Shows
Wed and Worth It013. Rain, Guests & Real Numbers: Inside a $180K Newport WeddingIn this episode of Wed and Worth It, Melissa sits down with Morgan, a 2023 bride and the creator of Vows N Vibes, a refreshingly honest wedding planning community on Instagram. Morgan walks us through her wedding journey—from an unforgettable proposal in Brooklyn to the charming coastal celebration in Newport, Rhode Island. We dive into the realities of budgeting, the emotional rollercoaster of planning, and how Morgan prioritized meaningful guest experiences while balancing cost. From swapping bands last-minute to coordinating yoga classes for guests, Morgan shares the wins, lessons, and moments that made it all worth it. If you're plan...
2025-06-1959 minWed and Worth It012. A $400K Tappan Hill Wedding: Broadway Vibes and a Surprise Drone Show on NYEIn this unforgettable episode of Wed and Worth It, Melissa chats with newlyweds Siobhan and Bobby about their dazzling New Year’s Eve wedding in Westchester County. With a budget that expanded from $100K to $400K, the couple prioritized a Broadway-caliber band, phenomenal food, and an emotional, personalized guest experience—including a surprise 10-minute drone show. From vintage chairs to espresso martinis at midnight, this celebration was a masterclass in weaving personal meaning into every detail. If you're planning a wedding that’s anything but ordinary, this one’s for you.Connect with Melissa...
2025-06-0551 minWed and Worth It011. $300K in Philly: A Bold, Artistic, Multicultural CelebrationIn this vibrant and deeply thoughtful episode of Wed and Worth It, Melissa chats with Seets about her November wedding in Philadelphia—a celebration that blended Indian and Chinese cultures, bold artistic inspiration, and some serious color. From eloping in their living room with eight friends to a $300K event planned over 18 months, Seets shares the emotional, logistical, and creative highs and lows of pulling off a truly intentional, multicultural celebration. With priorities like guest comfort, photography, and a mood board inspired by Gustav Klimt, she didn’t just plan a wedding—she designed an expe...
2025-05-1543 minWed and Worth It010. Grown, Glam, and Sexy: Renee’s $130K Luxe Mountain WeddingIn this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Wed and Worth It, Melissa sits down with Renee, a newlywed who shares the incredible 22-year journey that led to her luxe mountaintop wedding in West Virginia. From high school science class to long-distance love and a surprise proposal in Santorini, Renee walks us through every detail—from their black-tie ski resort venue to hiking Machu Picchu on their honeymoon (and yes, even adopting a stray kitten along the way). She shares budget realities ($130K including honeymoon), major wins, regrets, and honest advice for anyone planning a wedding they want to remember fo...
2025-05-0158 minWed and Worth It009. Big Island Wedding Planning with Sunshower Weddings: What You Need to KnowPlanning a wedding in Hawaii? On this episode of Wed and Worth It, we chat with Kate from Sunshower Weddings, a Big Island wedding planner with a background as a venue owner (and even a lawyer!). She shares the reality of planning destination weddings, the biggest budgeting mistakes couples make, and why hiring a planner with logistical expertise is a game-changer. From breaking down the hidden costs of a Hawaii wedding to revealing her dream wedding trend (hint: it's all about the caterpillar table ), Kate spills it all. If you're dreaming of a Hawaii wed...
2025-04-1751 minWed and Worth It008. From Elopement to $400K Kiawah Island Wedding: Taylor’s StoryIn this episode of Wed & Worth It, Taylor shares her experience planning a destination wedding on Kiawah Island while navigating family expectations, budgeting, and the unexpected twists that come with wedding planning. From eloping in Nantucket to crafting a wedding that felt more like a luxe dinner party than a traditional event, Taylor dives into what mattered most to her and her husband—and what she wishes she had done differently. Plus, she spills the details on a florist fiasco, why she skipped a bridal party, and how she found the perfect balance between hig...
2025-04-0359 minWed and Worth It007. Why Every Couple Needs a Wedding Planner (And When to Hire One!) with Alicia from J-Starr Wedding CompanyIn this episode of Wed &Worth It, Arizona wedding planner Alicia from J-Starr Wedding Company joins Melissa for an in-person conversation about all things wedding planning. From navigating vendor selection and budgeting to the most overlooked aspects of the big day, Alicia shares her expert insights and personal experiences. She also flips the script, putting Melissa in the hot seat with a few unexpected questions! Whether you're deep in the planning process or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable advice and a whole lot of fun.Connect with Alicia:htt...
2025-03-2026 minWed and Worth It006. Inside a $300K NYC Museum Wedding: Budget, Logistics & LessonsIn this episode of Wed and Worth It, Melissa chats with Emma about her elegant and logistically complex New York City wedding at a historic museum. Emma shares her journey planning a $300K wedding in just 11 months, including how she navigated vendor selection, budgeting surprises (hello, $50K tent quote!), and the unexpected costs that come with a non-traditional venue. From her best budgeting advice to why chairs and lighting cost way more than she expected, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for anyone planning a wedding—especially in a big city.Was it worth it? Emma says yes, and...
2025-03-0645 minWed and Worth It005. Love & Beauty Maui on Destination Wedding Hair & MakeupIn this episode of Wed and Worth It, host Melissa chats with Nikki from Love and Beauty Maui, a seasoned hair and makeup artist with over 20 years of experience. Nikki shares her journey from freelancing to owning a top beauty business in Maui, the differences in wedding trends between the islands, and what brides should know when booking hair and makeup for a destination wedding. She offers insider tips on skin prep, budgeting wisely, and why professional beauty services are worth the investment. Plus, she reveals the most common wedding day beauty mishaps—and how to avoid them! If yo...
2025-02-2043 minWed and Worth It004. Prioritizing Joy: Lessons from a $123K Destination Wedding in ItalyIn this episode of Wed &Worth It, I chat with a bride about her dreamy Capri, Italy destination wedding. She shares how she and her husband chose this breathtaking location, the ups and downs of planning abroad, and how their $65K budget doubled to $123K. From navigating cultural differences to prioritizing the guest experience, she gives candid insights on balancing splurges with what truly matters. Whether you're dreaming of a destination wedding or just need advice on managing wedding stress, this episode is packed with tips, humor, and heartfelt reflection.
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2025-02-0648 minWed and Worth It003. Dancing the Night Away with Trego the DJOn this first vendor episode of Wed and Worth It, I talk to Trego the DJ who I’ve had the pleasure of working with several times. Trego is a DJ and mentor with a fresh take on what it means to experience the best day of your life. We talk about how he found his way to being a DJ, trusting your vendors, and what it takes to create a magical and memorable experience for brides and grooms. Get Your Perfect Wedding Day Timeline Here!Connect with Melissa
2025-01-2350 minWed and Worth It002. Beating the Budget: 50k in Scottsdale, AZOn this episode of Wed and Worth it, I talk to a bride in Atlanta who opted for a smaller destination wedding in Scottsdale, AZ in lieu of a larger local wedding in Georgia. Ashley was determined to create an intimate, memorable wedding and stick to her budget of 50k, and with some determination and day-saving help from her planner - she did just that! Find out how, in this episode of Wed and Worth it.
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2025-01-091h 04Wed and Worth It001. The Venue Takes the Cake: 120k Wedding in Scottsdale, ArizonaOn this episode of Wed and Worth it, Melissa talks to a Scottsdale, AZ, bride about the choices she made in her wedding planning journey, what she thought was worth the spend, and if anything wasn’t . They talk about where the couple chose to invest more money, and why as well as money saving tactics (hello, travel points!) that helped along the way. This couple started off with a 50k budget and, through the planning process, added on to create their dream Scottsdale AZ wedding that totaled around $120k. Tune in to find out, was it worth it?...
2024-12-1752 minWed and Worth It000. Welcome to the Wed & Worth it PodcastWelcome to the Wed & Worth It Podcast.
Have you ever wondered if all the wedding expenses and planning were worth it? Join us as we sit down with newlyweds who openly share their wedding investments, the ups and downs of wedding planning, and how they prioritized the decisions that shaped their big day. Through candid conversations, we ask the question every couple faces post-wedding: was it worth it? Tune in for honest insights, practical tips, and a fresh look at what makes a wedding truly unforgettable.
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2024-11-2612 min
Return to Nature06. The Alchemy of Natural Color with Sasha DuerrIn this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Sasha Duerr about natural color and how we can participate in transforming our food and fashion systems. Sasha is an artist, designer and educator who works with plant-based color and natural palettes. She centers her practice and research on the collaborative color potential of weeds, food and floral waste, and local and seasonal ingredients.
Sasha has taught for over a decade at California College of Arts with a joint appointment in Textiles and Fine Arts. She lectures, consults and widely designs curriculum and courses in the intersection of n...
2023-10-0253 min
The Celebrated LifeEpisode 68: Love Makes A Family with Melissa DuerrIn this episode, we are talking with one of our friends from the Arizona Wedding industry, Melissa Duerr! Melissa is the owner of Melissa Ivy Photography. Not only is she an amazing photographer, but she is also a mama bear to the Duerr household and she is doing something extra special, adopting a child! Melissa […]
2020-12-0753 min