Our Listeners Ask: Is It Too Soon to Start Wedding Planning & How to Ask Family for Financial Help? And more...
Today, we’re diving into real questions from our listeners about wedding planning. From when to start planning to guest list dilemmas and vendor booking tips, we’re covering it all!
In this episode, August and I tackle the questions sent in by our listeners, offering practical advice and insights based on our years in the wedding industry. We start by discussing how early is too early to start planning and what key decisions need to be made first to set a solid foundation.
Next, we share tips on simplifying bridal parties and why it's perfectly okay to have a smaller or unconventional setup. We also address a common challenge: managing guest lists and deciding on inviting kids or allowing plus-ones.
If you’re in the final weeks of planning and feeling stressed, we've got strategies to help you stay organized and avoid last-minute anxiety. And for those unsure about how to approach financial help from family, we offer ways to navigate that conversation gracefully.
Lastly, we touch on when to send out save-the-dates and invitations, breaking down the ideal timeline to keep everything on track.
Highlights
- How early is too early to start planning your wedding?
- Simplifying your bridal party while keeping it meaningful.
- Managing guest list choices: kids and plus-ones.
- Best practices for staying stress-free in the final weeks.
- How to ask for financial help from family without it being awkward.
- Timeline for sending out save-the-dates and invitations.
Got more wedding questions for us? Send them to podcast@fantasysound.com, and we might answer yours in a future episode. Remember to like, subscribe, and share!
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Transcript
Kevin Dennis (0:1.333)
All right, folks, welcome to another episode of Now That I'm Engaged, How Do I Get Married? The Kevin and August Answers Your Questions edition. This is our first episode answering our audience's questions. How do you feel about that, August?
August Yocher (0:10.008)
Woohoo!
August Yocher (0:17.366)
I feel good. I mean, I feel like it's kind of like a direct way to help our listeners. Like, yes, they're here to listen to whatever advice we have to give, but that's normally up to us. Now it's kind of more up to you. So after listening to this, definitely ask us more questions and we're happy to do another episode just like this.
Kevin Dennis (0:35.737)
Yeah, don't fill its podcast at fantasysound.com. We'll get your question in on the next episode that we do this with. So let's start it off. We're very thankful. I guess our Thanksgiving week, right? So we're very thankful. Yeah.
August Yocher (0:49.706)
Yes, thankful for our listeners, thankful for your questions, and thankful that we keep getting to do this.
Kevin Dennis (0:57.089)
That's right. So here we go. The thankful edition as well. right. So all right, we're going to get going. First question, August, you ready?
August Yocher (1:6.743)
Yep, I'm ready.
Kevin Dennis (1:8.601)
How early is too early to start planning my wedding? Thank you, Maxine P. Maxine P. for sending in that question. So how do you think? Too early to start your wedding? I have an idea, but I want to hear what you have to say.
August Yocher (1:21.430)
don't feel like it's... I mean, as you know, if you've been listening, I am not a married person. So I have not been through the wedding process, but I used to be a planner. And to me, honestly, I don't feel like it's ever really too early when it comes to some things. Other things, yes. But I mean, really, when you start planning, it's all about kind of nailing down a venue first, nailing down that date and then
What I always told couples is everything kind of falls into place after that. I mean, if you have an idea of like what you want your place cards to look like or your table settings or that kind of thing, I feel like the design aspect of it all and the vision of your day that can be started really much whenever. I mean, we've all been planning our wedding since we were kids, right? So that feels a little bit different. But as far as, you know, handling vendors and handling a date that comes maybe like a year or two out.
Kevin Dennis (2:17.219)
Now it's too early to start planning your wedding before you even get engaged.
August Yocher (2:22.156)
I don't think so because like, again, when I was a planner, we had some couples come in and do tours before they were engaged. And I think it's all about like securing the right date, right? If you're someone that puts a lot of sentiment of value into a certain date or there's auspicious reasons.
Kevin Dennis (2:30.572)
Oh.
August Yocher (2:40.216)
for a date when you get married. know, sometimes you don't want to risk anything and you want to get that date down. And maybe you've had those conversations with your partner already. Like we know this is the next step that we're taking. Let's just get ahead of the game before, you know, some other couples get in here. I think that's fine. And honestly, I saw it a lot. So.
Kevin Dennis (3:1.719)
Okay. Yeah, I don't think it's you're ever too early. And I think it goes a couple of different ways. I think about the weddings that we have planned that have been very like, you know, eight weeks out and that we, it's just, you're not, you're just making decisions and you don't have time for decision fatigue, which I think some couples go into where they're, they go back and forth and back and forth at looking different things. And there's so many different options. want them all, you know, so I think
August Yocher (3:2.754)
What about you?
Kevin Dennis (3:31.427)
You know, you can go either way with that, you know, and I think everybody is going to be different based on their personality. You know, if you like to have everything very well thought out and very, you're type A and you want everything perfect, you know, maybe having the more the merrier, you know, to get things done.
August Yocher (3:49.174)
No, that's so true. And honestly, we've been seeing a lot lately, those short term bookings. So, I mean, you can plan a wedding in eight weeks. It's totally doable, you know, or if you want to take... Yeah. Last year, it was huge.
Kevin Dennis (3:55.075)
Yeah, I think that was a
thing and I feel like even in:August Yocher (4:24.461)
Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (4:27.851)
I think this answer will be different for...
August Yocher (4:28.814)
I think that's a good answer though, like just depends on the person, depends on their level of, you involvement and then what their vision is. I think those are all factors when answering that question.
Kevin Dennis (4:42.295)
Alright, so Maxine, I hope we answered your question. Hope we helped you out. Alright, you ready for the next one? Alright, my fiance and I want to keep things simple and skip the big bridal party, but I still love the idea having a maid of honor. Would it be weird to only have one person in my bridal party and no others? That's from Karina W.
August Yocher (4:48.120)
Let's do it.
August Yocher (5:10.392)
Okay, so Karina, I think, and I'm sure you agree with this too, Kevin, weddings are not one size fits all. They're not all cookie cutter. And I think more so in the past few years, we've been seeing more unique takes on weddings. And honestly, the rule is there's no rules. You can really do whatever you want. And if you just wanna have one person in your wedding party, that's totally fine. And I know I've brought up Ms. Kelsey before, shout out to Kelsey.
Kevin Dennis (5:10.500)
What do think?
Kevin Dennis (5:18.575)
Mm-mm.
August Yocher (5:40.290)
She kind of did this for her wedding. She still had the fun, know, bachelorette party and wedding shower and all that where she invited all of her girlfriends. But for the day of, she did not have any bridesmaids. She just had her sister standing up there with her. And, you know, it's even got to the point, too, where sometimes couples don't even want their wedding party standing up with them at the altar either. It can be a more private moment, just you and your partner. don't have
Kevin Dennis (6:2.265)
Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (6:6.606)
to worry about them all standing up there next to you for 30 minutes.
Kevin Dennis (6:10.019)
Yeah, with that said, I've seen them all walk in. They all stand up there. The photographer gets a photo of all them up there, and then they all go sit in the first row of seats, you know, with the parents or the second. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So.
August Yocher (6:18.730)
Yeah, yeah, just reserve it for that.
Yeah, I mean, I just think honestly with anything planning your wedding, like, of course everyone will have their opinions, but it's really up to you and your partner. Whatever you decide to do, that's what's right.
Kevin Dennis (6:35.311)
Yeah, and I'm a big believer too right now is that you can have females on the male side, males on the, or vice versa. I just met with my couple that I'm doing their wedding here in a couple weekends and the groom is having his sister be his man of honor, or I'm sorry, woman of honor. Yeah, so.
August Yocher (6:42.606)
Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (6:54.546)
Yeah, wedding last week, I saw that. They said she was called the best person, not the best man. And I thought that was so cool.
Kevin Dennis (7:1.741)
Yeah, well and I and I love because they everyone there's not like a standard name for any of these people and everyone's making up their own names for them. So that's that's part of it too. But with that said, there's also you're seeing odd numbers, you know, like I might only like I may only have three friends, but August you you have more friends than I do and you have six friends. And so instead of us trying to even it out, it's just I take my three buddies and you take your six girlfriends and here we go. You know, like
August Yocher (7:16.427)
Yeah.
August Yocher (7:30.348)
Yeah, and that's okay.
Kevin Dennis (7:31.887)
And I think that's fine as well. So I'm seeing more of women standing up for men, men standing up for women. You're seeing odd numbers. I think it's fun because it's about.
August Yocher (7:38.392)
Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (7:46.828)
think it's cool to embrace like, you know, something different. Like, we can get away from all the old traditional stuff unless that's what you're into. You know, like, just truly make it your own. Personalize it. Make it feel like it's your day. And if that's just having one maid of honor up there with you and your partner, then that's what it can be.
Kevin Dennis (8:7.523)
Yeah. So all right, Karina, hopefully we're able to help you out. So ready for the next one? I'm in the final weeks leading up to my wedding. What little things am I missing? Am I forgetting anything from Paul H.?
August Yocher (8:13.848)
Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (8:18.369)
Mmm.
August Yocher (8:24.812)
Alright, why don't you start this one? I'm curious to see what you have to say because I we have different like brains, you know.
Kevin Dennis (8:26.989)
All right. Well, I think no. I know, I know yours is better than mine, but that's a whole different story. But I think part of it is you need to relax and schedule like a couple of dates leading up to the wedding to remember why you're going through all this stress, because because I feel like everyone comes at you and everything is you need. You're in this, you know, decision fatigue.
August Yocher (8:34.160)
No.
August Yocher (8:46.727)
Oh, yeah.
Kevin Dennis (8:55.459)
You know, you're stressed out. You're probably dealing with some kind of family issue. You know, all that stuff all creeps its ugly rear little head right at the end, you know, and and it's you know, the wedding's happening on the day that it's happening and you can't push it back. you know, with that said, you got to get everything done in time. So I think one of it is, you know, don't forget to, you know, schedule a time to go to the movies, you know, go out to the bar and have a drink. You could still talk about the wedding.
August Yocher (9:7.128)
Mm-hmm.
Kevin Dennis (9:25.709)
You know, maybe that's a good thing. It's like go get drinks and you know, try to finish, you know, coming up with the the shot list for the photographer, you know, like making sure you do all that stuff. But trying to make sure that you guys remember why the two of you still love each other and why you're still there. But also, with that said, it's just making sure you have everything organized. Remember the wedding that we just planned? So how organized? Well, and how that wedding was just so organized, you know?
August Yocher (9:40.813)
Yeah.
August Yocher (9:49.774)
Oh my God, they were the best.
Kevin Dennis (9:54.741)
And so therefore every little, know, so the sooner you can check things off that list, the better, you know, so if you're ready to go and you know, you have everything planned out, meet with your DJ earlier, you know, if you're, if you're prepared, you know, and go from there, you know, so I think the sooner you do that, the more you keep yourself organized. And I think another good tip too, is making sure you schedule time. Cause we all to work on the wedding, you know, like, Hey,
August Yocher (9:54.904)
Yeah.
August Yocher (:Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (:You know, hey, Thursday night, Thursday night's going to be a wedding night. We're going to we got to get some wedding stuff done and you go into it with with the headspace that you both are ready to get in there and get attacking the wedding stuff. So those are my thoughts. August, what do you think?
August Yocher (:Yeah.
August Yocher (:Yes. And I think like, getting into it, I'm thinking about like, what type of person Paul is, right? Like, is he type A? Is he type B? And I think that kind of dictates what the answer to the question is too, because him asking that already makes me feel like, okay, Paul, I feel like you got this handled. You're just kind of getting in your head a little bit, right? So and I think that's why, yeah, you offered the advice of like, you know, just just take a deep breath. It's gonna be okay.
Kevin Dennis (:Ew.
Kevin Dennis (11:3.468)
I think so too.
August Yocher (:You know, and I know we talked with Adam on our last episode, and I think it's all about, you know, trusting the people, trusting the professionals that you have, you know, have there the day of your event, and they're going to take care of everything and you just need to relax. But I was going to have a similar answer that you did, Kevin, which is, you know, meet with your vendors, right? Like, they're the experts, they're the professionals.
Kevin Dennis (:Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (:they're gonna be able to answer those questions. So it's like you said, if you're prepared, meet with your DJ early, meet with your planner again, go through that checklist together, know, so you don't feel like you're taking it all on by yourself because you're not. The day of you're gonna have a huge team helping you. They're all working towards one common goal. And if they can help you check off that list a little bit, then have them do that. And don't, yeah, take that burden on all by yourself and take a break.
Kevin Dennis (12:1.667)
Well, something well and something I just thought of is that don't take on any new projects, you know, so you saw something cute on Instagram that, you know, no, not now is not a good time to take on a new project or decide to add something else to the wedding. You got to I always tell my couples at one point, you got to put on blinders and we're moving forward. You got to stop looking at everything else that's out there because we've made decisions. We're dialed in and things are ready to go. Let's move. So
August Yocher (12:8.078)
Mm.
August Yocher (:Nope.
August Yocher (:Right.
August Yocher (:And I think like you said too, mean, organization is a huge part of it. And I know it might be too late for Paul because he's, you know, just a few weeks away. But like if you're able to start that from the beginning, like nail down what the goals are, create a checklist, because I'm sure it's just so satisfying getting those all checked off leading up to the big day.
Kevin Dennis (:Well, well that and we just thought of a new we can figure out what Paul what kind of personality Paul is that'll be another podcast episode What kind of personality analyzing that? All right, you ready for the next one? This is gonna be a tough one. I think so Bridget is asking us Bridget s my partner and I are thinking about asking our families to help out financially with the wedding any advice how to
August Yocher (:Yeah.
August Yocher (13:5.293)
Yes.
Kevin Dennis (:approach that conversation without it feeling awkward.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
Kevin Dennis (:I think this answer is going to be different for everyone because what kind of relationship do you have with these people? Like if you are reaching out to an aunt that you haven't talked to in years, yeah, it's going to be awkward. But if you're reaching out to, you know, an aunt of yours that you talk to regularly, you're like, hey, we've wanted to do X, Y and Z, you know, but we can't afford it. You know, and maybe even ask like, hey,
August Yocher (:Yeah.
Right.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
Kevin Dennis (:What were you thinking? Were you thinking about getting me anything for the wedding? Maybe you can consider giving us some money to go towards this and that'll be our wedding gift. You know, that's another way of looking at it as well. Yeah, you know, so that.
August Yocher (:that's such a good idea. Yeah. And like, yes, it may be awkward, but and and sorry, you can go ahead and finish. But I think like my biggest like takeaway is like, these people want to help you, right? They want to do this. And like that just happened with a girlfriend I had who just got married is her and her fiance. They actually had people who told them, hey, we want to help out. Hey, we want to give you money for this. Hey, what can we do to help?
Kevin Dennis (14:6.753)
No, go ahead.
Kevin Dennis (:Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (:but they just felt so awkward saying yes, but they wanted to say yes, that they did it. And I was like, guys, like they literally offered, they really want to help you. Like they're wanting to do this for you. Like just let them, you know, because I think people want to be a part of the big day. They want to contribute. So just allow them to do that.
Kevin Dennis (:Yeah, and I think you're going to know your relationship. if it you know you go into it and you're not like I said, you don't have that comfortable relationship with this person and you don't talk to this person regularly, then it's going to be awkward and you're going to have a hard time. But if you have a relationship with a family member, a friend, whoever it may be, I think that's a good way doing it. Also, I my wife and I were a guest at a wedding with a couple in lieu of gifts asked for money towards their honeymoon and because they were.
August Yocher (15:3.084)
Yeah.
August Yocher (:Yeah, I've seen that, yeah.
Kevin Dennis (:Yeah, and I think that's a good way. That's another you know, so in lieu of gifts, give us money for a bigger cake. So
August Yocher (:Well, and I think too, like, you know, in the more modern age, a lot of times like couples may live together already, like, they don't necessarily need like, a mixer or like, you know, a toaster, like they don't need those kinds of things, you know, well, and I'm just speculating, obviously. But like, I think, you know, for most couples, it's like, you know, a honeymoon would be the best gift for them. So I do see that a lot, like.
Kevin Dennis (:Hey. Hey now, everyone. We all need KitchenAids. Everyone needs a KitchenAid.
August Yocher (:honeymoon funds put out at the welcome table or as the registry even. And sometimes that's the only item I see on a wedding website too.
Kevin Dennis (16:3.833)
I'm going through that right now with my family where it's more about instead of material things, it's like, let's go see things and do. Yep. It's more about experiences. So, Bridget, Bridget, I hope we helped you out there. All right. Ready? Carly M. is asking. I just got engaged. Well, congratulations there, Miss Carly M. When should I start hiring my wedding vendors? And I think you should. As soon as you say I do, the first phone call should be to Fantasy Sound.
August Yocher (:experience. Yeah. Yeah.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
Kevin Dennis (:and just to give money and say I need fantasy sound for all the things, but I'm just I'm joking there. So with that said, when when when should we be starting? Oh, you're not OK.
August Yocher (:Yes, absolutely.
August Yocher (:I'm not.
August Yocher (:Well, um, I think, Kevin, um, you know, we talked about this a little bit earlier. Um, I think for me, it's like getting the venue first, right? You know, you have to nail down the date. It's kind of hard to book vendors without them knowing your date, because they can't give you their availability. So you can't and honestly, it just depends. Like, I mean, I've had some couples that were like,
The first vendor I booked was my DJ because I needed him and he was gonna let me pick any date, right? So I think it just depends, but I think it's, you know, nailing down, um, you have a date. Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (:Which is impossible unless unless that DJ is holding every date. Yeah, no, it's just if that DJ if you don't have a date. It you can't do anything, so it's it's date and venue and usually it's venue than date. Could you gotta see what's available at that venue? You know? And then the other thing too is think about it is you could be at a golf course, right? Or you could be at a winery facility. You could be in.
August Yocher (:Yeah.
August Yocher (:Totally, totally. Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (:door, a ballroom of a hotel. Those are three totally different rooms, you know, and three totally different needs of vendors and, and what you're getting rental wise. And, know, it's just all that stuff is going to change what, know, and the, and let's think about this time of year, you know, is it a little colder? You might need some heaters from the rental company, you know, or is it, you know, really hot, you know, you need to put up some shades and have some more umbrellas, which are going to be in trend for 2025.
August Yocher (18:1.357)
Right.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
Right.
Kevin Dennis (:by the way. But you know what I'm saying? Like, so a lot of that really comes down to venue date, you know? So I think once you have the venue, once you have the date, it's game on. But I also think, I think there's a little bit of an order to this as well. So you got to think of the, the photographer, I'm going to say pick a photographer first is like, think of the businesses.
that are not the people are more artists like so your DJ there's only one of that DJ you know so once you find that one person you can only you know like I can only do one wedding on on at a time right so once I'm gone I'm not available for anybody else so so the the DJ maybe the band maybe the the photographer videographer those type of people that are the ones that are going to be there on the day of you know the planner
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
Kevin Dennis (:You know, those are the people that you need to get nailed down because there's not many of those. But like when it comes to, you know, rentals and, you know, favors and dresses and, you know, all that kind of stuff, there's so many to choose from. So start with the ones, you know, you go to. And I'm a big believer because I had a bride that this happened to a couple of years ago is that she kept trying to hire a photographer, but she was taking too long and they would get booked.
August Yocher (:Hmm.
Kevin Dennis (:You know, so the first one she tried to hire got booked because she took too long to hire. Then she kept, you know, started the search all over again and then nailed it down to the second photographer and got booked. So I also think if you get that tingly feeling about event, a vendor, you need to hire them immediately. You know, like maybe, you know, maybe look at one, maybe two other, but you know, cause these are the people that are going to be there and representing you on the day of. just.
August Yocher (20:3.234)
Mm-hmm.
Kevin Dennis (:You know, take the, you know, that's what I think. What do you think?
August Yocher (:No, I think I agree with everything. And I think too, it is of course venue first too, because I mean, not a lot of couples might know this, but sometimes venues might have restrictions on certain vendors being on site and or recommendations for you. Like they could have a preferred list and you could knock that all out and not have to worry about, you know, researching or looking around. And a lot of times, you know, those vendors on preferred lists are of course, you know,
Kevin Dennis (:Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (:trusted professionals in the industry. know the properties well, they know management well, and it can just make your experience all the more smoother too. So I think taking a look at your contract with your venue will also play a factor in when hiring the rest of your vendors.
Kevin Dennis (21:2.455)
That's and it's funny you say that I really I love working a new facility that I haven't worked at in a while or like one that I've never been to because it's it's I for me I get that new and it's fun but there's also like a comfort level of me going to a venue that I work at all the time where I know where every all the plugs are I know how to load in I know you know all the you know I know all the ins and outs and so there's a little bit about so yeah I agree work off that preferred list as well all right well Carly
August Yocher (:Yeah.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (:I hope we answered your question. We're moving on. This is this is going to be a tough one. I don't know. Maybe not. All right. So Leah, Leah D, we're trying to reduce our guest list a little bit. Should I invite plus one or kids? So if you're asking Ryan, who was on our episode, my daughter, she would tell you yes to all the kids. I but so.
August Yocher (:Yep.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Kevin Dennis (22:2.113)
Leah, I think if you're running out of room, then you invite who you can invite and who you can fit. know, that's the summit. It's like some people are going to have a wedding that the capacity of the the room for the reception may only be 120 people. So if you're if you're hitting that number, you're coming up on that number, then maybe you don't allow plus ones, you know, and you just apologize. You know, you have to you know, there's a line in the sand somewhere. You have to draw that line.
And I think you stick to your guns because and if you cross that line for one person, you have to cross it for all so.
August Yocher (:Yeah. And I think, I don't want to assume, but I feel like the question is coming from a place of feeling some sort of expectation, you know, from your guests for those people. And, you know, like if you don't have the space, you don't have the space. Like you need to just go with the A-list and the people that you really need there with you.
Kevin Dennis (:Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (:Well that and then and if someone's gonna get their feelings hurt and get upset and not come to your wedding then they're not a true friend and not what Yeah, and they're not your real person to be there with you. So All right It is a tough one. But if you ask Ryan Dennis, she'll tell you yes Good good good and make sure you have mac and cheese and what was it chicken fingers and Yep Yep
August Yocher (23:1.582)
They're not the right person to be there.
August Yocher (23:6.166)
Yeah, that's a tough one.
August Yocher (:Yes, all the way.
August Yocher (:Doughnut flambé, pizza, hot chocolate, all be above.
Kevin Dennis (:All the above alright alright Skyler G. Thank you Skyler for submitting a question. It says I'm a little unsure about the timeline for sending out to save the dates and invitations. When should I plan to send each one out? As you smack your microphone. That's OK girl.
August Yocher (:Sorry, I realized it wasn't close enough. When I was planning, it was always, and you might have a different answer, it was always six and six. So six months for the invitations, six weeks for, or sorry, six months saved the date, six weeks invitations. So kind of easy numbers to remember unless you had a different answer. No, just send out.
Kevin Dennis (24:5.411)
to have them back by?
Kevin Dennis (24:9.609)
Six weeks I think is too too close or too close to the wedding
August Yocher (:for the... okay. Or I'm thinking RSVPs. Sorry, I'm thinking RSVPs. Yeah, yeah. Save the date, invitation, six months, six weeks RSVP. Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (:But that's just me. Oh, yes. Yeah, I was like, wait, I was thinking, yeah, you need your RCPs by then. Six months.
Okay, I think you send save the dates as soon as you pick a venue and pick a date. I think those go out that before you start. We were talking about hiring your vendors. I think you before you hire your vendors, you start sending that out because if you have family coming from, oh, I don't know, you know, out of state out of country, you need people to start planning that you know you want them to be there at your wedding.
August Yocher (:Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (:But I like the six months before. Yeah, I think six months before the wedding is a good time to send the invitation as well as you want everything back and done six weeks because what's going to happen? This is the worst part of the wedding planning process is the damn are yes. And I mean, how? Jessica and I have been married. It's either 17 or 18 years. I said this earlier. I can't remember. I'll have to do the math, but anyway.
August Yocher (25:3.982)
six weeks.
August Yocher (:You said this.
Kevin Dennis (:It'll be coming up here on New Year's Eve, but it was the worst part of the frickin' wedding planning process is getting those, it's like, are you coming to my wedding or not? Just tell me, you know, like, and it just, and.
August Yocher (:Like you have to have your schedule planned out at this point. Like what are you doing?
Kevin Dennis (:Well, yeah. And do you want beef or chicken? Like, let me know, you know, like, let's tell me, you know. And so it's funny because ever since we got married, anytime we get a wedding invitation, I immediately turn it around and we send it back in as fast as we can, because I just remember I don't want to be that person that you're having to hunt me down whether I'm coming to your wedding or not. So.
August Yocher (:Did you get the day off?
August Yocher (:Yeah.
August Yocher (26:1.750)
Honestly, it just seems to be how it is. Any friend I've had recently who's gotten married, it's like, okay, we're waiting on 30 people and the wedding's in two weeks. It's like, sorry, at that point, you just aren't coming. You need to respond. It's rude.
Kevin Dennis (:Yeah, I agree. It's rude. so my advice, I don't know if this is August's advice, but my device is immediately send out, save the dates once you get the date. I think they need to go out within the first couple weeks. And then I like the six and six. That's what I've always said six months.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (:But of course, if you listen to our last episode, make sure you book an engagement shoot with your photographer first. Get those photos, then send out, if you want it on there, you know, just depends. Yeah, because my sister's getting married in a couple months and her invitation, it didn't have a photo on it. It's still really pretty. So I guess it's just really up to you and your partner.
Kevin Dennis (:Oh, that's true. That's true.
If you want it on there. Well, that's.
Kevin Dennis (:Yeah.
Kevin Dennis (27:2.019)
Well, and I think too, you can use your photos on your wedding website. So many couples nowadays have a wedding website. They're really easy to get. mean, even I mean, I got married 17, 18 years ago. I got to figure that out. But we even we had. Yeah, even we had a. A wedding website back in the day, you know, they're not as fancy as they are now, but I think with that you can be loading all your information in.
August Yocher (27:5.389)
Yeah.
August Yocher (:You got about a month.
Kevin Dennis (:I just came across one of my couples sent me a link to their wedding website and it had like things to do the day before, things to do the day of the wedding, know, like restaurant, yeah, restaurant recommendations and all kinds of other fun stuff so people can actually make a you know, a little overnight or a weekend or whatever out of out of their wedding and people can, your guests can enjoy it as well and enjoy the area.
August Yocher (:Yeah, itineraries.
August Yocher (:Yeah, super helpful.
Kevin Dennis (:I think so too. Alright, so hopefully we answered your question there, Skylar. Alright, ready? I think we should make this our last question. One more. Alright, you ready? Angelina S is asking us, I got, this is gonna, oh, these are tough questions, everyone, thank you. So, alright, I got invited to a friend's wedding recently. Does that mean I have to invite them to my wedding too?
August Yocher (28:5.976)
We have time for one more. Yes.
August Yocher (:Yeah.
August Yocher (:Hmm. You know what? I think no. I don't think you have to. It all depends on like, you know, each couple's situation is different, right? Like, you know, they might have, your friend might have had a huge wedding, like three, 400 people, and they just invited anyone they knew because they wanted some big blowout. But maybe your wedding...
Kevin Dennis (:August?
Kevin Dennis (:Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (:is a bit more intimate, maybe under 100 people. You really just want the people there that you talk to on the regular that are really important to you. And maybe this friend doesn't fit in that bill. I think it's okay to not invite them. And maybe it is sending out a sweet message to them like, our venue only allows this, or you're very special to us, but it's just going to be very close family present on the day of.
You can celebrate with them another way, another time, if it really is bothering you that much. But I think where we always land at the end of the day is it's your day. You do what's gonna make you happy and you can't worry about other people's opinions.
Kevin Dennis (:Yeah, because I think when you start worrying about other people's opinions is when you get stressed out and you get the whole it becomes a mess. Yeah, you really do. And and also, you know, like you said, it's the circumstances, you know, and, know, if this person is really, really close to you, they're going to be there at your wedding. But obviously, this person must not be very, very close to Angelina. You know, so like if you don't see this person that often or whatever, you know, like you said, maybe three hundred.
August Yocher (:You make it harder for yourself.
Kevin Dennis (30:6.103)
at their wedding you only have a hundred. Well, you can't make exceptions.
August Yocher (:And I know a lot of people, I've seen this online a lot where couples, some couples, you know, kind of have the rule of like, if I haven't talked to you in the last year, like, do you have any business being at my wedding? You know, and I know that's different for some people. But yeah, some families, sure. But like, like some friends, it's like, yeah, we haven't like really sat down and had coffee or chatted and over a year, like it doesn't really make sense for you to be at my wedding because you're not like
Kevin Dennis (:Family, yeah.
August Yocher (:invested in my life on the daily, you know?
Kevin Dennis (:Yeah, I get it.
August Yocher (:Yeah, but circumstances is really the reasoning, I think.
Kevin Dennis (:All right. Well, Angelina, thank you. I hope and thank everyone for submitting questions. So don't forget if you have a question for August and I to attack on one of our podcasts, we'll either slip it in on one of our episodes or, you know, like what we did for this one. Yeah, I love it. And it's fun to kind of come on here and figure out and give our advice. And hopefully we are giving people good advice. if yeah, if you're not.
August Yocher (31:4.632)
Compile them up, do it like this.
August Yocher (:Good advice?
Kevin Dennis (:It's my fault if you get bad advice. It's my fault if you get good advice. It's August's fault. So there you go. I'll be the I'll be I'll be the bad guy. So alright. Well August I think this is our Thanksgiving week episode. So thank you for listening. We appreciate all of you. Enjoy your turkey. I will be laying my big booty on the island. The island of Maui. That's our.
August Yocher (:I love that. I love that arrangement.
August Yocher (:Yeah.
August Yocher (:A beach somewhere?
Kevin Dennis (:Our tradition in the Dennis household for Thanksgiving, we go to Maui. So, and I will be enjoying Hawaii.
August Yocher (:I will be staying in the bay, but still eating some turkey, so.
Kevin Dennis (:I do know it's funny. I'm not going to be eating turkey this year, so.
August Yocher (32:2.958)
Oh, where do you, are you guys?
Kevin Dennis (32:5.025)
So all the thing, all the restaurants got like crazily expensive and my family does not like Turkey. So, and I'm the only one. know, I know, no, no, no, no. They're weird. I love Turkey. I love the whole Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays. Um, but we're going to do some kind of like barbecue, something at the resort because it was like, why pay $120 for the kids to go eat something that they don't like. So.
August Yocher (:Oh, you guys are weirdos.
August Yocher (:Oh.
August Yocher (:Mm-hmm.
August Yocher (:Yeah, yeah. There you go. Being, you know, untraditional. Do Thanksgiving your way. Just like your wedding.
Kevin Dennis (:That's right. Do your wedding. That's right. All right, folks. Don't forget, if you have a question, send it on over to podcast at fantasysound.com and August and I will tackle your questions. Then we look forward to seeing you on our next episode. Now that I'm engaged, how do I get married? Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
