Whispers to a Bride: Recent Episodes
Kara Ghassabeh
Welcome to Whispers to a Bride where we address the emotional aspects of getting married so you can navigate the stress and drama with grace and ease. This podcast talks about what it means to be a bride and how it impacts your identity and your closest relationships. You will learn how to prepare mentally and emotionally not only for your wedding day but for your married life as well.
Kara Maureen is a Bridal Coach and Therapist who helps brides solve wedding drama with grace.
Connect with Kara: On Instagram: @karaghassabeh Find out how to work with Kara at https://karamaureen.com
In this episode, we dive into the concept of cold feet, particularly focusing on how it's portrayed in media and the gender differences in experiencing pre-wedding anxiety.
We discussed the normalcy of experiencing cold feet before marriage and the role of anxiety in helping individuals make significant life choices.
I highlight the importance of acknowledging anxiety, engaging with it openly, and seeking support from a therapist, coach, or trusted individual.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Processing anxiety and doubts
Normalizing pre-wedding anxiety
The importance of communication in relationships
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we explore the concept of what "should be" and how it can lead to unnecessary suffering and unrealistic expectations.
The idea of how things should look, feel, and be can create a sense of pressure and dissatisfaction, whether it's about how people should act, how much should be spent, or how one should feel during this time.
My goal is to help you stop fighting with reality and embrace the uniqueness of one's journey to the altar, allowing oneself to be fully present and engaged in the moment without being weighed down by unrealistic shoulds.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The Power of "Should”
- Avoiding Uncomfortable Feelings
- Embracing Joy and Acceptance
- Overcoming the "Shoulds”
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, I delve into a fascinating insight gained from a recent bridal session. The bride I worked with was exceptional, planning a grand, elaborate European wedding filled with intricate details and a desire to leave guests completely awestruck.
She invested immense time, effort, and personal identity into bringing her dream wedding to life. However, as the big day approached, she grappled with the realization that guests might not view the event with the same significance and intensity as she did, leading to feelings of self-doubt and concern about the overall impact of the wedding.
We discuss the transformative power of embracing one's creations, relishing in the beauty of the moment, and radiating delight from within.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Embracing personal doubt
Generating delight
Relishing in the beauty of the moment
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In today's episode I’m sharing a conversation I had about a bride's experience with a bridesmaid dress issue. The bride, planning a beautiful wedding with a relatively large bridal party, requested her bridesmaids to wear floor-length dresses in varying shades of green. Most bridesmaids were accommodating, but one bridesmaid consistently sent dress options that did not meet the requirements.
This dilemma highlights the underlying tensions and misunderstandings that can arise during wedding preparations, where seemingly trivial details can become magnified sources of stress.
It serves as a reminder of the emotional intensity and unpredictability that can characterize such milestones, shedding light on the need for open communication, understanding, and compromise within relationships.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
How to handle issues with your bridesmaids
Balancing Relationships and Requests
Unpredictable Bridal Party Dynamics
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Today we are exploring the concept of softening into the idea that it's okay if others misunderstand or misinterpret decisions made during wedding planning and to release the need to constantly clarify or seek approval.
By embracing the mantra "let them be wrong," brides can let go of the rope in interpersonal dynamics, returning to a place of inner clarity and self-assurance.
By accepting that misunderstandings may arise and choosing to let others be wrong about you, a sense of peace and empowerment can be cultivated. It’s so important to trust oneself, prioritize personal peace, and extend love and understanding to those who may hold misconceptions.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The concept of “let them be wrong”
Softening Into Acceptance
The importance of not seeking approval from others
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Wendy Rivera is back for part two of our discussion on sacred shopping.
It’s not about the dress, it’s about the feeling you have when wearing the dress. Wendy goes into how she and her stylist help the bride pick the right dress so she can feel beautiful on her wedding day.
We discuss picking the right stylist, not worrying about the aesthetic of your wedding when picking your wedding dress, and not relying on someone else to tell you how you look in a dress.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The importance of having the right stylist
Why the aesthetic of your wedding doesn’t matter when you are dress shopping
A sneak peak at the dress shopping experience at Ava Laurenne
Not ending your bridal journey after your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Connect with Wendy: https://www.avalaurennebride.com/
Today on the podcast, we have a special guest. Wendy Rivera is the owner of Ava Laurenne Bride and also has a consulting business called Do You Speak Bride?
Your wedding is so much more than a numbers thing. It’s about people and love. Wendy really embodies that in her business and she tells us how she uses that approach when selling wedding dresses.
We discuss how beautifully sensitive the engagement period is, the importance of having someone to walk beside you as a bride, and choosing the right wedding dress.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
How beautifully sensitive your engagement is
Being open minded when it comes to dress shopping
Finding the right people to help you with your wedding
Trusting your gut
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Connect with Wendy: https://doyouspeakbride.com/
Today I’m diving into the concept of being "beautifully sensitive" during your time of wedding planning and becoming a bride. A lot of brides are faced with heightened emotions and sensitivity during this significant life phase.
Rather than being self-critical about these feelings, I want to encourage you to embrace and own your sensitivity as a natural and valuable part of the wedding journey.
By normalizing sensitivity, self-acceptance and grace, I want to empower brides to find beauty and wisdom within their emotional experiences, ultimately enhancing your overall bridal experience and fostering a deeper understanding of yourself during this transformative phase of your life.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The Impact of Becoming a Bride
Embracing Sensitivity
Finding Beauty in Sensitivity
Importance of Female Support
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Today we dive into the concept of constantly questioning one's safety and worthiness, which can lead to emotional baggage and materialistic pursuits in an attempt to fulfill these needs artificially.
We explore how societal pressures and cultural norms play a significant role in exacerbating anxiety and stress, particularly evident in wedding planning, where there is a heightened focus on appearances, expectations, and external validation.
I offer practical advice and a reflective framework to guide you towards a more authentic and fulfilling wedding planning journey rooted in self-awareness and intentionality.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Importance of Core Values in Wedding Planning
Reflecting on Intentions in Wedding Decisions
Navigating External Influences in Wedding Planning
Dealing with Regrets and False Pretenses
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In today's episode, we delved into a listener's email regarding wedding dress regret and the influence of their mother during the dress shopping process.
The listener expressed feeling immense anxiety over their choice of wedding dress and regretting involving their mom too much in the decision-making. We explored the common phenomenon of second-guessing wedding choices and the tendency to overly critique past decisions once the moment has passed.
I emphasize the importance of being kind to oneself and reframing the situation positively. It's crucial to develop a relationship with one's past and future selves that is supportive and understanding, allowing for growth and self-compassion.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Reframing Regret and Self-Kindness
Redefining the Significance of the Wedding Dress
Infusing Meaning and Compassion into Choices
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Today we are talking about the importance of granting oneself grace and creating space for personal reflection and decision-making amidst the chaos of wedding planning.
The concept of space and grace is a valuable tool for navigating relationships with loved ones during the challenging moments of wedding planning.
By embracing grace and creating space for understanding and growth, brides can foster healthier connections and preserve their own well-being throughout the wedding process.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Processing Negative Wedding Experience
- The Concept of Grace
- The Concept of Space
- Managing Wedding Planning Overwhelm
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In today’s episode, I discuss Eckhart Tolle's book, "The Power of Now," and its potential impact on managing anxiety and stress associated with wedding planning and life in general.
This book serves as a valuable tool for navigating the overwhelming emotions tied to these experiences, offering a framework for finding peace and managing the turmoil that arises.
By becoming aware of our thought patterns without judgment and practicing mindfulness in daily life, we can separate ourselves from the mental noise that often leads to stress and unease. This practice of being present and acknowledging the constant flux of life can bring about a sense of peace and contentment, especially during the hectic process of wedding planning.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
What it means to live in the now
Ways to shift your mindset around the past
The power of letting go of past regrets and future worries
Using the Power of Now when you are planning your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Throughout history, the notion that marriage is hard work often placed a disproportionate burden on women, who were expected to manage household responsibilities and emotional labor. This unequal distribution of labor continues to be a common issue in modern relationships.
While the idea of marriage as work tends to surface during rocky times in a relationship, it can also serve as a reminder of the ongoing effort required for a successful partnership.
Viewing marriage through a lens of creativity and artistry offers a more positive perspective, emphasizing the potential for growth, inspiration, and playfulness within the union.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Evolution of marriage and why it’s viewed as work
Reimagining your marriage as creative work
Doing the emotional work in your marriage
Reframing the concept of marriage
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In today's episode, we delve into the concept of consumption, weddings, and capitalism, exploring the idea of 'enough'.
Drawing parallels to weddings, we discuss the escalating trend of excess in ceremonies, from multiple dress changes to intricate personalized details. The allure of consumerism and the pressure to exceed expectations in weddings often results in overspending and accumulating unnecessary items that later become burdensome waste.
By shedding light on the consequences of unchecked consumption and the societal pressure to 'do more', I aim to guide individuals in reevaluating their priorities and setting boundaries to ensure a wedding celebration that aligns with their values and brings genuine joy
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Exploring the concept of enough
- The negative effect of excess
- Pitfalls of over-personalization at your wedding
- Dangers of losing control
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we delve into the concept of being the center of attention in the context of wedding planning.
I want to normalize the fear and anxiety associated with being the center of attention, especially during a wedding, where intentional gathering of loved ones for celebration amplifies this spotlight.
Acknowledging and managing these feelings are essential parts of the wedding planning process. It’s important to set realistic expectations and address nerves leading up to the event.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Normalizing Fear of Attention
Techniques for Managing Anxiety
Embracing Gratitude and Reciprocity
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we delve into the emotional complexities surrounding wedding dresses. The bride's self-image can be deeply intertwined with the dress, leading to feelings of self-consciousness and anxiety, especially as the wedding day approaches.
It’s important to acknowledge and accept one's current reality, rather than holding onto past expectations. By letting go of outdated beliefs and embracing the present moment, brides can find peace and beauty in their unique journey.
The wedding dress represents not just external beauty but also inner strength and self-acceptance.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Dealing with anxiety about your wedding dress
Embracing change and your new identity
Cultural pressures and insecurities
Acceptance and peace with your wedding dress
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we delve into the common phenomenon of feeling proposal whiplash, which many individuals experience after their engagement. W
We explore the discrepancy between the perceived fairy-tale proposal, often portrayed on social media and in movies, and the more nuanced, quirky, and sometimes awkward reality that many face.
I emphasize the idea that proposals don't have to be perfect or entirely surprising, as long as they hold personal significance.
By shedding light on the concept of proposal whiplash and normalizing the complex emotions that can accompany engagements, this discussion aims to provide reassurance to those who may have felt overwhelmed or dissatisfied with their proposal experience. It reminds listeners to celebrate the unique aspects of their own stories and relationships, free from the pressure of conforming to idealized portrayals seen in media.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
What is proposal whiplash
The power of being present
Social media vs. real moments
Embracing proposal whiplash
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we explore the intricate role of being a sister to the bride.
We are discussing how to manage expectations and how to deal with difficult family dynamics, emphasizing empathy, communication, and respect.
I also share my personal journey and stress the importance of open dialogue to strengthen sisterly bonds during the emotionally charged wedding planning period.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
• Challenges and dynamics of being the sister of the bride
• Understanding and adjusting expectations
• Importance of communication, respect, and grace
• Fostering a supportive and harmonious relationship during wedding planning
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In today’s episode, I share a story from a TikTok video about a couple who reconsidered their expensive wedding plans for a more intimate and financially sensible celebration.
Wedding planning can be a profound journey of learning and growth within a relationship which is why it’s important to have intentional choices that align with personal values and long-term goals.
Listen in as we explore the often-overlooked duality of disappointment and delight in wedding planning.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
• The importance of being open, vulnerable, and making intentional choices
• Embracing disappointment and delight as integral parts of the wedding planning journey
• Advocating for open communication, vulnerability, and shared vision between partners
• Considering essentialism and prioritizing what truly matters in wedding planning
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we dive into the concept of essentialism and its relevance to the world of weddings.
Inspired by the book "Essentialism" by Craig McCowan, we explore how this framework can help brides focus on what truly matters amidst the overwhelming choices and societal pressures in the wedding industry.
Brides often feel overwhelmed and exhausted from trying to take on too much while planning their weddings. I want to stress the importance of approaching wedding planning with a focus on joy throughout the journey, rather than solely on the wedding day itself.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Understanding the relevance of essentialism in wedding planning
The overwhelming choices and social pressures in the wedding industry
Avoiding Exhaustion and Disappointment by Prioritizing the Essentials
Finding Joy Along the Journey of Wedding Planning
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Sometimes it's healthier to concentrate on actionable steps rather than getting stuck on the reasons behind your choices.
As a bridal coach, I advocate for simplicity in wedding planning, using the "why" as a foundation but not letting it overshadow the necessary elements of the day but instead aiming for a harmony between introspection and practicality.
In this episode, we explore the balance between understanding the emotional "why" behind wedding decisions and focusing on the practical "what.”
What you’ll learn from this episode:
• Importance of understanding the "what" versus the "why" in wedding planning
• Identifying the underlying intentional reasons behind wedding decisions
• Balancing introspection and practicality in wedding planning
• Emphasizing the importance of simplicity and taking simple, elegant steps forward in wedding planning
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we delve into the book "The Art of Gathering" by Priya Parker, which explores the importance of purposeful and thoughtful gatherings.
In a post-COVID world where authentic human connections are sought after, we discuss the advice given by Priya on planning gatherings with specific elements and purposes that allow guests to connect on a deeper level.
Incorporating fun rules or activities, providing clear expectations through programs and menu cards, and incorporating rituals and conversation starters are just a few ways to facilitate connections among guests.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The purpose and meaning behind weddings
Setting expectations for guests
Rethinking bridal showers beyond the traditional format
Creating meaningful connections
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
I’m diving into the concept of "papercuts" in relationships. Papercuts are those small, negative interactions or disappointments that can occur in relationships.
While they may seem insignificant in the moment, these incidents can add up and have a significant impact on the overall health of the relationship.
In this episode, I stress the importance of addressing and repairing these paper cuts in order to maintain a healthy and strong bond.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The impact of small wounds in relationships
The importance of not ignoring bids for connection
Repairing the small papercuts in relationships
Owning your emotions and seeking repair
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we delve into the sensitive topic of not liking an engagement ring.
We explore the disappointment that can arise when receiving a gift that doesn't align with our preferences, especially given the expectations surrounding engagements.
Drawing from personal experience, I share how I discussed my ring preferences with my significant other prior to the proposal, highlighting the importance of liking the ring since it is a long-term investment piece. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges faced by those purchasing the ring and the overwhelming nature of the engagement ring industry.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Adjusting to the Engagement Ring and Discussing Modifications
Approaching the conversation with mindfulness and collaboration
The importance of owning and articulating your own narrative
Being grateful, calm, and considerate in navigating forward
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Today we are doing something a little different. If you didn’t know I am a wedding officiant.
Before the wedding I go through a lot of readings trying to help my couples decide what readings they want to use for their wedding.
So I thought it would be so fun today to just go through a couple readings that I have loved and my couples have loved and strike a chord to get your juices flowing.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Some of my favorite readings for weddings
How to honor the heritage of your family through a reading
Finding beautiful readings in rare places
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Happy Holidays! Today I am rebroadcasting one of my favorite episodes.
Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the major moments where all of the pressures that are unique to a bride come together.
It's one of those moments that you think about as a child.
But it’s not just about the pretty dress, it's all of these undercurrents that are happening too. It can be heartbreaking, stressful, and overwhelming but also poignant and memorable.
In this episode, we discuss the pressure of finding the perfect wedding dress and what that can make us feel like.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The history of wedding dresses
How your wedding dress can make you feel
Why picking a wedding dress is so stressful
Society’s views on wedding dresses
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
What do you do when you are asked to be a bridesmaid and you said yes but as the wedding approaches you start to realize that you can’t do it?
Today I explore the strategies for having uncomfortable conversations and highlight the importance of coming to the table with a genuine approach and treating the issue as something that you and your friend can tackle together.
I also caution that the other person may have a devastating reaction to the news, and it's important to offer empathy and space for them to process their emotions.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Navigating uncomfortable conversations
Shifting the dynamic from opposition to problem-solving
Explaining without blaming
Being prepared for a negative reaction
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
There are so many challenges with setting boundaries with family members during wedding planning.
Today we discuss a recent client call I had where we tackled the issue of navigating relationships during wedding planning. The bride in question faces a dilemma as she wants to go dress shopping with her mother but is concerned about upsetting her stepmother.
While it may be tempting to keep the peace and avoid confrontation, it's important to listen to ourselves and speak our truth, even if it feels uncomfortable. By doing so, we are creating a shift in the relationship dynamic and asserting our own needs and identity.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The misunderstood complexity of wedding planning tasks
Navigating family dynamics during wedding planning
Setting boundaries with family members
Building self-trust and navigating difficult situations
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
I have been receiving inquiries from brides who are feeling overwhelmed and anxious just days before their wedding, expressing various feelings of disappointment, anxiety, and sadness about different aspects of their big day.
One of the reasons people may be hesitant to acknowledge their fears and stress as they approach important milestones is the fear that everything will fall apart if they admit to it. There is a worry that opening up will bring up too many unresolved issues that cannot be addressed before reaching their goal.
In this episode, I discuss the idea of spreading the burden by sharing thoughts with a trusted friend or engaging in journaling. Unloading everything can bring peace and clarity in a situation that may otherwise feel isolating, especially for brides. Releasing these emotions is healing and helps to regain peace and confidence.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The power of venting and journaling
Healing through sharing
Holding both joy and sorrow
The importance of letting it out
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
There’s a lot of pressure to enjoy the wedding planning process, despite the overwhelming reality many brides face.
Everyone is telling you to enjoy it, but the experience may not always feel enjoyable or like the best time of your life. Those people who say "enjoy it" are often reflecting on their own experience and wishing they had fully embraced the complexity and sacredness of the journey.
In this episode, we discuss acknowledging the stress of planning a wedding and reassuring you that you are not alone.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The disconnect between expectation and reality in planning your wedding
Feeling alone on your wedding journey
Finding joy in the stress
Embracing the beginning of a new chapter
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Happy Thanksgiving! This week I am rebroadcasting one of my older episodes that I think you would love to hear again.
What is going on with weddings and the weight loss pressure brides have?
This is a question I received from someone on my bridal email list. We talk about what is going on with weddings and weight loss and why the pressure is so intense to be so thin on your wedding day.
In this episode, we discuss diet culture, capitalism, and patriarchy. We dive into how they work together when having a mindset of being thin on your wedding day.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
How worthiness is tied up in your weight
The different kinds of diet cultures and how they market to get you to spend your money on being thin for your wedding
Taking a pause and really thinking about why you want to be thin on your wedding day
Deciding to love yourself, accepting your body, and taking care of your body to be able to be at your best on your wedding day.
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Weddings can also be viewed as performances, where couples may feel pressured to impress others or seek validation through social media.
I suggest reframing weddings as poems, emphasizing their brevity and ephemeral nature. Just like a poem with a few lines can be beautiful and impactful, a wedding is a concentrated emotional experience.
In this episode, we discuss how a wedding is an offering - a gesture of love and gratitude to our community, family, and friends. It doesn't have to be perfect or extravagant, but it should come from a place of abundant love.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Why you should view your wedding as a poem
The power and structure of a wedding poem
How your wedding is experienced differently by everyone
The magic of your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we delve into the complexities of navigating relationships with in-laws during wedding situations where the groom finds himself caught between his family of origin and his new wife.
I emphasize the importance of understanding that strong emotions from the family of origin are normal during weddings, as they signify a changing family structure. However, the groom's desire to keep the peace by avoiding conflict only perpetuates the discord between the bride.
Effective communication, setting boundaries, and establishing individual relationships with in-laws are all vital components of successfully overcoming these challenges. I also stress the importance of reflection, forgiveness, and compromise in order to find common ground and maintain healthy boundaries.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Navigating the tension and creating boundaries in relationships
Building trust with your in-laws
The importance of creating a harmonious agreement with your in-laws
Being on the same team as your husband
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions, and it's important to navigate them with self-awareness and self-compassion.
While it's natural to pour our hearts and souls into making our wedding personalized and unique, we must remember that it is just one day in our lives and should not define our entire being.
In this episode, we discuss how it's okay to look back on our wedding and realize that maybe we would have done things differently. This doesn't mean we made a mistake or messed up; it's a natural part of the learning process. Weddings offer us an opportunity to explore different themes in our lives and learn more about ourselves.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Over identifying with your wedding
Celebrating the beauty of your wedding
Finding balance
Why being a guest at a wedding can help you have a deeper understanding of what goes into it
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Today's topic is self-compassion, which is often dismissed as basic and cliché but is actually crucial for finding peace in relationships and alignment in wedding planning.
It is important to be kind to ourselves and explore the concept of self-compassion beyond the surface level self-care.
In this episode, we discuss the three components of self-compassion and the impact they can have on our emotional well-being.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The importance of being kind to yourself
The key to peace and alignment
Finding comfort in shared experiences
Practicing mindfulness in wedding planning
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Couples often realize they've made errors while planning their wedding, such as inviting too many guests and needing to cut the list down.
I acknowledge the overwhelming nature of wedding planning and the immense pressure to please others.
However, I encourage you to take action to rectify mistakes, even if it involves uncomfortable conversations or financial loss. It's a misconception that suffering and burden are honorable, so it's essential to prioritize one's own happiness and desires.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
How to fix wedding planning regrets
The power of giving yourself permission to fix mistakes
Owning and rectifying wedding mistakes
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Weddings and life can sometimes fall apart.
I encourage couples to remember that they are not alone on their wedding day and to reach out for support from loved ones or professionals if necessary. I believe that accepting this reality can ultimately lead to healing and personal growth.
In this podcast episode, I discuss acknowledging when things have fallen apart and how you can embrace them.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
• Acknowledging that things will inevitably fall apart
• Embracing the reality of things falling apart and not resisting or ignoring it
• Preparing mentally for the possibility of falling apart on the wedding day
• The importance of embracing emotions and not fighting them off
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Sometimes we feel like we are having an identity crisis when we are planning our wedding.
There's this whole invisible set of norms, responsibilities, duties and expectations when it comes to getting married. Add on to that the tradition of changing your name, which obviously would have pretty significant identity implications.
In this episode, we discuss this identity crisis through different parts of who you are and how sometimes those different parts can have conflicting thoughts about your wedding.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The different parts of you
- How weddings can cause an identity crisis
- Dealing with those different parts especially when they want conflicting things
- Acknowledging who you are and what you want
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
When you think back to your best day ever was every moment of that day planned out?
Your wedding day doesn’t need to be planned out to the tiniest detail in order for you to love it.
In this episode, we are diving into the concept of the "best day ever" trope that is often associated with weddings. We discuss how this idea can create pressure and unrealistic expectations, causing disappointment for some individuals when their wedding day doesn't live up to these standards.
It's crucial to put some emotional distance between the concept of the best day ever and the pressure it brings.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
The pressure of the “best day ever” concept
Letting go of unrealistic expectations
Redefining the best day ever for yourself
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
The inspiration for this episode came from a client who was feeling disconnected from her fiancé as their wedding approached.
They desired a more meaningful and connected lead-up to their big day, but life's distractions and stressors had taken a toll on their relationship. Together, we discover that it's not about creating grand gestures or extravagant dates, but instead focusing on small bonding moments that keep you on the same page.
By prioritizing these small gestures, you can strengthen your relationship leading up to your wedding day and beyond.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Handling feelings of disconnect with your partner
How to create small bonding moments before your wedding
The importance of small gestures in relationships
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Wedding planning can come with its fair share of pressure and expectations, but it's essential to prioritize the internal work and emotional journey that accompanies it.
It’s important to embark on this journey with an open heart, allowing yourself to fully experience and process your emotions. Sometimes, things may fall apart during this transition, but it's through these cracks that we can rebuild ourselves in a more authentic way.
In this episode, we are discussing how to embrace the full range of human emotions so you can celebrate your wedding day with joy.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
Dealing with hurt and frustration when people don’t show up for your wedding
Expressing disappointment without causing conflict
The importance of acknowledging and embracing all your feelings
How to fully express and process your intense feelings
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
What can you do when your mother don’t approve of your wedding dress but you love it?
Sometimes we have to prioritize our own happiness over the expectations and desires of others, even if it means disappointing our own mothers. This leads us to contemplate how many times we have sacrificed our own desires in an attempt to please others, potentially leading to a life of constantly seeking validation and approval.
In this episode, we explore the underlying factors that contribute to this issue, ranging from financial concerns to body image insecurities, questions of identity, and the dynamics of parental relationships.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The emotional impact of wedding dress shopping
- Embracing self-disappointment
- The importance of choosing yourself
- Disappointing others to prioritize what you want your wedding to look like
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Today I want to talk about having a generous take when it comes to your wedding.
It centers around viewing everything that happens during wedding planning through the lens of generosity.
Being generous means pausing before reacting negatively and instead trying to understand and support others. By adopting a generous mindset, brides can strengthen their relationships and create a more positive and meaningful wedding journey.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The concept of a generous take in wedding planning
- Shifting Focus from Party Planning to Interpersonal Relationships
- Adopting a generous perspective in dealing with challenges and miscommunications
- Embracing generosity in life and relationships
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, we are discussing the sensitive topic of plus ones when it comes to wedding invitations.
The guest list is often a challenging aspect of wedding planning, as it determines not only who will attend but also has budget implications. Etiquette books offer guidelines on who should receive a plus one invitation, such as engaged couples or those living together.
However, I believe that there is no one-size-fits-all rule and that couples need to have open conversations to draw the line.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Drawing the line on plus ones
- Navigating the complexity of plus ones and family dynamics
- The importance of honoring love and relationships
- Seeing the people in your life as more than a spreadsheet
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Many individuals look back on their wedding day with regret because it didn't align with their initial expectations.
In this episode, I emphasize the significance of pausing and reassessing one's desires amidst the whirlwind of societal pressures and expectations that come with wedding planning. It’s okay to make a pivot and change the style, venue, and guest list of your wedding.
When feeling lost or angry, it's important to pay attention and listen to the underlying message that is trying to get our attention. By deciphering this message, we can bring more peace to our lives, weddings, and relationships.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to find clarity and honesty in your wedding planning
- What to do when you realize you want to make changes to your wedding
- The joy of reclaiming your vision for your wedding
- The importance of bringing peace and transformation to your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Too often, brides go into their wedding day with a sense of uncertainty about how they will feel.
They worry about factors like the weather, logistics, and even the behavior of others, leaving their emotional state up to chance. However, we have more control over our feelings than we may realize.
In this episode, we discuss how it’s essential for brides and grooms to take the time to imagine how they want to feel on their wedding day and set that as their goal.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to focus on the way you want to feel on your wedding day
- Why gratitude is a powerful tool
- Letting go of things you can’t control
- Being present and intentional on your wedding day
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode we are discussing the involvement of mothers and mother-in-laws in wedding planning.
Tensions can arise when a couple's vision clashes with the desires of their parents, but it’s important to understand their intentions.
I highlight the significance of the community aspect of weddings and the joy that comes from sharing this special day with family and friends. Plus I give advice on striking a balance between expectations and finding a way to give mothers or mother-in-laws a moment in the spotlight without overshadowing the couple.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The different ways moms want to be involved
- Balancing family expectations vs. personal vision
- Setting boundaries with a difficult mother
- How to handle when a mother oversteps your boundaries
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, I am answering your questions around burnout.
We discuss tips for managing burnout and involving your fiance in the wedding planning process, prioritizing energizing activities and having open conversations with your partner.
Ignoring your feelings during your wedding planning process can create distance especially between you and your partner so it’s best to address any issues head on.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Overcoming wedding planning burnout
- Filling your plate with joy
- How to involve your finance in your wedding planning
- The importance of being honest about how you feel
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this episode, I am answering your questions.
We are discussing how to handle being in the spotlight when you don't enjoy it, particularly for more introverted brides and how to savor the engagement period and ensure it is fully enjoyed.
I emphasize the need to approach wedding planning with intentionality, to embrace each moment, and to appreciate the love and support from family and loved ones.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Overcoming anxiety as an introverted bride
- Enjoying the engagement phase and creating meaningful moments
- Balancing family expectations
- Embracing loved ones’ gestures
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Creating lasting wedding memories is an exhilarating journey.
In today’s episode, I am sharing a story with you about one of my first memories of being at a wedding and how sometimes less is more.
It’s the bride who sets the tone for the entire wedding so it’s important to be in the moments and really present.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to handle when a mishap happens at your wedding
- The importance of energy and reaction
- Building the skill to guard your joy
- Creating space between yourself and negative circumstances
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this podcast episode, I want to reflect on a recent conversation I had with a client who wasn't completely satisfied with her wedding, even though it went well overall.
It got me thinking about the importance of self-validation and not relying solely on external validation. I believe it's crucial for individuals to give themselves some space and grace before reflecting on their wedding experience.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Exploring the underlying reasons for feeling dissatisfied
- Realizing the need for self-validation
- Processing your feelings and finding closure
- Strategizing to address the core issue
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Do you want to find a way to soothe and center yourself during stressful times?
In the 100th episode, I’m sharing a simple practice called the loving kindness meditation that can help you do just that.
I encourage you to make the practice your own and use it as a tool to find alignment and grounding in your life, especially during the stress and sacredness of wedding planning.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How much you are appreciated for being on this podcast journey
- Giving some love and kindness to yourself
- A meditation to guide you in your wedding planning
- Celebrating 100 episodes!!
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
A lot of my work as a bridal coach is to help you deal with the emotional experience of being a bride, and it's often a lot harder than we thought it was gonna be.
It has a lot to do with the friendship stuff that goes on, especially female friendships around weddings.
In this episode, I’m discussing figuring out why you want them in your wedding, how to be on the same page with expectations, and taking the stress off you and your bridesmaids.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Talking about your expectations of your bridesmaids
- Not reading too much into other’s actions
- The importance of communication
- Surrounding yourself with the right people
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Are you planning a wedding and feeling overwhelmed by all the advice out there? I recently came across a TikTok video that really stood out to me and I wanted to share my thoughts on it with you.
The wedding planner in the video emphasized the importance of having a peaceful, joyful, and flexible attitude, and how it can make a huge difference in the overall wedding experience.
In this episode, I’m discussing setting the right tone and energy for your wedding so you can feel peace and joy.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Setting the tone during your wedding rehearsal
- The ingredients to have an amazing wedding weekend
- Why your attitude plays a big part in your wedding
- How to set expectations for your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
There are so many societal pressures and internalized beliefs surrounding weddings.
Brides should be focusing on experiencing and enjoying their wedding rather than trying to achieve a certain standard.
In this episode, I want to remind you to reflect on your own beliefs and to alleviate the pressure and stress that you may feel when planning your wedding.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Your wedding is a test
- How societal pressures and internalized beliefs about weddings can be hard to navigate
- What the metric for a good wedding is
- The most important thing when it comes to your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
I have a confession to make: I was a bridesmaid drop out.
I wanted to offer a different narrative to someone who is in the midst of being a bridesmaid in a wedding.
In today’s episode, I’m telling my story about being in a wedding for a friend from college and how I knew it wasn’t a good idea for me.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Listening to yourself when you feel something is wrong
- How to handle when you feel someone is not marrying the right person
- Why it’s ok to grow apart from people
- Stepping back from being in a wedding can actually be the best decision
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
I love a good metaphor.
It's such a useful way of getting our brain into a little bit more of a creative space, which helps with problem-solving and just being a little lighter and less sort of rigid and dialed in on getting results and getting things perfect the way that we want them, which often happens in the wedding world
In this episode, we are discussing how your wedding is a great way to express yourself and the importance of taking a step back to view your wedding as art.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Viewing your wedding as a piece of art
- Pulling back to look at the entire picture
- Experiencing tension and things not going as planned
- Leaving room for blank space
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Challenges always come up when you are planning a wedding.
Your wedding is such a rich time of both challenge and opportunity to really learn more about yourself and figure out where your edges are that you really wanna lean into.
Where you need help and where you need more insight, and just where you need more peace and compassion.
In this episode, I’m talking about emotional elegance and how it can help you navigate this bridal experience.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The ability to be intentional
- Showing up how you envision yourself on your wedding day
- Ask yourself, “What am I making this mean?”
- Unlocking your creativity to problem solve
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Have you ever gone to bed angry at your partner?
Most people always advise you never to go to bed angry after getting married, and I disagree with that. Sometimes going to bed when you're angry is the best thing you can do because being tired, or just fatigued itself will totally exacerbate conflict.
In this episode, we discuss how sleeping is the key to resolving conflict and why your brain needs rest to understand your side of the argument fully.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Understanding going to bed angry is okay
- How sleep can be the key to resolving conflict
- Knowing your brain needs rest to get out your side of an argument fully
- Why things can go a lot better when you get sleep
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Do you know you can not do things at your wedding and you don’t need to give an explanation?
There are so many opinions about weddings and what they should and shouldn’t include. One of the most stressful parts of wedding planning can be the marketing and the standards around what you're supposed to do and have at your wedding.
In this episode, we discuss constraints, being unapologetic, and knowing just how powerful and strong it can be to declare and own those nos for yourself.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why it’s important sometimes to declare what we're not doing
- How powerful and how strong it can be to declare those nos and to own those nos on your wedding day
- Understanding there is always more you could be doing, but saying no anyway
- Knowing you can be unapologetic for things you want or don’t want for your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
How can you deal with the highs and lows that come with getting engaged?
After receiving the ring from your fiance, you get overwhelmed with excitement and are just on a high of good emotions. But you can get a little caught off guard by the feelings of anxiety or fear that come after that high of getting engaged.
In this episode, we discuss going public with the engagement, fundamental issues, and knowing it’s very normal to feel some discomfort in your relationship as you're starting to look at it with a whole new lens.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to go through the highs and lows of getting engaged
- Understanding the fundamental issues that can arise after receiving the ring
- Looking at your future with your fiance through a different lens
- Knowing going through different emotions around your engagement is normal
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
How you do one thing is how you do everything.
We seem to think that once our wedding is over our life, friendships, and family dynamics will return to normal. Understanding that the discord and disconnect that we as the bride are feeling around our wedding ceremony may actually point to a much bigger issue.
In this episode, we discuss boundary setting, figuring out the things that bring you joy, and understanding how our life can change after our wedding.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Understanding our family, friends, and life could change after our wedding
- Realizing that the issues around your wedding may be a much bigger issue
- How to set boundaries with family and friends
- Understanding the things that bring you joy around your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
How do you set healthy boundaries with friends and family around your wedding?
There seems to be a big talk on social media about setting boundaries during your wedding. A lot of people talk about boundaries in this really harsh way. Like setting a boundary, which basically means just keeping people out and I really like to imagine the boundaries much more like picket fences. It is meant to mark your space, your safe haven, and your zone where you are in charge.
In this episode, we discuss setting healthy boundaries during your wedding, your common ground, your limitation, and your yes to set those boundaries.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to set healthy boundaries with family and friends
- The three-part process of setting boundaries during your wedding planning
- The common ground, the limitation, and the yes
- Understanding how to say no and protect your bond with family and friends
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
How do you deal with a super stressed-out partner who says they can't wait for the wedding planning to be over?
There are a number of reasons this could happen. It could be because your partner wants to get back into ordinary life where you're not talking about vendors, guest lists, spreadsheets, and all those things that really clutter up your free time.
Your fiancee could also be feeling this way because there is a disconnection between the two of you during your wedding planning process.
In this episode, we discuss understanding why your fiancee could be feeling this way about wedding planning, instead of feeling insulted and reactive toward your fiancee.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to understand why your fiancee is over the wedding planning process
- Trusting that there's a reason that your partner's over it
- Surrendering to what happens and being available and open to what happens
- Solving your own problems and making your relationships deeper
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
What to do when you are planning your wedding and you have a falling out with one of your bridesmaids?
This topic came up from many conversations with brides and bridesmaids on TikTok. Understanding that sometimes it takes spending a lot of time planning a wedding to realize your friendship was over.
In this episode, we discuss friendships falling out, understanding the dynamics of your friends have changed, and realizing the friendship isn’t worth your investment of time, energy, effort, or money.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What to do when you’re having a falling out with a friend while planning your wedding
- Realizing the energy of some friends isn’t something you want around you anymore
- Understanding the dynamics of a friendship can change
- How to cope with a friendship ending during the process of planning your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
What is going on with weddings and the weight loss pressure brides have?
This is a question I received from someone on my bridal email list. We talk about what is going on with weddings and weight loss and why the pressure is so intense to be so thin on your wedding day.
In this episode, we discuss diet culture, capitalism, and patriarchy. We dive into how they work together when having a mindset of being thin on your wedding day.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How worthiness is tied up in your weight
- The different kinds of diet cultures and how they market to get you to spend your money on being thin for your wedding.
- Taking a pause and really thinking about why you want to be thin on your wedding day
- Deciding to love yourself, accepting your body, and taking care of your body to be able to be at your best on your wedding day.
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
There gets to a point in the wedding planning process where you’re just like, what is even happening because there are so many things changing.
You start to notice a conflict between friends or family members during the wedding planning that was not there before and you begin to question, what is the point?
There can be a lot of work, money, and effort and it can just be a lot but remind yourself that your wedding will be worth it.
In this episode, we discuss the bigger picture of why weddings are so wonderful, making real sacrifices, and understanding you will be overwhelmed.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to handle being overwhelmed while planning your wedding
- Understanding a lot of things will change during the planning process.
- Reminding yourself there is a bigger picture in between the frustration of wedding planning
- How to overcome the frustration and decision-making of your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
How do you process and take in all those gifts and good wishes and people showing up for you, people supporting you, and people celebrating you on your wedding day?
This is a question I got from one of my one-to-one bridal coaching calls. She thought everyone who came to her wedding was doing so much for her, and it was amazing and she appreciated it, but it also felt uncomfortable and it just felt like too much.
In this episode, we discuss feeling a little bit overwhelmed by all of this goodness coming at you, gratitude, and ways to give thanks to the people or gift you on your wedding day.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to process people celebrating you on your wedding day
- Understanding that it's completely normal to feel a little bit overwhelmed by all of this goodness coming at you on your wedding day
- Taking the time to really show your gratitude towards your guest on your wedding day
- Reminding yourself that you deserve this moment as the bride
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
After putting a post on Tik Tok, I realized there are a lot of brides that deal with their parents having feelings, good or bad about them getting married.
We don't want our wedding to fracture or damage or stress or strain our relationship with our parents.
In this episode, we discuss processing our feelings with our parents so we can avoid conflict and war over your wedding details.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How your parents have feelings about your wedding
- Things we can do to avoid conflict with our parents
- How we can sometimes compromise to make everyone happy
- How allowing your parents to have a moment can add more joy to your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
What do you do on the day of your wedding to ensure you don't fall off the cliff emotionally?
In the last few client sessions I’ve had with brides they have all asked, how they can make sure that on their wedding day, they don’t freak out and have a meltdown.
In this episode, we discuss how we plan ahead to invoke a bridal buffer. How we would designate a person that's gonna be your go-to for everything and take the stress off you on your wedding day.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How having a bridal buffer is beneficial for you on your wedding day
- Having a practical way of planning ahead
- Being able to cope with anxiety and excitement.
- Having a designated person to protect the bride emotional
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Wedding drama is usually never what it seems.
Lately, I've been getting a lot of post-wedding phone calls from brides who've already gotten married and they are still processing what just happened.
They are seeking validation for being upset at what happened at their wedding.
In this episode, we discuss how one bride was upset with her wedding photos but what her photos really showed her were the areas of her life that were causing discomfort and pain.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How wedding drama is never what it seems
- Why it was never really about the wedding photos
- How we always need to go deeper into what is really bothering us
- Dealing with friends who aren’t really there for you
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
How do you get through your wedding after you have lost a loved one?
This is something a lot of women deal with on their wedding day.
Today I’m talking with Meredith Lynch about going through her wedding after she lost her mother. She left the emotional part out and did what she felt was right for her on her wedding day.
Meredith is a writer and pop culture analyst who lives in Los Angeles.
In this episode, we discuss hiring a wedding planner instead of having bridesmaids, and the experience of planning and having a wedding after a parent passed away.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to plan your wedding after a parent passes away
- Figuring out how to navigate big wedding plan decisions without your mother by your side
- Staying true to what matters to you on your wedding day
- Hiring a wedding planner to not only help with the execution but to do some of the things that a maid of honor would do
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Follow Meredith on Instagram
Follow Meredith on TikTok
There has been so much talk about Megan and Harry with the Netflix series that came out.
This had me thinking about how a bride is a disruptor. Adding someone new to your family dynamic can be uncomfortable.
But so many beautiful new, wonderful things come when the status quo is disrupted in this way.
In this episode, I discuss how being the disruptor can be a good thing even though it’s also uncomfortable and can cause some issues.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How Megan Markle was a disruptor for the royal family
- Why your wedding can have a lasting effect on relationships
- Looking at being a disruptor in a different way
- Focusing on the assets of welcoming someone new to your family
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Wondering how to deal with your bachelorette part when you have different friend groups?
This is a question I got from one of my one-to-one bridal coaching calls. The bride originally hadn't invited one group of friends simply because she just thought it would be more complicated. This actually caused more problems by not inviting them.
In this episode, we discuss blending two friend groups, surrendering, and setting expectations when it comes to your bachelorette party.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to blend two friend groups for your bachelorette party
- Surrendering to the fact that you can control your experience without controlling other people's behavior
- Stepping back and let people be who they're gonna be
- How you can choose to have the experience that you wanna have
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
There are two people that mess you up in your bridal moment- your past and your future.
With all of the constraints, pressures, and realities of actually bringing these wedding ideas into real life, it can cause such friction that you then think that conflict means you're doing something wrong.
In this episode, we discuss giving yourself grace for both your past and future self and knowing you made the best decision at this moment.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How focusing on the past can make it hard to move forward
- Accepting that things are different now
- Letting go of the anxiety of the future
- Showing love and compassion for yourself
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
There are just so many details, and when you really think about a wedding. If the whole idea is just two people getting married, besides that, everything else is just details.
We want these details to mean something. We want them to show us who we are. We want it to be this curated image of our best selves and truly show our taste level and our intention and style and depth.
In this episode, I discuss how to let all the little details of your wedding be messy and imperfect.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What is detail drama
- Questions to ask yourself before making a decision
- Giving yourself grace
- How to let things be messy
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Gratitude is the key to your whole wedding experience. I know it can be really trite or obvious or too basic. But it’s fundamental.
When you are frazzled and overwhelmed and anxious or feeling not enough and needy or insecure I need you to ask yourself, am I grateful?
In this episode, I discuss how gratitude can change your relationship, health, and self-esteem.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How having a gratitude practice can save you
- Some things you can do to get back to gratitude
- The seven things that gratitude actually does in your life
- How to make gratitude easy
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
I want to give you a really simple reminder that is key for your wedding but also for your life and it’s a phrase I come back to time and time again and it’s, hold two things.
It’s about the duality of life. There are always opposing things happening at the same time.
Listen in as I discuss, the importance of holding two things, how holding two things can make your wedding day better, and the feeling you will get by holding two things.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Where the concept for hold two things came from (1:24)
- How your wedding doesn’t have to be one thing or another (2:27)
- Examples of how to hold two things (3:41)
- The benefits of holding two things (5:08)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
You've got your holiday traditions and what you envision. Then you've got what you wanna do as a couple. Then there are your in-laws and what they're expecting and hoping for.
It can get to be a lot.
Then you're also carrying with you all of the memories and the history of all of those holidays from your past. For some people, those are all really good memories but for a lot of people, those can be also really a mixed bag.
this episode, we discuss the dynamics that come up during the holidays and I give you my five tips for managing family gatherings with your fiancé or your new partner.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- There’s no such thing as a perfect holiday
- The importance of communication during the holidays
- Doing the mental and emotional pre-work
- Making time for yourself to enjoy the holidays
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Your wedding is calling you to wake up in some way.
It’s a powerful time to awaken to what’s going on for you. For some people, it's a wake-up call to art, beauty, and ceremony.
To others, it's a wake-up call to old patterns that don’t serve them anymore
In this episode, I’m discussing how your wedding can open your eyes to so many possibilities and life-changing events.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How wedding planning can open your eyes
- Letting go of old patterns
- The importance of listening to yourself
- How your wedding can change your relationships
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
We are taught to think that getting engaged and planning our wedding are moments of joy, excitement, accomplishment, success, and a feeling of wholeness, completeness, integrity, and all of these things.
But they never feel the way we thought they were going to feel. It's always a bit more disorienting, complex, and overwhelming while being very underwhelming at the same time.
In this episode, I want to help you learn how not to miss the moments. It can be really easy to overlook tending to and preparing that emotional part of the experience.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The importance of doing the work before your wedding day
- How journaling can help you work through your emotions
- Why you need to give yourself space
- How tot ake charge of the moments you want to have during your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
When you are planning your wedding, the stakes are really high. There are so many things to worry about like time, money, family, culture, and tradition.
Not to mention that it’s a huge change in your life!!
Since tensions are high, there are bound to be conflicts.
In this episode, I’m discussing how to de-escalate and calm things down in a loving way so you can have a healthy relationship and bond.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to change the direction of the conversation
- The importance of expressing how you feel
- Why saying “I’m sorry” can help your relationship
- How to laugh at yourself during a conflict
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
In this rebroadcasted episode, we are talking about the holidays - so many images of family togetherness, elaborate meals, festive decorations, favorite movies, gorgeous gifts, and lots of laughter (or this is what Hallmark movies make us believe it should be).
But the holidays can be a source of anxiety, overwhelm, frustration, and sadness for a lot of people. This makes the holidays a lot like weddings, in our mind it’s all pretty and happy and fun but in reality, it’s so much more complicated than that.
Listen in as I discuss, how to decide where to spend the holidays, mismanaged expectations, and focusing on what is in your control.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How the holidays are like weddings (1:10)
- Preparing for the unexpected (1:56)
- How to handle bad behavior at the holidays (5:13)
- The importance of adjusting your expectation (9:57)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today I really want to bring it back to basics and talk about the subtle shift.
It's all about that shift that happens in our relationships when we get engaged and start the wedding planning process. It's kind of this invisible unfolding that goes on once you go through that proposal experience.
You have to reroute yourself. You have to reconsider things. You have to relearn and re-decide your inner landscape and your closest relationships.
In this episode, we unpack the process you go through once you become engaged and the shifts that happen in your life.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The ripple effect that getting engaged can cause
- Dealing with all the unknown questions
- The importance of realizing that your identity is going to change
- Taking a look at all your relationships
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Feeling doubt about your relationship when you are newly engaged or even knee-deep in wedding planning is a scary place to be. Nobody wants to feel doubt when they've got that diamond ring on.
That's just not the time and our culture doesn't really make room for this.
In this episode, I want to talk about normalizing having some doubt at this time in your life and why the engagement period is the perfect time to give your doubt some space to play out.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Questions to ask yourself when you get engaged
- That having doubt isn’t a bad thing
- Why ignoring doubt can be dangerous
- The importance of talking about your doubts
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Are you in the middle of planning your wedding but you can't experience the joy in the way that you thought you would?
With getting engaged and planning a wedding, there's just so much love. It's such a joyful time and yet so many women are having a tough time with how to handle that joy or how to not rob themselves of experiencing that joy that is right at their fingertips.
In this episode, I wanna talk about the problem with joy and why we are not really acknowledging the issues that come with joy.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why joy is the most vulnerable emotion
- How to really experience joy
- The importance of being present in the moment
- The reason gratitude is so important
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
You want to have the perfect wedding right?
You want to have control over your wedding and be in charge of everything.
But you also don’t want to burden people and feel like you should just handle it all yourself.
In today’s episode, I’m discussing building up your muscle of asking for help. You can’t do it all (and you shouldn’t either). People want to help so let them in.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Understanding that unexpected things will come up during the planning of your wedding
- Building your muscle of asking for help
- Why asking for help isn’t a burden
- How asking for help can improve your relationships
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Are you worried about how you are going to handle your mom’s energy on the day of your wedding?
Your relationship with your mom is getting harder and more annoying as your wedding day approaches and you really want the dynamic to change before then.
We need to remember that our mothers are going through a lot too. Your wedding day is a very emotional day for her too and it can make her act, well, a little kooky.
In this episode, I discuss how to navigate his new relationship with your mom and what you can do to have an enjoyable experience for both of you.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What your mom might be feeling as your wedding approaches
- Giving your mom grace and understanding
- How to eliminate some stress for your mom and yourself
- Why you should have that hard conversation with your mom
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the major moments where all of the pressures that are unique to a bride come together.
It's one of those moments that you think about as a child.
But it’s not just about the pretty dress, it's all of these undercurrents that are happening too. It can be heartbreaking, stressful, and overwhelming but also poignant and memorable.
In this episode, we discuss the pressure of finding the perfect wedding dress and what that can make us feel like.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The history of wedding dresses
- How your wedding dress can make you feel
- Why picking a wedding dress is so stressful
- Society’s views on wedding dresses
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
Your whole life you have been told to not sweat the small stuff.
Well, today I am telling you that you should be sweating the small things especially when it comes to your wedding.
Sweating the small stuff is a way to wake up a little more to the present moment. That is one of the things that culturally is always such a struggle in this sort of go, go, go atmosphere that we're all striving and trying to get somewhere.
In this episode, I explain why you should pause and think about the small things and how they can help you after your wedding too.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why your wedding is not all about the big moments
- What the risk in only looking at the big moments is
- The importance of noticing the small things
- How to pause to notice the small things during your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
There is a poem I put at the beginning of my book, Whispers to a Bride, called When Death Comes.
The concept of both poetry and weddings is so compelling to me. Weddings and poetry sort of get shunned and discarded a bit culturally because they do seem frivolous and extra and not useful.
I decided to include this poem that has been special to me. I think it encapsulates why this work matters.
In this episode, I dive into this poem and what it means to being a bride.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How wedding and poetry are alike
- The meaning behind the poem, When Death Comes
- Staying in amazement
- Creating your moment
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
I have so many women who come to me with this feeling of unsettledness and feeling a little bit of grief and anxiety about just saying goodbye to their old lives.
Especially if they've really grown to love the little routines that they've created for themselves, the friendships, the patterns, and the habits and their living space.
In this episode, I want to normalize these feelings. Every transition, no matter how exciting, there's some nostalgia for leaving behind the life we had before.
It doesn't mean anything is wrong with you or your fiance or that you shouldn't be getting married.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why feeling grief for the life you are leaving is ok
- How you don’t have to leave everything behind
- The importance of creating a goodbye ritual
- Holding on to a feeling of gratitude
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
The book, Whispers to a Bride, is finally here!!!
If you didn’t know I have been writing a book. Whispers to a Bride is about the emotional experience that a bride goes through. It also has tips and tricks and solutions for how to handle all of that emotional upheaval.
In this episode, I explain why I wrote this book, who it is for, and how it will benefit you.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why I wrote Whispers to a Bride
- What is covered in the book
- The process of writing this book
- How this book will help you
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1
I want to introduce you to the museum metaphor.
Think of a museum in terms of your post-wedding, what do we do with all the feelings that come after the wedding?
There's always gonna be sort of a low after a big high of your wedding and it’s hard to let go.
In this episode, I help you understand why you need to put your wedding in a museum and give it time before you revisit it again.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What the museum metaphor is
- Why it’s hard to let go
- The value of giving yourself time
- Knowing when it’s time to revisit your wedding again
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
There is always this question of enoughness in the back of our minds.
Am I doing enough? Is this too much? It simultaneously feels like way too much and yet completely not enough.
That feeling is just so frustrating.
In this episode, we are diving into what to do when this feeling of enoughness creeps in and how you can apply it to other areas of your life too.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Being too much and not enough at the same time
- Looking at the ways in which not having enough happens in other areas of your life
- Practicing thoughts of sufficiency
- Knowing there will always be enough
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
In all the past episodes of this podcast, we have been focused on positivity so you can explore this time in your life (your engagement and wedding) with more happiness and ease.
But it is also important that we carve out time for a pity party.
We need to have light and dark. We can’t have one without the other.
In this episode, I want to dive into why we need to experience hard emotions and embrace them.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The importance of not forcing your emotions
- Understanding that it’s alright when things go wrong
- Why you need to feel your feelings
- Giving yourself the gift of a pity party
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
One of the best ways to address so much of the wedding drama you experience is a really simple, beautifully elegant practice of asking WHY.
So much of what happens with weddings is based on all the assumptions and expectations and cultural norms.
We lose track of what’s actually inside. What we really want. What really matters to us.
In this episode, I discuss why it’s so important to apply the question to your relationship first and then apply it to your wedding. As you are brainstorming options continue to ask yourself why this makes sense, why this appeals to you, and why you thought this was important.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Looking inward first
- The importance of always asking why
- The concept of 5 whys
- Examples of asking why
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
When you really think about weddings, the thing most people remember isn’t any specific detail, it’s how it felt.
It’s the energy, the mood, the vibe. We try to achieve this with all of the elements like decor, food, lighting, and music, but the strongest factor in creating the wedding vibe you want is your own energetic presence.
In this episode, we discuss how you set the tone for your wedding day and how to prepare for how you will feel on that day.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why it’s a relief that you have all the power
- Staying in your body
- Giving yourself a moment of love
- The importance of gratitude
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Becoming engaged changes how a woman sees herself.
For some, it’s the completion of an aspect of their identity. For others, it is more of a threat to the identity they have created for themselves so far in life.
Whether you waited for the ring or it happened faster than you anticipated, you need an adjustment period to integrate this new identity, this new framework for your life into your understanding of yourself.
So, if it feels like you are having an identity crisis, you are doing it right!
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The practical issue of changing your name
- Letting yourself feel the scary feelings of doubt and uncertainty
- How your perfectionism has been leading you further away from who you are and the life you have
- Why you need to love and accept yourself
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
I am so excited to give you probably the quickest but most important, profound little thought as you are heading into your marriage.
I call it the golden relationship ratio.
The golden relationship ratio is five positive interactions for every negative one. For every eye roll, criticism, freak out or fight, you need five positive interactions with your partner.
Research shows that couples who have this sort of ratio of positive to negative interactions with each other are the happiest, last the longest, and are the most satisfied.
Listen in because remembering this golden relationship ratio is going to help your relationships so much.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What is the golden relationship ratio
- How to use the golden relationship ratio
- The research behind the golden relationship ratio
- Taking time to pause
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
A really fun way to get back to peace is by connecting to your bridal bigness.
Bridal Bigness is the idea that you, as a bride, are part of a much bigger energy, and that energy has the peace, power, and emotional capacity that you need.
Your bridal bigness is the antidote to fear, anxiety, stress, overwhelm, people pleasing, and insecurity. It is your creativity, your calm, your grace. It’s the quiet sense deep within that trusts things will be ok, somehow.
In this episode, we will discuss how your bridal bigness is something you can tap into on purpose when you feel like you’re feeling drained, stressed, or depleted
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What bridal bigness is
- How to tap into your bridal bigness
- The importance of thinking about your lineage
- The question to ask yourself when you are struggling
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Let’s talk about the touchy situation of prenups.
This can be an uncomfortable conversation to have. The automatic response can be to be offended.
We don’t want to ever think that our marriage could end.
I want you to think about prenups the same way you do a fire escape plan. You never want to think that your house will catch on fire but you want to be prepared.
In this episode, I am going to help you think of prenups differently and in a loving way.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How prenups can be a loving gesture
- Why prenups protect not only you but also your spouse
- Prenups can save you time and money in the case of a divorce
- The importance of not letting your feelings take over
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
I can remember hearing stories of a wedding being called off and thinking it was the most intense, heartbreaking yet fascinating thing.
I mean, isn’t being engaged the most exciting perfect time of your life?
How did you say yes and then only a few short months later, you are saying no?
In this episode, we are exploring how one’s mind can change about something so major when so many people were watching.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Understanding that deep knowing you have
- Creating space during your engagement
- Listening to your intuition
- Why you are allowed to change your mind
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
This feeling of time collapsing around a wedding makes people intensely invested and erratically emotional in surprising ways.
Weddings are important in terms of chronological times that we count with years and days but it’s also important in the other sense of time known as kairos or deep time.
Kairos moments are about intangible things like connection, flow, and celebration and a kairos moment is so powerful it can sustain you for years.
In this episode, we talk about the concept of time and the not so subtle pressure on women to time this wedding perfectly.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How it is tricky to time when to get married
- What are kairos moments
- The pressure on women to get married at the “right” time
- Enjoying this moment in time
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today we are talking about one of my favorite topics - love languages.
Love languages are a framework for how to show and receive love in a relationship.
It helps you understand your partner better and be able to show them love in a way they will respond to.
In this episode, we discuss the 5 love languages so you have a better understanding of how to show your partner love and how you like to be shown love also.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The 5 love languages
- Why love languages are important to know
- How to show your partner love based on their love language
- The way love languages help your relationship
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today I am sharing some questions that I get for the day of your wedding.
You want your wedding day to go smoothly but sometimes things happen.
In this episode, we are going to talk about how to stay in the right mindset, gracefully getting out of conversations, and remembering your parents.
My hope is that the answers to these questions will help you feel calmer as your wedding day approaches.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Making sure you are in the right mind frame for the day of your wedding
- How to get out of conversations so you can speak to everyone at your wedding
- Gifts to give your parents
- Enjoying your wedding day
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
There comes a moment when you transition from doing to being.
You have to let go of trying to control every aspect of your wedding and just surrender.
Let things be. You can’t control everything but you can accept everything.
In this episode, I’m talking about surrender and how when you do it, you can actually enjoy your wedding.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to surrender
- The importance of giving up control
- Trusting other people
- Understanding what is going on within you
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today we are going to talk about one of the biggest issues facing brides- the arrival fallacy.
The arrival fallacy is the mental and emotional illusion that when you arrive, once you get there, achieve the goal, and arrive at your wedding day, you will have lasting happiness.
This is why so many brides and couples are willing to suffer through a tough wedding planning journey.
In this episode, I offer 3 ways to combat the arrival fallacy so that you feel connected and understood as you head down the aisle.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Making each stop of the wedding process meaningful
- Why you should revisit your values
- How to manage expectations
- The importance of making your wedding enjoyable
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
This is another framework for getting into the feeling state that you want for your wedding day.
It’s the art of noticing.
There will be a lot to see and take in and the art of noticing will let you be intentional about what you take in, what you notice, and what you celebrate which will have you feeling better.
In this episode, I share how stopping to notice your wedding is magical and fun and makes you appreciate it so much more.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Choosing what you notice
- The power of pausing to notice
- Giving gratitude
- How noticing will help with stress
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
I have noticed with brides and weddings, it really brings out this perfectionist monster.
There's all of a sudden this idea that their wedding should or could possibly be perfect, and they should look perfect and act perfect and everyone else should be perfect.
The whole thing just takes on a life of its own and the perfectionist, the bad part of perfectionism really comes out. I get that it feels really true that you are a perfectionist, you have a very keen eye, you have a high standard, you have a specific sense of style you are very professional, and you want everyone else to be very professional and only submit the highest standard.
In this episode, we are discussing how there’s no perfect bride or wedding and why it’s impossible to leave space for the imperfect.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The idea of perfection
- Understanding why you feel everything needs to be perfect
- The importance of leaving space
- Enjoying the moment
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
So much of wedding talk is about wanting to create a vibe.
So many brides think a lot about how to create the vibe they going for on their wedding day. And while the atmosphere (venue, decor, etc) communicates certain energy or vibe, the strongest factor in creating the wedding vibe you want is to learn how to communicate it with your own energy.
In this episode, we are discussing how you can create the vibe you want for your wedding now just imagining it.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to communicate with your energy
- Why your energy is a necessary ingredient to a beautiful day
- The importance of practicing how you want to feel on your wedding day
- How you can create how your guests feel
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Is it bad to be knee deep in planning and just ask yourself and your fiancé “wouldn’t it make more sense to just elope?”
Whether it's the complicated logistics of hotel blocks and transportation, the unhappy family members who aren’t getting their way, the ballooning expenses, or just the overwhelm of the sheer amount of decisions.
Maybe it’s just that the wedding has become a bit of a monster that has taken over your entire relationship and you miss the life you had before wedding planning.
In this episode, we are talking about how it’s normal and predictable to be completely over it and want to just bag it all and elope.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why eloping isn’t a bad thing
- The importance of taking time to consider the way in which you are thinking of the elopement
- Determining your reason for having a wedding
- Finding out what you are running away from
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
How can you manage your feelings on the big day?
How can you make sure you feel the way you want to feel?
You want to feel good. You want to enjoy it. You want to be happy. You want to be present and soak it all in. But how?
It can feel like it’s the thing you have the least control over. You think that you have to wait to see what happens in order to know how you are going to feel.
In this episode, I just want you to flip the paradigm a bit. Your wedding day isn’t going to tell you how to feel, you are going to tell your wedding day how your feel.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The importance of deciding ahead of time how you are going to feel
- Anchoring into your wedding day
- Leaning into the fact that not everything is going to be perfect
- Changing your thoughts about how things are “suppose” to be
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
I want to remind you today that your wedding is a changing thing.
At one point, it was a dream, a vision, or a fantasy. Then at some point, your wedding becomes a possibility. You are dating someone you can envision marrying, suddenly the possibility of your own wedding is within your reachable reality.
Then if you are engaged and planning a wedding, your wedding becomes a choice, a reality, and an event. It can become a source of joy, and pain. It can be a dream, a nightmare, or both at the same time.
Then as your wedding gets closer, it’s a day, an event, and a significant moment in time. Then, poof, it will be done. It will be over. It will be gone and it will morph into a memory, a photograph, a story.
In this episode, I want to remind you that the story of your wedding is a changing thing. What it will mean will change over time.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why your wedding is more than what it seems
- The importance of taking time after your wedding to integrate it all
- How your wedding changes after a loss
- Letting your wedding story will constantly change and evolve
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
When we think about weddings, we think about what we want them to be. Where we want them, what it will look like, the flowers, the music, the dress, the food, the dance floor, the guest list, and all the details.
We think about Pinterest, Instagram, and Tik Tok. We think about the movies we have seen, we think about the weddings we’ve been to, and the images that have been in our minds.
I love that. I want you to have what you want. Whether it is peonies, a mermaid cut dress, a black and white dance floor, or a major design moment with your escort cards. I am so into all of it.
Yet, if we don’t ask ourselves the deeper question, our wants can feel really empty. They can fail to deliver on the happiness that they seemed to promise.
In this episode, I want you to ask yourself a million times what do I want and let yourself go nuts.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The importance of asking for what you want
- The difference between what you want vs what you yearn for
- How knowing what you yearn for can help you make decisions
- Taking a minute to get quiet with yourself
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Weddings seem to come with demand.
It requires something of you and you usually aren’t prepared to think about it or tackle it. It can seem really unrelated to your actual wedding, yet it becomes an obstacle that stands right between you and your happy day.
Shouldn’t it be as simple as just making decisions and choosing things that work for our budgets and preferences and cultures and families?
In this episode, I am discussing that whatever your wedding is demanding of you, how to stop trying to scoot around it and how to go towards it.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Coming to peace with your own body
- How to successfully manage people pleasing
- Why you might be making your wedding harder than it should be
- Dealing with grief around your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
There is a quote by the Persian poet Rumi, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there.”
I mean, can you even take it. This idea is just so fabulous. Just think of all the ways you can apply this to the drama happening in your world right now.
So much of the conflict I see with brides is around wanting to do things right or litigating who did something wrong and our brains get really stuck in right and wrong land.
In this episode, we discuss if it is really important to be right and what it can cost you.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to move beyond the concept of right and wrong
- This idea of “getting it right”
- How to move past someone disappointing you
- Why this concept can help you have a successful marriage
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Bridal beauty is a huge industry.
Many brides will whiten their teeth, start botox, start working out, diet, get facials, get manicures, go tanning, or get eyelash extensions.
So many things go on in the glam world when a woman is planning a wedding.
There is so much pressure to look the best you’ve ever looked.
In this episode, we are going to pause and acknowledge the weirdness of the bridal beauty industry. It’s alright to want to look your best, but it’s also okay to keep getting better.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How this bridal beauty industry got started
- The importance of your inner beauty
- How your wedding is so much more than how you look
- Calling in a team of experts to help you focus on your inner beauty
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
So many brides have strong visions of their weddings. Often based on old visions, movies, Instagram, or Pinterest.
We get so so bombarded by trends and images it can be really difficult to know whether what we want is authentically true to our deepest desire or whether we have been specialized to want it.
In talking to brides throughout the pandemic who have had to shift and postpone and replan and unplan, it really drove home the usefulness of this concept- what wants to happen?
In this episode, we are going to be diving into how to come at your wedding with a little bit of a looser hold on that wedding vision.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to get in a co-creative mindset of your wedding
- The importance of getting in the present moment
- Getting honest about who you are and what you want
- Becoming your wedding
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Have you ever heard the phrase Le Pause?
Le Pause is a french baby sleep training technique where when you hear your baby cry in the middle of the night, you don’t rush straight away to get them, you give it a pause, and see if they resettle.
I love this idea and I am advocating that we bring Le Pause to the bridal journey.
Most brides jump right to wedding planning as soon as they are engaged but what if we took a pause here instead?
In this episode, I explain why pausing is so important not only for yourself but for your relationship.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What is Le Pause
- Giving yourself the space to absorb your new identity as an engaged couple
- The importance of feeling your emotions
- Why you should take time to just be engaged
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today I just want to give you a little lesson on friendship from my own wedding.
When it comes to choosing a bridal party, it can be hard to choose between family and friends. For my wedding, I decided I wanted a small bridal party so my friends wouldn’t feel burdened because being a bridesmaid can be draining.
But there’s a lot that happens on your wedding day and I learned that I should have trusted my friends more and have had the nuanced conversation.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Things to consider when choosing your bridal party
- Being protected of your energy
- The importance of having the conversation with your friends
- Considering the pressure for your bridal party
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today I want to answer a question I get a lot - why brides? People want to know why I don’t focus on couples.
The answer is simple: the male experience of getting married is very different from a woman’s. Wedding culture shows this focus on the bride and what her wedding means about her.
It all comes back to the history of weddings and the different viewpoints we have had on weddings.
Listen in as I discuss why I am committed and secure in my decision to focus my work on brides.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The history of weddings
- Things we hold onto as brides
- Making your wedding your own
- Our connection to the women before us
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
If you are like me, you want people to understand you, to get you. I have learned that there isn’t always room for it, in the place, time, or setting that you want.
So let them be wrong.
I am obsessed with this mantra right now. There is something so freeing about it and it comes up so much in wedding planning.
In this episode, we are going to dive into relieving your anxiety with this one simple phrase - Let them be wrong.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to decide to let go and let people be wrong
- The best way to relieve anxiety
- Why people might not understand you
- Taking back your power
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Where do my friendships fit in once you get married?
We know weddings cause the relationship group to shift beneath us but friendship really is connected to our survival
In this episode, I am going to be talking about a trend I’ve noticed around bridesmaid ghosting. When your nearest and dearest just sorta going silent and it’s obviously really stressful on a bride.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to define friendship
- Why you don’t need to have a ton of friends
- Recognizing a toxic friendship
- How to handle the issue of bridesmaid ghosting
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
What is the first thing you should do when planning a wedding?
In this episode, we are talking about the essential ingredient you need before you even start planning your wedding - your intention.
Listen in as I discuss the importance of getting quiet and really deciding what you want out of your wedding.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to determine as a couple what you want your wedding to be
- The importance of envisioning the future
- How I determined what I valued most for my wedding
- Anchoring into what you truly want your wedding to be
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
One of the biggest issues coming up lately is the guest list drama.
We start feeling badly about not inviting people, like friends that we have lost touch with or certain family members. Plus there’s the issue with people who don’t RSVP or decline the invitation.
There is no rule that you have to invite someone because they expect to be invited.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How there are no rules around who you have to invite
- Where to start with your guest list
- How Covid impacted who we invite to our weddings
- The importance of feeling comfortable with who shared this day with you
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
As you have noticed weddings bring up a lot of things for a lot of people.
You are probably going to find yourself having to have a lot of tricky conversations that you never saw coming.
The most important thing you can do is have them. Giving people you care about the dignity of a face-to-face conversation is a beautiful gesture that can change the tone and trajectory of a relationship.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How we show up is more important than what we say
- Taking responsibility
- The importance of listening
- Leaving the conversation with a solution
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
As a bride, you're going to be making a lot of decisions and it can easily lead to overwhelm. This is one of the biggest causes of bridal blues and overwhelm: just too many decisions.
One of the biggest blocks to knowing what we want is that we don’t let ourselves just simply want what we want. We are afraid of our own desires.
So let’s talk about a few ways to make decision-making easier and less draining.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How not dedication is actually a decision
- The importance of knowing what you want
- How not making a decision can make you feel
- Trusting your intuition
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
The sibling experience is probably one of the most under-discussed aspects of the family drama unfolding during engagements.
I think so many times people underestimate the siblings’ thoughts and feelings and what they go through when their sister gets married.
It's so important to remember that you getting married is completely reshaping your family.
Listen is as I discuss, how to help prepare your siblings for your upcoming wedding and why this is a great opportunity to strengthen your bond with them.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Navigating the changing terrain of the new family dynamic
- How your siblings might be feeling about your wedding
- How weddings can heal your sibling relationships
- Ways that you can strengthen your sibling bond
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Happy Holidays!
I am rebroadcasting my episode all about writing your vows.
In addition to being a life coach and helping brides with their wedding drama, I am also a wedding officiant.
I love helping couples create their own ceremony that is true to them and the history of their families.
In this episode, I’m giving you the 6 part structure to writing your vows that is easy, fun, and keeps your vows balanced.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to avoid the awkward mismatched vows (4:30)
- How to make writing vows easy (4:57)
- Ways to start your wedding vows (6:24)
- The importance of looking to the future when writing your vows (10:02)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Happy Holidays!
I am bringing back an old episode today all about bridezilla myths. We are going to take a look at what the term, bridezilla, does for women, brides, and the wedding industry.
The bridezilla myth adds this extra layer of stress for brides. They are so worried about becoming a bridezilla that they are not processing their emotions of what is actually underneath that.
Listen in as I discuss, what the term bridezilla means, how society puts pressure on brides, and what you can do if you feel yourself becoming a bridezilla.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Where the term bridezilla came from (0:32)
- How more attention does not equal more support (1:50)
- The pressure that brides feel (3:42)
- What to do if you feel bridezilla tendency coming on (11:00)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
One of the things I hate the most about the dominant narrative around weddings is the image of the constantly stressed-out bride. Stress isn’t meant to be a prolonged state.
Stress is fine and to be expected when tackling big, new, or complex challenges but it should subside.
Wedding stress can be very tricky but listen in as I discuss, identifying your stress, tools to use to ease your stress, and rewarding yourself.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The three different types of wedding stress (2:40)
- A tool to help you deal with stress (5:27)
- The importance of asking for help (7:32)
- How to better your situation (10:00)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
One of the reasons making all the wedding decisions can be so stressful is that you don’t want to have any regrets. You are spending a lot of money and the photos will last forever and you don’t want to look back and regret your color scheme or your dress or even your bridal party choices.
What if I told you there were no wrong choices. There were the choices that you made for the reasons and circumstances the present situation allowed.
Listen in as I discuss, the concept of wrongness, the importance of making a choice, and living in the moment.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- There are no wrong choices (4:10)
- How to know you are making the right decision (5:42)
- The way to regret proof your decisions (7:08)
- Why you don’t have to fear feeling regret (10:23)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Listen to Episode 11:Hold Two Things
If there is one thing I could tell every couple getting married, it’s that the biggest risk to your engagement journey, from wedding planning to the big day to the newlywed year- is expectations.
Expectations are those notions that live inside our heads that we are mostly unaware of. We kinda think it’s just normal, or we mistakenly think that everyone shares the same expectations. We tend to live inside our own expectations.
Listen in as I discuss, asking for help, understanding your feelings, and the importance of looking at what is happening right in front of you
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The importance of doing research before your wedding (4:45)
- Feeling into your expectations (5:45)
- Why you need to let g of your vision of a perfect wedding (7:33)
- How expectations are harmless until you depend on them too much (10:35)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Check out Episode 3: Bridal Blues
Happy Thanksgiving! This week I am enjoying the holidays with my family so I decided to rebroadcast my very first episode!
In this first episode, I am explaining the fundamentals about what is bridal coaching and how it can help you.
There is so much focus on wedding preparation and looking good for your wedding but we don’t focus on how to have more peace in your own mind, your own heart, and your relationships.
Listen in as I discuss, how bridal coaching can help your entire married life, the missing piece I discovered to planning a wedding, and the importance of relationships during this time.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What is bridal coaching (1:07)
- How bridal coaching helps not only your wedding but your future (2:56)
- My story of how I became a bridal coach (4:26)
- The importance of not just looking good for your wedding but feeling good also (10:55)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
In today’s episode, we are talking about the holidays - so many images of family togetherness, elaborate meals, festive decorations, favorite movies, gorgeous gifts, and lots of laughter (or this is what Hallmark movies make us believe it should be).
But the holidays can be a source of anxiety, overwhelm, frustration, and sadness for a lot of people. This makes the holidays a lot like weddings, in our mind it’s all pretty and happy and fun but in reality, it’s so much more complicated than that.
Listen in as I discuss, how to decide where to spend the holidays, mismanaged expectations, and focusing on what is in your control.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How the holidays are like weddings (1:10)
- Preparing for the unexpected (1:56)
- How to handle bad behavior at the holidays (5:13)
- The importance of adjusting your expectation (9:57)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
One thing we know about marriage is that there will be conflict. It’s inevitable.
So many people try to avoid it, thinking if they can just not fight that they will be better off. Of course, avoiding conflict isn’t a healthy move- issues will linger, resentments will build. The most interesting thing about marital conflict is that it’s mostly unresolvable.
Yikes!
So all the energy and passion that goes into those fights doesn’t tend to get us the outcome of resolution that we so desire.
Listen in as I discuss, how you start a discussion is how it ends, asking for what you need, and rephasing what you are angry about.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why you don’t have to resolve conflicts to have a happy marriage (2:36)
- How to start a fight (3:38)
- The importance of rephasing and softening what you say (5:09)
- How when you are feeling attacked you become defensive (8:44)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Wedding planning can be tough- the opinions, the pressure, the money. But we do it because it’s also magical- the ritual, the dancing, the dress. In many ways, the journey from engagement to the wedding day is rocky for good reason.
You are going to have to decide how you are going to manage yourself within this new ecosystem of married life. It can be stressful and draining while also exciting and beautiful.
In this episode, I want to share with you three prayers or mantras that are the perfect anchor points as you go. Whatever you are experiencing, these three prayers are the lifeline you need at that moment.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- That it’s alright to ask for help (3:03)
- How gratitude can help with wedding drama (4:47)
- The Wow factor in your wedding (7:40)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
One of the most intense things about planning a wedding is that after all the time and effort and money, how do you even make sure you are happy on the actual day?
So many things could potentially happen. There is so much riding on this day- can those 8 hours live up to the hype of your own expectations, your childhood fantasies, months of planning, so many conversations. It certainly is a lot of pressure.
What we know about happiness is that it’s certainly not more likely to appear amid intense pressure. Happiness is light, spontaneous, playful. But it’s also not as aloof as we think.
Listen in as I discuss choosing happiness, why your thoughts are important, and what you can actually control on your wedding day.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How you can decide ahead of time how you want to feel on your wedding day (2:35)
- Reaching for the better feeling thought (3:58)
- How to hack anxiety and overwhelm (6:40)
- Why you control the narrative of your wedding day (8:39)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today I want to talk a little bit about a big topic. Trust.
For couples getting married those same trust issues are still there, just slightly different. So often we want a road map or a checklist or a diagnostic test to determine whether the person we love can be trusted. That question “how do I truly trust someone?” is a tough one. But it’s also the wrong one. A lot of what’s underneath the notion of trust is control- we are yearning to control how we will be treated ahead of time and trust is the name we put on it.
Listen in as I discuss,
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why there is only one person you can actually trust (3:40)
- How to handle if someone does prove to be untrustworthy (5:31)
- The importance of cultivating trust within ourselves first (7:01)
- How to learn to trust others (8:59)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today I want to talk about a little mantra- Nothing has gone wrong here.
It’s a sentence or a thought that you can choose when shit hits the fan. When you are planning a wedding, I promise you that will happen.
There is just something so magical about wedding planning but it brings up so much for so many people. Weddings make people super reflective about their pasts, their futures, their hopes, their dreams, their regrets, their heartbreaks.
Listen in as I discuss, choosing your own thoughts, how to overcome bizarre challenges, and finding evidence to support your thoughts.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to avoid the nervous breakdown moment before your wedding (3:20)
- How to look for evidence to support your thoughts (5:09)
- The power of your thoughts (8:47)
- Making intentional choices (10:30)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Today I want to talk about rest. I am a huge fan of rest and our culture often vilifies rest and we end up feeling guilty for resting thinking we should be working. When we should be resting, it’s so easy to press play on another episode on Netflix or scroll Instagram.
But today I want to talk about a type of resting called Intentional Resting. It’s a concept developed by Dan Howard and I have found it to be really powerful.
Listen in as I discuss, a powerful way to use rest to prepare for your wedding, how resting helps your relationships, and affirmations to use to invoke the feeling of rest.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The importance of focusing on your discomfort (1:41)
- How to turn your resting energy outward (4:51)
- Examples of how to use rest (5:51)
- How resting will help you plan your wedding (7:00)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Getting engaged is that short window in life where everything is magical and full of hope and possibility.
So why would anyone need a life coach during this time?
Most people who have been through this season of life will tell you that it is far more of an emotional rollercoaster than most people anticipate.
Listen in as I discuss, how maybe more time is needed, looking at the way you talk about your engagement, and giving others grace.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How people react to our happy news is very telling of our relationships (1:40)
- Choosing how you respond (3:59)
- Why your friends or family might not be happy about your engagement (5:37)
- The importance of taking space (11:11)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
In today’s episode let’s talk about marriage prep. So little focus is placed on marriage prep.
It’s so important to take the time to reflect on what our marriage is going to be about and the principles and pillars that make up the years ahead of us.
Listen in as I discuss, laying out a road map that works for both of you, why you should start practicing your love map, and how love maps can help conflicts in your marriage.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What is a love map (4:52)
- How we just want to be witnessed (6:05)
- What real intimacy is actually about (6:50)
- How to develop your love map (10:35)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
More and more people are marrying people of different faiths, cultures, and traditions. This means that the default church wedding that we always see in movies doesn’t play out that naturally for so many of us.
How much of what we believe in is just because it’s what we were taught growing up?
Listen in as I discuss, why you don’t have to have a religious ceremony, keeping your identity in your wedding, and the magic of creating something new.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Making the decision to have a religious wedding (4:10)
- The importance of keeping your identity (5:17)
- How you get to create the wedding that you want (7:30)
- Why you have the power to create your own unique wedding (8:10)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
I want to give you a really simple reminder that is key for your wedding but also for your life and it’s a phrase I come back to time and time again and it’s, hold two things.
It’s about the duality of life. There are always opposing things happening at the same time.
Listen in as I discuss, the importance of holding two things, how holding two things can make your wedding day better, and the feeling you will get by holding two things.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Where the concept for hold two things came from (1:24)
- How your wedding doesn’t have to be one thing or another (2:27)
- Examples of how to hold two things (3:41)
- The benefits of holding two things (5:08)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
I want to talk today on the podcast about a fun little exercise that helps brides with energy management and preventing those bridal blues.
Once it’s all said and done, all we have left of our wedding is the memories. But you don’t have to wait until it’s over to start remembering.
Listen in as I discuss, the visualization that you can use to premember your wedding, how to stay in control of your emotions, and controlling your energy.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What is premembering (1:31)
- How not to let things derail your wedding day (2:16)
- The importance of visualizing your wedding (5:00)
- Why you need to stay in control of your energy and your mood (10:14)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
In addition to being a life coach and helping brides with their wedding drama, I am also a wedding officiant.
I love helping couples create their own ceremony that is true to them and the history of their families.
In this episode, I’m giving you the 6 part structure to writing your vows that is easy, fun, and keeps your vows balanced.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How to avoid the awkward mismatched vows (4:30)
- How to make writing vows easy (4:57)
- Ways to start your wedding vows (6:24)
- The importance of looking to the future when writing your vows (10:02)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
The name change. It’s a big part of getting married. Most of us assumed we would change our names when we got married. Until the time comes to change your name. It’s weirdly unnerving.
Suddenly you are supposed to just have a different name. Talk about an identity crisis. Even though you expected it, it feels weird.
Expect it to be uncomfortable. Decide for yourself what you want to do. Think about your career, your kids, and then talk to your fiance. You might be surprised to hear how much it matters to him or the opposite. He might really want you to keep your name.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The identity crisis you can have when changing your last name (2:49)
- Where did changing your last name come from (5:27)
- How you as a bride can make a decision on changing your name (7:00)
- The importance of getting your finance’s opinion (10:26)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
As I am recording this, it’s the summer of 2021- we are crawling out of a pandemic after nearly a year and a half. A pandemic that locked down most of the country, and the world, and obviously also shut the wedding industry down in its tracks.
The rescheduling began. Things got complicated but also, people got really creative. People started to have these insanely intimate and beautiful ceremonies. They zoomed them. They wore their dress, they had incredible floral installations, they had them in yards, in front of fireplaces. We called them micro weddings but they were maximum on love, romance, beauty, detail.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The way the pandemic changed weddings (0:38)
- How to simplify decision making (5:15)
- How having constraints can help you during your wedding (7:04)
- What the micro weddings from the pandemic taught us (10:43)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Our culture is so singularly focused on the romantic love narrative that I think it really misses out on the love story that’s also wrapped into the wedding day- specifically with our parents.
Parents think about the day- who they will be on that day, how they will feel, it’s a completion of their job in many ways. They think about how they pay for it.
The bottom line is your parents are going through a major change and all of the emotion that comes with it. They are dealing with the relationship reshuffle, the new family dynamic, and the new life phase.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How much focus is on your wedding day from childhood (2:34)
- How this is a new chapter in life for your parents as well (5:08)
- The one thing that can help you when you are having conflict with your parents (5:53)
- What to give your parents to mark your wedding day (9:32)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Sometimes our friendships can suffer when we get engaged and start planning a wedding.
Yes, change changes things. Nothing has gone wrong, avoid the instinct to cut people off and try to make them understand. Allow your friends to have that processing time.
In this episode, I am going over the five different themes as ways our friendships can suffer when we get engaged.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What to do when your friend doesn’t like your partner (2:46)
- How to handle when your partner throws off the friend group dynamic (5:58)
- How to help your friends when they don’t know where they fit in your life anymore (8:43)
- What to do when your wedding messes up your friend’s social life (11:08)
- How your wedding triggers your friend’s insecurity about their own relationship status (14:23)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
In today’s episode, we are going to take a look at what the term, bridezilla, does for women, brides, and the wedding industry.
The bridezilla myth adds this extra layer of stress for brides. They are so worried about becoming a bridezilla that they are not processing their emotions of what is actually underneath that.
Listen in as I discuss, what the term bridezilla means, how society puts pressure on brides, and what you can do if you feel yourself becoming a bridezilla.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- Where the term bridezilla came from (0:32)
- How more attention does not equal more support (1:50)
- The pressure that brides feel (3:42)
- What to do if you feel bridezilla tendency coming on (11:00)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
In today’s episode, we are talking about all the negative emotions that brides feel that we don’t really make space for in our culture.
We expect brides to be all smiles and pretend that nothing is wrong. We don’t give brides the opportunity to have the full range of emotions that a change like this requires.
Listen in as I discuss the 4 squares of the change cycle you go through as you prepare for your wedding.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- How brides go through a death and rebirth phase of life (4:45)
- Why there are no rules for your wedding (7:38)
- How to dream again and reiterate (9:52)
- How your wedding prepares you for other changes that will occur in your life (12:40)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
In today’s episode we are diving into wedding drama and why is it never about what it’s about. Wedding drama is real but it has the potential to be magic.
So much of wedding drama is letting go of your old life and stepping into a new one. Brides feel so much pressure leading up to their weddings and that’s when the drama can set in.
Listen in as I discuss, the pressures of social media, listening to everyone else and not ourselves, and the impact your wedding can have on your friendships.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- The truth behind wedding drama (2:15)
- The difference between support and attention (4:44)
- What can cause wedding drama (6:11)
- How getting married can change your other relationships as well (8:54)
Featured on the show:
Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching
Welcome to the Whispers to a Bride Podcast. In this first episode, I am explaining the fundamentals about what is bridal coaching and how it can help you.
There is so much focus on wedding preparation and looking good for your wedding but we don’t focus on how to have more peace in your own mind, your own heart, and your relationships.
Listen in as I discuss, how bridal coaching can help your entire married life, the missing piece I discovered to planning a wedding, and the importance of relationships during this time.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
- What is bridal coaching (1:07)
- How bridal coaching helps not only your wedding but your future (2:56)
- My story of how I became a bridal coach (4:26)
- The importance of not just looking good for your wedding but feeling good also (10:55)
Featured on the show:
Follow me onInstagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/
Check out my website to learn how to work with me: https://karamaureen.com
Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching