WITH NEVER MISS MOMENTS MID-ROLL AD READ

What would you do if your fiancé wanted you to change your last name to theirs after you get married, but you're not completely sold on it?

We had someone ask us this on socials recently, so I've brought back Gen from Easy Name Change to answer this question and three other name change questions that our followers most wanted to know the answers to.

Including if you can change parts of your given name or names after you get married and what to do if you want to have the same last name as your baby and you’ve left it a bit late – like on the way to the hospital late. Believe it or not, it’s pretty common, and Gen walks you through exactly what to do.

Gen was on the Unbridely podcast back in Ep19 with “3 Mistakes People Make When Changing Their Last Name After Getting Married” but that was back in 2023. So quite a few things have shifted since then.

She’s also noticed with a new generation now starting to get married that there’s added anxiety around the paperwork and process so she’s going to talk you through how to ease that as well, no matter where you live. Because Easy Name Change has a presence across the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia and all of the processes are a little bit different.

Plus if you're listening to this when it's released, for the month of September 2026 (like from the 1st of September all the way through to the 30th of September), there is a $20 Easy Name Change discount code waiting for you at the end of the episode to help you out too. Use the discount code: UNBRIDELY to receive $20 off any Easy Name Change service.

Resources Mentioned:

Easy Name Change: https://www.easynamechange.com/

Ep19: 3 Mistakes People Make When Changing Their Last Name After Getting Married

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Never Miss Moments Unbridely's recommended wedding guest photo and video-sharing tool. With your unique QR code, your family and friends can quickly, easily and securely share their snaps with you in your personalised online gallery.

Visit nevermissmoments.com/unbridely to receive your 10% discount on your gallery.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com

How many times do you expect to email one of your wedding vendors before you get a reply?

If you've got a coordinator, someone else is keeping count for you. But if you don't, you're the one deciding whether the non-response is normal or a red flag.

I asked four full-service wedding planners, who also oversee each wedding day onsite themselves, 3 questions:

1. When is too long to wait on an email response?
2. What actually happens if a vendor cancels the week of your wedding?
3. When is a late vendor on the day something to worry about?

Their answers might surprise you. And if you haven’t booked a full-service planner or a day-of/month-of coordinator, I'm also giving you the 5 steps you need to take to cover that gap yourself.

RESOURCES

Emily Clarke from The Modern Approach

The Modern Approach on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themodernapproach_/

Kelly Stephenson from Found Collective Events

Found Collective Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundcollectiveevents/

Nicole Bailey from Your Event Plannery

Your Event Plannery on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youreventplannery/

Laura Shepherd from Couture Events Worldwide

Couture Events Wordwide on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coutureeventsworldwide/

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by WedSites.com, Unbridely's recommended all-in-one wedding website builder, guest management platform & wedding planning tool.

Visit WedSites.com to get started on your FREE wedding website and use code UNBRIDELYPOD to get 10% off any of their paid plans.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com

Are you having the same argument with your partner, over and over?

This week I chat with Beaonca Ward, a certified relationship coach and marriage and family therapy expert (or MFT) who spends her days in the thick of it with couples who are wedding planning.

You are going to learn what a generational pattern is, and why it has this sneaky habit of showing up the second you start planning a wedding.

Beaonca walks us through a real example of how something as simple as being close or distant from your family can change how much pressure you put on your partner, often without either of you even realising where it’s coming from.

She also breaks down what healthy communication looks like in that first year of marriage, including the exact words to use when you need a break from a hard conversation without your partner feeling shut out.

Plus Beaonca shares a statistic about how many arguments married couples have that can never actually be resolved. It’s eye watering and sounds a bit rough at first, but once you understand the way forward, I promise you it is one of the most freeing things you can learn about communication with your partner.

RESOURCES

Beaonca Ward on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbeaonca/

Quiz: What Is Your Marriage Communication Style? https://www.beaoncaward.com/quiz

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Unbridely’s ebook How To Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Suck

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

This is for YOU if you want to write the unique and heartfelt wedding vows your fiancé deserves, but don't know where to start. 🤔

AND want to get it done in 20 minutes or less. 💪

Grab your instant pdf download of the Unbridely ebook 'How To Write Wedding Vows That Don't Suck' for just $27 now! 🧡

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com

Last year a New York bride paid an online witch two dollars for a spell to guarantee sunshine on her wedding day, and the story has gone viral. Since then, brides around the world have been booking Etsy and Tiktok witches ahead of their own weddings, some paying two dollars, some paying up to two hundred.

Is it worth it and do you believe that magic will help your chances of good weather on your wedding day?

You'll learn:

• Why weather anxiety in the lead up to a wedding is completely normal.
• The exact order of operations for bad weather contingencies.
• A story from Ep 57 guest and wedding planner, Hannah Rose, about a British wedding ritual involving a buried sausage.

Resources:

The Knot 2026 Wedding Trends: https://www.theknot.com/content/new-wedding-trends

Ep57: 4 Things At Your Wedding Your Fam and Friends Will Actually Care About with Hannah Rose Weddings

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Easy Name Change.

You simply choose which companies you need to notify, and they send you detailed process instructions for each of your companies, plus ready to send forms, letters, and emails, so you just attach your marriage certificate to them and you're done!

More info on how to change your name after you get married: https://unbridely.com/blog/name-change-after-marriage

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com

You know how it goes in wedding planning. Someone tells you emphatically, you have to do this, or whatever you do, do not do that. And some part of you thinks, noted but we’ll do what’s right for us.

This is one of those episodes.

Parts 1 and 2 of this series gave you the honest picture of love hires from the people who see them play out from first light to last song. And this episode, Part 3, is the practical part. 8 wedding vendor roles, what can go wrong when they are filled by someone without experience, who to consider booking instead at different price points, and if you are still going ahead with a love hire anyway, the specific steps to take before the day.

You’ll learn

• Why the timeline your MC has been given is a guide, not a command, and what they actually need to do before making a single announcement.
• The one DIY makeup product that can ruin your photos without anyone realising until it is too late.
• What a co-pilot ceremony is in Australia and why it’s the only legal path forward in Australia if your person is not an authorised celebrant, plus
• Why the DJ is one of the highest-risk love hire roles, and what to do if budget means a professional is not possible.

Resources Mentioned:

Wilson and Lewis Photography: www.wilsonandlewisphotography.com

Luke John Photography: www.lukejohnphotography.com

Married by Jay (Jay Bingle-Brown, celebrant, QLD): www.marriedbyjay.com.au

Mobile Make Overs Australia (Tallora Dee): www.makeoversaust.com.au

Tallora's DIY wedding makeup blog: www.makeoversaust.com.au/tips-for-brides/makeup-products-needed-for-diy-wedding-makeup

Amuse Event Lighting and Audio Visual (Sam Balfour): www.amuselav.com.au

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Never Miss Moments Unbridely's recommended wedding guest photo and video-sharing tool. With your unique QR code, your family and friends can quickly, easily and securely share their snaps with you in your personalised online gallery.

Visit nevermissmoments.com/unbridely to receive your 10% discount on your gallery.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com

Last week in Part 1 of this 3 part series, Tereza and Tony from Wilson and Lewis Photography broke down what love hires are, why couples are turning to them more than ever, and the ripple effect that runs through a wedding day when an important role is filled by someone learning on the job. This week, they go further.

Today in Part 2, you will hear stories from real wedding days, and what it looks and feels like when the opposite is true: when every vendor is exactly where they should be, doing exactly what they were hired to do.

Including:

• What happens when a gap opens up on a wedding day and someone has to decide whether to step in (or watch things unravel)
• Why a well-oiled vendor team feels completely different from a patchy one, and how that difference shows up in your photos and footage.
• The moment couples tend to notice something has gone wrong.

Part 3 lands next week with the practical: what to consider instead of a love hire, and if you are going ahead with one, the steps you can take beforehand to reduce the risk.

RESOURCES

Wilson and Lewis Photography on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandlewis/

https://www.wilsonandlewisphotography.com/

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by WedSites.com, Unbridely's recommended all-in-one wedding website builder, guest management platform & wedding planning tool.

Visit WedSites.com to get started on your FREE wedding website and use code UNBRIDELYPOD to get 10% off any of their paid plans.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com

In the wedding industry, there is an unspoken code: solve the problems quietly, smile and protect the couple's experience. But it has an unintended consequence, because it means engaged couples are making planning decisions without understanding what they are actually costing them.

Tereza and Tony from Wilson and Lewis Photography have witnessed hundreds of wedding days from first light to sparkler exit and they are talking about love hires: what they are, why more couples are turning to them than ever before, and what really happens when an important vendor role is handed to a friend or family member who has no idea how big the job actually is.

You will learn:

• Why the money you save on a love hire is rarely the full cost of the decision,
• What actually happens to the friend or family member who says yes, and
• The knock-on effect that runs through every other vendor’s experience and ability to do their job on the day.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series. Part 2 continues the conversation next week, and Part 3 brings the practical, what to book instead. Plus if you do choose to go ahead with a love hire anyway, the planning tweaks that can genuinely reduce your risks.

RESOURCES

Wilson and Lewis Photography on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandlewis/

https://www.wilsonandlewisphotography.com/

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Unbridely’s ebook How To Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Suck

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

This is for YOU if you want to write the unique and heartfelt wedding vows your fiancé deserves, but don't know where to start. 🤔

AND want to get it done in 20 minutes or less. 💪

Grab your instant pdf download of the Unbridely ebook 'How To Write Wedding Vows That Don't Suck' for just $27 now! 🧡

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com

You’ve decided the big white wedding is not for you and an elopement or micro wedding is what fits you. So you start looking at potential venues, and you hit a wall fast; half of them have a 50 guest minimum, and the other half never actually tell you what is included, or that you have to share the space, until you are already deep into the contract.

Today we share the 9 things you need to check before booking your elopement venue, wherever in the world you are planning it.

Including the one clause buried in almost every Airbnb or short-term rental listing that could shut your ceremony down entirely, and it has nothing to do with how much you are paying.

Plus one new Adelaide CBD elopement venue that literally ticks all the boxes: Coco NB.

Resources:

COCO NB: https://camille-coconb.my.canva.site/

Our Wild Love Elopements: https://ourwildloveelopements.com/

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Easy Name Change.

You simply choose which companies you need to notify, and they send you detailed process instructions for each of your companies, plus ready to send forms, letters, and emails, so you just attach your marriage certificate to them and you're done!

More info on how to change your name after you get married: https://unbridely.com/blog/name-change-after-marriage

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
hello@unbridely.com