056- Season 2 Kick Off And Answering Views Questions

We share what’s changing behind the scenes at Wedding Hive, including a major co-host transition, and why the show’s focus on practical wedding advice stays the same. Then we answer your most pressing wedding planning questions with a venue-owner view on budgets, timelines, and boundaries. 

• studio and personal updates that shape the show’s next season 
• Kelsey’s perspective as the owner of Willow Wedding Venue in the Phoenix Valley 
• Grace’s exit to focus on wedding content creation and business goals 
• child-free weddings and why the boundary is not rude 
• first look choices and how they affect emotions and photos 
• building a wedding day timeline around vendor hours and real logistics 
• where ChatGPT and AI help with decor, emails, and budgeting 
• why AI-built timelines often miss the flow of the day 
• all-inclusive venues versus DIY weddings and the hidden costs 
• why a great photographer is worth protecting in the budget 
• coworker invitations and keeping healthy boundaries 
• sticking to a wedding budget by defining non-negotiables and saving longer

 
If you have any questions, make sure to send them over on Instagram. Throw them in our DMs. 

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Transcript

Welcome And The New Season

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey queens, welcome to the Wedding Hive Podcast. My name is Kelsey and I am your host. So if you have been following along with our Wedding Hive journey, as you can see, things have changed around here. So today we're going to talk about some changes that have taken place, kind of what the direction is for the future, and also some answer some of the listeners' questions because questions have been flooding in. And so I'm going to answer some of those. So let's start with a life update. So as you see, our studio has changed. We actually moved our previous studio to a new location. And I'm kind of loving it. I think I was over the orange and I kept saying I was over those burnt orange walls. And then I wore an orange shirt today. So maybe I'm just a liar and secretly still love it. So our studio setup has changed. If you have seen in some of our recent episodes, we have done some vlogging. So been out in the community more. But another change, actually, I'm going to wait a second to get to that change. For so many of you, a quick life update. Yes, you can see I chopped my hair. It used to be 22 inches and now it feels like two inches. So trying to get on this bob trend that all of you girls are doing. And I'm actually loving it for this Arizona summer heat because it is really hot out and it is a lot more manageable. So said bye to the extensions, going back to this natural look. And maybe now I do look like the mom that I am, but that is okay because we are going to embrace the journey of who we are. So that is a personal update.

Host Reintro And Venue Perspective

SPEAKER_00 1:38

Another update is um I don't know if anybody knows this. I've kind of hinted at it here and there, but um I run a wedding venue out of the Phoenix Valley area. It is called the Willow Wedding Venue. It gives you a beautiful desert um Sonoran backdrop. It is absolutely stunning. Um I am a Colorado girl, as you know. So I grew up at the base of the Rocky Mountains and I didn't think sunsets could get prettier than what I saw growing up in Colorado. But our desert sunsets are absolutely gorgeous. So if you're looking for a desert venue, you can come check me out. We can say hi, I'll show you around, show you our desert um venue. So that gives you a little bit of understanding of where my heart is and my headspace is when it comes to the wedding world. Um, it's really cool because in my role, not only do I work with couples, but also vendors, logistics. Um, I see so many budgets. And so that is where a lot of my knowledge um foundation is. Um, I did spend, I have spent time as a wedding planner in other areas and venues, but I love what I do and I have so much fun with it. So that gives you a little bit of understanding of where kind of my mindset sits. Um, and hopefully that gives you a little bit of context going into like future episodes of where I am. So if you want to come check out the willow, you can find us on Instagram, TikTok, um the willowaz.com. And I would love to show you around and talk about your dream wedding. So um, that's a little bit about me, if I were to reintroduce myself.

Co-Host Transition With Grace

SPEAKER_00 3:10

So let's talk about the elephant in the room because I am alone and that is different. Um, so Grace, my incredible co-host who started this podcast with me from the beginning, um, she is a wedding content creator and she is absolutely killing it. And um, for the betterment of her business and her life goals for her and her husband, she has chosen to exit the podcast. Um, so I know it's been a few weeks. We've been pretty dry and you haven't seen us. There has been every emotion that you can imagine with that type of a transition. Um, the only one that I wouldn't say emotion that has been felt is probably anger. Um, I've kind of joked with her over text and I'm like, I'm mad at you, but I'm really not. Because she is going out and she is building her dreams and her goals, and she is meeting her couples, and she is absolutely killing it. Um, and that is that is really what I want for her. Um, she is an incredible wedding content creator. She doesn't just do weddings, but she's also dabbled in like the business side. She has built social medias from the ground up. So it is really sad to see her go, but I know what she what is next for her is gonna be incredible because that's who she is and she is so passionate about what she does. Um, sometimes people grow their wings and fly, and that is what she is doing. So if you are interested in finding Grace, you will find her on Instagram and TikTok at AZ Wedding Content Creator. She book her for your wedding. She's a travel girly. You know that. We talked about that in her honeymoon episode. She's traveled to Europe. Her passport is up to date. So if you are getting married in the US or in Belize, call her. She will come do your wedding content creation. Um, she again is so good at what she does. So just wanted to talk about that for a few minutes. Um, so you will be seeing some transitions, obviously, on social media. Um, but she was very, very fun to work with. I learned a lot from her. She brought out a fun side of me because I'm very type A and focused, and I appreciate that about her. So um you might see her in a future episode, you might see us hang out and we'll post it on the gram, but there are absolutely no hard feelings. I love her and um we're very, very grateful for what she did for this podcast. So, getting into today's episode, we have gotten some viewer questions. And

Kids At Weddings And First Looks

SPEAKER_00 5:50

so I've been collecting them for this episode, and let's start talking through them. So, first viewer question is Is it rude to have a child-free wedding? It's really funny for the first one to talk about because Grace was very anti-kids at weddings. When we very first launched this podcast, I was like, no, I think kids have a place at weddings. And like as the days are going on or as weddings are continuing, yes, I think there is a time and place for kiddos, but at the end of the day, they're really not kid-free or they're really not children-friendly events because there is lots of places for them to get hurt, to get bored, to break things. And it's kind of turns into a party at the end of the night. So, kiddos, if you have kiddos at your wedding, um, I don't think it's rude to say to have a kid-free wedding. Obviously, we have seen some of the backlash that has come with that when people say no kids. But I think that we need to have a little better understanding and just, you know, respect that request. So, from one mom to another, if they say kid-free wedding, then it's kid-free wedding. Actually, I'm going to a wedding next month. It just dawned on me. I am going to a wedding next month. And she said, Hey, I'm getting ready to do the final RSVPs. Do you have an answer? And I said, Is this kids or no kids? She said, No kids. I said, Cool. Yep, my husband and I will be there. No hard feelings. She is like an aunt to my kids. They have an incredible relationship. She was darn near in my delivery room with one of them. I could absolutely throw a fit, but I respect it because it's a kid-free wedding. And my kids will understand that as well. So um, is it rude? No. Moms, take a deep breath, get a babysitter, go have a date night, go celebrate a wedding, eat yummy food, have a drink, dance on the dance floor. You deserve the break. Um, next one. Should we do a first look before the ceremony? Um, I have always said this goes in trends, is what I have noticed. Um, there are seasons where people don't have the first look and they want to wait until you walk down the aisle. And then others say, we're so anxious, we want to have a first look and get it out of the way. I think first looks make sense from a photo schedule standpoint. You can get all your photos done, you have a moment together, bridal party, immediate family, and then you get to enjoy and be part of a cocktail hour. You disappear for them sunset photos, but then it's about enjoying that time together. So um if you are hard set, you have dreamed about the day that those doors open and you see your person across that aisle, then do it. It's your wedding. The only thing I am saying is from that photo standpoint, first looks always run pretty smooth. So um, how long should our wedding day timeline

Building A Real Wedding Timeline

SPEAKER_00 8:40

be? So timelines honestly, they they truly do run all day. So when I sit down and I build a timeline, I look at one, what are your hours at the venue? Like what is your accessibility? What is um your hair and makeup timeline? What is your photographers? Um, what are they contracted hours for? Those contracted hours will determine how much time your official wedding day of timeline is going to run. Because if you say we're doing photos here and then we're doing this there, and then at midnight we're doing the sparkler exit, and your photographer's only scheduled for four hours, your photographer is not going to catch all of that. Um, so day of timelines are usually split into different sections. So we do those photo sections. Um, we run like a full day of, but then the other thing is, and I know we talked about it on the previous episode when we were talking to Carson on makeup, makeup and hair have their own timeline as well. So realistically, you want to build the meat of your um timeline, which is going to be with your photographer, how much time do you have with them? That's where we make sure that everything that you want to happen on that day takes place. And then we're gonna start building in hair and makeup. I love to add into timelines like breaks. Um, some couples get very anxious and overwhelmed quickly. And so they say we need to make sure that like me and my fiance have a few minutes together. So we'll add in those breaks and timelines. The other piece that I like to add into timelines is for lunch. I know it's hard to eat when you're anxious. I know you're really excited, but I promise if you don't get something in your stomach around lunchtime, once photo video starts, once the day starts, you're running, you get cranky quickly. And then if you want to add in drinking, you're gonna go from an empty stomach to buzzed really fast to crashing and it just makes a mess. So don't forget to eat lunch. Make sure you put like 20 minutes in your timeline.

Where AI Helps Wedding Planning

SPEAKER_00 10:47

Um, next question how helpful is chat GBT? This I okay, chat AI, I have found to be extremely useful for um inspiration for decor designs. You can really load in multiple photos into an AI builder and it can give you a very good visual for layouts. It can help you draft some emails to vendors, it can help you um kind of lay out some pieces or give some suggestive ideas. It can also help you with your budget. Um, you can go into, you know, a an AI app and say, this is our budget. This is what we're estimating, where can we cut down? This is what's most important. These are the non-negotiables, and it can really help build like a budget tracker. The one area that I would say um AI has failed or isn't does not understand it is with those day of timelines. It will build you out this timeline thinking that it's perfect. And I have messed with it with a couple, with a few couples. We've actually trialed it because I've been curious to see what if how well it builds and it doesn't. Um, chat and all AIs have not really figured out the flow of a day, and they might get smarter one day and be able to generate it. But if you get an app and it says you're, you know, let's build out your wedding day using AI, it's phenomenal. I have seen errors in it. Um, it doesn't always build it right. So be a little cautious with that.

All-Inclusive Versus DIY Reality

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Um, is all inclusive or DIY more affordable? Oh, this is a good one. So um all inclusive is going to save you money, yes. Also, it is going to help with maybe some of those communication aspects or um the vendor partners. So when you go to an all-inclusive venue, um, they might have some parts included in your package. That means that they have something worked out because they run a mass with um those vendor partners. So I'll use the willow, for example, um, because that's what I know. So at the willow, the package includes their catering, their bartender, their wedding cake, and their professional DJ. It includes their tables, it includes their chairs, it includes arches, it is your ceremony cocktail reception space. It is all in one with a pretty bow on top. Because of the contracts that um we have the willow has negotiated with our all-inclusive vendors because they run we, I'm gonna stop saying they, it's we, um, because we run weddings the as at a number that we do, it is a good business partnership to be able to get a really good deal on it. Um, so when couples come in and they go, you know, I think I want to remove this vendor, that's great. You absolutely can. We make it work, it happens. It doesn't mean that you're gonna go out and find that same vendor at the same cost because of the um deal that we have because we offer them so much business. Um, on the flip side, let's talk through um decor. So um not really the same question, but kind of within it because I think through um if you're like completely DIYing your wedding, I have talked with lots of families who have said, you know, they have this big land and they have this backyard and it's gonna be perfect. You're going to spend money on all of your rentals, you're gonna spend money on all of your um vendors, and now you're gonna have to spend money either on a coordinator, a setup team, a teardown team, and that's where it all adds up. You also, when you DIY a wedding, um, and I'm talking over 50 people. So let's like say around a hundred person guest count. I'm not talking micro wedding, 15, 20 people. That's a different story. You can you can save some money there. Um, but when you're do running a larger day of an event, you hold all of the responsibility. And so it's gonna cause some mental stress and it does end up being a wash, is what we have seen when it comes to that financial piece.

Photography Spending And Guest List Limits

SPEAKER_00 15:12

So, what's one thing couples wish they had spent more money on? Oh, okay. This might not answer the question, but the one spot that I will always say to not skip and to make sure it's in your budget is a good photographer. Those photos are gonna last forever. That is where you're going to have all of those memories captured when you know you hire somebody off of Craigslist because they're an upcoming photographer, you don't know what you get, and that is everything that you have besides the memories stored in your head. So um don't skip on a good photographer. Find the photographer that you love, find their good editing style, make sure that you fit it into your budget. Um, should we invite co-workers? Um, I don't think you should have to invite coworkers. One of the one of the areas that I think that we are learning to navigate in 2026 because of social media is we feel like we have to include everything in every area. And I'm here to tell you boundaries are healthy. So you can decide how much of a relationship you have with people in work or outside of work. When you have a job, you are not required to be everybody's best friend. Sometimes it is okay to have a very you want to have a very healthy workplace, but that doesn't mean that they are now invited to all of your gatherings. If there is a coworker that you hit it off with, you guys become besties, you're, you know, going to coffee and you're doing things together, then fantastic. That's exciting. That is somebody that is in your inner circle. Um, however, I think that boundaries are important. You should not feel like you have to invite everyone. Are they a part of your journey? Are they going to bring you up? Are they going to celebrate you? Or are they going to take this information? They're going to eat the food that you bought and they're going to go back to the office and talk crap. I do not think that you should have to invite coworkers. That is my same opinion on social media. I do not think that you should have every coworker follow you on social media because your personal life is your personal life. And your work life is your work life. And it is okay to have two healthy separations in that. They do not have to come to your wedding.

Budget Non-Negotiables And Saving

SPEAKER_00 17:41

Um how do we stick to a wedding budget when everything is getting more expensive? Yeah, I hear that. Everything is getting very expensive. Um, and that's just not, that's not just weddings. That's just in life. Look at gas prices. Um decide what your non-negotiables are. So go into, you know, sit down with your fiance and say, what are the things that are an absolute must? What is most important to you? What is most important to me? Create those non-negotiables and build everything from there because that is going to be your foundation. Um, if it is your type of florals, if it is your if it is an experience, if it is having a beer burrow, um, decide what is the most important and base everything around that. Weddings are booking out further, um, meaning that, you know, I want to say about two to three years ago, we were booking weddings six to 12 months in advance. It was post-COVID. Everybody was wanting to get married, and um, it was a very quick turnaround. The further out you like prolong your engagement season, the more money you have to save. The only thing is don't make your engagement way too long. Um, healthy engagements, you know, I've been seeing right now we're tracking about 18 to 24 months out, is what we're booking. Um, anything over that? I mean, there is a little bit, I'm seeing like 36 months out, but that's that's a little further. But work on that budget, see where you can save. I am not one to say go into debt over a wedding. So see if there's anywhere that you can cut some costs, um, maybe for the next 18 months, for example, instead of um asking people for birthday gifts or Christmas gifts, have them add put money into your wedding fund. Um and see where you can cut those costs. All right. Let me see if there's any other one before we end. Um, I think those are the good ones.

Closing And Listener Questions

SPEAKER_00 19:49

So if you have any questions, make sure to send them over on Instagram. Um, throw them in our DMs. I will either answer them on the stories or we'll bring them into an episode. So that is all for today. We are very excited about this upcoming season. Like I said, things are changing around here, but the primary focus has always been to bring you the tips, tricks, tea, and all the buzz in the wedding world. And that will not change. So thank you for joining me today in our brand new studio, and we will see you next time. Bye.