Are you overwhelmed by the stress of wedding planning? Discover the secrets to a smooth and enjoyable wedding day from seasoned wedding planner, Bradie Flores.

In this episode, we dive deep into managing wedding planning stress. Bradie shares insights from her years of experience working with couples, offering tips on tackling common stress points such as budget management, timeline coordination, and managing expectations from family and friends. 

She emphasizes the importance of keeping perspective, creating a game plan, and setting boundaries to protect your sanity during the planning process. Whether you’re just starting to plan your wedding or feeling the pressure in the final months, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you stay on track and avoid burnout. 

Highlights:

1. The top 3 stress points couples face: budget, timeline, and external expectations.
2. Why design choices can become overwhelming: and how to simplify your options.
3. The value of a good planner: keeping everything on track and reducing stress.
4. Tips for creating a realistic timeline: and allowing buffer time for unexpected delays.
5. How to navigate opinions from family and friends: while staying true to your vision.
6. Setting boundaries and designating non-wedding planning days: to keep your relationship strong.

Planning your wedding can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone! Reach out to us at podcast@fantasysound.com if you have any questions or want to share your own wedding planning experiences. Don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review!

Get in Touch with Bradie 

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evin Dennis (0:0.951)

Well, welcome to the next episode of Now That I'm Engaged, How Do I Get Married? And we have with us our guest today, Brady Flores, and she's going to be talking about stress. So all the crazy fun stuff that, you know, our couples deal with when they are getting married. So Brady, to start off, don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and how did you get to where you are here today?

Bradie Flores (0:23.042)

Yeah, thank you for having me. I appreciate being here. I love to talk about stress all the time. So I have been with my own company, Flora's Events. We've been for five years now doing weddings and other events. And before that, I was in different levels of administrative work. So I would do events and hospitality and travel and project management, like within those fields.

So it always was something that like keeping on timelines and prioritizing tasks and working with teams was like very natural in my day to day. And then in my personal life, I was like the go -to person in my family. They're like, we're gonna have a party. Brady has to do it.

We're gonna, so and so's having a baby or he's getting a master's degree, like Brady's gonna throw it, Brady'll take care of it. And I've always just like loved that. So when I got married six years ago, I was like, I could do this. I could plan my own wedding. I got it down, I don't need anybody. And I always say like, I'm the coordinator that didn't have a coordinator, because I learned the hard way. And I got through, yeah, I got through that process. And I turned to my then husband, now husband, still husband.

Kevin Dennis (1:20.729)

Oh.

August Yocher (1:27.969)

Yeah

Bradie Flores (1:28.246)

And sometimes I tell him he's my first husband just in case he gets out of line. And I was like, I loved everything about that process. I just hated that it was for me. Like if I could go back and redo it for someone else, I had so much fun. But the stress part, like dealing with different things like opinions and struggles and family and friends, that's where I was like, oh, when it's about me, I don't like it. So.

Kevin Dennis (1:32.899)

Yeah.

August Yocher (1:32.930)

I love that.

August Yocher (1:41.347)

Hmm.

Kevin Dennis (1:44.387)

Mmm.

Bradie Flores (1:56.440)

That's when I decided I'm gonna kinda start to dabble and do a couple of weddings here and there. I started out with some friends that I knew were getting married and then I was like, you know what? I have enough of the project management experience and customer service experience. I'm just gonna go for it. So I opened Flora's Events and we've been doing it ever since. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (2:15.215)

That's exciting. And I love that you, we were all saying stress, it's a, you know, like we're going at it real quick. So today the whole thing is about avoiding stress. So what do you think like going through as a full service planner, like what are some of the stress points that you see couples encounter during the planning process?

Bradie Flores (2:21.410)

Yeah.

Bradie Flores (2:37.942)

Yeah, I think obviously there's a lot of like the logistical things like how much are we going to spend? Where are we going to have it? How long do we have to plan? So there's a lot of those what I would put in my brain like administrative logistic tasks that cause natural stress just because you have to think about how much you're going to invest into this process and how much time do you have if you're working or going to school or have like a lot of family things going on. So just kind of like mapping that out and how it will work in your day to day lives.

And then I think the second part is really like dealing with society at large, shall we say. Like your family and your friends, because I think people like they love you and they want the best for you and they're just inquisitive. Like they're excited for you to get married and you're excited. And so they have questions and sometimes it can be like overwhelming. You're like, I haven't even had a chance to like breathe and think about this. And you're already asking me like where, when.

August Yocher (3:13.508)

Mm -hmm.

August Yocher (3:30.382)

Mm

Kevin Dennis (3:31.351)

you

Bradie Flores (3:32.962)

How many people can I bring my like male person? Like there's a lot. So I think kind of the logistics, but also just like the life of it all and having people who love you and want to be a part of it can be sometimes a little stressful, a little overwhelming, which is normal, I think. Yeah.

August Yocher (3:48.440)

Yeah, I think that this episode is going to be very important for couples because I think it's a pivotal episode, I think, because I think a lot of the reasons why couples will come listen to this podcast is because they're looking to avoid stress. So I think this is going to be really good information for them. But I wanted to ask, you know, as a full service planner, too, I'm sure, you know, couples probably come to you with a lot of these stress points and ask for help.

But what are the most common stress points that you've been seeing with couples lately and do you have tools to help them combat that?

Bradie Flores (4:24.822)

Yeah, I would say a lot of the things that I get from people are things like timeline. Timeline is a big stressor. How's the day gonna flow? Who's gonna keep them on track? Which is why they have a coordinator or planner, right? That's a whole job on its own is keeping that day going. And if you work with DJs and photographers and stuff, they can do that to support you, but that's a whole another person. they...

August Yocher (4:31.001)

Hmm.

Kevin Dennis (4:39.919)

You

August Yocher (4:48.270)

They got their own timelines going on.

Bradie Flores (4:49.246)

They can't do their job. Exactly. when I've heard from, you know, photographers and DJs and videographers and other vendors, they're like, I was able to really focus on my job because I wasn't.

having to manage a timeline, you are taking care of it. So, and you know, when you are an engaged person, if you have a coordinator, like that timeline doesn't fall on you, they're doing the timeline for you. So that takes that stress off. like investing in the professionals who know how long it takes people to get to sit down from a reception when they're enjoying cocktail hour, or know how long it takes people when you have a more remote venue to really actually like get their park, get into the venue, like all those buffer times. So I would

August Yocher (5:1.562)

Mm

August Yocher (5:10.082)

Yeah.

Bradie Flores (5:29.436)

say for sure timeline. Another big thing is design because you're just inundated with like so many things like Instagram and Pinterest and all these ideas and it's like how am gonna pull that together? Like what rentals do I get? How does it look? Yes!

August Yocher (5:33.699)

Yeah.

August Yocher (5:42.820)

Or like, where do you start? Like, how do you even make your vision come to life? I'm sure it's super overwhelming.

Bradie Flores (5:48.958)

Exactly. When you see these amazing reception entrances and they've got the cold sparklers and the lights and they're like, where do I go for that? to know, okay, we already know the vendors, we already know the packages, we can get you set up and it starts to take some of that stress off. So having someone that's doing it every week and is already in that as a resource, it's going to come back to you tenfold because that's so many less things that you have to look up or research or find examples of.

Kevin Dennis (6:9.154)

Hmm.

August Yocher (6:9.240)

Mm -hmm.

Bradie Flores (6:18.954)

If you have a trusted individual that you're working with, you can be like, help me find this person. Yeah. So that's what I found is like layouts and timeline are some big ones outside of like the budget and things like that.

August Yocher (6:23.182)

Yeah.

August Yocher (6:26.810)

Totally.

August Yocher (6:32.804)

Do you honestly have a lot of couples that come to you before they start choosing other vendors? Because I think that is one of my questions too, is like, you know, there are so many decisions to make. And I think once you get engaged, you're like, holy crap, like, where do I start? Like, how do I begin this process? Do you think there are certain things that couples should prioritize in the beginning versus jumping into other things later?

Bradie Flores (6:54.829)

Yeah.

Yeah, I do. would say a lot of our partial and full planning clients definitely come to us when they've booked a venue, booked a date. And those are two in the same, but you know what I mean? And

August Yocher (7:4.458)

Mm -hmm.

Kevin Dennis (7:7.993)

You

Bradie Flores (7:8.598)

then they find us. So they already know like before we start finding all these amazing people who are going to be on our team, like who's going to steer the ship essentially. And so with a lot of our clients for those packages, they do find us right after venue. With more of our month of coordination, I find that most of those couples when they have a little bit more freedom in their schedule or like comfort with the planning, they'll come to us when they usually have quite a few vendors booked. They may have one or two that they're still looking for.

Kevin Dennis (7:35.982)

Hmm.

Bradie Flores (7:38.030)

But generally they've got like venue photo video DJ and maybe they're just still looking for florals or still looking for lighting and they really are kind of getting into that last like six to ten months and they're starting to feel the like oh, it's it's no longer like, know 52 weeks out on the calendar and that's when yeah, they're like who the heck is gonna do this on the day and then they'll come to us and it's nice because

August Yocher (7:57.006)

gets more real.

Bradie Flores (8:4.000)

Even at that six month, four month point, we can still take a lot from them and really be like, great, you've done a great job so far, pat yourself on the back, you did very, well, let us come in, let us be your, save your home, mama's here, we're here for you. Exactly, mama's here, exactly. So I would say it's kind of a mix just depending, but, and we've had people who will like, at, you

August Yocher (8:15.950)

You're safe now.

Kevin Dennis (8:19.301)

Mama's here.

Bradie Flores (8:29.198)

30, 60 days out who've reached out and to see if we have a date available. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. We try to help find them someone else who is. And sometimes there's a little bit of like, almost like they're like nervous to say we're coming. It's in, you know, it's in two months. We feel bad. And it's okay. Like it's okay to ask for help. It's okay to realize like this is a huge project and we want to enjoy it. Like doesn't matter. Yeah. Yes. Yes.

August Yocher (8:33.454)

Wow.

August Yocher (8:53.892)

That's such a good tip. It is okay to ask for help. It's a huge thing you're undertaking.

Bradie Flores (8:59.766)

It shouldn't be on one person. Sorry, Kevin.

Kevin Dennis (8:59.789)

Now do you, no, no, go, go. But I was gonna say, do you find when they're doing that, when they're coming at you, that the two, four months out, like they're overwhelmed? Is that what, the situation?

Bradie Flores (9:10.966)

I do find, yeah, it is a little bit more like, okay, I got through all these like huge like points of what I was supposed to get done. Yeah, milestones. And now I'm like, okay, well, who's gonna put my guestbook out? Who's going to make sure that this goes in the right place? Like, I feel comfortable with the people I booked, but who's gonna pull it all together? Who's the glue?

Kevin Dennis (9:16.793)

milestones.

Kevin Dennis (9:23.415)

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (9:30.169)

Mm -hmm.

Bradie Flores (9:30.976)

And it is like, I hate to use the word like stress or overwhelmed because I don't want to like fear bait, but it is like, I mean, it's real, especially if you're like working or like I said, going to school or have family priorities or what have you. you're like, oh, I, know, two months, three months can go by like that. So I do think that that like six month threshold is when you're like, oh, I've done all this work and I would actually like to enjoy it. So now I got to find someone that's going to let me enjoy it.

Kevin Dennis (9:59.193)

Yeah, yeah.

Bradie Flores (9:59.424)

I'm not going to be working. It ain't going to be me. I can tell you.

August Yocher (10:1.814)

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (10:3.449)

Well, and think that was a good point with like work and family and even just still dating each other through this process. You know, like how do couples, cause I'll meet with couples and you can tell that they're burned out. Like, you know, like, uh, like it just happened over the weekend. Um, I met with a couple on a, we do some Saturday appointments around here and a couple came in and I was like the third person that they met with already that day and they had three more meetings still scheduled, you know, so

Yes.

Mm

Oh my goodness.

Ugh, decision fatigue.

100%. So how do you feel couples can avoid burnout, know, like through the planning process?

Yeah.

Yeah, I think it's kind of twofold because I feel like there's some couple responsibility, but I also feel like there's some vendor responsibility. Like I think certain things of like pricing transparency and like being upfront about like availability and how you work and stuff. I feel like that's important because from the couple side, like I kind of feel like this broker in between, right? Like I see the vendor side, I see the couple side. And obviously like I'm going to advocate for my couple as much as I can, but I want to do it in a way that they can achieve what they want realistically and be happy.

Kevin Dennis (11:0.526)

Mm.

And so like

If they don't have to inquire with people as much just to get pricing back to figure out it's way far out of their budget, then that's one less decision or one less phone call that they have to have. And I feel like it saves time. that's kind of like on the one side, just knowing and with a planner, with a coordinator, you're getting that as part of the service, right? Because we're either researching it or we've worked with people before. So we're making recommendations that are based on A, your style and what you want, B, like maybe

Hmm.

Mm -hmm.

your personality and your budget and availability. So we're pulling that together as part of our service for you. But if it's a client that's doing that on their own, knowing that a photographer starts at $8 ,500 is going to be helpful for them rather than going, OK, that's about $3 ,000 over my starting budget or $5 ,000, whatever it may be. And then on the couple side, I think that having a game plan and boundaries in place before you start,

Yeah, yeah.

Mmm.

is like the best way that I feel to go. Because I think once you kind of like get started down the road of this planning, then when things pop up at you, if you don't really kind of know how you're going to approach it as a team, then you're going to get overwhelmed. So.

Yeah, that's why we talked about that with Dan the other day. Like you have to stay a united front and kind of talk about those things at the beginning instead of getting frustrated in the middle.

Yes, yes. And I let couples know, like, even if you decide, you know, like, if you get engaged at a time and then you're gonna have a lot of family gatherings, or maybe you get engaged before the holidays, people are gonna ask. They love you and they're gonna ask. A million questions.

Oh, a million questions. Yes.

So I tell them like especially if I'm working with them early and they are newly engaged or newly announcing that they've set a date I let them know like figure out what your auto response is gonna be because every like aunt uncle grandma is gonna ask you a question So it's okay to say, know, we haven't even thought about that or you know what our planner is on it and we're not even worrying about it right now because it's just kind of like Yes Yes, because then if you're like explaining to like

Kevin Dennis (13:7.311)

Mm

I like the auto response that like saves you a lot of like energy too so.

not to throw grandmas under the bus or anything, but you're doing like an all black, like monochrome wedding and she's like, that's not how we did it. And you're like, I can't do this 16 times today. Grandma, like, come on girl. So it's just, that can be like, for me personally, when I went through it, it was kind of like exhausting.

Yeah.

Grandma no.

And then the couples, yeah, the couples I talked to, they're like here, they're like, oh, I had to answer a million questions. So kind of knowing like, okay, we're gonna go into this, we're gonna talk a little bit about what we're doing, we're excited. But if they ask about who's invited or how many people or like any details we haven't worked out, we're just gonna have this like default response. That's how it's gonna work.

It is.

Kevin Dennis (14:0.621)

And it's kind of funny you say that because I just thinking back to my, you know, planning process for my wedding is my wife and I got engaged like towards the end of summer. And then, you know, it took some time till we found a date. We decided to get married on New Year's Eve, but like, but went out, you know, we were engaged for almost, almost a year and a half by the time, you know, like we picked the date, we decided we were going to do this and we, and, but so then that next.

Oh wow.

the first holiday time, our family gave us so much grief about having a New Year's Eve wedding, you know? And then the crazy, so it's kind of funny, we did not have a default answer and we were just kind of like after the holidays, we were like, did we pick this? Was it wrong, you know, to do? But then the crazy like fast forward to the wedding, like everyone had such a great time.

And then they're like, are you going to do another New Year's Eve party? Because no one ever has anything to do on New Year's Eve. But I was like, thinking back, I'm like, all you people complained about this. And now you guys all wish that we would do a Year's Eve party again. So yeah.

Mm

Bradie Flores (15:0.127)

Yes.

August Yocher (15:5.210)

agree with that, like honestly, not to get off track, but I had never have anything to do on New Years. Last year I was just eating grapes under a table. Like, a party would be great to go to, so I think that was a great decision.

Yeah.

You

Good news Kevin's doing a vow renewal now New Year's Eve this year's

Put it on your calendar.

Well, and it's funny, I picked it because I always hated working New Year's Eve because New Year's Eve is just such a, people are so rude and not fun to work with. So I figured now I have an excuse not to work on New Year's Eve and that was my whole, and my wife at the time was a teacher so it was a good time to like a break in her schedule. It was a good time to get married. Yeah, yeah, so that's why we did it.

There you go.

That's fair.

Yeah, and to think like if you had changed it from like it's hard when you know a lot of people are giving as soon as like you have any life event people turn into like the etiquette police or like the this is how it's done. So it's like to think if you had changed or your your plans and then they kind of great freaking time anyway. So just like mind your business and show up and have a good time and you know could be there's people who have like really significant dates to them and their partner that they want to work around and like

Oh.

I know.

August Yocher (16:8.602)

Totally.

Bradie Flores (16:9.378)

There's people who are like, we're an ag family that falls in a really hard time or this. And it's like, you're not going to please everybody ever with anything. just.

Mm -hmm. No. Ever. No.

Focus on the two of you, focus on what your little boundary, your little wall is gonna be to protect your sanity and just have that be. And if you say, you know what, we haven't thought about it, and their response is, of course, this is not most people, but if they say, oh, you should really be thinking about it, you can be like, you know what, we should, we absolutely should, and our planner is on it. And in your head, you know the answer, but you don't have to share it with them.

Hahaha!

But I love that's a great diffuser. It just stops them from going down that path of giving their full opinion of what everybody thinks they need to do. like you said, everyone gets so opinionated about weddings. especially I tell my couples, where are you on the food chain? Are you one of your first friends to get married? Are you one of your last friends? yeah, because, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

August Yocher (17:6.613)

The guinea pig.

Bradie Flores (17:7.960)

this child are you the baby? you like?

Because if you're one of your first friends, there's less pressure, I think, on you to plan a party because there's less opinions about it from your friend group.

Yes. And then the couples that are, you know, I work with a lot of couples who their friends are getting married at the same time as them. And so they're going to weddings during their engagement process. And then they're like, okay, I see what they did that I loved or I see what they did that like, I could kind of take it or leave it. I'd rather spend more time doing this. And like, I call it like doing recon. Like you're kind of like, you're like, stealthily like there to celebrate the love of two great people, but also being like, okay, now you're looking at it through a totally different lens. So then you think,

Mm -hmm.

Mm -hmm.

Yeah, it's true.

this is how my guests are looking at it and they're not. They're there to have a great time. You're looking at it through that lens because you're in that part of your life right now. So it's like don't compare.

story with that. so funny you say that because when I used to work at the venue I was at, I had a couple that was coming up a few months later and they were attending an event for another couple and I came out and said hello to them and then they emailed me the next day and they were like, okay, so our friends had a french fry bar at their wedding and we really want a french fry bar but is it weird that we're copying them? I'm like, no guys, if that's gonna make you happy at your wedding.

Yes.

Yes.

Just do it, like stop thinking about what other people think because again, everyone's gonna have an opinion so might as well have a party that you're really going to

Yes.

and all they're gonna do is be drinking and dancing and be like, French fries. Like that's the vibe. They're gonna be like, is this a slider right now? Like that's what's gonna happen. They're gonna just be like so excited. So yeah, but I think it's tricky. It's tricky when you're in it. It's so much easier on the other side to look back and be like, ugh. And then that happens too is like once you get married and then you go to a wedding. I've had, I've been really blessed. I actually have one couple that I'm like.

Literally soak it up! Yeah. Yeah. Totally.

Bradie Flores (19:0.512)

four couples removed from them now. Like they referred me to a couple who referred me to a couple. So yeah, I'm like, you guys are like my little chain of couples here. I love it. But like at each wedding, it's been fun because they've been guests at the wedding. So like I get to see, like I'm building my little crew here at the wedding.

August Yocher (19:4.506)

Bye!

Kevin Dennis (19:4.512)

Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome.

August Yocher (19:8.663)

I love that.

Mm -hmm.

And it's so funny because like I, you know, I'll try to pop in and say hi and they're always like, it's so different on the other side. Like we get to just chill and we're like, we love the bar and we love the food and like, we're just happy to be here. So that's what your guests are doing. They're just happy to be there, you know? Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, and they're just there to enjoy, you know, and that's yeah. So I have a joke, but it's a bad joke. I always tell my couples you want to have fun at a wedding. You need to be a guest at someone else's wedding because you on the day of is so stressful and it yeah, it really is.

You

It's like practice.

of you have a coordinator or a planner so yeah hair flip

Well, true, true. But it's it's talking just like talking to all the family and trying to get through that. It's just like when you're a guest, you just you blend in and you don't get to you're not the star of the show, so to speak.

If you had a Brady.

Yes.

Bradie Flores (20:2.958)

Yeah, I had one groom that said we were like finishing up cocktail hour and like it was maybe like 20 minutes of photos and um he like comes over to me I was like how you doing? Are you doing okay? And he's like I feel like a Disney character like I'm smiling and I was like I've never heard it put that way but it makes a lot of sense he's like every I'm standing here everyone keeps coming to me I have to like greet them

hahahahah

you

He's like, my social battery, because the social battery check -ins are real too. That's part of the stress management. I even tell my couples when we build their timeline, built -in buffers for things, because I'll say, OK, how are you? Do you need 10 minutes for a cocktail in a private room to just breathe? Because you do. You feel like a Disney character. You're like, if I have to sign one more frickin' Disney book, and I'm done.

Oh yeah.

Mm -hmm.

Hahaha!

When I feel like guests come in, like envisioning their own experience. And it's like, if I don't have like a meaningful conversation with the bride and groom, then did I even go to this wedding? So then it's like, they're also looking to get something from you at the same time. And it's like, okay, well, like each conversation, they have to deliver this amazing experience to you. that must be exhausting as a couple.

Yes.

Bradie Flores (21:9.332)

Yes, you're like, gotta make this a quality one -on -one with you right now.

Kevin Dennis (21:9.804)

It really is.

Literally, but like 150 quality one -on -ones, so.

Yes, yes. But I think like having that plan and knowing like what your values are for the day is like another stress thing too because you can like you can follow a set

like schedule of how a wedding would normally go or like what the standard layout would be and like you need to and like my project management brain like what is the value of each of those items to you like if um, you know if like cocktail hour and socializing and not having to like Be on a strict schedule during that is a really high value to you Then you should do more photos beforehand You should do like a first look if not seeing your partner until you're at the aisle is high value Then we're going to sacrifice a little bit elsewhere. So like

Hmm.

Mm

And I think that's part of like to kind of bring it back to the game plan is knowing like not only what our default responses are but like what is our like not to be corporate brain but like what is our mission statement for this like wedding like what is our what is our value and like one of the questions I asked new couples is what do you want the day to like feel like like when you look back how do you want it to feel because that's what you're gonna remember like did I feel rushed did I feel like unsupported did I feel like I was in a

Kevin Dennis (22:9.993)

Hehehehehe

Mm -hmm.

Mmm.

I like that.

places at one or did I feel relaxed and I felt like I got to talk to everybody I could and I had a hell of a party and had a great time like what is that importance and then from that like what is the feel the vibe if you will that you want then we can figure out what your like high value items are and work around it like that's how I do it at least

Hmm.

Mm -hmm.

I like that. That's very, very smart because it's all about, know, everyone I think has a different feel and what's important to them. I think that's really cool. yeah. So how do couples focus on what's important and let go of what the need for perfection at a wedding?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I like that too, yeah.

Bradie Flores (23:8.332)

Oh God, you're asking a perfectionist how to let go and not have a need for perfection. I think that, and of course, open to any of your guys' input on this, but I just think, again, having those values of what's important to you and having that conversation, just the two of you, because everyone is gonna have different values, every single person, like your parents, your step parents, your friends, everybody. So.

Yeah

I think that if the two of you, like make a date of it. You get engaged. Number one, enjoy being engaged. Just because you're engaged does not mean you need to like sprint to the aisle unless that's what you want. Unless you're like, I have a high wants to not have a long engagement. Then like go for you boo. Do what you want to do.

But like if you don't want to have to feel like you make any decisions, like it's okay to have a longer engagement. It's okay to plan two years out or three years out, whatever you want. Or say we're gonna take six months and then figure it out from there or a year and figure it out. So like number one, enjoy being engaged. Take your time if you choose to. And then when you do decide to like make your game plan, like make a fun time of it. Like if you're gonna look at venues in a certain area, like.

Sprinkle in don't do like seven back to back meetings like go Yeah, like go wine tasting and then go to a venue or like go to a nice dinner and do something else or like see what's in that area and make a weekend of it or You know take yourselves out on a nice date and like get dressed up and figure out like okay What's our top three like what's our three bullet points of how we want to do this and like make it be fun and continue to like date each other through it and not just be like

No, that's insane. Yeah.

business partners of your wedding business that you're now in together and like have to figure out. But I think that that's the important part is like making it fun and making it worthwhile so that you enjoy the process.

Kevin Dennis (25:0.559)

Yeah, and I think you brought up two really, really good points is that I think couples don't take the time to like really hash out the game plan and communicate. You know, just the two of you without the outside noise and then you brought up dating. I'm a big believer that you need to continue to date through this and it reminds you of why this stress and everything you're going on. It's like, why are we doing this? You know, because it gets it gets so crazy. So those are two really good big takeaways.

Yeah.

And I think that like this might be a hot topic, a hot take if you will, but.

I do think that one on one conversation and removing outside noise before you go too far also includes vendors and also includes the wedding industry as a whole. Just because there's a way I would do something doesn't mean it's the only way and doesn't mean it's always going to be the right way. The first year of how I did weddings is not how I do weddings now for quite a few things. I don't do rehearsals the same. I don't do timelines the same. And so I'm constantly looking

Mm -hmm.

Yeah.

Mm -mm.

Bradie Flores (26:1.440)

learning and I am by no means like the end all be all of anything and I don't think I am and I think that it's important to like know what your vision is for it kind of know what you want or know what you don't want to you don't have to be a hundred percent sold on what you your yeses are but to know what your like firm boundaries are is great and then when you find people that are gonna be on your vendor team

that you can talk to and like have a real conversation with. And I tell couples like, I will do everything I can to advocate for you to get what you want. If it's going to be what's realistic and best for you. Like if you tell me you want to zip line into your ceremony and like all like you're going to skydive in like if that's truly what you want, if that's top number one, like we're going to figure it out. But if it's in like Oklahoma during tornado season, I'm going to have a come to Jesus meeting with you and be like, hey.

Mm -hmm.

Hehehehehe

Mm -hmm

Little realism.

Yeah, it's like I'm doing you a disservice to just be like, yes, we can do it. That's what you want. We can do it. I, it's part of why you should have good people on your team is to be like, I love your idea. I love the thought behind it. How can we do it so that A, it's executed properly and you're happy and B, it makes sense for the vendors because like a strong vision on something that's not realistic for like venue or budget or just, I don't know, tornado season in Oklahoma, whatever you want to call it.

Yeah.

not gonna Okay, if Glenn Powell's there like we're sold like we will I will literally the tornadoes taking things off of Glenn Powell as far as I'm concerned I Haven't seen the new twisters movie yet, but I'm ready. I'm Um Yeah, so that like reality of like we want the best for you. We want you to be happy We want to make sure we can execute things successfully for you But if you tell me like what your big ones are and we can make it happen. We're gonna make it happen. So

I'm a Glenn Powell moment right now. Then it's okay.

No!

Oh my.

It was very good, very good.

You

And I love that you brought up the point that what you did six years ago is not what you're doing now because I feel like the wedding industry continues to change and evolve. I really like right now, I feel like we're in this phase where weddings are becoming a little bit non -traditional, you know? And so I think the older, which I think brings the stress onto the couples because grandma and aunts, uncles and parents are all, we have to do it this way and this is how it.

Bradie Flores (28:6.798)

Mm

this is how weddings always happen and it's like no, weddings are very non -traditional right now. I think that's a really good point you brought up. Thank you for that.

Yeah.

I have my assistant, like a little side story. I was actually just with her yesterday, Avery, she's wonderful. She's like, literally keeps me sane every day. I could not do it without her. She's engaged, she's getting married in November, which is exciting, because like I get to have worked with her and now like seen her meet her partner and like be part of that experience.

Mm

Well, that's awesome.

Yeah, so it's like, it's fun. But we were just chatting about, you know, like wedding planning and she was saying that she was talking to her mom who was married in like the late 80s. And her mom was talking about how when she got married, there was a lot of things that she wasn't able to do because a parent figure on some side, you know, had opinions and had certain things that they wanted. And there was certain things that she like let go of because

there was other outside influences that were like, this is how we're gonna do it. And I'm like, the timeline is just keeps going on. Like my parents did it and their parents did it and then they did it. Yes, break the cycle. So it's like, for me, like the way my brain works is kind of comforting. I'm like, oh, it's not like a solitary experience. Like we all are gonna be in that position one time or another. So, and I think it's good. And I think that when you're on the other side of it and you've gone through a wedding planning process, like,

Mm.

Let's break the cycle.

as a outside person, like have grace for those people that are in that process and be gentle with them and be kind and like know that they're dealing with a lot right now.

And every person's experience is different, of course, so you do have to approach it with that gentleness.

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (30:1.527)

Yeah. My favorite thing to tell the couples when they come in and you can tell that they're stressed out. I'm like, you guys don't like each other right now. And it kind of breaks the tension and they're like, well, how can you tell? I'm like, could just read it right off of you guys. So it's just kind of funny that way.

Bradie Flores (30:1.612)

Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah. It's also good to have like a non -wedding day, like no wedding Wednesdays or something where you're like, we don't even talk about it. Don't even bring it up to me. Like, sometimes you're done. You're like, I don't want to think about it anymore.

Oh. 100 %

Yeah, I 100 % agree with you. People forget that. So, all right, tips. Let's give it some, what are some Brady tips for reducing stress during the planning process?

Yes

Yes. So I think life happens like around wedding planning, like, or wedding planning happens. Carrie, my girl Carrie, help me out here. Yes. I think my number one tip is like, wedding planning happens around life. Like your life is what is most important, you and your partner and the things you like to do and the things that you're already doing that you enjoy. That is number one and should stay number one. The wedding planning.

Mm -hmm.

Yeah, take two. Take two, Kerry.

Bradie Flores (31:9.280)

is an amazing fun thing. You're gonna get to do it with each other. You're gonna get to like pick all these things and have this totally curated experience. And it's fantastic, but it should come second. And you should have people on your team, whether it's like number one, vendors, people who are there to be there for you, to support you and like make it more fun. It's gonna be more fun if you have the right team. So.

Mm -hmm.

Mm

with that like overarching view of having it happen around your life. Like you said, continue to go on dates.

have a little like checklist like of things that you're gonna do that week or the next month if you're working with a planner like we get that to you. We are checking with you every month. We tell you like these are the things that need to get done now. Here's how we can help you. Here's some people we would recommend that we've like vetted and worked with and like I love to recommend vendors that I've just like been there with them and been like they're amazing. They will go like a hundred yards whatever they got to do to get things done for a couple and

Mm -hmm.

I want to keep working with them because I know it's going to have the best experience for the couple. having like a coordinator or planner and other vendor team members that can like give you those referrals and take that stress off is definitely going to be good. And then I think the other one would be like have no wedding dates. Like dates where you go to dinner, you go to a movie and like you don't talk about wedding stuff. And like if someone texts you a wedding question, you don't have to respond and

Yeah.

Mm -hmm.

you don't have to check your email about it. If you have a wedding email, which is a great idea to kind of section it out of your life, compartmentalize it as much as you can.

Mm -hmm.

Mm -hmm.

You know, have a wedding bank account, have a wedding email, have a wedding, know, set up a Google Voice phone number if you want to so that you can like log in and check your text messages. just because we live in a time where you can be reached, it doesn't mean that you are always in the space to deal with it. So it's OK to be like, hmm, it's a no from me, dog. Not today.

Yeah.

Well, then the best part is after the wedding you can vape all of us and get rid of all of us wedding people. Yes.

Yes, yeah, exactly. I don't know, like to, I feel like I've made friends with quite a bit of my couples because I'm working with them. I think I have the unique side where I work with them for so long with so much interaction that by the end, I mean, we get on meetings, I'm like, what's up, girl? How's your day? We get coffee after, it's pretty great. But then we can just talk about everything that's not wedding related. So, it's nice.

No, I agree.

No.

You do.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

That was one thing I always like, and I don't know if you guys had experienced that, that I was just always so sad about with being a coordinator is you do spend like extended amounts of time with them and learn so much about them that you feel like they hold such a special place in your life. And then they get married and then they go off and you're like, bye. Like I miss you. I saw one of my couples, shout out to Amy and Francis. I saw them at Outside Lands a couple of weeks ago. And I was like, oh my God. And we just had this, just.

You

Yeah. Oh, I stay creeping.

Bradie Flores (34:4.927)

Oh, amazing.

Kevin Dennis (34:5.005)

Oh, how funny.

great moment and I miss them so much and I was like I just I miss you I hope you're having a good time yeah yeah

I love it. You're like, hello, friends. I stay creep in on my couples. I'm like, I follow you on Instagram. They're like graduating college, getting their master's degree, like running half marathons. I'm like heart and shit. And I'm like, you go girl, get it. Like one of the groups just did like ease and like involved in like local politics and like stuff in his community. And I'm like, so proud of you. I do feel like, like half big sister, half mom, half friend, like.

Aww.

Yay!

Yeah!

I don't know, just, they're like my little babies. I just love them.

you did hold a special place in their life. Like they're always going to remember you as their wedding day, you know, so yeah.

I mean, I hope so. I love them. I love like working with them and like just creating that relationship and it's just fun. It's fun and I like it and there's light at the end of the tunnel. It's gonna be amazing.

people remember like I don't so when I go visit my grandma we talk about wedding planning when I was a coordinator because it was just my job and what I did and she would always say like having a wedding planner is a must like and she's like you know oh she's my grandma so like she yeah no but she was like I still think about her like she was so sweet she did so much for me the day of and I was like oh that's so sweet so she's still think about her yeah

Bradie Flores (35:6.273)

Mm -hmm. Yeah.

Hehehehe

Your grandma's ahead of the times.

Oh my god. Wait, so your grandma had a wedding planner? Wait, you and your grandma got married?

That's impressive.

Oh, I don't know that I maybe I'll get back to you guys on that. I don't know off the top of my head. No, she's not that old. I think she's like like early 70s, you know, late 60s, but.

the early 1900s. Okay, that's pretty good though, I feel like.

That's yeah, I'm gonna say that's so odd for that era. Yeah

Yeah, I would say because I think my mom, I would say probably like 30 something years ago, but still, yeah. Yeah, but she talks about her and I'm like, oh, that that makes me happy. It makes my heart happy. So, yeah.

Good

Well, that's still pretty good, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

hope so. I hope that one day my couples are like sitting there and talking and they're like, remember that day? Like, I love it. I hope so. I'll be dead and gone. I'll be like, keeping me alive in spirit. I love it. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. I'll be like, wedding party planning in heaven. I'll be like, got you, got you, you girl. We got Jesus coming up for us, special guest. Terrible. Yes.

August Yocher (36:2.146)

Yeah. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (36:7.555)

Rockin' on the chair.

August Yocher (36:8.098)

The memories live on.

It got you girl.

There you go.

That's hilarious. officiating the wedding. All right. Any other tips that we got?

Yeah

I think that's it. I I think that those are like pretty big umbrella things. And I think number one, like create your boundaries, you know, set aside your time that is just going to be for the two of you. Invest in the right people for you. Find like date your vendors, find your right fit, make sure that they're on your team and, and just try to have fun while you're doing it as much as you can.

Mm -hmm.

Honestly, your automated response tip was a big takeaway for me. And I think that's a very easy thing for couples to incorporate in the process. So I think it's something they can incorporate now, honestly.

Bradie Flores (37:3.190)

Yeah, yeah, I like it. It's like an out of office. like, sorry, I am I am out of wedding office right now and I will not be answering your questions. No further questions. Thank you. Yeah.

August Yocher (37:6.509)

It is, yeah.

Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm.

I think boundary because we set boundaries with our clients. think it's fair for them to set boundaries with us as well. So yeah, I hundred percent it I I agree. So all right, so Brady we ask everyone that comes on this episode or the show is what is your favorite part of a wedding?

Totally. Goes both ways.

Yep, yep, absolutely.

Yes, my favorite part of a wedding is right after the ceremony when the couple, you know, they make it down the aisle. Usually we have like a little area that they're going to as we like wait to kind of get guests a cocktail hour. And, you know, it's usually at that time that they get there and I try to give them some space and like close the door. But that like moment when they like look at each other and they're like, oh my God, we just got married. And like, it's like an audible like exhale of like.

Aww.

Bradie Flores (38:0.576)

We did it and it's done and it's really there is like a mind shift of like now we get to party like it just happens so fast like all the like anticipation and anxiety or like Excitement is build up to that moment and then it's done and you're like, oh it's all good from now on like we're getting cocktails We're getting food Yes, yes, so that's nice

Kevin Dennis (38:1.528)

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (38:6.937)

Yeah.

August Yocher (38:9.006)

Mm -hmm.

Yeah, so it's like making it to the top of the mountain and it's all downhill from there, man. Yeah, let the fun begin.

Exactly. That's my number one, my like one A, if I may, if I may give a second one, is when I do my ceremony rehearsal and when I do the ceremony, when I get the wedding party all lined up, whether it's just a couple people or big wedding party, I do two deep yoga breaths with everybody and we practice it at the rehearsal. And I feel like it's this weird moment where we're like, obviously we're all either standing in a room or like at a hiding place and it's quiet and you can hear guests and like there's anticipation that's

Oh yeah, I like 1A.

Oh.

Mm

happening and so I always like get them lined up and I'm like, okay you guys Let's take like a deep collective yoga breath together Let it out and then we do one more and then I say like, okay Shake it out like shake out all the tension and that's my probably second favorite part because it's the same Feeling the same like relaxation but with like their whole group of people where they're like, okay We're gonna be good. Everything's gonna be good And that's like it's also good for me too because I'm like going going going so I'm making myself like take a breath before we start

August Yocher (39:1.210)

Mm

Mmm.

Hahaha!

So those are my two, the right before we start and the right after we end are my favorite.

Well, that's probably good because there's so much stress that gets leading up to that rehearsal moment because everyone's... And that's the beginning of everything, so to speak, for the wedding and all that.

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

chose you for this topic I feel like we are getting a treasure trove of tips today like this is all good stuff

Yeah.

Thank you.

I know.

Thank you. Oh my gosh. I love it. I love learning about it. I'm like a total nerd. Like my degree that I, swear I went to school for forever for and finally finished is in like small business and entrepreneurship and like, so I nerd out about it. I'm like, okay, how can I do things better? And like talking to people who've been doing it and like, are just like such amazing parts of the industry. like, let's do it. Let's, could talk about it all day. This would be a three hour podcast.

August Yocher (40:2.298)

Mm -hmm.

Kevin Dennis (40:9.175)

I, yeah, I agree with you. It's the people that are like, oh, I don't go to conferences. I don't get anything out. It's like, you gotta go. You gotta continue to learn and continue to get educated because you're gonna, yeah, it really is. Yeah. I mean, you go. No, go ahead. No, go ahead.

What's a mindset thing too?

And I want to like oh go ahead sorry I Just I want to know like I don't know your guys's job, and I mean I like I don't do your job I don't do catering's job. I don't do photography I work with all those people and I try to communicate with those people and like have a good team atmosphere and like we're all on the same like goal right we're all trying to get to the same finish line and But I need you to tell me how I can do my job better or what I could do to work for you better and like

Mm -hmm.

Mm -hmm.

Mm

same thing, you know, like if there's, like I said, I didn't do it the same way five years ago that I do now. It's because I've learned more and because I've asked people like when they say like, Oh, everything was so great. Like you're great to work with. And I'm like, great. Is there any like any feedback? Like, it's not personal. Just tell me like, if you're like, I would really love 15 more minutes or like, hey, you're kind of pushy after cocktail hour, like I would love to know, because it makes it better for everyone. And like, like you said, August, it's like a mindset. It's like, it's not a personal attack of

Kevin Dennis (41:9.954)

No, yeah.

Mm

Nahahaha

Mm

how I do it or how I should do it. It's like, it's a lifetime of learning that we're gonna have. Yeah, exactly.

We're always learning, yeah.

No, and I value like other vendors and our couples feedback because that's like you said, we're only as good as our last wedding is kind of the mentality I take here. And so if we were horrible at our last wedding, then we're a horrible company right now until we get to the next wedding and fix it. you know, like I love the feedback because like you say, that's how you grow and learn and like things are changing constantly. And, you know, like we stay the same age, but our couples, you know,

Mm -hmm. Yeah.

Mmm.

Mm

We get older, our couples stay the same age. So how do we continue to relate to them and connect to them through the process? It's important. anyway. All right. So how does couples get a hold of you, Brady?

Bradie Flores (42:0.461)

Mm -hmm.

August Yocher (42:3.640)

Yeah, that's a big one too.

Bradie Flores (42:6.230)

Yeah, absolutely.

Yes, well I'm on Instagram at Flores Events, F -L -O -R -E -S -E -V -E -N -T -S and Flores is my last name. First name is Brady, like Tom Brady, but with an I -E. It's a lot of spelling. I'm like, I'm the spelling bee, we'll commence now. And you can find me on Instagram, you can find me on my website, which is florezevents .online, not dot com.

Hmm. Ooh, I like that. I never heard of that online.

I've got all my yeah. Yeah, she's in the new age. Okay, she's going forward. Um, calm was not available. So, you know That's right and I love it so but yeah, you can find out all about like the services that we offer and You know if you want to take a look at some things our past couples have said we're at I believe just at 55 star reviews right now from different couples, which I'm like really excited about because I love that feedback so like

Yes.

There you go, take what you can get.

Kevin Dennis (43:0.056)

Wow.

August Yocher (43:1.764)

That's great.

Bradie Flores (43:3.874)

you know, take a look, vet us, ask questions, and we're growing our team. So it's myself. I know I mentioned Avery. She's like, Avery! But we're growing and bringing in more coordinators and having the same like, the same spirit and the same energy to just do our best. And yeah, I'm really excited.

Avery!

And that's good to hear.

My favorite thing on your website is everybody needs a Brady and I think it's so cute and I think about it all the time. I think it's really cute.

Thank you.

Hahaha!

Thank you. Well, I'm like, okay, well, like everybody, I need an Avery. Everybody needs an Avery. And I'm like, everyone's gonna need everyone. It's just like, you need a person. But thank you. I had a couple people tell me that at like different events. And I was like, okay, I think this is a thing. I think, yeah, it is. There's like, like I said, the mom slash big sister slash everything in me is like, thank you, thank you. Like, what's that? Is it Sally Fields? Or she's like, they like me, they really like me. that's, I swear.

Yeah.

It's perfect.

Yeah.

you

Yeah.

Aww yeah.

But yeah, I love it. Thank you. I appreciate that.

Kevin Dennis (44:2.105)

Well, Brady, thank you so much for being here today. And we will hope to have you back to talk about more things here on now that I'm engaged. How do I get married? So everyone take care. We'll see you next time.

Bradie Flores (44:8.706)

Thank you.

August Yocher (44:8.962)

Mm -hmm.