The Pre Nup: A Wedding Planning Podcast

Paige Lorenze (now Paul) @paigepaul and Brigette Pheloung (now McHale) @acquiredstyle just had two of the biggest influencer weddings in years — and Adriana's breaking down everything, from the pre-wedding events all the way to the after-party. If you're planning your own wedding right now, this episode is basically a trend report on where things are headed.
 
In this episode:
- Why both brides ditched the European Riviera wedding for classic American venues
- The bridal shower alternative more brides are choosing (and why)
- Bachelorette party lessons: going low-key vs. Brigette's private jet trip to Saint Barts
-The legal-ceremony-first trend and why Adriana's newly obsessed with it
- Vintage wedding dress sourcing (including a $600 vintage Oscar de la Renta find)
- The Vera Wang dress "drama" with Brielle Biermann
- Reception details: cake toppers making a comeback, skipping the emcee, no first dance
- Why Adriana wants every bride to lock in a honeymoon date — even a mini one
 
New episodes every other Tuesday. Follow @the_prenup and Love Stories TV on Instagram.
 
Have feedback or episode ideas? Email podcast@lovestoriestv.com

Forget the photo booth — the real key to a wedding your guests will never forget comes down to comfort and logistics. Host Adriana breaks down the guest experience essentials most couples overlook: parking and shuttles, greeters, temperature, seating, bathrooms, and why a surprise cash bar is a hard no.
She also covers the top wedding day regrets (skipping the hair/makeup trial, missing cocktail hour, no day-of coordinator, no weather plan B) and the growing tension between wedding day content creators and traditional photo/video vendors.
In this episode:
The 4 things guests actually remember about your wedding
How to avoid physical discomfort (heat, cold, heels on grass, bad acoustics)
Open bar vs. cash bar — and why running dry is a dealbreaker
Why every wedding needs a day-of coordinator
The most common bride regrets, and how to avoid them
New episodes every other Tuesday. Follow @the_prenup and @lovestoriestv on Instagram for more wedding tips!
Have feedback or episode ideas? Email podcast@lovestoriestv.com

What actually separates a luxury wedding from everything else? Adriana sits down with wedding planner Madison Edwards — whose clients include Sofia Richie Grainge, Jessica Alba, and Alix Earle — to break down where the money really goes at the highest level, and which of those elements you can steal for way less.
 
They dig into the "mid-level luxe" bride (the 80-90% of couples with a real budget but not unlimited funds), why arbitrary budgets set couples up to fail, and the real difference between full planning, partial planning, and day-of coordination.
 
In this episode:
 
- Why 80-90% of brides fall into the "mid-level luxe" trap
- Full planning vs. partial planning vs. day-of coordination
- Why staffing ratios matter more than a live band
- The truth about wedding invitations
- Where luxury clients actually splurge vs. save
 
If this episode brought you value, please rate and review The Pre Nup — it helps us reach more brides.

Have you heard about "Broccoli Gate"? A bride swapped her bridal bouquet for an actual bunch of broccoli — and Adriana has thoughts.
In this solo episode of The Pre Nup, host Adriana Brauckmann breaks down the bridal bouquet alternatives that miss the mark (hello, book bouquets and baby's breath boas) versus the ones actually worth trying, like the single stem and the parasol.
Then she gets into the influencer-ification of bridal parties — why those $5,000 bridesmaid proposal boxes you're seeing online are PR gifting, not a standard to chase — plus real bachelorette party safety tips, honeymoon and venue security (including what to do with your cash gifts), and a full breakdown of why a micro wedding might be the move for your guest list and your budget. She closes with an afterparty rapid-fire round covering the most overrated wedding tradition, the one splurge that's worth it, and how to handle a destination wedding gift.
In this episode:
"Broccoli Gate" — the viral bridal bouquet swap breaking the internet
Bridal bouquet alternatives ranked: rings, baby's breath boas, and books (skip) vs. single stems and parasols (yes)
Why bridesmaid proposal boxes and bachelorette party influencer culture are costing brides way more than they realize
Bachelorette party travel safety: the buddy system, drink safety, and staying alert in bachelorette-heavy cities
Honeymoon and venue security — safe alternatives to hotel safes and how to handle wedding cash gifts
Micro weddings: why smaller guest counts open up bigger budgets, better food, and more intimate design choices
A script for telling guests they're not invited to a micro wedding or elopement, without the awkwardness
Afterparty rapid fire: most overrated wedding tradition, the splurge that's worth it, destination wedding gift etiquette, and the biggest wedding money-wasters
Got a question for a future episode? Submit it to Adriana's 2027/2028 Bridal Support Group on Instagram.

Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the wedding-obsessed podcast designed to help you plan your dream day! I’m your host, Adriana, and each week, I’m joined by the industry’s top professionals, celebs, influencers, and friends who are sharing their best tips, advice, and the mistakes they’ve made so you don’t have to. In this episode, host Adriana is joined by attorney Nicole Noonan, affectionately known as the “Divorce Fairy Godmother,” to tackle everything you didn’t know you needed to about prenups, postnups, and the dreaded “dirty D-word”—divorce. While these topics may not feel glamorous, Nicole reframes the conversation, showing how these agreements are actually acts of love and planning for a secure future. Nicole shares real-life stories about the surprising things couples fight over, from airline miles to family farms, and explains why having a prenup is like wearing a seatbelt—you don’t plan to crash, but it’s better to be prepared. Adriana and Nicole also dive into postnups, estate planning, and how to approach tricky conversations with your partner while keeping the romance alive. 💍 Episode Highlights:
Why prenups are an essential part of planning for a long-lasting marriage.
Surprising prenup clauses (like weight limits and cheating penalties) and whether they hold up in court.
Practical tips for starting the prenup conversation without awkwardness.
The difference between prenups and postnups—and when to revisit them.
What to consider if you’re contributing to a partner’s premarital assets, like their home.
The realities of separation, annulment, and navigating divorce proceedings.
Nicole also shares her favorite honeymoon hotspot (hint: it’s exotic and Instagram-worthy!), her go-to wedding dance floor song, and why a shrimp cocktail is the ultimate wedding hors d’oeuvre. Whether you’re deep in wedding planning or just curious about the legal side of marriage, this episode is packed with advice to help you feel empowered, informed, and ready for whatever the future holds. We love hearing from you! Feel free to reach out to us at podcasts@lovestoriestv.com with your feedback or suggestions for the next episode.

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

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

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

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.

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.