April 23, 2025 • 25 mins
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This episode could have been best described as "a few drinks in".
Bride Amanda joins Amanda as she shares her wedding journey, from meeting her husband on Tinder to planning their family-centered celebration while juggling nursing school and a newborn daughter.
• Meeting online after a friend convinced her to try Tinder in Rehoboth Beach
• Knowing immediately he was "the one" - telling her sister she would marry him after their first date
• Getting engaged in a hotel when her now-husband waited on one knee for her to come out of the bathroom
• Planning a wedding while in nursing school with a newborn baby
• Creating DIY centerpieces and decorations that family members still display in their homes
• Incorporating navy and gold colors to balance masculine and feminine elements
• Making family the central focus of their wedding celebration
• Finding meaningful ways to honor absent loved ones
• Managing the challenges of narrowing down a 150-person guest list
• Getting invaluable support from her twin sister and grandmother throughout the planning process
Join us for part two of this interview coming soon, where we'll dive deeper into the details of Amanda's special day. If you haven't already, listen to "The Wedding Where I Cried" episode for more context about this memorable celebration.
Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it! Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com. Any links referenced are on linktree.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Amanda (00:04):
Welcome to the Wedding Wear with officiating by Amanda.
So today, on the wedding where,we have an extra special bridal
(00:34):
interview with one of my Idon't want to say former, I
don't want to say past, but likeone of my brides, yeah, so
we're gonna kick it on in.
We are doing a disclaimer onthis episode and I don't mind
making an explicit morningcontent label for this.
Absolutely, let your life go,absolutely.
Thank you so much for joining.
Why don't you start off withlike who you are and how you're
(00:55):
feeling and who you are.
Amanda Bride (00:56):
Yes, so my name is Amanda Amanda Vega.
I am mom wife.
Happily married going on eightyears now.
new career.
Well, I should not new new job,right, still nursing, still
nursing.
So, yep, still nursing, butwe're doing the pediatric
(01:18):
nursing now.
Just, you know, day-to-day momand wife, yeah, and all the
things I love it.
Amanda (01:26):
Well, we're just gonna dive on in here and I mean, I
know the answers to some ofthese, but obviously others
don't, and that's that's thepoint of this, seeing just how
others take, take it or leave itinformation.
And maybe there's someone elselike who you were years ago, yes
, so so tell me a little bitabout your spouse.
(01:46):
How'd you guys meet andanything a little meet cute in
the engagement.
Amanda Bride (01:51):
So it's nothing too extraordinary.
But we did meet online.
I was geez months deep in anursing school and I was with a
friend of mine and RehobothBeach and she was on Tinder
scrolling left and right and Ithought it looked fun and she
convinced me, got a coupledrinks in and I swiped right and
(02:16):
he must have swiped right aswell and couldn't really get a
really good feel for him overtext and so we decided to meet
in person and it was.
I mean, the rest was history.
I knew right away he's areserved, reserved.
Amanda (02:30):
Yes, he is, and again we'll probably throughout the
show, call him Tito so yay Tito,yay Tito yes.
I remember in the script havingto like I was so new at it I
put like Tito in parenthesesbecause it's more of a nickname
and I'm like I don't do that now.
If you're Andrew and you wantto be Andy, I'm not writing
Andrew anywhere in the script.
(02:52):
Your wedding, oh, everything isRoberto.
Amanda Bride (02:56):
Tito, roberto Tito .
Amanda (02:58):
Yes, yes, so from meeting online, you finally met
him in real, actual life?
Yes, so from meeting online.
Amanda Bride (03:03):
You finally met him in real, actual life?
Yes, and I knew right awaymight have freaked him out a
little bit that first night,because I remember turning to my
sister and saying I'm going tomarry him.
I feel like this might be thetheme, but I was a couple drinks
in.
Amanda (03:19):
Maybe that's what we call this episode, the episode
where I was a couple drinks in.
Amanda Bride (03:24):
A couple drinks in , a couple drinks in, and I may
or may not have freaked him outa little bit, but I mean
obviously not enough for him torun the other way.
And we I mean the rest was washistory.
Honestly we went, you know, westarted off really quick, we
went full speed ahead, you know,and we were probably we were a
(03:45):
couple months pregnant when heproposed to me.
Amanda (03:48):
Was that?
I think it was.
If I'm remembering my correctstory, you were at a hotel.
Amanda Bride (03:52):
Yes.
Amanda (03:53):
And little couples were treating yeah, and he like got
down on one knee.
Amanda Bride (03:57):
Got down on one knee and he waited.
And he waited For you to comeout of the bathroom because
you've been sick.
Well, I don't, yes, I think Iwas sick and then I was trying
to fix up my hair we had dinnerthat night, and so I'm and then
I just waited on that.
And he was just waiting andwaiting and I turned the corner
(04:22):
and I saw him on one knee and Iscreamed, you know, and it was
like it just I, I was expectingit, but I wasn't, you know, I
knew it was coming because thatwas sort of the next step, but I
was not expecting it at thatvery moment, and so I screamed,
and then I ran back into thebathroom and came back out and I
mean, it all just went fromthere, you know.
Amanda (04:39):
And I love that you guys got married after your daughter
was born, versus trying to kindof get like the rushed shotgun
kind of thing, because thenthere's also that, that level of
like okay, we're gettingmarried because we love each
other, yes, not just becauselike, right, baby, extra special
bonus, absolutely, but thisflower girl.
Amanda Bride (04:56):
Oh my gosh, I'm biased, but she made a cute
little flower.
It does rank up there.
Amanda (05:01):
In all the ones I've seen she ranks up there with the
flower girl who thought thatshe had to re-pick up the petals
on the way down, the way backout.
Oh, that's cute.
Amanda Bride (05:08):
That was adorable.
Yeah, that's adorable.
Amanda (05:10):
But yeah, rosie, she rings up there yeah her little
two-month-old self.
Amanda Bride (05:14):
you know that's adorable.
Amanda (05:16):
Thank you.
So you got engaged Yep,everything you had going on with
you know, nursing school, thisnew man in your life.
You've got your own familygoing.
You're growing a family, yep,and your wedding planning, yeah.
So, starting off, what advicewould you give for any brides on
their wedding planning process?
Amanda Bride (05:36):
I number one.
Maybe don't try to plan awedding on top of, but I mean,
you know, If you have thoseoptions.
Amanda (05:48):
You have the option and you realize you're not in
nursing school, you're notcurrently pregnant, you're not
living with in-laws.
Amanda Bride (05:59):
Right, right, maybe you maybe just take one
bit at a time, right, but it wassort of like we were at that
point, we were all in and it waslike, why not add something?
I mean, I didn't account forthe hormones that were would
have been.
You know what I mean.
But honestly, I think thenumber one piece of advice that
I would give for someoneplanning a wedding would be and
maybe you know, maybe this isjust sort of the crafty girl in
(06:21):
me but don't be afraid to DIY asmuch as you can.
I remember like setting uplittle, like dinners with my
family and we would make littlesamples.
Just try to like cut cornerswhere we can, but also just have
fun with it, get creative, makeyou know, we would make a
sample of one thing and then wewould sort of play around with
it and just sort of no pressure,just have fun with it, just
(06:45):
have fun as much as you can.
It's stressful, but it was fun.
We sort of just made littlegatherings out of it and played
around and we just had fun withit and also saved money, I mean
because that was top priority.
Amanda (07:00):
And you definitely have a very like, wonderfully
involved family, involved familyLike I have, you know, your
sister, your mom.
And one of the best pieces ofadvice I was given before my
wedding because I can be verymuch a DIYer, yes Was like you
have to set like a hard date ofhey, if it's not DIYed by this
date, yes, here's where youactually have to make the go
(07:21):
no-go decision.
Like are we doing this or are webuying it, or are we not One of
those three options and theother advice I was given was
like DIYing is good when it'ssomething already in your
wheelhouse, but don't pick up anew craft for this specific Yep.
I was very much like, oh, Icould put wax seals on the
envelopes.
(07:41):
And my fiance now husband waslike so you already have the wax
, right?
I'm like, no, I'd have to buythe wax and you already have the
stamper.
I go no, I don't buy it.
We are not investing in newcraft just for the purpose of
DIY, because you'll be spendingfar more to get that up and
(08:01):
running.
That is so true.
Amanda Bride (08:03):
Then you will too far more to get that up and
running.
That is so true, then you willtoo.
Yes.
So yeah, that makes total sense.
And I will say, like the top,the biggest, I think, project
that we did for our wedding waslike the centerpieces and the
table scapes.
And I will say, like it'sreally fun going to people's
houses in our family becausethey still have our little
(08:23):
bouquets, our littlecenterpieces set up around their
house, you know, and so that'sfun and it's and it's it's
personal.
You know, it's like we, youknow we we did that.
You know what I mean.
Amanda (08:32):
And so, seeing that, and it makes you smile at the other
person.
We did a, we did a Plinko atthe reception, something, an
activity going on.
Amanda Bride (08:47):
And in our family.
There's a forever running gagabout hedgehogs so like
hedgehogs, are very symbolic formy dad like, yeah, we, anything
hedgehog, I can find him, yes,for christmas.
Amanda (08:54):
So I found these little plush hedgehogs and they were
one of the prizes at the plinko.
Oh, I love that.
When we go to people's housesnow, like I see, I see the
stuffed hedgehog and I'm easteregg and I just laugh and I go
the hedgehog's here, yes, ah,the hedgehog made it all the way
from the wedding to here.
Yeah, I know it's so fun so Ithink you you had a little bit
(09:18):
on some of the stress inplanning, that you had quite a
bit, but how?
How did you handle it If therewas any Right?
Amanda Bride (09:26):
No, not well with a two to three month old, you
know, right, but I think,honestly, just asking for help,
just knowing that the resourcesare there, sometimes you have to
just ask for it and be clear on.
You know what you're lookingfor and people are willing to do
(09:46):
it.
You know, sometimes you justneed to ask and that's okay.
That's something that I've sortof had to develop over time.
But, yeah, just ask for help.
Amanda (09:58):
And there's a difference between like the open-ended
advice yes or being specificlike hey, I want your input on
this, I need help with thisexact item Right and then hoping
that they stay within theparameters Right.
It's the door you open when youask for help.
Yes, that is true.
Amanda Bride (10:27):
Yeah Right, it's the door you open when you ask
for help.
You know, or laid out, you knowwhat I mean, and it was just
like you're like draped.
Yeah right, exactly, and I wasjust like I don't care.
You know what I mean at thatpoint, it was just like,
whatever you feel, you know whatI mean.
So it was yeah, you're right,like are there napkins check
(10:47):
right.
Amanda (10:47):
Will people use them?
Amanda Bride (10:49):
yes, done and done , whatever you think, grandma
exactly, exactly, but but yes,asking for help was was sort of
the number one, I think, thingthat got me through the strip.
Amanda (11:02):
Yes, yep, what was your process for deciding on like a
specific theme or like the vibefor your wedding?
Like, did you have a vision inmind of this is what we kind of
wanted?
And then how did?
How did you and Tito kind ofblend?
Yeah, Desires.
Amanda Bride (11:17):
Well, I mean, tito is sort of, you know he's very
low key, he's whatever you want.
You know what I mean.
So I didn't think I was goingto get much pushback from him,
he's sure honey, Not yes.
Amanda (11:30):
Yes, ma'am, Sure honey.
Amanda Bride (11:31):
Exactly, exactly.
And so I kind of threw.
I knew I always wanted sort oflike that elegant vibe, nothing
too uptight or anything likethat, but something elegant,
sort of deep and moody and mydark blues.
Yeah, I love that and and Ilove gold.
(11:52):
I'm just I, I'm a gold girly,and so was it regular gold or
rose gold?
it was regular gold okay yep,gold and navy and I don't.
I just sort of once it was upin my head.
I just sort of went with it andit just kind of snowballed from
there.
But I mean, you know, he was,he was on board.
(12:13):
I I think I could have thrownout any theme and he would have
gone with it, but it sort of Ithought it was like a nice sort
of combination between, like,the masculine and the feminine.
It was a little bit of both,and so I just I don't know, I
just thought it like sort ofrepresented us, you know, and
our personalities yeah.
Amanda (12:30):
And definitely you know twists within it because you
could see, like Navy being verymasculine, but also the richness
of the board that you had alsoplayed very strong, and so I
think so too, knowing that youknow both of you guys, even
though he's very much like asure honey.
Yes, he's a strong man.
Yes, he is so being able towalk into that space with you
(12:53):
being a very driving force andhim being a strong man.
Yes, you got that.
Yes, without either having tofight with one another, just
from your coloring.
Amanda Bride (13:01):
Right, right, no, that's so you know, that's so
true, it's not.
You know, when you put it likethat, it kind of all makes sense
now.
But yeah, I think it did cometogether pretty well.
Amanda (13:14):
Did you have any like absolute must-haves on your list
and then, when you finallybrought them together, was it
worth it that you had to have it?
Amanda Bride (13:23):
Absolutely the biggest thing was combining our
families and their cultures.
We come from two differentbackgrounds.
Making our wedding a safe placefor everybody.
Just because we do come fromdifferent backgrounds and we
have people of all walks of life, you know what I mean.
And so just like making thatsafe place, combining our
(13:45):
families together.
It's not a hard thing to dobecause our families have come
together so well from the get-go, but just like representing
each other's families, a bigthing was including the ones
that our loved ones that havepassed on.
That was huge for both of us.
Amanda (14:03):
You made it very from my first meeting with you guys.
You were very clear of like hey, we are a family, this is our
infant daughter.
We are going to be a family,family, familia, let's go the
whole piece.
And there wasn't a singleperson I met in the rehearsal,
in the wedding day, in the prep.
That wasn't.
You know, I can maybe count onhand four or five.
(14:25):
They're like oh, I'm a friendof, everyone else was, I'm a
cousin, uncle, relative, I amfamily, yes, and even if they're
not blood family, they'refamily.
Amanda Bride (14:34):
You know what I mean?
I was family by the time I left.
100%, 100% and that's what wewanted.
We just wanted everybody tocome together and celebrate each
other and our cultures and ourbackgrounds and, like I said,
just make it a safe place foreverybody.
Amanda (14:52):
That was our top priority and it was definitely a
place of love.
Yes, and knowing the lossesthat you guys have had in your
family, yes, it I think, andtell me if I'm wrong.
Yeah, there's a space of oflike, understanding, acceptance
and healing.
Yeah, I know, there's momentsyou'll never you'll never have
and you came to terms with that.
(15:12):
Yeah, throughout your time Iwon't have my dad walking me
down the aisle yeah, but beingable to have some really good
incorporation yeah yourbrother-in-law.
I loved writing that littlejoke for him.
Oh my gosh, yeah, his daughter'sgood men yeah, you know there
is, as evidenced by yeah, therewas some great tie-ins of being
(15:33):
able to say we're at this spaceand yeah, right, and we could be
going, oh, and we've got ourlittle child.
Amanda Bride (15:39):
It's like hello.
Oh, it's a baby.
Here's our beautiful child.
Amanda (15:43):
You know there's ways you could say gosh, you know
we're so sad, we have familymembers missing, or you could go
we are who we are because ofwho they were, absolutely, and
we celebrate, we celebrate thatwe Absolutely, and we celebrate,
we celebrate, that we love, wemiss, we celebrate yes, yep, and
that was huge for us.
Amanda Bride (15:58):
That was, that was a top priority for us.
Amanda (16:01):
Yep, what was the hardest decision you had to make
in your wedding planningprocess?
And I I laughed because I'mkind of looking through a bunch
of examples and I'm like, ohyeah, all of these could be
pretty problematic, but just one.
The hardest decision you hadthe guest list, narrowing down
the guest list.
Amanda Bride (16:20):
So I'm assuming, family means huge, big family
how do you send it out of state,out of country?
But how many did you guys endup with?
I think we landed on about 150.
It could have kept going.
Amanda (16:34):
I mean because once you invite this cousin, then you
have to invite the kids exactlyextended girlfriend exactly the
aunt that you oh my goshabsolutely forgot to put on the
list exactly seen in so longexactly, and so just narrowing
down that guest list wasinsanely hard.
Amanda Bride (16:50):
I mean it took days, weeks you know what I mean
just of sitting down andhashing through and just like
making sure everybody'saccounted for and then finding a
venue to accommodate all ofthat for the price that we
wanted.
You know what I mean.
So just just that process wasso much harder than we could
have ever anticipated.
Amanda (17:11):
I know in part a little bit.
Yeah, you found me, I think.
Yeah, but why don't you tellwith all the others, yeah, how
you found me and what made youkind of say, like, sounds like a
game plan.
Yeah, let's go with this.
Amanda Bride (17:23):
No, so I think it was the classic, you know, on
Facebook looking for suggestions, we knew a friend of a person,
of a friend exactly, and afriend that I went to you know
grew up with had suggested youand it was just like something.
Just maybe it was the names, Idon't know Amanda, amanda, just
something just caught myattention and I mean I trusted
(17:47):
this.
You know this person that Igrew up with and I can't
remember.
Honestly, I can't remember whosent a message first.
I don't remember if you reachedout to me first or if you had
seen the comment that you weretagged.
Amanda (17:59):
It's been eight years I know, I don't know, and again,
like I'm going through my head,I'm like I don't even remember
if we had like meet in advance.
I know it was before zoom, so Ididn't do a zoom meeting, no
like we would have met in personwe met at dunkin donuts on
fifth street.
Okay, yeah, and I'm like, wereyou still pregnant or was there
a baby?
Because that's my other thingtoo is like, right now I book
couples like really far inadvance.
(18:20):
Yes, but then back then I wasonly booking you know, I was
Right the placement of the chantI was coming in at a month or
two in advance, right, and Ithink there was a brand new baby
.
Amanda Bride (18:30):
There was a brand new baby.
I think there was a brand newbaby at Dunkin' Donuts with us.
Amanda (18:33):
On Pistri Highway.
Amanda Bride (18:34):
Yes for filling in the pieces on my memory.
There I had a jog back, but Ido.
I mean, I always remember theFacebook, you know, and the
recommendation and yeah, again,I don't remember who initiated.
You know who initiated what,but it just sort of all came
together.
I mean, it was a no brainer.
(18:55):
As soon as you reached or Ireached out, you know, as soon
as we got talking, it wasno-brainer.
It was just like this isexactly what we want.
Amanda (19:03):
Yeah, yeah, and I love it.
I've had a lot of couples sincewho, again, we go into
conversations and they don'thave a date, they don't have a
venue yet, like they're sofocused on we have to get things
planned Right, we need to bookour vendors before they book out
, and they haven't evenconsidered some of the main
(19:24):
basic detail.
And it was great for me meetingwith you guys because you had
it figured out.
You're like we are here thistime.
We know that we have a bridalparty, we know that we want you
at a rehearsal because we aregoing to have lots of small
children.
They're going to need some.
Yeah, we've never been marriedbefore.
Yeah, and you had some veryclear distinctions and the only
(19:46):
thing again I was able to kindof throw out was you're like,
yeah, you know we've got ourfamily.
Yeah, and how do we kind ofbring this all together?
Yes, and I was very new tounity ceremonies, but I said
(20:22):
we've.
Yeah, you made it incrediblyseamless for us and I love that
you guys made it yourselves.
Yeah, you know we did.
Yeah, there's a lot of couplesthat when they go, with unity
they.
They lean heavy into etsy.
No hardness on that.
I love etsy, yeah, but it wasall the more better when I got
to see that box, yeah, at thereception yes, and I knew what
was locked in it.
I knew it was the letter and,yes, all this great yes and it
had probably from ac morebecause it was in existence back
(20:44):
in the day, those stick-onblack letters spelled out.
Amanda Bride (20:49):
And that, yep, that's still one of our prized
possessions.
Amanda (20:55):
And who would you say helped you the most in your
planning process?
How did that support reallymake a difference?
Amanda Bride (21:02):
for you.
Well, fun fact, you know thatI'm a twin sister and so it's
sort of like we just do lifetogether and so we've been
through every chapter of lifetogether.
And she was between her and mygrandma.
I mean, they were the biggest,most hands-on, especially being
(21:23):
that I had my hands full at thatpoint with the brand new baby.
They just kind of took over andthey were incredibly helpful,
just helped me, iron out thedetails.
Amanda (21:36):
I think I walked in for your rehearsal.
Yeah, Again, I met you justonce before at the Duncan Yep
and I walked right up to yourtwin sister and I started
talking to her and she had thislook on her face like aha, sure,
Like this is not what we talkedabout, and it took me a second
to realize because I didn't talkto you Because you are not the
right twin and she probably just, you know, she probably just
(21:59):
went with it.
Amanda Bride (22:01):
Like I said, we kind of we're just fully
involved in each other's livesand so she, she probably knew
all the answers and everythingBetween her and my grandma.
Like I said, they were, theywere the biggest help.
And, honestly, when you cameinto play, stop, and no,
honestly, I mean you just likemade everything so seamless and
you laid everything out and itwas just like I had no idea that
(22:23):
you were going to put so muchinto.
You know what I mean.
And I just I just thoughtofficiants came up and said
their piece and then that was it.
But to my surprise, you know,you were very involved in the
process and it just like justtaking that weight off was huge
for us and just knowing what toexpect, you know, and and it was
(22:46):
just like you, you reallyhelped iron out those little
fine details and I mean that waslike that was incredibly
helpful on before I really evenreally knew a lot of what I was
doing, where now I really domention to couples like hey,
right, if you book with me, I'mhere to tell you, like outside
(23:08):
of defining right, who stands inwhat order and your start time.
Amanda (23:12):
Take the ceremony, worry , yeah, off your plate.
Yeah, I will have the script.
I will have a rehearsal gameplan figured out.
Yeah, I will be reminding youwhen to get your license.
I will ask you the questionsExactly, just don't even worry.
So it's great to me to hearlike I was doing that at like
first 10 when I was in?
Amanda Bride (23:30):
Yes, I was just.
I didn't know what to expect.
I mean just for you to get upand read, you know, through the
ceremony and help us through.
That would have been more thanenough, you know.
But then you went.
Amanda (23:43):
You got more than you bargained for In the best way.
We'll separate in a few otherepisodes but, yeah, in the best
way.
Yes, the biggest wedding got alot.
Yes, yes, this is the end ofpart one of my interview with
Amanda.
Stay tuned.
We've got part two coming outreally soon, which will cover
(24:05):
all of the ins and outs ofAmanda's wedding.
If you haven't already listenedto the wedding where I cried,
please give that a listen.
That will give you a lot ofcontext as we go into the second
part of this interview, and I'mvery pleased to say that the
next couple episodes coming outwill also be related to this
wedding.
Thank, I'm very pleased to saythat the next couple episodes
coming out will also be relatedto this wedding.
Thank you so much for listening.
(24:28):
Thank you for listening to theWedding Where with Officiating
by Amanda.
I hope you enjoyed today'sepisode and found some
inspiration or insight for yourown special day.
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(24:48):
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If you have a question you'dlike me to answer on the podcast
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(25:11):
services for your own big day,you can reach me at
officiatingbyamanda@ gmail.
com.
Thank you so much for tuning inand until next time.
This has been Amanda.
Welcome to the Wedding Wear with officiating by Amanda.
So today, on the wedding where,we have an extra special bridal
(00:34):
interview with one of my Idon't want to say former, I
don't want to say past, but likeone of my brides, yeah, so
we're gonna kick it on in.
We are doing a disclaimer onthis episode and I don't mind
making an explicit morningcontent label for this.
Absolutely, let your life go,absolutely.
Thank you so much for joining.
Why don't you start off withlike who you are and how you're
(00:55):
feeling and who you are.
Amanda Bride (00:56):
Yes, so my name is Amanda Amanda Vega.
I am mom wife.
Happily married going on eightyears now.
new career.
Well, I should not new new job,right, still nursing, still
nursing.
So, yep, still nursing, butwe're doing the pediatric
(01:18):
nursing now.
Just, you know, day-to-day momand wife, yeah, and all the
things I love it.
Amanda (01:26):
Well, we're just gonna dive on in here and I mean, I
know the answers to some ofthese, but obviously others
don't, and that's that's thepoint of this, seeing just how
others take, take it or leave itinformation.
And maybe there's someone elselike who you were years ago, yes
, so so tell me a little bitabout your spouse.
(01:46):
How'd you guys meet andanything a little meet cute in
the engagement.
Amanda Bride (01:51):
So it's nothing too extraordinary.
But we did meet online.
I was geez months deep in anursing school and I was with a
friend of mine and RehobothBeach and she was on Tinder
scrolling left and right and Ithought it looked fun and she
convinced me, got a coupledrinks in and I swiped right and
(02:16):
he must have swiped right aswell and couldn't really get a
really good feel for him overtext and so we decided to meet
in person and it was.
I mean, the rest was history.
I knew right away he's areserved, reserved.
Amanda (02:30):
Yes, he is, and again we'll probably throughout the
show, call him Tito so yay Tito,yay Tito yes.
I remember in the script havingto like I was so new at it I
put like Tito in parenthesesbecause it's more of a nickname
and I'm like I don't do that now.
If you're Andrew and you wantto be Andy, I'm not writing
Andrew anywhere in the script.
(02:52):
Your wedding, oh, everything isRoberto.
Amanda Bride (02:56):
Tito, roberto Tito .
Amanda (02:58):
Yes, yes, so from meeting online, you finally met
him in real, actual life?
Yes, so from meeting online.
Amanda Bride (03:03):
You finally met him in real, actual life?
Yes, and I knew right awaymight have freaked him out a
little bit that first night,because I remember turning to my
sister and saying I'm going tomarry him.
I feel like this might be thetheme, but I was a couple drinks
in.
Amanda (03:19):
Maybe that's what we call this episode, the episode
where I was a couple drinks in.
Amanda Bride (03:24):
A couple drinks in , a couple drinks in, and I may
or may not have freaked him outa little bit, but I mean
obviously not enough for him torun the other way.
And we I mean the rest was washistory.
Honestly we went, you know, westarted off really quick, we
went full speed ahead, you know,and we were probably we were a
(03:45):
couple months pregnant when heproposed to me.
Amanda (03:48):
Was that?
I think it was.
If I'm remembering my correctstory, you were at a hotel.
Amanda Bride (03:52):
Yes.
Amanda (03:53):
And little couples were treating yeah, and he like got
down on one knee.
Amanda Bride (03:57):
Got down on one knee and he waited.
And he waited For you to comeout of the bathroom because
you've been sick.
Well, I don't, yes, I think Iwas sick and then I was trying
to fix up my hair we had dinnerthat night, and so I'm and then
I just waited on that.
And he was just waiting andwaiting and I turned the corner
(04:22):
and I saw him on one knee and Iscreamed, you know, and it was
like it just I, I was expectingit, but I wasn't, you know, I
knew it was coming because thatwas sort of the next step, but I
was not expecting it at thatvery moment, and so I screamed,
and then I ran back into thebathroom and came back out and I
mean, it all just went fromthere, you know.
Amanda (04:39):
And I love that you guys got married after your daughter
was born, versus trying to kindof get like the rushed shotgun
kind of thing, because thenthere's also that, that level of
like okay, we're gettingmarried because we love each
other, yes, not just becauselike, right, baby, extra special
bonus, absolutely, but thisflower girl.
Amanda Bride (04:56):
Oh my gosh, I'm biased, but she made a cute
little flower.
It does rank up there.
Amanda (05:01):
In all the ones I've seen she ranks up there with the
flower girl who thought thatshe had to re-pick up the petals
on the way down, the way backout.
Oh, that's cute.
Amanda Bride (05:08):
That was adorable.
Yeah, that's adorable.
Amanda (05:10):
But yeah, rosie, she rings up there yeah her little
two-month-old self.
Amanda Bride (05:14):
you know that's adorable.
Amanda (05:16):
Thank you.
So you got engaged Yep,everything you had going on with
you know, nursing school, thisnew man in your life.
You've got your own familygoing.
You're growing a family, yep,and your wedding planning, yeah.
So, starting off, what advicewould you give for any brides on
their wedding planning process?
Amanda Bride (05:36):
I number one.
Maybe don't try to plan awedding on top of, but I mean,
you know, If you have thoseoptions.
Amanda (05:48):
You have the option and you realize you're not in
nursing school, you're notcurrently pregnant, you're not
living with in-laws.
Amanda Bride (05:59):
Right, right, maybe you maybe just take one
bit at a time, right, but it wassort of like we were at that
point, we were all in and it waslike, why not add something?
I mean, I didn't account forthe hormones that were would
have been.
You know what I mean.
But honestly, I think thenumber one piece of advice that
I would give for someoneplanning a wedding would be and
maybe you know, maybe this isjust sort of the crafty girl in
(06:21):
me but don't be afraid to DIY asmuch as you can.
I remember like setting uplittle, like dinners with my
family and we would make littlesamples.
Just try to like cut cornerswhere we can, but also just have
fun with it, get creative, makeyou know, we would make a
sample of one thing and then wewould sort of play around with
it and just sort of no pressure,just have fun with it, just
(06:45):
have fun as much as you can.
It's stressful, but it was fun.
We sort of just made littlegatherings out of it and played
around and we just had fun withit and also saved money, I mean
because that was top priority.
Amanda (07:00):
And you definitely have a very like, wonderfully
involved family, involved familyLike I have, you know, your
sister, your mom.
And one of the best pieces ofadvice I was given before my
wedding because I can be verymuch a DIYer, yes Was like you
have to set like a hard date ofhey, if it's not DIYed by this
date, yes, here's where youactually have to make the go
(07:21):
no-go decision.
Like are we doing this or are webuying it, or are we not One of
those three options and theother advice I was given was
like DIYing is good when it'ssomething already in your
wheelhouse, but don't pick up anew craft for this specific Yep.
I was very much like, oh, Icould put wax seals on the
envelopes.
(07:41):
And my fiance now husband waslike so you already have the wax
, right?
I'm like, no, I'd have to buythe wax and you already have the
stamper.
I go no, I don't buy it.
We are not investing in newcraft just for the purpose of
DIY, because you'll be spendingfar more to get that up and
(08:01):
running.
That is so true.
Amanda Bride (08:03):
Then you will too far more to get that up and
running.
That is so true, then you willtoo.
Yes.
So yeah, that makes total sense.
And I will say, like the top,the biggest, I think, project
that we did for our wedding waslike the centerpieces and the
table scapes.
And I will say, like it'sreally fun going to people's
houses in our family becausethey still have our little
(08:23):
bouquets, our littlecenterpieces set up around their
house, you know, and so that'sfun and it's and it's it's
personal.
You know, it's like we, youknow we we did that.
You know what I mean.
Amanda (08:32):
And so, seeing that, and it makes you smile at the other
person.
We did a, we did a Plinko atthe reception, something, an
activity going on.
Amanda Bride (08:47):
And in our family.
There's a forever running gagabout hedgehogs so like
hedgehogs, are very symbolic formy dad like, yeah, we, anything
hedgehog, I can find him, yes,for christmas.
Amanda (08:54):
So I found these little plush hedgehogs and they were
one of the prizes at the plinko.
Oh, I love that.
When we go to people's housesnow, like I see, I see the
stuffed hedgehog and I'm easteregg and I just laugh and I go
the hedgehog's here, yes, ah,the hedgehog made it all the way
from the wedding to here.
Yeah, I know it's so fun so Ithink you you had a little bit
(09:18):
on some of the stress inplanning, that you had quite a
bit, but how?
How did you handle it If therewas any Right?
Amanda Bride (09:26):
No, not well with a two to three month old, you
know, right, but I think,honestly, just asking for help,
just knowing that the resourcesare there, sometimes you have to
just ask for it and be clear on.
You know what you're lookingfor and people are willing to do
(09:46):
it.
You know, sometimes you justneed to ask and that's okay.
That's something that I've sortof had to develop over time.
But, yeah, just ask for help.
Amanda (09:58):
And there's a difference between like the open-ended
advice yes or being specificlike hey, I want your input on
this, I need help with thisexact item Right and then hoping
that they stay within theparameters Right.
It's the door you open when youask for help.
Yes, that is true.
Amanda Bride (10:27):
Yeah Right, it's the door you open when you ask
for help.
You know, or laid out, you knowwhat I mean, and it was just
like you're like draped.
Yeah right, exactly, and I wasjust like I don't care.
You know what I mean at thatpoint, it was just like,
whatever you feel, you know whatI mean.
So it was yeah, you're right,like are there napkins check
(10:47):
right.
Amanda (10:47):
Will people use them?
Amanda Bride (10:49):
yes, done and done , whatever you think, grandma
exactly, exactly, but but yes,asking for help was was sort of
the number one, I think, thingthat got me through the strip.
Amanda (11:02):
Yes, yep, what was your process for deciding on like a
specific theme or like the vibefor your wedding?
Like, did you have a vision inmind of this is what we kind of
wanted?
And then how did?
How did you and Tito kind ofblend?
Yeah, Desires.
Amanda Bride (11:17):
Well, I mean, tito is sort of, you know he's very
low key, he's whatever you want.
You know what I mean.
So I didn't think I was goingto get much pushback from him,
he's sure honey, Not yes.
Amanda (11:30):
Yes, ma'am, Sure honey.
Amanda Bride (11:31):
Exactly, exactly.
And so I kind of threw.
I knew I always wanted sort oflike that elegant vibe, nothing
too uptight or anything likethat, but something elegant,
sort of deep and moody and mydark blues.
Yeah, I love that and and Ilove gold.
(11:52):
I'm just I, I'm a gold girly,and so was it regular gold or
rose gold?
it was regular gold okay yep,gold and navy and I don't.
I just sort of once it was upin my head.
I just sort of went with it andit just kind of snowballed from
there.
But I mean, you know, he was,he was on board.
(12:13):
I I think I could have thrownout any theme and he would have
gone with it, but it sort of Ithought it was like a nice sort
of combination between, like,the masculine and the feminine.
It was a little bit of both,and so I just I don't know, I
just thought it like sort ofrepresented us, you know, and
our personalities yeah.
Amanda (12:30):
And definitely you know twists within it because you
could see, like Navy being verymasculine, but also the richness
of the board that you had alsoplayed very strong, and so I
think so too, knowing that youknow both of you guys, even
though he's very much like asure honey.
Yes, he's a strong man.
Yes, he is so being able towalk into that space with you
(12:53):
being a very driving force andhim being a strong man.
Yes, you got that.
Yes, without either having tofight with one another, just
from your coloring.
Amanda Bride (13:01):
Right, right, no, that's so you know, that's so
true, it's not.
You know, when you put it likethat, it kind of all makes sense
now.
But yeah, I think it did cometogether pretty well.
Amanda (13:14):
Did you have any like absolute must-haves on your list
and then, when you finallybrought them together, was it
worth it that you had to have it?
Amanda Bride (13:23):
Absolutely the biggest thing was combining our
families and their cultures.
We come from two differentbackgrounds.
Making our wedding a safe placefor everybody.
Just because we do come fromdifferent backgrounds and we
have people of all walks of life, you know what I mean.
And so just like making thatsafe place, combining our
(13:45):
families together.
It's not a hard thing to dobecause our families have come
together so well from the get-go, but just like representing
each other's families, a bigthing was including the ones
that our loved ones that havepassed on.
That was huge for both of us.
Amanda (14:03):
You made it very from my first meeting with you guys.
You were very clear of like hey, we are a family, this is our
infant daughter.
We are going to be a family,family, familia, let's go the
whole piece.
And there wasn't a singleperson I met in the rehearsal,
in the wedding day, in the prep.
That wasn't.
You know, I can maybe count onhand four or five.
(14:25):
They're like oh, I'm a friendof, everyone else was, I'm a
cousin, uncle, relative, I amfamily, yes, and even if they're
not blood family, they'refamily.
Amanda Bride (14:34):
You know what I mean?
I was family by the time I left.
100%, 100% and that's what wewanted.
We just wanted everybody tocome together and celebrate each
other and our cultures and ourbackgrounds and, like I said,
just make it a safe place foreverybody.
Amanda (14:52):
That was our top priority and it was definitely a
place of love.
Yes, and knowing the lossesthat you guys have had in your
family, yes, it I think, andtell me if I'm wrong.
Yeah, there's a space of oflike, understanding, acceptance
and healing.
Yeah, I know, there's momentsyou'll never you'll never have
and you came to terms with that.
(15:12):
Yeah, throughout your time Iwon't have my dad walking me
down the aisle yeah, but beingable to have some really good
incorporation yeah yourbrother-in-law.
I loved writing that littlejoke for him.
Oh my gosh, yeah, his daughter'sgood men yeah, you know there
is, as evidenced by yeah, therewas some great tie-ins of being
(15:33):
able to say we're at this spaceand yeah, right, and we could be
going, oh, and we've got ourlittle child.
Amanda Bride (15:39):
It's like hello.
Oh, it's a baby.
Here's our beautiful child.
Amanda (15:43):
You know there's ways you could say gosh, you know
we're so sad, we have familymembers missing, or you could go
we are who we are because ofwho they were, absolutely, and
we celebrate, we celebrate thatwe Absolutely, and we celebrate,
we celebrate, that we love, wemiss, we celebrate yes, yep, and
that was huge for us.
Amanda Bride (15:58):
That was, that was a top priority for us.
Amanda (16:01):
Yep, what was the hardest decision you had to make
in your wedding planningprocess?
And I I laughed because I'mkind of looking through a bunch
of examples and I'm like, ohyeah, all of these could be
pretty problematic, but just one.
The hardest decision you hadthe guest list, narrowing down
the guest list.
Amanda Bride (16:20):
So I'm assuming, family means huge, big family
how do you send it out of state,out of country?
But how many did you guys endup with?
I think we landed on about 150.
It could have kept going.
Amanda (16:34):
I mean because once you invite this cousin, then you
have to invite the kids exactlyextended girlfriend exactly the
aunt that you oh my goshabsolutely forgot to put on the
list exactly seen in so longexactly, and so just narrowing
down that guest list wasinsanely hard.
Amanda Bride (16:50):
I mean it took days, weeks you know what I mean
just of sitting down andhashing through and just like
making sure everybody'saccounted for and then finding a
venue to accommodate all ofthat for the price that we
wanted.
You know what I mean.
So just just that process wasso much harder than we could
have ever anticipated.
Amanda (17:11):
I know in part a little bit.
Yeah, you found me, I think.
Yeah, but why don't you tellwith all the others, yeah, how
you found me and what made youkind of say, like, sounds like a
game plan.
Yeah, let's go with this.
Amanda Bride (17:23):
No, so I think it was the classic, you know, on
Facebook looking for suggestions, we knew a friend of a person,
of a friend exactly, and afriend that I went to you know
grew up with had suggested youand it was just like something.
Just maybe it was the names, Idon't know Amanda, amanda, just
something just caught myattention and I mean I trusted
(17:47):
this.
You know this person that Igrew up with and I can't
remember.
Honestly, I can't remember whosent a message first.
I don't remember if you reachedout to me first or if you had
seen the comment that you weretagged.
Amanda (17:59):
It's been eight years I know, I don't know, and again,
like I'm going through my head,I'm like I don't even remember
if we had like meet in advance.
I know it was before zoom, so Ididn't do a zoom meeting, no
like we would have met in personwe met at dunkin donuts on
fifth street.
Okay, yeah, and I'm like, wereyou still pregnant or was there
a baby?
Because that's my other thingtoo is like, right now I book
couples like really far inadvance.
(18:20):
Yes, but then back then I wasonly booking you know, I was
Right the placement of the chantI was coming in at a month or
two in advance, right, and Ithink there was a brand new baby
.
Amanda Bride (18:30):
There was a brand new baby.
I think there was a brand newbaby at Dunkin' Donuts with us.
Amanda (18:33):
On Pistri Highway.
Amanda Bride (18:34):
Yes for filling in the pieces on my memory.
There I had a jog back, but Ido.
I mean, I always remember theFacebook, you know, and the
recommendation and yeah, again,I don't remember who initiated.
You know who initiated what,but it just sort of all came
together.
I mean, it was a no brainer.
(18:55):
As soon as you reached or Ireached out, you know, as soon
as we got talking, it wasno-brainer.
It was just like this isexactly what we want.
Amanda (19:03):
Yeah, yeah, and I love it.
I've had a lot of couples sincewho, again, we go into
conversations and they don'thave a date, they don't have a
venue yet, like they're sofocused on we have to get things
planned Right, we need to bookour vendors before they book out
, and they haven't evenconsidered some of the main
(19:24):
basic detail.
And it was great for me meetingwith you guys because you had
it figured out.
You're like we are here thistime.
We know that we have a bridalparty, we know that we want you
at a rehearsal because we aregoing to have lots of small
children.
They're going to need some.
Yeah, we've never been marriedbefore.
Yeah, and you had some veryclear distinctions and the only
(19:46):
thing again I was able to kindof throw out was you're like,
yeah, you know we've got ourfamily.
Yeah, and how do we kind ofbring this all together?
Yes, and I was very new tounity ceremonies, but I said
(20:22):
we've.
Yeah, you made it incrediblyseamless for us and I love that
you guys made it yourselves.
Yeah, you know we did.
Yeah, there's a lot of couplesthat when they go, with unity
they.
They lean heavy into etsy.
No hardness on that.
I love etsy, yeah, but it wasall the more better when I got
to see that box, yeah, at thereception yes, and I knew what
was locked in it.
I knew it was the letter and,yes, all this great yes and it
had probably from ac morebecause it was in existence back
(20:44):
in the day, those stick-onblack letters spelled out.
Amanda Bride (20:49):
And that, yep, that's still one of our prized
possessions.
Amanda (20:55):
And who would you say helped you the most in your
planning process?
How did that support reallymake a difference?
Amanda Bride (21:02):
for you.
Well, fun fact, you know thatI'm a twin sister and so it's
sort of like we just do lifetogether and so we've been
through every chapter of lifetogether.
And she was between her and mygrandma.
I mean, they were the biggest,most hands-on, especially being
(21:23):
that I had my hands full at thatpoint with the brand new baby.
They just kind of took over andthey were incredibly helpful,
just helped me, iron out thedetails.
Amanda (21:36):
I think I walked in for your rehearsal.
Yeah, Again, I met you justonce before at the Duncan Yep
and I walked right up to yourtwin sister and I started
talking to her and she had thislook on her face like aha, sure,
Like this is not what we talkedabout, and it took me a second
to realize because I didn't talkto you Because you are not the
right twin and she probably just, you know, she probably just
(21:59):
went with it.
Amanda Bride (22:01):
Like I said, we kind of we're just fully
involved in each other's livesand so she, she probably knew
all the answers and everythingBetween her and my grandma.
Like I said, they were, theywere the biggest help.
And, honestly, when you cameinto play, stop, and no,
honestly, I mean you just likemade everything so seamless and
you laid everything out and itwas just like I had no idea that
(22:23):
you were going to put so muchinto.
You know what I mean.
And I just I just thoughtofficiants came up and said
their piece and then that was it.
But to my surprise, you know,you were very involved in the
process and it just like justtaking that weight off was huge
for us and just knowing what toexpect, you know, and and it was
(22:46):
just like you, you reallyhelped iron out those little
fine details and I mean that waslike that was incredibly
helpful on before I really evenreally knew a lot of what I was
doing, where now I really domention to couples like hey,
right, if you book with me, I'mhere to tell you, like outside
(23:08):
of defining right, who stands inwhat order and your start time.
Amanda (23:12):
Take the ceremony, worry , yeah, off your plate.
Yeah, I will have the script.
I will have a rehearsal gameplan figured out.
Yeah, I will be reminding youwhen to get your license.
I will ask you the questionsExactly, just don't even worry.
So it's great to me to hearlike I was doing that at like
first 10 when I was in?
Amanda Bride (23:30):
Yes, I was just.
I didn't know what to expect.
I mean just for you to get upand read, you know, through the
ceremony and help us through.
That would have been more thanenough, you know.
But then you went.
Amanda (23:43):
You got more than you bargained for In the best way.
We'll separate in a few otherepisodes but, yeah, in the best
way.
Yes, the biggest wedding got alot.
Yes, yes, this is the end ofpart one of my interview with
Amanda.
Stay tuned.
We've got part two coming outreally soon, which will cover
(24:05):
all of the ins and outs ofAmanda's wedding.
If you haven't already listenedto the wedding where I cried,
please give that a listen.
That will give you a lot ofcontext as we go into the second
part of this interview, and I'mvery pleased to say that the
next couple episodes coming outwill also be related to this
wedding.
Thank, I'm very pleased to saythat the next couple episodes
coming out will also be relatedto this wedding.
Thank you so much for listening.
(24:28):
Thank you for listening to theWedding Where with Officiating
by Amanda.
I hope you enjoyed today'sepisode and found some
inspiration or insight for yourown special day.
This podcast is hosted onBuzzsprout and can be found on
all major platforms.
If you haven't already, pleasesubscribe, like, comment and
share to help us reach even morelisteners who might laugh a
(24:48):
little at the Wedding Wear.
For the links referenced in theshow, visit Linktree at
Officiating by Amanda.
You can also follow thebusiness on Facebook, wedding
wire and the Knot to stay up todate on everything going on.
If you have a question you'dlike me to answer on the podcast
, just send an email totheweddingwherepodcast@ gmail.
com, and if you're ready toinquire about officiating
(25:11):
services for your own big day,you can reach me at
officiatingbyamanda@ gmail.
com.
Thank you so much for tuning inand until next time.
This has been Amanda.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!