Wedding Budget - Splurge or Save? Photographers Tell All

Everything We Wish We Knew Before Planning Our Weddings

If you could go back and do it all over again, what would you change? In this episode of Shoot the Vows, we are getting real about everything we wish we knew before planning our weddings — and what Kalee would do differently when her day finally comes, knowing everything she knows now from being in the industry. We're talking about: 📷 Why DIY weddings aren't always the budget-friendly option you think they are. 📷 The real reason an all-inclusive venue might actually save you money. 📷 Why a first look (or first touch) is more about YOU than your photographer. 📷 The one thing Caitlyn regrets most — and why she tells every couple to look at full galleries. 📷 Bridal parties, big vs. small, and whether you even need one standing up there with you. 📷 Dream venues, destination weddings, greenhouse ideas, and yes — the great baby's breath debate. Whether you're just getting engaged or knee-deep in planning, this episode is full of honest, been-there-done-that advice you're not going to want to skip. (Also, guess how many plants are in the studio. Drop it in the comments. 👇) 🎙 Connect with Shoot the Vows: Website: https://shootthevows.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootthevows 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-vows/id1850468898 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gdQT05rvXeV4dc9cUBSaz

Trust Your Vendors The Insider Secrets to Perfect Wedding Photos & Video

Your wedding photos and video don't have to be a gamble — promise. In this episode of Shoot the Vows, we are breaking down exactly what couples can do (and what to avoid) to make sure their wedding photos and video come out as good as possible. From lighting and location choices to getting ready spaces and timeline planning, they're sharing the real behind-the-scenes stuff your photographer and videographer wish you already knew. We're talking about: 📷 Why your location matters more than you think — and what "bad lighting" actually looks like 📷 The truth about patchy light, cluttered backgrounds, and yes, trash cans 📷 How to build a timeline that gives your photographer and videographer enough time for couple portraits 📷 Why first looks might actually be your best friend 📷 What to do (and not do) in the getting ready space before your team arrives 📷 Why trusting your vendors is the single most important thing you can do Whether you're deep in wedding planning or just starting out, this episode will help you go into your wedding day with a game plan that sets your whole creative team up to do their best work. 🎙 Connect with Shoot the Vows: Website: https://shootthevows.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootthevows 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-vows/id1850468898 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gdQT05rvXeV4dc9cUBSaz

How Live Music Transforms Your Wedding Ceremony

What happens when a musician shows up to a fairy-tale forest wedding and just... plays? You get the kind of ceremony that gives guests chills before the couple even reaches the altar. In this episode, we sit down with Kylie Brown, a multi-instrumentalist and wedding musician based in Ithaca, New York, to talk about why live music might be the most underrated thing missing from your wedding day. We're sitting down with Kylie Brown of Metasequoia to talk about how she went from playing Zelda songs on her flute as a kid to performing at weddings across New York and the Hudson Valley, and why live music hits completely different than a playlist ever could. We're getting into: -The real difference between hiring a live musician and a DJ -Why guests literally feel live music in a way recorded music can't replicate -How to find a performer who actually has the "it factor" -What live music for your wedding ceremony and cocktail hour actually costs (it's more affordable than you think) -Video game music at weddings and why it's having a major moment -Live music for proposals and why it's the ultimate move -Kylie's funniest on-the-fly wedding story -If you're a bride, a groom, or just someone who wants their wedding to feel like a real experience and not a playlist on shuffle, this one's for you. 🔔 Subscribe and drop your questions or topic requests in the comments below! 🎵 Find Kylie Brown: 🌐 https://www.kyliebmusic.com/weddings 📸 https://www.instagram.com/kyliebmusic 🌐 shootthevows.com 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gdQT05rvXeV4dc9cUBSaz 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-vows/id1850468898 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootthevows

Venue Spotlight - Bringing a Forgotten Church Back to Life

What happens when a forgotten Baptist church sits empty for 30 years and someone finally says "yeah, let's turn this into a wedding venue"? You get The Mizpah — a gothic, moody, completely one-of-a-kind wine sanctuary and event space in the heart of downtown Syracuse, and we are obsessed. In this Venue Spotlight episode, we're sitting down with Mike Green and Jenna Ellis to talk about how they're transforming a building that had holes in the floor, a bird living inside, and a leaking roof into one of the most unique spaces in Central New York. We're getting into: The gothic design philosophy — preserving the decay, not erasing it A self-pour wine wall with 24 wines you can customize for your wedding The mezzanine idea that will have guests watching the ceremony from the old choir loft Why a day-of coordinator might be the most underrated wedding vendor out there If you're a bride, a vendor, or just someone who loves a space that breaks the mold — this one's for you. 🔔 Subscribe and drop your questions or topic requests in the comments below! 🏛️ Find The Mizpah: 🌐 https://www.themizpah.com/ 📷 https://www.instagram.com/themizpahsyr/ 🌐 shootthevows.com 🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gdQT05rvXeV4dc9cUBSaz 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-vows/id1850468898 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootthevows

Wedding Budget - Splurge or Save? Photographers Tell All

Planning a wedding comes with approximately one million things to buy, book, rent, upgrade, personalize, and panic-Google at 11 p.m. In this episode of Shoot the Vows, we're talking through different wedding expenses and deciding what we think is worth the splurge and what you can probably save on without ruining the day. We go category by category and share our honest opinions on where your money actually makes a difference, where couples sometimes overspend, and what choices really come down to your priorities, your vibe, and your budget. From practical wedding-day purchases to the fun little details everyone loves to debate, we're breaking down what we'd splurge on, what we'd save on, and why. If you're planning a wedding and trying to figure out where your money should actually go, this one's for you. Watch more episodes and find us here: Shoot the Vows: https://shootthevows.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootthevows Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gdQT05rvXeV4dc9cUBSaz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-vows/id1850468898 #ShootTheVows #WeddingPlanning #WeddingBudget #SplurgeOrSave #WeddingPodcast