The Feel Good Wedding Podcast by Polka Dot Wedding: Recent Episodes
Polka Dot Wedding
Meet our wedding podcast! We love stories at Polka Dot Wedding. The thrill of telling them is what gets us out of bed every single morning. That’s why, after 15 years of sharing them in written form, we want to go a little deeper. Enter The Feel Good Wedding Podcast, which features the stories of Australian wedding couples from all walks of life. You’ll also from vendors- their advice and tips, and for those in the wedding industry, there's even something for you! trials and tribulations of business ownership. Expect a fair dose of fun along the way! Find more, including episode show notes and full transcripts on http://www.polkadotwedding.com/podcast
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.
Often, there’s a dilemma when it comes to wedding photos. We all want to have beautiful pictures that contain even just a speck of the emotion of the day—but so many of us feel awkward in front of the camera.
Fortunately, this isn’t an impossible problem. This month's guest, Dani Bartlett exemplifies our point that no one is truly “unphotogenic.” All they need to do is find the right photographer that helps them get comfortable.
Dani is the face, the talent behind Melbourne-based wedding photography studio, Dani Bartlett Photography, providing wedding photography and family portraits for lovers of fun and colour.
In this chat, we discuss:
- How to not feel awkward posing for wedding photos
- What to look for in wedding photographers
- Balancing candid and formal photographers
- Completely candid vs guided candid photographers
- Games for candid photography
- Effective posing techniques
- Breathing fresh life into family portraits
Your wedding photos are treasures you only have one day of getting. You’ll probably look through hundreds of wedding photographers as you search for the right one. One way to help you is to look through their galleries. That way, you can get a clearer sense of the ins and outs of their work throughout the ceremony.
When you’ve chosen a photographer, communication is key. Meet with them in person, have dinner, and just chat to help you get to know them better and—importantly—feel more comfortable. How relaxed you feel with them allows you to feel more confident in front of the camera on your pre-wedding shoot and wedding day, and it’ll translate in the photos.
Ultimately, what’s important is to trust your photographer and have fun. Communicate what you want and trust their direction. They might throw a prompt or game at you to lighten your portraits. Go with the flow. Explore where the prompts take you; you’d be surprised at how lovely you and your partner look when you’re just relaxing and having fun.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Dani Bartlett Photography
Find Dani Bartlett Photography:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Dani Bartlett Photography
On Facebook: Dani Bartlett Photography
On Instagram: @danibartlettphotography
On Pinterest: Dani Bartlett Photography
Find Dani Bartlett:
On LinkedIn: Danielle (O’Halloran) Bartlett
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’s style isn’t just about aesthetics. Floral and event designer Steph Jordan makes sure that every design detail and flower arrangement reflects the couple accurately.
Steph is the Owner and Director of Nunu Designs, award-winning wedding florists passionate about making your event even better than how you imagined.
In this chat we discuss:
● The difference between a wedding stylist and wedding florist
● Hiring the right wedding stylist and florist
● How to start the styling process
● Bringing style and floral ideas to life
● Budgeting for styling
● Deciding the final look
● Personalising a wedding’s style
● Streamlining the styling process
Arguably, one of the most critical parts of a wedding is its look. Whether you’ve been thinking about what your dream wedding would look like since you were a kid, saved design inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram, or haven’t got a clue about flower pairings, a professional stylist and florist will help you bring your ideas to life.
It’s integral to build trust and a rapport with your vendor. Ultimately, it’s a collaboration between you and them.
Meeting with the stylist, whether face-to-face or online, allows you to explain your thoughts in detail to help them make the best design decisions on your behalf. They can help you stay within your budget while maintaining the wow factor and personalisation of your wedding.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Nunu Designs
Find Nunu Designs:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Nunu Designs
On Facebook: Nunu Designs
On Instagram: @nunuau
On Pinterest: @nunudesignsau
Find Steph Jordan:
On LinkedIn: Stephanie Jordan
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.
People marvel at weddings, but it’s the preparation and hard work that makes it happen in the first place! For this week’s episode, the Polka Dot Wedding team chats about the mental load of wedding planning. The pressure to plan typically falls on the bride, but Ms Polka (Dot), Ms Rose (Mary), and Ms Peacock (Julia) give tips on how to share the work load as a couple.
In this chat we discuss:
- How we each approached planning our own weddings
- The pros and cons of DIY weddings
- Planning your wedding together as a couple
- Wedding mission statements
- Protecting your emotional bandwidth
- The post-wedding comedown
- How to have fun while wedding planning
Weddings are a celebration of a couple’s love story, so it’s only right that both partners are involved in the planning process.
Before you begin, draft a wedding mission statement together. Write down and decide the most important aspects of your wedding. The mission statement will serve as your guide, allowing you to prioritize what’s essential and to compromise on what’s not. It also ensures that both of your wishes are reflected on your big day.
If you’d like, you can create a joint email address so that both partners are always in the loop about wedding planning. Attending meetings together is also a good strategy. Always be open and honest about how you’re feeling and the responsibilities that each of you can take on. It’s important to spend time together outside of wedding planning and to make time for self-care.
When things get too overwhelming, don’t be afraid to seek help. Delegate tasks to friends and family members who are willing to step up. Lean on your vendors because they can help lighten your mental load. Hire a wedding planner or give yourself more time, if that’s what you need.
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.
Music enhances whatever emotion we feel in the moment. That’s why it’s so important to curate your wedding playlist. To help us get started, musician Lucas Evans reveals his favourite songs to play at weddings that really sets the mood.
Lucas is the drummer and band leader of Orlando Combo, one of Melbourne’s finest jazz bands. The band regularly performs at the Australian Tennis Open, Australian Grand Prix, AFL Grand Finals, and of course, weddings!
In this chat we discuss:
- About Orlando Combo
- Orlando Combo's jazz wedding repertoire
- Setting the mood for the ceremony and reception
- Music for guests of all ages
- Building the ultimate wedding playlist
- The perks of live bands
- Rearranging songs for the wedding
- Lucas’ go-to song for weddings
Before you start building your ultimate wedding playlist, consider the flow of the day. For the ceremony, you can have instrumental music or music with lyrics. If you choose the latter, make sure the message of the song suits the occasion. Typically, gentle melodies work best during the processional and then it’s followed by more upbeat tunes during the recessional.
The volume of music is also worth paying attention to. Guests will want to mingle and chat at the start of the reception, so light music should be sufficient. The music shouldn’t be at full blast the whole time, because it can make the wedding feel a little one note (pun intended!).
The perks of having a live band like Orlando Combo is that they’re skilled musicians who can read the room and adjust accordingly. Couples can also ask a live band to reimagine personally meaningful songs so that it’s included in their big day. Song choice does matter, but how they’re performed definitely affects the crowd’s engagement and enjoyment.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Orlando Combo
What Would They Know? Lucas Evans of Orlando Combo
Find Orlando Combo:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Orlando Combo
orlandocombo.com.au
On Instagram: @orlandocombo
On Facebook: Orlando Combo
On YouTube: @OrlandoCombojazzbandMelbourne
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.
“The way you get married is how you’re going to be married.” Those wise words came from Josh Withers, wedding celebrant extraordinaire and our guest on Episode #25 of The Feel Good Wedding Podcast. The ceremony kicks off married life, and according to Josh, you want it to be as intentional as possible.
Apart from being a wedding celebrant, Josh is also the author of The Rebel’s Guide to Getting Married. He and his wife Britt are the founders of the Elopement Collective, a team of vendors that create epic elopements in Australia and around the world.
In this chat we discuss:
- The history of wedding celebrancy
- The Rebel’s Guide to Getting Married
- Personalizing the wedding ceremony
- Overcoming stage fright
- Honouring your identity and story with unique elements
- How to deal with pushback from friends and family
To personalise your wedding ceremony, begin by reflecting on who you are and what you value as a couple. From there, pick out vendors who understand how to make your vision come to life.
Now, what you’d like to include in your ceremony is entirely up to you. If you feel like you have to incorporate non-traditional elements, go for it! There might be some qualms about it, but your family and friends will understand as long as you speak to them from a place of love.
Vows and readings don’t have to be flashy, they just have to be true. Some couples get stage fright standing in front of a crowd. To overcome this, choose the venue, time, and guests that you’re most comfortable in. You’ll feel a lot less nervous when you’re in right environment. Remember: the wedding ceremony isn’t about putting on a show. It’s about celebrating your union in the most authentic way possible.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Josh Withers
Elopement Collective
Understanding “The Wedding Tax” With Josh Withers
Find Josh Withers:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Josh Withers Wedding Celebrant
withers.co/celebrant
On Instagram: @hellojoshwithers
On Facebook: Josh Withers
On LinkedIn: Josh Withers
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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
Dressing your wedding party can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be if you talk about the important stuff early on. Here with us today is Tessa Hartnett of Bridesmaids Only, giving us tips on how to coordinate outfits without the stress!
Tessa is the owner of Bridesmaids Only, your one-stop shop for wedding party attire. With over 10,000 designs, they have a wide range of styles, colours, fabrics and sizes that cater to every body type. Their “Try Before You Buy” service is a godsend, allowing bridesmaids to try on outfits in the comfort of their own homes.
In this chat we discuss:
- About Bridesmaids Only
- Sensitive conversations with your wedding party
- When to start preparing wedding attire
- Who pays for wedding attire?
- Styling according to wedding theme
- Accommodating everybody’s preferences
- Future trends for wedding party outfits
Before you begin the shopping process, it’s important to discuss the budget and style preferences of your wedding party. Knowing all these details beforehand will make for a much smoother coordination of outfits. With that being said, allot around four to six months of preparation so you can have a good array of options.
There is no set rule for who should pay for the wedding attire. But generally, the bridesmaids and groomsmen purchase their own apparel that they are happy to keep in their wardrobes. If the couple insists on a certain style, they usually shoulder the costs for their wedding party.
When it comes to matching the wedding theme, a specific colour or fabric is a helpful starting point. Mixing and matching styles is another great option to accommodate multi-gendered parties. Never underestimate what flower bouquets can do to make a look cohesive!
Ultimately, each person will have their own taste. Respecting everyone’s choices so they can look and feel their best is key to dressing your wedding party.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Bridesmaids Only
Find Bridesmaids Only:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Bridesmaids Only
bridesmaidsonly.com.au
On Instagram: @bridesmaidsonly
On Facebook: Bridesmaids Only
On Pinterest: @TheOnlyCo
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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
Weddings are usually multi-venue affairs, but there are definitely perks to having the ceremony and reception all in one place. With a venue like Zonzo Estate, which houses a farm, restaurant, and winery, you’ll want for nothing more.
Rod Micallef, the director of Zonzo Estate, is here to talk about their humble beginnings as a restaurant and how they became one of the most booked wedding venues in Yarra Valley. Fun fact: Rod met his wife at Zonzo Estate and of course, got married there!
In this chat we discuss:
- Zonzo Estate's unique approach to weddings
- Zonzo Estate's restaurant, farm, and winery
- Advantages of having one venue for your wedding day
- Creating a network of trusted suppliers
- How to choose your all-in-one venue
- A seamless wedding day at Zonzo Estate
- All-in-one venue vs blank canvas space
- Styling the venue tastefully
- How Zonzo Estate stays on trend
Having a single venue for your big day isn’t always cheaper, but it’s a lot less work for everyone involved. Parking and transportation become non-issues since there is only one location. Guests can make themselves comfortable without having to think of a place to wait at until the reception. The couple isn’t rushed from location to location either, allowing them to go at their own pace. All in all, the day flows better and there are more opportunities for the guests and couple to mingle.
There are a few things to consider when choosing your all-in-one venue. Are there multiple sites? Weddings take a full day, and it can feel like a long day without a change of scenery. Ask about weather contingency plans and the overall flow of the ceremony and reception. Couples are also encouraged to meet the staff so they can gauge if they feel comfortable with them and their service.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Zonzo Estate
Vendor of the Week – Zonzo Estate
What Would They Know? Rod Micallef of Zonzo Estate
Find Zonzo Estate:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Zonzo Estate
www.zonzo.com.au
On Instagram: @zonzoestate
On TikTok: @zonzo_estate
On YouTube: @zonzoestate
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
Stories are at the heart of what we do at Polka Dot Wedding. And we’ve got room for all kinds of them! As a blog and an online membership for vendors in our directory, we want everyone to feel represented and included in the weddings we feature. Today in a very special episode, two of the Polka Dot Wedding team sit down to chat about why we’re so passionate about inclusivity and the wedding industry.
In this chat, we discuss:
- The humble beginnings of Polka Dot Wedding
- The Polka Dot Wedding team
- Inclusivity in wedding blogs
- Changing the name “Polka Dot Bride”
- Polka Dot Wedding’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity
- How to be featured on Polka Dot Wedding
- The perks of the Polka Dot Wedding membership
Polka Dot Wedding was founded nearly two decades ago. Before the advent of social media, there weren’t a lot of online resources to turn to. Dorothy turned to blogging as means to share her love and excitement for all things weddings.
Dorothy has always been conscious of showcasing diverse stories. But it wasn’t until she read about Zee Scott’s experience of racism that led her to re-evaluate Polka Dot Wedding’s commitment to inclusivity.
To make a safe, shared space for everyone, Polka Dot Wedding’s efforts include removing offensive words and inappropriate imagery and adding subtitles, transcripts, and image descriptions on all applicable forms of media. With a monthly target to keep them accountable, the team actively seeks out stories that represent all kinds of ages, sizes, gender, and disabilities.
If you would like to submit a story, head on over to Polka Dot Submissions. For vendors who are interested to be a part of our directory, join the Polka Dot Family here. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Talking Business: The Juggle Of Businesses, Passion & Life With Zee Scott
The Polka Dot Wedding Diversity & Inclusion Statement
Polka Dot You
Polka Dot Featured
Polka Dot Made
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
What’s better than one wedding? TWO weddings, of course! Polka Dot You Bride Racquela Hill talks about her own nupitals and how she made the best of them despite all the things that didn’t go as planned!
In this chat we discuss:
- How Racquela and Michael met
- Racquela & Michael’s intimate first wedding
- Their second wedding at Kantara House
- Choosing wedding gowns
- Highlighting the venue’s natural charms
- Racquela and Michael’s wedding vendors
- How to adapt to unforeseen events
- Advantages of a nearby honeymoon
- Dealing with post-wedding blues
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Folk Lane Photo
Elliatt
The Boys Studio
Bonnie Lass Films
Marry Me Sarah B
Sydney Flower Market
MB Apparel
SK Menswear
Kantara House
Brewbike
Honey-Belle Cakery
Red Soda Band
Kartik Kuna
Hey Sweet Peach
Creative Booth
Ervan Woo
Events to Adore
The Iconic
Rebecca Vallance
Read more of Racquela’s stories on Polka Dot Wedding:
Racquela’s “How To Marry A Guy In 10 Days” Wedding To Michael
Racquela & Michael’s Perfect Dreamy & Stormy Wedding Day!
Racquela & Michael’s Honeymoon Tales in New South Wales
Pandemic Planning: A Love Letter To COVID Couples!
A Helpful Guide For The Post-Wedding Blues
Racquela & Michael’s Honeymoon Tales in New South Wales
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
You know what they say, "First impressions last." This is why wedding stationery should never be overlooked. Invitations provide a glimpse of what your special day will be like. On a practical level, they also contain important information for your guests.
To help us make sense of wedding stationery, Natalie Reidy of A Tactile Perception shares her industry expertise. She is passionate about being creative with paper and stationery, providing a totally touchable experience for her couples over anything digital. When she's not designing, Natalie enjoys being at home with her partner, two children and two-step children, and baking something chocolatey in the kitchen!
In this chat we discuss:
- When to look for a stationery designer
- Different kinds of printing
- Planning a cohesive aesthetic
- Inclusions of a basic stationery set suite
- How to personalize wedding stationery
- 2023 trends for wedding stationery
- Eco-friendly wedding stationery
- Addressing and wording the wedding invites
- Other stationery to consider
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
A Tactile Perception
Find Natalie Reidy:
On Polka Dot Wedding: A Tactile Perception
atactileperception.com.au
On Instagram: @atactileperception
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
Like most industries, there is a growing trend from florists, wedding planners, and couples looking to make their weddings more sustainable. The big question is, where do you start? According to Kris McKee of Kris McKee Floral Design, to go down the sustainable route, you need to make ethical choices in the flowers and construction techniques you use to make your presentation. The good news is you don't have to break the bank or sacrifice beauty to be successful.
Kris McKee is a former nurse, and an independent florist with a strong focus on creating designs that are beautiful, original, full of personality, unique, and, most importantly, bring joy. She is also committed to creating florals with a sustainable focus that prioritizes the negative impact on our environment.
In this chat, we discuss:
- Why Kris became a florist
- How a nursing career shaped how Kris runs her flower business
- The sentimental value of flowers
- Understanding the language of flowers
- How to make sustainable flower choices for your wedding
- How bad is floral foam for the environment?
- Ways to reduce the environmental impact of your wedding
- How to have a wonderful flower display and still keep to your budget
- Tips for choosing a florist for your wedding
- Great ways to donate flowers after a wedding
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Kris McKee Floral Design
Find Kris:
On her website: Kris McKee Floral Design
On Polka Dot Wedding: Kris McKee Floral Design
Kris on Instagram: @kris.floraldesign
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
Aside from the favours, the only things you can really take home from a wedding are the memories and photos. Choosing the right photographer is crucial so that your special day is remembered the way you want it to. As an expert himself, Leo Farrell of Leo Farrell Photography knows that a photographer’s skills, style, and personality can make or break a couple’s photos.
Leo is a wedding photojournalist based in Melbourne. When he was just starting out, his documentary-style photography stood out from the mainstream approach of posed photography. Until now, he has a penchant for capturing candid interactions between couples and their guests.
In this chat we discuss:
- How to choose a photographer
- The photographer's role on the wedding day
- Different photography styles and treatment
- Lighting in different times and seasons
- How important is your wedding timeline
- Wedding photographer’s packages and hours
- Is a shot list necessary?
- Making portrait sessions stress free
- A photographer’s pre- and post-wedding preparations
Couples can look for photographers on Google and Instagram. Referrals from friends, vendors, and celebrants can also give you good leads.
A preliminary meeting with a photographer will give you insight on their personality and shooting style. Do you prefer candid or posed photos? Do you prefer romantic lighting or a moodier aesthetic? Do you get along well with him or her? These are all important factors to consider.
On the wedding day itself, a professional photographer should ideally provide reminders to the couple and keep track of the timeline. Couples don’t have to provide a shot list, but it would be helpful to communicate if they want to document specific guests and moments.
A photographer’s work doesn’t end after the wedding and reception. They have to back up their files and then send highlights that the couple can share. Bear in mind that post-processing images may take up to a few weeks to finish.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Leo Farrell Photography
Find Leo Farrell:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Leo Farrell Photography
www.leofarrell.com
On Instagram: @leofarrellphoto
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.
“Why are you having a wedding?” might be an unusual question to ask engaged couples, but Kat Wray believes this is the starting point for intentional wedding planning.
Kat is an elopement and small wedding photographer at Red Eclectic. She is also the editor of Less Stuff - More Meaning, an eco-ethical wedding blog. Kat is passionate about mindful and sustainable weddings that are genuine and full of character.
In this chat we discuss:
- How to come up with your marriage mission statement
- Finding vendors with the same values
- Managing unsolicited advice and your guest list
- Incorporating culture, religion, & tradition
- Creating less formulaic, more intentional moments
- Staying mindful on your wedding day
- Wedding planning is a joint effort
- Reducing the environmental impact of your wedding
Links & Vendors Mentioned:Red Eclectic
Less Stuff - More Meaning
Wedding Footprint Calculator
Find Kat Wray:On Polka Dot Wedding: Red Eclectic
www.redeclectic.com.au
On Instagram: @redeclectic
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
Running a wedding business is a handful, but Zee Scott runs three AND makes it look like a cakewalk!
Zee’s love for sweets and performing led her to become a baker, MC, and marriage celebrant. Admittedly, she doesn’t get to sleep much¾not because of work, but because she can’t contain her excitement for life!
In this chat we discuss:
- What it’s like to run several wedding businesses
- Managing burn out
- CRM tools & automation tips
- Being a trendsetter, not a follower
- Being a BIPOC woman in the Australian wedding industry
- How businesses can convey genuine inclusivity
- What's next for Zee Scott in 2023?
It’s easy to get caught up in trends, especially in the wedding industry. Instead of copying what’s in, Zee sticks to her own unique style. She advises other entrepreneurs to be confident in their value proposition and identity.
As a Black business owner, Zee also shares tips for how businesses can be more inclusive. The first step is to examine your marketing materials and language. Update them and collaborate with different communities. Keep on educating yourself, whether through self-study or through a consultant.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Zee Scott on Polka Dot Wedding
Zee Scott
17hats
Zapier
Find Zee Scott:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Zee Scott
www.zeescott.com
On Instagram: @zeescott__
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
Engagement season is upon us! In honour of that, we’ve put together this engagement ring guide with Melbourne jeweller Jasmine Fraser .
She’s been in the biz for 16 years, carefully handcrafting custom jewellery for special occasions. Her grandfather owned a jewellery store, so Jasmine’s love for gems and trinkets started at an early age. In fact, she went to trade school right after high school. Jasmine describes her pieces and signature style as “timeless, but with a contemporary edge”.
In this chat we discuss:
- Customizing an engagement ring
- Ready-made vs custom jewellery
- How to choose the right jeweller
- The four C's of diamonds
- Sourcing ethical jewellery
- How to surprise your partner with a ring
- Remodelling rings
- Matching engagement rings and wedding bands
- Proposing without a ring
Where does one begin in choosing an engagement ring? To start, it’s a good idea to put together a mood board of styles that you and your partner like. Oftentimes, a common theme will stand out that will help narrow down your choice.
Some people prefer picking out a ready-made piece because they can immediately try it on. With custom rings, you can be very detailed with how you want it to look. This is why it’s important to work with a jeweller that shares the same aesthetic preference as you, and whom you can trust.
If you’d like to remodel an old ring, the jeweller will first have to examine if the material is suitable. Whichever option you go for, keep in mind that an engagement ring can someday become a beloved family heirloom that you’ll want to keep for generations.
Find Jasmine Fraser Jewellery:
On Polka Dot Wedding: Jasmine Fraser
www.jasminefraser.com.au
On Instagram: @jasminefraserjewellery
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
The dancefloor is not the only place where the music matters. Award-winning DJ and MC, Serge Olivieri of DJ:Plus! Entertainment, would definitely agree.
Although Serge found himself servicing weddings by accident, he has grown so fond of them that couples make up the bulk of his clientele. He’s been doing this for over 40 years now, and seeing such powerful emotions during weddings never fails to make him feel fulfilled.
In this chat we discuss:
- What to consider before booking entertainment
- Setting up the vibe with music
- Coordination of your wedding music, right down to the songs
- Customizing the first dance song
- How wedding music has changed over the decades
- Getting people to the dance floor
Whether you’re thinking of booking a DJ, comedian, dancer or musical act, check your venue for any restrictions. Some venues have policies regarding the volume or type of music you can play.
As for your entertainment provider, it’s crucial to know if they have a backup plan. In case they are unable to make it, they should be able to arrange for a replacement on short notice.
Wedding music really sets the tone for your celebration. Serge recommends playing upbeat songs during cocktail hour and dinner to keep the mood light and fun. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have romantic songs! Slow tunes work best at the start of the reception, rather than towards the end if you want to keep the party going.
Ultimately, couples should get to play their favourite songs. Guests will flock to the dancefloor if they’re also enjoying the music, so don’t forget to consider them too!
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
DJ:Plus! Entertainment
What Would They Know? Serge Olivieri of DJ:Plus! Entertainment
Find DJ:Plus! Entertainment:
On Polka Dot Wedding: DJ:Plus! Entertainment
www.djplus.com.au
On Instagram: @djplus.entertainment
On Facebook: /DJPlusEntertainment
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
When it comes to DIY weddings, we aim for a celebration where we get to decorate the space based on who we are. Years on from her big day and with plenty of golden advice to share, Amy Frank joins today’s episode to dive into her DIY wedding and how she and Malen transformed an old warehouse into a beautifully colourful and handmade day that was definitely one to remember.
Amy Franks is a DIY expert who owns a graphic design (Crumpet Club) and event party business (Make Parties). Her aim for her DIY projects is to bring bright, beautiful, and full colours to her pieces be it crafted papers, streamers, and many more creative pieces to represent not only the occasion but the personality of the person at the heart of the celebration.
In this chat we discuss:
- How Amy & Malen's story began, including the proposal
- Their pre-wedding celebration "FranksFest"
- The DIY decorations that symbolised Amy and Malin's relationship
- How Amy decided what to DIY herself and what to hand over to the pros
- How Amy and Malen decided on their wedding day attire and style
- Amy's rave reviews of her vendors
- Advice for couples planning their own DIY days
Links Mentioned:
Amy & Malen’s Colourful & Handmade Wedding In Melbourne
The Line
Fourside Events
Twelve South Bridal
MJ Bale
Mister Zimi
Peggy & Finn
Brooke Clarke
Sugar Republic
Bangin Hangins
Tanya Voltchanskaya
Find Amy:
Amy’s Instagram
Crumpet Club
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
Catering is one of those subtle things that can make or break your wedding. It’s a given that the food and drinks should be amazing; but when it’s not, it can leave a negative impression.
This is why we have Lauren Davie with us today, to help us steer clear of catering disasters. Lauren is the sales and marketing manager at The Farm Café, the exclusive wedding provider at Melbourne’s Collingwood Children's Farm.
In this chat we discuss:
- Booking a caterer on a budget
- Family-style feast or cocktail reception?
- Qualities of an experienced caterer
- Managing portions and different dietary requirements
- Menu tasting by The Farm Cafe
- How to pair drinks with food
- Availability of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Setting up a champagne tower
Most couples will have a specific budget for catering. Some vendors are more affordable than others, and there’s often a reason for that. The difference in food quality, portion, and service are not always obvious, which is why attending menu tastings can be helpful.
To avoid complications, book a caterer that can supply both food and drinks. An experienced caterer will know how to pair the two, as well as provide enough portions for your guests. In Lauren’s experience, she notes:
“Anyone who's done a few weddings will know how important obviously, the drinks are. And if they haven't made that association of it running out, it's generally a sign. Maybe they're not concerned, maybe they haven't thought about it. Or maybe they don't have the experience you're looking for in a caterer.”
Couples should communicate early on what’s important to them. Guests’ dietary requirements and any feedback should be conveyed so the caterer can plan and adjust accordingly.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
What Would They Know? Lauren Davie of Catering by The Farm Café
Collingwood Children’s Farm
The Farm Café
Find The Farm Cafe:
On Polka Dot Wedding: The Farm Cafe
farmcafe.com.au
On Instagram: @farmcafe_weddings
On Facebook: The Farm Cafe
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
Weddings are a celebration of love. It only seems fair that couples get to decide how it’s done! For Molly and Malcolm, they had a “no compromises” kind of mindset when it came to wedding planning.
From the ceremony, venue, music, down to the attire, Molly and Malcolm’s wedding was 100% their own. In this chat, they shared all the intimate details of their nuptials and how their chosen vendors fulfilled their vision of a dramatic and moody wedding.
In this chat we discuss:
· How Molly and Malcolm first met
· Molly and Malcolm's engagement story
· Deciding on a wedding theme
· How they booked the Old Melbourne Jail
· Their special ceremony that made everyone cry
· Unique music arrangements and party favours
· Finding and trusting your vendors
· Communication while wedding planning
As a self-proclaimed quirky couple, Molly and Malcolm knew their day would be nothing like the usual cookie-cutter weddings. Instead of doing things for tradition’s sake, they were intentional about each aspect. Since they were funding their wedding themselves, there was no pressure to conform to other people’s standards.
Links & Vendors Mentioned:
Molly & Malcolm’s Moody Candlelit Wedding At Old Melbourne Gaol
Showtime Event Group
Botanics of Melbourne
d’Italia
Review
Georgia Verrells Photography
Dave Le Page Photography
Bagpipes by Robert Crozier
Torte by Mirjana
Suzi Zutic
Find Molly & Malcolm:
On Instagram
Molly @molly_jean_
Malcolm @cassingles
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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.
There's a misconception that country weddings are more difficult to plan due to the lack of vendors and venues. in celebration of The Country Issue, country wedding photographer Kirsten Cunningham is here with us today to dispel this myth!
Kirsten (she/her) is a full-time wedding photographer based in Orange, New South Wales. She's had five years of experience shooting couples across Orange, Blue Mountains, Mudgee, Bathurst, and the central west. Her photography style is an extension of her personality: candid, relaxed, and very natural. She loves the outdoors and she is an absolute pro at capturing photos using natural light.
In this chat we discuss:
- All about Kirsten's hometown of Orange, New South Wales and why you're going to fall in love with it
- Advantages of a country wedding
- Wedding photography in natural light and scenery
- Arranging transportation for guests
- Finding the right country wedding vendors
- Perks of sourcing local vendors and materials
- Availability of country wedding venues
- Guest accommodation, information, and activities
- Other amazing places to consider for a country wedding
Country wedding vendors may not be as abundant, but they’re certainly just as talented as the ones from the city. By supporting local, you have access to produce, flowers, and wine that are unique to the region. It’s a complete farm-to-table experience that you can’t get anywhere else.
Links Mentioned:
The Polka Dot Wedding Country Issue
Polka Dot Wedding Directory
Book Orange
YourStay
Stayz
Collits Inn
Tonic Restaurant
Waldara Farm
Find Kirsten:
Kirsten Cunningham Photography on Polka Dot Wedding
Kirsten Cunningham Photography
On Polka Dot Wedding: Kirsten Cunningham
On Instagram: @KirstenCunninghamPhotography
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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 & emerging.
The pandemic has not been kind to the wedding industry. Businesses were hit hard. Dorothy (she/her) sat down with Joel Mailo (he/him) of Sydney photography studio Ava Me Photography, to talk about his career as a wedding photographer, his reflections during the pandemic, and his secret to building good rapport with clients.
Joel is a seasoned wedding photographer at Ava Me Photography for seven years now. His interest in photography began when his first child, Ava, was born. On Facebook, people complimented pictures of his daughter. From then on, he started learning how to work the camera, eventually finding his niche in wedding photography.
On his off days, Joel loves to spend time with his wife and two kids. He enjoys keeping fit through regular exercise and basketball.
In this chat we discuss:
- Joel’s start in wedding photography
- Building and managing client relationships
- How to capture candid moments
- Wedding day tips for photographers
- Business reflections during COVID-19
- Advice for wedding vendors & businesses
Joel’s photos always turn out amazing because he’s able to build strong bonds with couples. How does he do it? He shares, “During my meetings, there's no pressure tactics or anything. It's just this nice casual chat about their wedding day. And that's how we start.
Besides continuing the conversation, you're always trying to touch base with clients. And if they do touch base with you, just to give them as much information as possible. Then there's other things such as pre-wedding shoots that you do. And they're probably the most important ones, because the pre-wedding should really help couples see how you work, get to know you a bit more, and just see that dynamic of a couple photographer and how it's going to work on their wedding day.”
Links Mentioned:
Ava Me Photography on Polka Dot Wedding
Ava Me Photography Website
Ava Me Photography Facebook
Ava Me Photography Instagram
Ava Me Photography Vimeo
Studio Ninja
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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 & emerging.
We all know how planning a wedding can be such a stressful affair. But when the bride is in a wheelchair, that's a whole different level of stress - from choosing and fitting the gown, to finding a wheelchair-accessible wedding venue with adapted restrooms, to needing an expansive dance floor for the wheelchair dance. Throw in the pandemic, and the complexity goes a level higher. But yes, some couples do manage to pull it off. And our guests for this week's episode are one of those couples.
Sian and Gavin's love story is the stuff of dreams. Not only did they get married on Gav's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary, but they also pulled off a seemingly impossible wedding midway through the pandemic.
In this chat, we discuss:
- How Gavin and Sian first met
- Gavin and Sian's engagement story and how Gavin made the proposal as unique as possible
- How Gavin & Sian decided on the details and vendors for their beautifully romantic wedding day
- Wedding venue accessibility checklist
- Tips on how to find the perfect gown, especially if you're in a wheelchair
- The benefits of asking questions when planning a wedding
- How to successfully host an accessible wedding
- Do's and don'ts for an accessible wedding
If you've ever wondered what it's like to get married in a wheelchair, Sian lays it all out for us in today's episode. First, Sian and her husband Gavin were unsure where to start with all the preparations. But the big question was, how exactly does one plan an accessible wedding? Sian explains that there's a lot of preparation involved. The decisions will seem endless, so you need to ask questions. If you're unsure about something or want something done, ask. It's your most important day ever. You, your partner, and your guests deserve a good time.
We hope you enjoyed and found this episode helpful! We’d love for you to share on your socials and tag @polkadotwedding and help us grow our listening community.
For full transcript, links and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Find Sian & Gavin:
On Instagram:
Gavin @gclark91
Sian @sianyc23
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:
On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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 & emerging.
Wedding gowns tend to be the centrepiece outfit but at Polka Dot Wedding, we think suits also deserve the spotlight! Suits shouldn’t be an afterthought, and they never are at InStitchu. Today, Mary (she/her) is joined by Robin McGowan (he/him) who is one of the co-founders of InStitchu.
Robin started InStitchu with James Wakefield in 2012. At that time, they were looking to build their wardrobe of suits for their corporate jobs. It was rather difficult to find a good-fitting suit that was within their budget. From that experience, InStitchu was born to fulfil the need to provide affordable custom-tailored suits.
In this chat we discuss:
- Finding your own personal style
- How to personalize your wedding attire
- Suiting up for hot and cold climate
- Memorable custom outfits by Institchu clients
- Alternative suiting options
- Institchu’s Perfect Fit Guarantee
- Planning a cohesive dress code for wedding parties and guests
- Tips for a comfortable wedding day
We hope you enjoyed this episode! We’d love for you to share on your socials and tag @polkadotwedding and help us grow our listening community.
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
Wedding pro? Join our membership here.
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 & emerging.
We’re back talking business! Today’s episode features a discussion with Ami Summers (she/her) and Dorothy (she/her) about an important topic that’s not talked about enough with wedding vendors: burnout.
Ami is the director and lead coach at Craft Coaching & Development. Her practice is focused on helping individuals adopt a purpose-led business model. As an entrepreneur herself, she knows exactly what it’s like to feel burnt out and lost in business. With 15 years of coaching experience, she uses science-backed techniques and tools to empower her clients to make a positive impact in the world.
Not only is she business minded, but she’s creative too! Ami graduated with a bachelors in Fine Arts and enjoys painting.
In this chat we discuss:
- What is burnout?
- The difference between coaching and clinical therapy
- How to recover from burnout while servicing clients
- Understanding your burnout response
- When to continue, quit, or pivot the business
- Tips to prevent downward spirals
Although burnout seemed like a rather serious topic, our chat was a joy and full of insights.
When asked about how to overcome burnout, this is the advice Ami shared,
“Prioritize filling your own cup. For some people that is just prioritizing a walk in the morning. For other people, it’s getting a great night’s sleep. For other people, it’s planning, eating well, or cutting out alcohol. Or just really looking after their bodies.
Because we’ve been through a lot. It can’t be underestimated—the impact of the last couple of years on our physical, mental and emotional health. So don’t feel guilty about filling up your cup at the moment, because it’s really important for the sustainability of your business.”
We hope you enjoyed this episode! We’d love for you to share on your socials and tag @polkadotwedding and help us grow our listening community.
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
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 & emerging.
INSPIRED WEDDINGS
In our next ‘Inspired Weddings’ episode of The Feel Good Wedding Podcast, Dorothy (she/her) is joined by Ava Chand (she/her), to share the behind the scenes of planning her and Ash’s four day Hindu wedding extravaganza.
Ava is a lawyer who works in financial services and probably the epitome of a corporate millennial, she shares that ‘millennial work memes get me through my work week not gonna lie!’.
When she’s not working, Ava has a couple of creative interests: like styling and decorating her home, going for walks and generally incorporating mindful movement into her day, reading and listening to true crime podcasts (it’s the suspense for Ava!).
Ava and Ash got married in May 2021 and just celebrated their first wedding anniversary.
It was so lovely to have Ava share her experience with us on the podcast.
In this chat we discuss:
- How a four day Hindu wedding celebration works
- How they started their planning and colour palette
- What cultural elements they kept in their celebrations
- And what modern personal touches they included
- Ava’s tips for couples planning a Hindu or cultural wedding
- And Ava’s tips for vendors looking to support couples planning an Indian or cultural wedding
Ava shares, ‘We actually stuck with most of like the religious significance of the Hindu ceremony we kept because, you know, we're not the most religious people in the world, but we knew that it meant a lot to our families and our parents and we wanted them to have that and be happy and kind of feel like they were involved. But in saying that we did have little touches, that we added along the way, to make it a bit more personal to Ash and I, so for example, It's quite traditional for Indian grooms to arrive on a white horse, but Ash actually opted for a white Cadillac. We just added in some contemporary 21st-century vibes!’
We hope you enjoyed this episode! We’d love for you to share on your socials and tag @polkadotwedding and help us grow our listening community.
Visit our website to see the photos and full list of vendors for Ava & Ash’s Wedding.
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding & Sarah Harney.
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 & emerging.
You know we love all the fun, shiny parts of wedding planning but we also admire what it takes to bring a wedding together and often that is the not so fun & shiny parts. In this case, the power and importance of an accurate wedding run sheet!
As part of this podcast we want to bring you helpful conversations from our vendors that will help demystify the wedding planning process and support you to have better experiences with your vendors.
To talk all things run sheets, today, we’re joined by Vanessa Bragg from The Wedding and Event Creators.
Vanessa started her business 10 years ago, on a much smaller scale, doing a few weddings here and there, and they have since evolved to about 450 weddings a year and growing!
The Wedding and Event Creators offer wedding planning, styling, coordination, pack up and also a huge hire range, plus they have a cute side business called The Gelato Bike.
In her spare time Vanessa loves to go to the beach in summer, enjoy a margarita, play board games with her kids, play netball and go to see musicals and movies.
It is a delight to share this conversation with you.
In this ‘Vendor Wisdom’ chat, we discuss:
- What is a wedding run sheet?
- Why do you need one?
- Who should create it?
- Is it a rulebook or a guide?
- What things should be considered when creating one
- Who should keep an eye on the run sheet on the day?
- And what do you do if the timings all go sideways!
On the question of what do you do when things don’t go to plan, Vanessa shares, ‘Take a breath and roll with it. Seriously, just calm down, take a breath and just be flexible if that happens. So nothing ever goes perfectly. We do 400+ weddings a year and I'm telling you even with a professional there, things change on the day. For peace of mind for you, know that it's never going to run to perfect timing because there's so many random elements and there's so many people. Sometimes we'll have a couple say ‘we just wanna have a cute little 10 minutes together.’ And we roll with that!’
We hope you enjoyed this episode talking business! We’d love for you to share on your socials and tag @polkadotwedding and help us to share the podcast with more people.
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast/
Find Vanessa:On Instagram: @wedeventcreators
On Facebook: /TheWeddingAndEventCreators
On her website: weddingandeventcreators.com.au
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding & Sarah Harney.
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 & emerging.
TALKING BUSINESS
As well as sharing wonderful weddings we also want to drop in a few chats about the business of weddings, so for our third episode Dorothy (she/her) is joined by Celebrant Robyn Pattison to talk business
Robyn is a Celebrant, MC, Wedding Pixie and all-round sparkle-spreader. She’s been in the industry for about 13 years (eek) and still hasn't lost her bounce and enthusiasm for storytelling.
In this chat we discuss:
- How it’s too exhausting (and disingenuous) to pretend to be something you’re not
- The importance of finding your people as a wedding vendor
- Breaking the rules and doing things your way
- Bringing joy to ceremonies and weddings
- How to work out if a couple aligns with a vendor
- Why learning the languages of the couples & their families is important to her
- And how connection beats perfection, every time
On her unique celebrant style, Robyn shares, ‘The best thing we can do is sprinkle a little joy, but it needs to be honest, real moments. You can't just say words and make them real. It's how you say it, how you connect with people. I make all my couples do homework and I go 'sucked in' but I can't stand there knowing that the only thing I leave behind me are memories and leave a bad one. So I need to feel it and I need to feel it through them for the whole process so that I can share it around and it does make a difference.’
We hope you enjoyed this episode talking business! We’d love for you to share on your socials and tag @polkadotwedding and help us to share the podcast with more people.
For full transcript and show notes click here.
Find Robyn:On Instagram: @rpmarryme
On her website: robynpattison.com.au
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding & Sarah Harney.
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 & emerging.
FUN IDEAS
For our second episode of The Feel Good Wedding Podcast by Polka Dot Wedding, Dorothy has handed over the hosting reigns to Mary aka Ms Rose (she/her) for a fun conversation chatting about the art & science of scents with marine scientist and science communicator, Peta Morton aka Peta Marine on Tiktok (she/her).
Peta also has a huge passion for perfume (and other cosmetics tbh). She graduated with first class honours in marine science from the University of Queensland and is now studying her masters, working full time in the environment sector, and making TikToks of course! Peta started her TikTok in lockdown to overcome the mind-numbing boredom. And to this day she is still mucking around and having fun while loving being able to review and test so many wonderful products and provide recommendations for her audience!
In this chat we talk about:
- How fragrance creation actually happens
- How to take care of your fragrances
- Why fragrances are such personal preference
- How to choose a wedding scent
- How to use a scent as a special part of your wedding
- Other ways to incorporate scents into your wedding day
When discussing choosing a scent for your wedding day, Peta shares ‘You want something that is a hundred percent you, that you love, but I wouldn't make it something that's your every day.
If you use it as a tool, so you spray it on yourself throughout the day, on your hair, on your dress, on your clothes and then say it comes around to your anniversary the next year and you spray it again.
You'll actually have formed a memory with the scent. Your brain will have locked that scent in your memory of your wedding day, and you'll remember it way more clearly because it’s connected to the scent.’
We hope you enjoyed this fun episode! We’d love for you to share on your socials and tag @polkadotwedding and help us to share the podcast with more people.
For full transcript and show notes click here.
Find Peta:On Instagram: @petamarine
On TikTok
Find Mary & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding & Sarah Harney.
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 & emerging.
INSPIRED WEDDINGS
In our very first episode of The Feel Good Wedding Podcast by Polka Dot Wedding, Dorothy (she/her) is joined by Will Burton (he/him), to share the story of his & John’s unique Sydney wedding.
Will is 27, originally from the UK. He’s been in Australia for three years and works in marketing. Will and John fell in love with Australia while travelling and love the diversity and inclusivity in Sydney. Will enjoys working out, spending time with friends, watching the sunrise and long walks. He also loves interior design and anything creative and is currently loving furnishing our new apartment. Will and John love travelling and hope to travel even more now that we are able to again.
In this chat we discuss:
- How Will & John ensured their day felt relaxing and not constrained by time
- Their approach to choosing vendors
- Why they chose their suits first when planning their wedding
- How they found LGBTQIA+ friendly vendors
- Will’s advice to the wedding industry on making things more LGBTQIA+ friendly
- Plus Will’s tips on planning a day that is uniquely yours.
Will shares, ‘Do it your way. Honestly, don't worry about anyone else. Just do it exactly how you want to do it. You know, weddings cost a lot of money, a once-in-a-lifetime experience and just don't be restricted by those wedding norms and just use the vendors that you know, and trust and you'll have a great day.’
We hope you enjoyed our very first episode! We’d love for you to share on your socials and tag @polkadotwedding and celebrate the launch with us.
Visit our website to see the photos and full list of vendors for Will & John’s wedding.
For full transcript and show notes click here.
Find Will:On Instagram: @willburton.au
On TikTok: @willburton.au
Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
This podcast was produced by Polkadot Wedding & Sarah Harney.
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 & emerging.