The Deconstructed Wedding: Why Couples Are Splitting Their Big Day in Two

The Deconstructed Wedding: Why Couples Are Splitting Their Big Day in Two

A client called recently asking for something that's becoming more and more common: an intimate ceremony with 20 guests on one day, and a full celebration with everyone else on another. It sounds indulgent. It's actually one of the smartest ways to plan a wedding right now — and it isn't new. In this episode, Fallon breaks down the deconstructed wedding: what it is, where it actually comes from, and how to pull it off without accidentally paying for two weddings. We get into the four formats (including the courthouse route), how to build a tiered guest list and website without hurting anyone's feelings, which line items genuinely double and which ones don't, and where to put your toasts, your first dance, and your money. Plus the thing nobody talks about: by the time you get to the dance floor at a traditional wedding, you're running on fumes. Separating the ceremony from the celebration gives you something a one-day wedding never can — the chance to actually be present. Twice.

Rentals 101: Ceremony to After-Party (What to Rent, What to Splurge On)

Today we're breaking down one of the most foundational (and most misunderstood) parts of your wedding: the rental order. Fallon walks you through exactly what to rent from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception to after-party—and where she always tells clients to splurge (spoiler: it starts with the chair). You'll learn who's actually responsible for your rentals—the venue, the caterer, or you—and how to read a rental order so you're not paying for things you don't need. Plus the details most people forget: umbrellas for a sunny ceremony, why a bar should never be a table with a linen, the case for two bars over 150 guests, tabletop glassware vs. bar glassware, chargers and linens, escort card and in-memory tables, dance floor wraps, the "always order extra" rule, and the contract fine print that decides who pays when a $12 coupe goes swimming in the pool. Whether you're planning your own wedding or building orders for clients, this is your guide to renting like a pro—from basics to elevated. 💌 Got a question or a topic you want covered? Send it to hello@thewedocollective.com [hello@thewedocollective.com]—your listener question might be the next episode. If this was helpful, follow the show, subscribe, and share it with someone who's knee-deep in planning right now.

Pricing Transparency: What 7 European Wedding Venues Cost for 65 Guests

It's peak wedding season and Fallon is squeezing this episode in between client calls — but she's not skipping the good stuff. In this one, she breaks down what European destination wedding venues actually cost, with real numbers. You'll hear: • Her venue-search process — how she goes from hundreds of options down to a final five • The exact spreadsheet columns she uses to track venues, pricing, and status • The outreach email (and follow-up) she sends to every venue • Why food & beverage minimums are not what you'll actually spend • How room blocks and accommodation costs really work (and why they're separate from your wedding budget) • Pricing breakdowns for 7 real properties in Italy, France, and Mallorca — venue fee, F&B for 65 guests, and accommodations Whether you're planning your own destination wedding or just love a behind-the-scenes look at luxury weddings, this episode is full of practical, money-saving insight. Want us to find your venue for you? Email hello@thewedocollective — Fallon and her team do this for couples all the time. The We Do Collective — where we do weddings together.

Juneteenth Special Edition : The Vendors of Color Who Show Up For Every One of My Weddings

In honor of Juneteenth, Fallon is sharing the wedding vendors she calls first for almost every single project — the creatives who just happen to be Black, Brown, queer, and at the absolute top of their craft. This isn't a checklist episode. It's a love letter to the people whose excellence, worldview, and over-delivery have shaped the way Fallon's weddings look and feel for years. In this episode, you'll meet: * Schuyler of Polk Paper Co. — Fallon's exclusive stationery and design partner, the deep-thinking creative collaborator who saves the day on almost every project * Rhonda of August Sage & Violet — the New York–based florist with botanical lineage in her blood, who undercharges, overdelivers, and creates flowers no one else can * Avonne Photography, Alicia Rinka, Adonye, and Collins Nye — four photographers whose distinct artistic eyes have captured Fallon's most recent weddings from LA to Anguilla to Cape Cod * Felicia Graham & Tinika of Hair by Sidiku — the New York–based hair and makeup dream team Fallon flies to every wedding * Keanna of Sonic Sommelier — the live music curator who understands how sound actually shapes the way food tastes and how a room feels * DJ Neza — the artist behind every dance floor Fallon refuses to let go empty, and the only DJ who's never failed to send a wedding into overtime Plus a shout-out to Sacia Matthews, Elizabeth Austin, Amy Anaiz, and DJ Sparks — names you should have on your radar. 📩 Have a favorite vendor of color Fallon should know about? Email hello@thewedocollective.com [hello@thewedocollective.com] — she's always discovering. 🔗 Catch past episodes with Schuyler, Tinika, Keanna, Alicia Rinka, Elizabeth Austin, Amy Anaiz, and DJ Neza in Seasons 1 and 2. If this episode put a new name on your radar, send it to a friend who's planning a wedding. Hire diverse vendors. Pay them what they're asking for. Refer them constantly. Say their names out loud. That's how we keep this industry moving forward. Welcome to the We Do Collective — where we do weddings together. Happy Juneteenth.

What a Wedding Planner Actually Does All Day (And Why It Matters Even If You Don't Hire One)

Thinking about hiring a wedding planner but not sure if it's worth it? Or convinced you can do it yourself and just want to make sure? Either way, this episode is for you. Fallon breaks down what a wedding planner actually does from the moment you hire them to the moment you say "I do" — and it's a lot more than picking flowers and making phone calls. She gets honest about who really needs one, who can probably go without, and what you should absolutely have in place if you're going the DIY route. Whether you're on the fence, can't afford one, or are interviewing planners right now, this episode will help you make the right call for your wedding. No sales pitch. Just the real talk. Email us - we would love to hear from you : hello@thewedocollective.com