Welcome to Episode #16 of Before I Do! Today we are continuing our summer series, Let’s Hear It from an Expert, and we have a treat for you guys. We have Kristen Curles from Epting Events!

Epting Events is a catering & design company serving clients all over the Southeast, offering custom menus, but specializing in elevated Southern cuisine and beverages.

Epting Events was founded by Lee Epting in 1977. His desire to create unique, joy-inspired events led his talent to spread quickly throughout the Southeast and establish Epting Events as a top-tier catering and design company. His staff and family carry on his continued effort to ensure each experience is personalized and well-executed.

When couples are deciding what type of meal they should serve at their wedding, Kristen says staying true to yourself and your relationship, from the overall meal format (served dinner, stations, etc.) to minute custom details, and let your wedding reflect you! While the opinion of parents, close friends, etc. is important, envision your ideal wedding and communicate that to your vendors so they can bring it to life.

Kristen also mentions that asking questions of your vendors is key to success. It truly cannot hurt and most appreciate you asking a question ahead of time so that they can be prepared and fully understand what you are envisioning. Most event professionals thrive off of trying new things, so don't hesitate to bring up ideas they may not have shared with you.

She also notes that a full-service catering company is vastly different from a restaurant or delivery experience, so keep that in mind as you plan. There are so many behind-the-scenes logistics that are involved, each of which contributes to a higher quality event experience.

Kristen also shares her top wedding advice.

You can find Kristen and Epting Events at https://www.eptingevents.com/ and @eptingevents on Instagram.

If there is a topic you’d like us to touch on, please let us know by sending a note to thebeforeidopodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to check us out on Instagram:

@beforeidopodcast

@jacksonandjuneevents

And check out our website for all your wedding planning needs: www.jacksonandjuneevents.com

Welcome to Episode #15 of Before I Do! We are continuing our summer series, Let’s Hear It from an Expert, and we have a treat for you guys! We have Casey Crogan from Atlanta Wedding Band (AWB) on today.

Atlanta Wedding Band is a tight-knit roster of friends, some of which have been playing together since high school, and Casey is one of the original members. With some of the best musicians and entertainers Atlanta has to offer, AWB has become a top choice for couples, venues, and planners. No matter the genre or venue, their tailor-made ensemble will be ready to pack the dance floor! Since 2012, they have built a reputation for amazing customer service, from the initial planning through your sparkler send-off (indeed you'll still be buzzing well into the honeymoon). They have a perfect review record, not because they’re perfect, but because they’re "more": they care more, they customize more, and they crush more dance floors.

In this episode, Casey talks about how to find the perfect wedding band, including tips on what to look for during your research. He also talks about the importance of actually speaking to your band, knowing who you’re talking to, asking the right questions, understanding the nuances of entertainment services, how to maximize the party at a reception, and why finding low-maintenance vendors is crucial. Lastly, he touches on how the best vendors (including AWB) are investments, not expenses.

They also discuss how the best wedding bands do much more than play great music. The vibe, flow, formalities, energy, and experience will hinge entirely on the band, the MC, and the chemistry and synergy of the band and the guests.

Casey also shares his top wedding advice.

You can find Casey and AWB at https://atlantaweddingband.com/ and @atlantaweddingband on Instagram.

If there is a topic you’d like us to touch on, please let us know by sending a note to thebeforeidopodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to check us out on Instagram:

@beforeidopodcast

@jacksonandjuneevents

And check out our website for all your wedding planning needs: www.jacksonandjuneevents.com

Welcome to Episode #14 of Before I Do!

Today we are continuing our summer series, Let’s Hear It from an Expert! Today's expert is David Osborne with Sound Insight Productions and Athens DJ Service! And ya’ll, he and his teams are some of the best, although, we might be a little biased since David was OUR DJ at our wedding!

David and his teams are dedicated to providing “exceptional entertainment for couples who love to party” and we think that totally fits.

He notes what to keep in mind when choosing a DJ: 10/80/10 - 10% of DJs are elite level, 10% are terrible, and there's 80% that are about the same. So you have to decide if you want bad, average, or excellent. Price points usually reflect that.

An outstanding wedding DJ doesn't just play music and make announcements - they use music to guide the energy of an entire event, and hosting/MC skills to lead the group. Mixing songs also matters, as it helps get all ages/groups to stay on the dance floor longer. Remember that your guests follow your lead - if you stay on the dance floor, they'll be there with you.

David also mentions that they're hired to handle the last two or so hours of a wedding day. They're the last vendor to deliver value, and they have achieved high levels of success and a ton of 5-star reviews because they understand how to be a great vendor/professional and crush all the other things that proceed the dance party. How to work with a planner, a venue, catering staff, how to empower a photographer, how to manage energy during dinner, keep guests engaged so that they can do their best work in those last two hours.

David also shares his top wedding advice.

You can find David at https://www.soundinsightdj.com/ and https://www.athensdjservice.com/

If there is a topic you’d like us to touch on, please let us know by sending a note to thebeforeidopodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to check us out on Instagram:

@beforeidopodcast

@jacksonandjuneevents

And check out our website for all your wedding planning needs: www.jacksonandjuneevents.com

Today we are continuing our summer series, Let’s Hear It from an Expert! Our expert today is Maggie Dunn with Maggie Dunn Photography and ya’ll, she is so great. She’s truly a “friendor” of our entire team! We just love working with her! We will be talking all things photography and how to select the right photographer for your big day.

Maggie is a wedding photographer, serving couples who want their wedding to feel joyful, relaxed, and welcoming. She prioritizes how clients experience their wedding day with the people they love, not making their wedding feel like a photoshoot but a happy experience.

If you’re looking to invest in photography, look for someone who knows how to anticipate special moments, provide the experience you want, work well with your other vendors, and align with your vision for your photos. It’s easy to find people on social media with a lot of Instagram followers or like people’s work who have done lots of editorial shoots, but those things don’t add to true event experience. This will come in handy on wedding day!

Photography is a creative collaboration between the subject and the photographer. If you want photos that feel effortless and candid, plan for space for authentic moments and design a wedding that makes you feel relaxed and joyful. We can’t photograph moments that don’t happen or emotions that aren’t there.

You can find Maggie at https://maggiedunn.co/ and @maggieisdunn on Instagram.

If there is a topic you’d like us to touch on, please let us know by sending a note to thebeforeidopodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to check us out on Instagram:

@beforeidopodcast

@jacksonandjuneevents

And check out our website for all your wedding planning needs: www.jacksonandjuneevents.com

Today we are starting a fun summer series called Let’s Hear it from an Expert! Over the next few months, we’ll chat with some of our favorite pros about their specific crafts and services. We’re going to be getting the inside scoop, ins and outs, and their biggest pieces of advice for you, the engaged couple!

And today we’ve got one of our all-time favorites, Darian, from Araiza Florals!

We're going to dive into the nitty-gritty of wedding florals, including:

• Pricing
• What goes into the final design/product (everything from inquiry to wedding day).
• Wedding day process from start to finish.
• Choosing between floral quotes/different florists. How do you choose?!
• Finding the right florist/what's your style
• Thoughts on DIY'ing wedding flowers/candles

Check out Araiza Florals at https://araizaflorals.com/ and on IG and Pinterest: @araizaflorals

If there is a topic you’d like us to touch on, please let us know by sending a note to thebeforeidopodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to check us out on Instagram:

@beforeidopodcast

@jacksonandjuneevents

And check out our website for all your wedding planning needs: www.jacksonandjuneevents.com

Not sure how to change your last name, where to start, or even when, once you’ve tied the knot? We’ve got this covered in today’s episode, with our very first guest!

Alex Goldney from Nee Name Change is with us and she is going to help us walk through the process of changing your name after the wedding and not only that, but how to do it in style.

Use discount code “J&J10” for 10% off name change kits at https://neenamechange.com/.

Give @neenamechange a follow on Instagram!

If there is a topic you’d like us to touch on, please let us know by sending a note to thebeforeidopodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to check us out on Instagram:

@beforeidopodcast

@jacksonandjuneevents

And check out our website for all your wedding planning needs: www.jacksonandjuneevents.com

We’ve got such a fun one today - we are going to talk about all things moving in together!

I feel like it is such a relevant topic when wedding planning because a lot of couples are either doing this at the same time they are planning or they have just recently moved in together before getting engaged. Many of our couples will hop on calls and be like, “oh we were looking at houses this weekend” or “we were packing up our apartment”, so it’s definitely something that we experience a lot with our couples.

Nowadays, we feel like it is common for couples to move in together before they get married, so it feels like people skip over it as a milestone, but it is such a big part of progressing your relationship, getting ready for that next big chapter of life, and setting a really strong foundation for marriage.

We'll share our top tips for moving in together and have also gathered advice from our Instagram audience and friends. Let's dive in!

1. There will be a transition. And you will do things to annoy the other
2. Share each other‘s biggest pet peeves at the beginning
3. It’s not about molding your partners routines to your routines, it’s about creating new routines together
4. Be flexible
5. Divvy up chores ahead of time
6. Get your mail under control
7. Make sure bills are in both of your names and both of you have access to pay them
8. Create a household, email address and calendar
9. Talk about your open door policy with family members and friends and make sure you are on the same page
10. When you are merging your belongings, remember, you don’t need two of everything
11. Talk about alone time
12. Do fun things
13. First out of bed makes coffee, last out of bed makes the bed
14. Do not feel like it is the end of the world or your relationship if you guys get more agitated with each other in the beginning

If there is a topic you’d like us to touch on, please let us know by sending a note to thebeforeidopodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to check us out on Instagram:

@beforeidopodcast

@jacksonandjuneevents

And check out our website for all your wedding planning needs: www.jacksonandjuneevents.com

It’s party time! We’re talking all about the pros, the cons, and best practices for both wedding DJs and bands!

The decision to hire a DJ or a band for your wedding is always a big one. And honestly, there is no right answer because each wedding and each couple is so different! So what we’re going to do is talk through pros and cons with each and some personal opinions to help you decide which option is best for you!

DJ:

What we love:

• Your music selection is more customizable
• Specific songs are guaranteed to be the versions that you love
• Usually, DJs are fantastic MC’s that know how to guide and maintain a dance floor
• They usually come with really cool lighting and uploading options that create a party vibe
• They leverage technology
• Have a ceremony and cocktail hour option
• They are more budget friendly!

What we don’t love:

• They can be over or under energetic or your specific party feel
• They can have terrible transition times
• They can control the party a little too much
• Sometimes their set-ups aren’t quite aesthetically pleasing

When I recommend a DJ instead of a band:

• Tighter budget
• If the couple is super picky about the version of certain songs and is requesting a larger variety of genres
• If the couple is wanting more of a club feel
• If the guests need a lot of handholding to get on the dance floor
• If the venue does not have room for a band

Bands:

What we love:

• They give a very grand and energetic vibe to the reception
• If you have a good one, they keep the dance floor packed
• They give a classic feel with live instruments
• Some bands can offer one or two musicians to play instruments for the ceremony and or cocktail hour
• The musicians make the guests feel like they are part of the performance

What we don’t love:

• They are expensive
• They take up a lot of room in the reception space.
• Sometimes they are not the best MCs
• They need to take breaks during your dance floor time
• Sometimes their versions of songs aren’t exactly like the originals
• Some bands are very set in their list and don’t offer a lot of customization
• Sometimes they can have a lot of requirements

When I recommend a band over a DJ:

• When the couple has the budget for it
• If the couple is a huge fan of live music
• If the couples guests are pretty self-sufficient in getting the party started
• If the couple is OK with a more traditional wedding reception set list

Again, this is not a comprehensive list of pros and cons for bands and DJs, this is just a good starting point for you and your fiancé to have a discussion and weigh the options to help you ultimately make a decision!

We love them both and just want you to feel empowered to choose whatever option works best for your wedding.

If there is a topic you’d like us to touch on, please let us know by sending a note to thebeforeidopodcast@gmail.com

Be sure to check us out on Instagram:

@beforeidopodcast

@jacksonandjuneevents

And check out our website for all your wedding planning needs: www.jacksonandjuneevents.com