Wedding Planning Experts | Wedding Planning Tips, Budget, Vendors & Advice for Brides
Would you love to plan your dream wedding without feeling overwhelmed? Do you wish you fully understood the cost of wedding services so you can easily create a budget (and stay on budget)? Wondering how to prioritize vendors that are most important to you and your wedding vision? Want to know where to start in creating a wedding day timeline? We are so excited you're here! This podcast will help you enjoy the wedding planning process, guide you through the various costs for vendors and budgeting, share experiences and planning tips from a wide variety of wedding planning experts and provide valuable wedding day advice. We are Dan & Andrea DeWard. We’ve been married for 30 years as of last St. Patrick’s Day - Yes, we chose St. Patrick’s Day for our wedding and it was amazing! We have been in the wedding industry for over 25 years. When we initially started we thought all weddings were handled the exact same way. Some things we tried worked great and some things did not. We quickly learned every wedding has a unique style and flow to match the bride’s vision. That’s when we really started having fun and our business quickly grew. We have designed, owned and operated three large wedding venues in West Michigan coordinating and hosting hundreds of ceremonies and receptions. We also owned and operated additional lines of business including a bridal gown salon, tuxedo rentals, photography & video studio, DJ company, floral & decor studio, photo booths, limousine, party bus and invitation design. Yes, we owned and operated all of those businesses in the wedding industry! We also organized and hosted a large bridal show for a number of years. All that experience and the many amazing connections we made along the way led us to launching this podcast! If you are a bride that wants to have fun during your wedding planning process, create and stay on budget, connect with a variety of experienced experts and learn tips for your wedding day - this podcast is for you! So, if you have one of those large printed wedding binders… go ahead and close that for now and say “YES” to the Wedding Planning Experts podcast. Let's get started... Find Dan & Andrea DeWard online at... - Full Circle Weddings - West Michigan - https://fullcircleweddings.com/ Find Wedding Planning Experts online at... - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWeddingPlanningExperts - FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/WeddingPlanningExperts - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweddingplanningexperts Wedding Planning Experts is produced by Dan and Andrea DeWard with Full Circle Weddings.
Episodes
Planning your wedding flowers and wondering why floral quotes can vary so dramatically? In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, Dan and Andrea DeWard of Full Circle Weddings break down the real reasons wedding flower pricing changes from one florist to another — and exactly what brides need to send in order to receive accurate floral pricing for their wedding day.
From bridal bouquets and centerpieces to ceremony arches,...
Is a perfume bar at your wedding worth it—or just another trend? Brides are always searching for unique wedding ideas that create a memorable guest experience, and custom fragrance is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about luxury wedding trends.
In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, we sit down with Alison Keutgen with Chloq to explore the growing trend of custom wedding perfume for brides and grooms, thoughtful...
Thinking about buying your wedding dress online instead of visiting a bridal salon? For many brides, this decision can feel overwhelming—and risky. In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, we break down the real pros, cons, and potential regrets of buying a wedding dress online vs shopping in a bridal salon with expert insight from Cinderella's Closet.
If you're an engaged bride trying to stay on budget while still findin...
Planning a destination wedding and honeymoon sounds like a dream—but what most brides don’t realize is how quickly things can go wrong without the right guidance. From hidden travel costs to venue mistakes and unexpected issues overseas, this episode breaks down exactly what engaged couples need to know before booking anything.
In this episode of the Wedding Planning Experts Podcast, Dan and Andrea DeWard sit down with ...
Choosing the right wedding officiant is one of the most important decisions when planning your wedding ceremony. Should you ask your pastor to officiate your wedding, have a close friend lead the ceremony, or hire a professional wedding officiant? In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, Dan and Andrea DeWard sit down with Tom Hamel, wedding officiant and owner of My West Michigan Weddings, to help brides understand how to choo...
Is your groom ready for the wedding day? While so much attention goes to the bride’s hair, makeup, and getting-ready photos, groom and groomsmen prep is often overlooked. In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, Dan & Andrea DeWard break down everything brides and engaged couples need to know about wedding day groom prep, mobile barber services, and getting ready spaces.
If your wedding venue doesn’t offer a gro...
Barn weddings are one of the most popular wedding venue styles today — but are they the right choice for a bride and groom on their wedding day? In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, hosts Dan & Andrea DeWard sit down with barn wedding venue owners Bob and Dana Adams of The Barn at Adams Acres to give brides an honest, behind-the-scenes look at wedding planning in a West Michigan barn style venue.
From rustic charm...
Wedding tuxedo rentals and suits can make or break how a wedding looks in photos — so are they really worth it? In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, Dan & Andrea DeWard break down what brides and grooms need to know before choosing tuxedo rentals or wedding suits for the big day.
From fit and style to color coordination and overall presentation, we explain how wedding tuxedo rentals impact wedding photos, guest pe...
Wedding catering is one of the biggest wedding expenses — and one of the most misunderstood parts of wedding planning. In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, hosts Dan & Andrea DeWard sit down with Ashley Commons from Kangaroo Kitchen to break down what brides need to know about wedding catering costs, menus, staffing, and guest experience.
This conversation dives deep into wedding catering pricing, menu planning, s...
Wedding photo booths are one of the most popular wedding entertainment options — but are they still worth it for today’s weddings? In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, hosts Dan & Andrea DeWard sit down with the owners of The Shooting Comet Photo Booth Camper, a vintage camper transformed into an interactive wedding photo booth experience.
We break down how modern wedding photo booths impact guest experience...
Wedding Planner vs Day-Of Coordinator vs Venue Manager
Confused about the difference between a wedding planner, day-of coordinator, and venue manager? You’re not alone — and misunderstanding these roles is one of the most common wedding planning mistakes engaged couples make.
In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, hosts Dan & Andrea DeWard break down exactly who does what, when each role is needed, and how cho...
Luxury Hotel Weddings | JW Marriott Grand Rapids
Planning a luxury hotel wedding in Michigan or searching for a downtown Grand Rapids wedding venue? In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, hosts Dan and Andrea DeWard sit down with Olivia LaVergne, Event Manager at JW Marriott Grand Rapids, one of West Michigan’s most sought-after luxury wedding venues.
Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the JW Marriott offers...
2026 Wedding Trends: What Brides Need to Know
Planning a 2026 wedding and wondering what’s actually trending — and what really matters? In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, hosts Dan & Andrea DeWard break down the most important 2026 wedding trends every bride, groom, and engaged couple should know before making major wedding decisions.
With over 25 years of wedding industry experience, Dan and Andrea walk c...
Grand Rapids Bridal Show | DeVos Place
Attending the Grand Rapids Bridal Show and want to know exactly what to expect before you go? In this episode of Wedding Planning Experts, hosts Dan & Andrea DeWard break down everything brides, grooms, and wedding vendors need to know before attending the Grand Rapids Bridal Show at DeVos Place.
We cover key details including bridal show dates and times, how many wedding vendors attend, w...
Wedding Planning Experts Podcast | Introduction Episode
Welcome to Wedding Planning Experts — a wedding planning podcast designed to help engaged brides and grooms plan a stress-free wedding with confidence. In this introduction episode, hosts Dan & Andrea DeWard share their story and explain how their 25+ years in the wedding industry can help couples avoid common mistakes and plan smarter.
Over the past two decades, Dan...
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