The Pre Nup: A Wedding Planning Podcast

Don't Let ChatGPT Write Your Wedding Speech with Brendan Donegan

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the podcast where we talk honestly about love, weddings, and everything in between.
This week, we're joined by the hilarious Brendan Donegan for a no-holds-barred breakdown of the one part of the wedding day everyone fears and no one prepares for: the speeches. As a comic who's spent years on stage (and survived more than a few bachelor parties, engagement parties, and "surprise, we hired a comedian" disasters), Brendan knows exactly why most wedding toasts flop and how to actually land one.
From the best man speech so inappropriate it became a cautionary tale, to the maid-of-honor opener you need to retire immediately, to why you should never, EVER let ChatGPT write your toast, Brendan holds nothing back. We get into the genuine-vs-funny rule that instantly makes any speech better, the real reason brides wear wigs to their bachelorette, the great garter toss debate, and the father-daughter dance song guaranteed to wreck you. Then we close it out with a brutally honest Rom Com Rewatch of Bride Wars (which Brendan may or may not call one of the worst wedding movies ever made).
Whether you're writing a speech, terrified of giving one, or just want the funniest, most honest take on wedding-day chaos, this episode is for you.
Episode Highlights:
• Why you should never let ChatGPT write your wedding speech (and what it can't do for you)
• The one-line rule that instantly makes any toast better  
• The best man speech so inappropriate it became a cautionary tale (with the in-laws sitting right there)
• The maid-of-honor opener you need to stop using
• Exactly how long your speech should be (and the number that makes guests mentally check out)
• Why hiring a comedian for your wedding or bachelor party almost always backfires
• The real reason brides and bridesmaids wear wigs to the bachelorette 
• The garter toss debate: keep the tradition or retire it for good?
• The father-daughter dance song that will absolutely make you sob
• A genius hack to stop stage-hungry guests from hijacking your reception
• The Bride Wars rewatch: is it really one of the worst wedding movies ever made?
Find Brendan: Instagram: @brendandonegancomedy

The $4,500 Wedding Surprise Nina Beck Would Happily Pay Double For — Italy Wedding Recap

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the podcast where we talk honestly about love, weddings, and everything in between.
This week, we're joined by the one and only Nina Beck — wedding fashion and lifestyle influencer, nurse practitioner, and now a married woman — for the ultimate recap of her dreamy Lake Maggiore destination wedding. Last time Nina was here, she was deep in the planning trenches. Today, she's giving us the full, unfiltered truth: what she'd do a thousand times over, what she'd never do again, and everything no one could have prepared her for.From a torrential downpour on her wedding morning and a DJ who didn't speak a word of English, to flying internationally with a wedding gown and hiring an Etsy witch to ward off bad weather — Nina holds absolutely nothing back. And spoiler: it was stunning.
Whether you're dreaming of an Italian destination wedding or just want the real, honest truth about what it's actually like to pull one off — this episode is for you.
Episode Highlights
• The $4,500 surprise that stole the show — and why she'd pay double•Why you don't need to overspend on florals (and what to invest in instead)•The currency exchange mistake that could cost you thousands on vendor deposits•What really happened when it rained on her wedding day — and how she handled it•How to fly internationally with your wedding dress without losing your mind•The DJ entrance chaos no one saw coming (and what she'd do differently)•Why she invited 116 people and 100 showed up — destination wedding drop-off math debunked•The Etsy weather witch, the evil eye, and Italian superstitions that may or may not have worked•Her non-negotiable for any American bride planning a wedding in ItalyWedding vendor tip of the week: why buffer time is your real maid of honor
This episode is brought to you by Friar Tux — suits and tuxedos for weddings and every moment that matters. Rent or buy, free try-ons, expert styling. Find your look at https://www.friartux.com. 
Find Nina:Instagram: @ninaorsi

How Often Are Healthy Married Couples Actually Having Sex? A Sex Therapist Answers

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the podcast where we talk honestly about love, weddings, and everything in between.
This week, Adriana sits down with Dr. Love Lea — an Ivy League-trained couples therapist with a PhD in clinical sexology — to talk about the part of getting married no one prepares you for: the actual marriage.
We spend so much time obsessing over the dress, the venue, and the seating chart — but how much time are couples actually spending preparing for life after "I do"? Dr. Love Lea breaks down why premarital coaching can lower your odds of divorce by 31%, what to actually talk about before you walk down the aisle, and why the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mindset is one of the biggest threats to a modern marriage.
From intimacy and communication to conflict, money, in-laws, and the conversations most couples are too scared to have — Dr. Love Lea brings real, modern, judgment-free advice that meets couples where they're at. Whether you're religious, spiritual, secular, or somewhere in between, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who's engaged, newly married, or dating with intention.
If you're searching for premarital counseling tips, advice for engaged couples, or how to build a marriage that actually lasts — this episode is for you.
Episode Highlights
• Why couples spend $35K on the wedding and $0 on the marriage — and how Dr. Love Lea wants to flip that• The statistic every engaged couple needs to hear: how premarital coaching cuts divorce risk by 31%• Premarital counseling vs. religious pre-Cana: what's the difference and do you need both?• The "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" myth and why it's quietly hurting your relationship• How often healthy couples are actually having sex (and why quality beats quantity)• The fights that seem stupid but mean something deeper• How to have hard conversations without making your partner feel attacked• Why Dr. Love Lea treats the relationship as one body — not two sides• Wedding vendor tip: why an extra pair of comfortable shoes is non-negotiable on your wedding dayFind Dr. Love Lea: Instagram: @DrLoveLea / Website: drlovelea.com

The Bachelorette Trip Mistakes Every Bride Makes (And How to Avoid Them)

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the podcast where we talk honestly about love, weddings, and everything in between.
This week, Adriana is joined by her sister Big Vic for a full breakdown of everything you need to know about wedding travel planning — brought to you by Travel by Davids, the all-in-one platform helping modern couples plan everything from honeymoons and bachelorettes to room blocks and destination weddings, with savings up to 30%.
From the best bachelorette destinations of 2025 to how much couples are actually spending on honeymoons, Adriana and Big Vic get into the real logistics of wedding travel — including when to start planning (hint: way earlier than you think), how to handle group travel drama, and why so many couples are losing guests at destination weddings before they've even sent the invites.
If you're searching for bachelorette trip ideas, honeymoon planning tips, or how to coordinate travel for your wedding guests — this episode is for you.
Episode Highlights
- When you should actually start planning your wedding travel (it's not when you think)
- The best bachelorette destinations right now — and what your choice says about you
- How to handle money conversations and group dynamics on a bachelorette trip
- Destination wedding travel tips: how to avoid losing 50-60% of your guest list
- The average cost of a honeymoon and how couples are budgeting for it
- Why the engagement-moon is having a major moment
- Hotel room blocks: what they are and why every couple needs one
- How Travel by Davids can help you plan every aspect of your wedding travel in one place
- Wedding vendor tip: why you need a professional bridal dresser on your wedding morning
This episode is brought to you by Travel by David's. Plan your honeymoon, bachelorette, destination wedding, or room block all in one place, with savings up to 30%. Visit https://www.davidsbridal.com/travel to get started today.

She Sold $1M in Diamonds on Her Lunch Break — Now She's Exposing the Industry's Biggest Secrets

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the podcast where we talk honestly about love, weddings, and everything in between. This week, Adriana sits down with Olivia Landau, founder and CEO of The Clear Cut, to break down everything couples need to know before buying an engagement ring. Whether you're just starting to research diamonds or ready to make a purchase, this episode will change how you shop. From the lab-grown vs. natural diamond debate to the biggest myths in the jewelry industry, Olivia breaks down how engagement ring shopping has evolved — and what really matters when choosing the perfect diamond. They also dive into how Olivia built The Clear Cut from an Instagram account into one of the most trusted engagement ring brands in the world, what it's really like running a business with your spouse, and why transparency in the diamond industry is long overdue. If you're searching for engagement ring advice, diamond buying tips, or just want to know what your ring is actually worth — this episode is for you. Episode Highlights - How Olivia Landau built The Clear Cut from a blog into a leading diamond company - Lab-grown vs. natural diamonds: the real differences couples need to know - The 4 Cs explained: carat, cut, color, and clarity - Why most couples are now choosing engagement rings together - Engagement ring trends for 2025 and 2026 - The truth behind the "three-month salary rule" - Are natural diamonds actually unethical? The facts behind conflict diamonds - How to start the engagement ring buying process with The Clear Cut This episode is brought to you by Travel by David's — plan your honeymoon, getaway, or room block all in one place, with savings up to 30%. Visit https://www.davidsbridal.com/travel to get started today.

Wedding Vendor Red Flags That Could Cost You Thousands

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the podcast where we talk honestly about love, weddings, and everything in between. This week, Adriana goes solo to break down one of the most important parts of wedding planning: choosing the right vendors—and avoiding the wrong ones.
From missing or vague contracts to risky payment structures, pushy sales tactics, and hidden fees, Adriana walks through the biggest red flags to watch out for before you sign anything. She also shares exactly what questions to ask, how to protect yourself financially, and the small details that can make or break your wedding day.
Episode Highlights:
- The biggest contract red flags every couple should know- Why paying a vendor 100% upfront can be a major mistake- What wedding “industry standard” actually looks like for deposits and pricing- How to spot pushy vendors and bad communication early on- The must-ask questions before booking any vendor or venue

This Love Story Feels Like a Movie (Airplane Meet-Cute to Iconic Wedding)

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the podcast where we talk honestly about love, weddings, and everything in between.
This week, Adriana is joined by Drew and Rich (better known as @twoguysonaplane) for a love story that feels straight out of a rom-com.
From meeting on a flight to creating their own “proposal rules” (yes, they both proposed), Drew and Rich share how they built a relationship—and a wedding—that was completely and unapologetically them.
They open up about planning an aviation-themed wedding, breaking away from tradition, and why the most meaningful moments weren’t the big ones—but the quiet, intentional ones they created just for themselves.
This episode is full of humor, heart, and a reminder that your wedding doesn’t have to follow any rules—except your own.
Episode Highlights:
- How they met on a flight (and why it felt like a rom-com)- The “30-day proposal challenge” and how it turned into Proposal Wars- The ring pop proposal that didn’t go as planned- Why they both wanted to propose—and be proposed to- How they created a wedding that was completely true to them- The private moment they chose over cocktail hour (and why it mattered most)- Why you should forget traditions that don’t feel authentic

The Wedding Planning Nightmare Every Bride Fears

Welcome back to The Pre Nup. This week, Adriana is joined once again by Big Vic for another hilarious wedding movie recap.
Together they break down You’re Cordially Invited, the 2025 comedy starring Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, which follows two families forced to share a wedding venue after a disastrous booking mix up.
As the movie spirals into chaos, Adriana and Vic discuss the real wedding fears couples experience while planning, from last minute disasters to family tension and everything in between.
They also get into the surprisingly relatable parts of the film, including father daughter wedding emotions, the pressure of planning a perfect wedding, and the traditions that make the day meaningful.
Episode Highlights:- The real wedding fears that couples secretly have- Why father daughter moments hit so hard at weddings- The traditions that still make weddings emotional- Bachelor and bachelorette party debates- When wedding chaos becomes a great story

Rachel Uchitel on Rehearsing Their Wedding Dance for Weeks

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, where we unpack weddings the way real couples experience them.
This week, Adriana sits down with Rachel Uchitel, host of the Miss Understood podcast, to talk about her unforgettable New Year’s Eve wedding at home in Palm Beach and the personal choices that shaped the day.
They start with why Rachel chose December 31st as her wedding date (years after first manifesting it on her own show) and what it meant to begin a new chapter on a literal clean slate. From there, they dive into planning a luxury at-home wedding, the realities of guest list tension, and how family dynamics shift when you’re blending lives later in life.
Rachel shares the sentimental details that made the celebration uniquely hers: honoring her late father by using his wedding band, subtle nods to her New York roots, and involving her daughter in everything from dress shopping to choreography. She also opens up about lessons from past marriages, the importance of feeling truly seen by your partner, and why she believes a prenup is one of the smartest decisions couples can make.
The episode closes with a candid conversation about marrying later in life, choosing partnership over pressure, and what it really means to feel safe, supported, and understood.
Episode Highlights:
Why Rachel chose a New Year’s Eve wedding datePlanning a high-end wedding at home (and what surprised her most)Honoring a lost parent in a subtle, meaningful wayNavigating guest list drama and friendship expectationsLessons from past marriages and finding the right partnerWhy Rachel strongly believes in prenups

These 2026 Wedding Trends Will SHOCK You

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, where we unpack weddings the way real couples experience them. This week, Adriana sits down with Big Vik to talk wedding trends—what’s in, what’s fading, and what’s changing for good.
They start with one of the most polarizing topics right now: engagement rings. Adriana and Vik share honest thoughts on lab-grown vs. natural diamonds, financial realities, and why meaning matters more than market value.
From there, they explore how weddings are evolving visually—from color palettes and fashion silhouettes to the return of texture, fabric, and lighting as the new markers of luxury.
The episode closes with a look at the modern “cool bride” and how today’s couples are prioritizing intention, ease, and personality over outdated rules and expectations.
Episode Highlights:
- Natural vs. lab-grown diamonds and the real differences that matter- What separates timeless choices from trend traps- The 5 color wedding planning rule- Wedding fashion trends we’re saying goodbye to- What defines the modern “cool bride”