This week on The Leap Lifestyle Podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome Shannon Tarrant, co-found of Wedding Venue Map and Venue Help Desk! With more than 20 years experience helping couples source venues, Shannon shares why choosing your wedding venue is one of the biggest (and earliest) decisions in the wedding planning process, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly how to find a venue that truly fits you as a couple.

Whether you’ve just gotten engaged or you’re knee-deep in Pinterest boards and vendor outreach, we’ll walk you through how to start the search, what to look out for, and the questions you have to ask before signing on the dotted line.

What We Cover in This Episode:

How to Begin Your Venue Search

• Where to start and now to avoid overwhelm
• The first conversation every couple should have: What kind of wedding do we want?
• Getting aligned on your must-haves vs. nice-to-haves

Nailing Down Your Wedding Vibe

• Rustic barn? Modern industrial loft? Outdoor garden party?
• How your venue choice shapes the overall aesthetic and affect your wedding budget

Talking Budget Without the Stress

• Why your venue budget affects everything else
• Tips for being realistic about your wedding budget and what the means in terms of your wedding venue

Getting on the Same Page as a Couple

• Discussing values, priorities, and guest count to avoid venue regret
• Balancing dream venue vibes with practical logistics

Narrowing Down the Options

• How many venues should you really visit before choosing?
• Smart ways to research venues before scheduling a tour

Venue Tours 101

• The essential questions you must ask during each visit
• What to look for on your visit
• Decoding the cost of venues and how asking questions is a MUST

Decoding Venue & Catering Lingo

• What do “preferred vendors,” “food & beverage minimums,” or “site fees” actually mean?
• How food and beverage minimums really work

Listen Now If You’re:

• Newly engaged and not sure where to start
• Feeling confused by wedding industry jargon
• Ready to feel confident in choosing a space that reflects you two perfectly

You can find Shannon on the web at Wedding Venue Map and Venue Help Desk, and on instagram @weddingvenuemap and @venuehelpdesk

You can find Deanna on the web at Deanna Nash Events and The Leap Lifestyle, and on Instagram @deannanashevents and @theleaplifestyle .

Want More Planning Help?
Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on budgeting, timelines, vendor tips, and more!

As always, thanks for listening!

In this episode of The Leap Lifestyle Podcast, we dive into the magical space where timeless traditions meet modern wedding design trends. Join us as we explore how visionary designer Margarita Oudalova of Oudalova Events and Design brings a couple’s dream day to life—from the first spark of inspiration to the final reveal.

We’re pulling back the curtain on the creative process: how designers help couples visualize their space, how ideas evolve over time, and why trust in your designer is key to creating something truly unforgettable.

Plus, we’ll talk about:

✨ How wedding trends evolve and how to incorporate them tastefully
🧳 What makes destination weddings, especially in Europe, unique from a design perspective
🏛️ The importance of respecting historic venues while still adding modern flair

Whether you’re newly engaged, a wedding pro, or just love beautiful events, this episode offers a rich look at the intersection of artistry and tradition in wedding design.

📌 Connect With Us:

• Oudalova Events and Design Website and Instagram
• Deanna Nash Events Website and Instagram
• The Leap Lifestyle Website and Instagram

📩 Got questions or a wedding story to share? Drop us a line at deanna@deannanashevents.com

As always, thanks for listening!

In this week's episode of The Leap Lifestyle Podcast, I was thrilled to welcome my friend and incredible wedding photographer John Schnack of John Schnack Photography.

In this episode, we dive into the powerful idea that a wedding day is more than just a celebration—it's the beginning of a lasting legacy. We explore how wedding photography captures not only beautiful moments but is also the foundation of your future family's story. Each image holds emotion, meaning, and a deep sense of history in the making.

We talk about the role photography plays in preserving the raw, intimate, and joyful moments that tell a couple’s unique story. From the walk down the aisle to the spontaneous laughs on the dance floor, these moments become treasured keepsakes that your children, grandchildren, and future generations will look back on to understand where it all began.

This episode also touches on how intentionality in documenting your wedding day can serve as a time capsule—capturing not only who was there but how it felt to begin your journey together. It's a beautiful reminder that your love story is worth documenting in a way that resonates far beyond the day itself.

Whether you're a couple preparing for your wedding or a photographer who wants to approach your work with deeper purpose, this conversation is all about honoring the significance of legacy through the lens of love. Tune in and be inspired to see wedding photography not just as art, but as heritage in the making.

You can find John on the web at www.johnschnack.com and on instagram @john.schnack.

You can find Deanna on the web at www.deannanashevents.com and www.theleaplifestyle.com, and on instagram @deannanashevents and @theleaplifestyle.

As always, thanks for listening!

This week on The Leap Lifestyle Podcast, I was thrilled to welcome my friend, wedding planner, and fellow WIPA National Board Director Loni Peterson, founder and owner of LP Creative Events in Colorado.

Weddings on top of a mountain are a breathtaking and unforgettable experience for couples and their guests. But as you can imagine, they come with a unique set of details and logistics that set them apart from traditional sea-level weddings. In this episode, Loni and I dive deep into the dynamics of planning a mountain-top wedding, covering the essential aspects that couples should keep in mind.

We discuss:

• Risk Mitigation: Understanding the potential challenges and how to prepare for them.
• Contingency Plans: Why having a backup plan is absolutely essential for a mountain wedding.
• Altitude Impact: The effects of high elevation on your guests and how it can affect your big day – from physical readiness to the party mood.
• Hiring a Planner: The importance of hiring a wedding planner with specific mountain wedding experience to navigate these unique challenges.

Whether you're envisioning a wedding with panoramic views or seeking advice on how to manage the logistics of a mountain ceremony, this episode will give you the insights you need to make your dream mountain-top wedding a reality.

You can find Loni on her website at www.lpcreativeevents.com and on instagram @lpcreativeevents and @onstagewithloni.

You can find Deanna on her websites at www.theleaplifestyle.com and www.deannanashevents.com and on instagram @theleaplifestye and @deannanashevents.

As always, thanks for listening!

This week on The Leap Lifestyle Podcast, I chatted with CEO and Co-Founder of Los Angeles-based Vows & Speeches, Brian Franklin on crafting memorable vows and epic speeches for your wedding day. If you're getting married and want to recite personal vows to your future spouse, or if you're giving any kind of toast or speech at a wedding, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we explore the art of wedding speeches and vows, focusing on how both are deeply personal and meaningful moments that add an emotional touch to your wedding day. Whether you're the best man, maid of honor, or the couple themselves, crafting the perfect speech or vow is a way to showcase your love, gratitude, and unique bond. We’ll discuss why speeches shouldn’t be freeform and offer tips for delivering a polished and impactful message. Plus, we dive into how engaged couples can create wedding vows that truly reflect their journey together.

Key Takeaways:

• Why wedding speeches should never be freeform: Weddings are not the time for off-the-cuff speeches. A thoughtful, prepared speech ensures your words are clear, heartfelt, and delivered with the right impact. We discuss why planning is key to making a lasting impression, and Brian shares great tips for the actual delivery of the toast on the big day.
• Keep it short and sweet: Speeches should be no longer than 3-4 minutes to keep the audience engaged while giving just enough time to express your thoughts and emotions without dragging on.
• Modulate your voice and tone: Learn how modulating your voice—using changes in pitch, tone, and pace—helps draw in your audience and keeps them captivated throughout your speech. A dynamic delivery adds to the emotional depth of your words, and keeps your audience engaged through the entire speech.
• Crafting meaningful wedding vows: For engaged couples, wedding vows are a powerful opportunity to express your love and commitment. We talk about how to incorporate the unique details of your relationship into your vows, making them personal and unforgettable. From memories you've shared to promises for the future, your vows should reflect who you are as a couple. And a tip from the pros: Work on your vows as your are planning your wedding, just as. you plan the other aspects of your wedding day!
• Balance humor with sincerity: Whether giving a toast or exchanging vows, we discuss the importance of balancing humor with heartfelt moments. While it's important to bring some lightness, the sincerity of your message will leave a deeper impact.

You can find Brian on his website at www.vowsandspeeches.com or on instagram at Vows and Speeches.

And you can find Deanna on www.theleaplifestyle.com or www.deannanashevents.com and on instagram at The Leap Lifestyle and Deanna Nash Events.

As always, thanks so much for listening!

This week on The Leap Lifestyle Podcast, I had the opportunity to chat with Carissa Woo of the Get a Heck Yes Podcast!, wedding photographer, and author of Woo them to Heck Yes book for photographers. This lady is incredible and has a wealth of knowledge to share with our listeners. This week we're chatting about what to expect from an engagement session, and how the relationship forged through an engagement session translates to a seamless wedding day in terms of photography. Some of the highlights of our chat include:

• tips for planning your engagement session
• timeline
• styling outfits for your engagement session
• getting comfortable in front of the camera

and so much more!

From that conversation, we transitioned into wedding day photography, and covered:

• why you must have a photo shot list for your photographers, and how to help wrangle family members
• time management on the wedding day
• posing tips

You can find Carissa on her website at www.carissawoophotography.com , on instagram at www.instagram.com/carissawoophotography and www.instagram.com/carissawoo .

And you can find Deanna on her websites www.deannanashevents.com and www.theleaplifestle.com and on instagram her handles are @deannanashevents and @theleaplifestyle.

As always, thanks for listening!

This week on The Leap, I'm chatting with DJ and Lighting Designer Brian Smith of MixLux (formerly Eventsmith). Brian and I met a couple of years ago when we were both part of a Mastermind, and his unique approach to creating a memorable and elevated wedding experience through music and lighting really struck a chord with me.

In this episode, Brian and I discuss how to amplify your wedding experience that will, for years to come, be a core memory. We talked through the importance of customizing your music selections and flow, how to work with your DJ to prep music prior to the big day, the strategy of the ebb and flow of music energy from ceremony all the way through to cocktail hour, and why lighting is so important to helping create and enhance the overall wedding experience. There's so much good information in this episode, and Brian's years of experience shines throughout.

Find Brian on instagram at The DJ Brian Smith and MixLux, and on his website www.mixlux.net.

And find Deanna on instagram at Deanna Nash Events, The Leap Lifestyle, and on her websites at www.deannanashevents.com and www.theleaplifestyle.com.

As always, thanks for listening!

This week on The Leap Lifestyle Podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome my friend Emma Seitz, owner and lead floral designer of Leta Verbena Floral Design, based in Los Angeles. Emma began her career as an attorney (!!), but transitioned into the hospitality industry as a wedding planner and florist, ultimately pivoting to solely focus on floral design.

In this episode, Emma and I discuss floral design from a budgetary perspective. First, we want you to know that every couple has a different perspective on their floral budget, and it's important to know that you have permission to have whatever budget works for you. Does that mean you will always get huge floral arrangements, no, but that does mean you have leeway to play with design options to find the perfect match between budget and the outcome you were hoping for when it comes to your wedding florals.

We also discuss best use of your floral budget by focusing on those florals that will be most prominently displayed at your wedding, as well as those florals that will be most photographed. Remember, your guests are not attending your wedding to see your flowers, they want to see you. That said, flowers are an important element to the overal aesthetic and finished feel of your day, so we're not at all saying you don't need flowers (spoiler alert, you do).

Emma and I touch on what homework you should do prior to having a consultation with a florist, why the magic begins at your floral mockup appointment, and so much more.

You can find Emma on the web at www.letaverbena.com and on instagram at www.instagram/letaverbena.

You can find Deanna at www.theleaplifestyle.com, www.deannanashevents.com, www.instagram/deannanashevents and www.instagram.com/theleaplifestyle.

As always, thank you so much for listening!