didn't approve. Maybe I’ll have to rethink his position :).
4:00 We took Jade camping for the first time and since she loved it so much, Joe believes that we should have her take her naps in the yard.
15:00 Joe learned that chevron is not a fabric but rather that chiffon is. We decided that it's probably good that he's not a wedding planner.
16:20 Joe is sensitive about his food sensitivity. Since he has some dietary restrictions, we had my sister-in-law bake our personal sized wedding cake to accommodate his needs. Although the cake was delicious and not a sacrifice at all, this was one way that we went out of our way to make sure that we both were cared for in our wedding.
17:45 Taste in description….this cake is truly delicious!
mmmm
Thanks for listening!
-Ria & Joe
www.radiantevents.net
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Wedding planning is never a complete cake walk is it? In times when the whole world is off it’s normal axis, the difficulty is amplified. We know that many of you are grieving a loss of wedding plans that you’ve spent time and dreaming and money on. Allow yourself to grieve this loss and take some time to evaluate how you want to proceed! Your wedding day is a sacred day because it marks the beginning of your new family.
We have compiled some resources to help you if you are a couple that is currently planning a future wedding or a couple that isn’t able to have your wedding this spring. The following vendors are offering services for making an intimate elopement more beautiful and special as well as remote planning services for couples who are planning future weddings.
The Cakeshop CNYThe Cakeshop CNY is offering:
To go tastings coupled with phone and email consultations to discuss the details. and create order via email or phone.Small versions of wedding cakes for intimate ceremonies.A collaboration with She Rents Vintage for adding a small cake to an elopement package with options for furniture, tableware, and ceremony set up.(315) 685-5349
Ba-Li CravingsBa-Li Cravings is offering:
Zoom & Google Hangouts for consultationsElopement package-catering, photographer, flowers and a few venue options or drop off of items(607) [email protected]
Heart to Heart BrideHeart to Heart Bride is offering:
Virtual Consultations and Heart to Heart at Home-an at home wedding dress shopping experience. You can find the details at:
www.hearttoheartbride.com/heart-to-heart-at-home
Nostalgic InnovationsNostalgic Innovations is offering a special videography package for Covid couples who are eloping or having a smaller version of their wedding day. They will shoot, edit, do a prompt online posting of your ceremony so that you can share it with your loved ones who couldn’t be there with you.
315-761-1632
Pistil & PollenPistil & Pollen is teaming up with The North Farm and Lindsay Stephany Photography to offer curated elopement packages for couples being affected by COVID and just for all couples in general! They are also teaming up with Rachel Liz Photography for outdoor elopements.
(585) 944-9723
In BloomRachel with In Bloom Florals currently offering video or phone consultations along with contact free pick up and deliveries.
{607} 426 2123
Black Tie EntertainmentBlack Tie Entertainment is offering all forms of video consultations: FaceTime, Skype, Zoom. They can also still remotely produce any video or music editing that anyone might need.
315.492.7985
Radiant WeddingsWe are offering an elopement package with photography, planning assistance for those who are rescheduling or planning a future wedding, and coaching!
315-719-7120
Marriage LicenseYou can now apply for your marriage license online in NY.
Moral SupportJoin us over on our Radiant Weddings Facebook Group for moral support and helpful tips!
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Budgets are a popular and important topic in wedding planning but too often I see them become the deciding factor for the majority of wedding decisions. This leads to couples choosing vendors that really aren't a great fit for them and frustration when "cheap" choices don't deliver. Many times a so called cheap choice will prove to be more expensive when they don't come through and need to be replaced.
Minimalism in wedding planning is both a style as well as being very intentional about every dollar that you spend. You will ensure that the vendors and the design decisions that you make are what you really want instead of just looking at the dollar amount that you're spending. When you choose minimalism, you remove the obligation to spend on elements of a typical wedding day that aren't important to you. For example, you may choose to eliminate the wedding cake if you really aren't into cake. Minimalism emphasizes the individual quality of your choices. Being "cheap" means that you're spreading your money thin instead of giving it focus on your priorities.
As a style, minimalism focuses on clean lines and uncluttered spaces. For more inspiration go here.
Find us at Radiant Events and Joe Hy Photography -
In light of current events of the quarantine due to Covid-19, we are discussing the other options of getting married besides having a large gathering of your friends and family. An elopement is typically a ceremony where only the two of you are present with the officiant and witnesses. Another option is an intimate ceremony with immediate family and maybe a few close friends. These options both can be made just as special and beautiful as a full wedding with a crowd.
A full wedding where you celebrate with those you love is a wonderful event but it isn't necessary to beginning your marriage. Your marriage is the moment where you officially commit your lives to each other in the presence of someone licensed to perform a marriage. A wedding is a celebration of your marriage. An elopement is an excellent option for not delaying the marriage until you are logistically and financially able to have a wedding. You can even choose to include your loved ones by live streaming the moment for them to see remotely.
If you were to plan an elopement, where would you choose to elope?
Find us at Radiant Events and Joe Hy Photography
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www.radiantevents.net/podcast
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www.radiantevents.net
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How to handle opinionated family and friends and how to avoid stress on your wedding day and throughout the planning process.
What wedding topics would you like to hear discussed? Contact us through our sites.
radiantevents.net
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How to save, spend and budget your money for your wedding. Ria and Joe Hy share their experience and expertise on how best to manage your money when creating your wedding day.
www.radiantevents.net
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Joe and Ria both love weddings and have found a new appreciation for them since having their own. In this episode, they share why they view weddings with such value and why they believe weddings are worth celebrating.
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One of the chief sources of stress in wedding planning happens within the hiring of and relationship with vendors. Weddings are a significant investment regardless of your budget. Most couples make price the only deciding factor in their vendor choices rather than first considering the vendor’s quality of service. All too often, this is a decision that is later regretted after the deposit is paid or it’s too late to cancel a contract and hire another vendor. My husband and I decided to cut a couple of corners financially in our wedding planning and we later regretted it. From one bride to another, do yourself a favor and make sure that you’re actually confident with the vendors that you’re choosing before considering their prices!
