White Dress Optional
Brilliant Bridal found a new way to help brides & couples navigate all their options before, during, and after their wedding.
Melanie & Malea - owners of Brilliant Bridal, hosts of this podcast, & experts in the wedding & bridal industry - will be sharing their experiences to empower, educate, and help brides & couples.
If you are engaged, soon to be engaged, or married, this podcast is for you. When it comes to weddings - we got you!
Episodes
47 episodes
Navigating the Holidays as Newlyweds
Welcome back, everyone! The holidays take on a whole new vibe once you’re married, and Mel & Malea are here to help you navigate this exciting (and sometimes tricky) shift. In this episode, they explore how being married transforms the way ...
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Season 2
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29:12
Wedding Expo Interviews: Advice from Real Couples
Welcome to an exciting episode of White Dress Optional! Our team hit the floor at a wedding expo to chat with real engaged couples about their wedding planning experiences. Hear about the biggest surprises they’ve faced, their top tips...
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26:12
Part 2: Real Bride’s Journey to ‘I Do’ with Anna Davidson & John Will Graham
Get excited! Real bride Anna Davidson returns for Part 2 of our wedding journey series, joined by her fiancé John Will Graham! Together with hosts Mel & Malea, they dive into the details they chose to prioritize, choosing an officiant they ...
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36:46
Real Brides Ask Us Anything Pt. 2
The episode you all have been waiting for is HERE! This week, Mel & Malea are answering all the burning wedding questions brides & couples have submitted to us. Is $1200 a realistic budget when dress shopping? What’s the deal with brida...
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Season 2
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44:36
Behind the Seams of Wedding Dressmaking: Our Trip to China
Happy Wednesday, everyone! This week, Mel & Malea are taking you behind the scenes of wedding dressmaking with a special episode about their recent trip to China. We’re uncovering it all — from how a simple sketch transforms into ‘the’<...
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29:19
5 Post-Wedding Tasks to Remember
Welcome back, everyone! Even after the big day, there are still a few loose ends to tie up! Mel & Malea share 5 important post-wedding tasks to remember, from writing ‘thank you’ notes (free customizable templates
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Season 2
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32:40
Wedding Dress Codes Decoded
This week, Mel & Malea decode the most common wedding dress codes — white tie, black tie, formal, cocktail, and casual. Whether you're setting the dress code for your big day or navigating one as a guest, we've got you covered! Plus, we’ll ...
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28:39
Secrets of a Bridal Seamstress with Nadine Bozeman
Welcome back, everyone! This week, Mel & Malea are diving into all the wedding dress alteration secrets you didn’t know you needed with bridal seamstress, Nadine Bozeman of Sweet Francis Sewing Co.! They break down why every weddin...
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Season 2
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36:42
The "Yeah...No's" of Wedding Speeches
Happy Wednesday! Get ready to laugh, learn, and cringe as Mel & Malea dive into the "Yeah…No’s" of wedding speeches! From awkward open mic moments to cringeworthy ex shoutouts, they share real-life stories and practical advice to ensure you...
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23:46
Part 1: Real Bride’s Journey to ‘I Do’ with Anna Davidson
Anna Davidson of Homzie Designs is back, but this time as a bride-to-be! Mel & Malea kick off a new series following Anna's journey from fiancée to wife, starting with her sweet proposal story and her experiences with wedding dress...
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Season 2
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41:46
Combining Cultures in a Wedding Ceremony with Tanya Pushkine
Happy Wednesday! Join us as we welcome back Tanya Pushkine, “The Vow Whisperer,” to explore how couples can creatively and meaningfully incorporate their heritages into their big day in a way that honors both cultures and resonates with guests....
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Season 2
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32:44
How to Manage a Wedding Budget with Inflation
WE’RE BACK! Welcome to Season 2 — we’re so glad you’re here. This week, Mel & Malea discuss the impact of inflation on the wedding world. They’ll answer why weddings are costing more, whether social media is tricking you into overspending, ...
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Season 2
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28:24
Real Brides Ask Us Anything: Season 1 Finale
Welcome to White Dress Optional! This week, we are wrapping up season 1 with a real bride Q&A. Mel + Malea tackle ALL the burning questions you've asked us on Instagram; covering everything from wedding etiquette to dress alterations to the...
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39:42
Our Favorite Wedding Registry Must-Haves
Happy Wednesday! On this episode of White Dress Optional, Mel + Malea cover the importance of having a solid wedding registry & spill all their top, tried and true must-haves and services to include. Hear about why they love these items and...
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31:06
Eco-Friendly Ideas for a Sustainable Wedding
Welcome to White Dress Optional! Have you been dreaming of a wedding that's as eco-conscious as it is breathtaking? This episode offers practical advice for couples looking for ways to minimize their environmental footprint on their big day. Tu...
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33:54
Wedding Dilemmas: Should You Invite Their Kids?
Happy Wednesday, listeners! This week, we're tackling one of the hottest debates circulating the wedding world: kids at weddings... Do you invite them? Do you not? If you're feeling stuck with this decision - don't worry! In this episo...
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21:20
Decorating a Home with Your Partner with Homzie Designs
Welcome to White Dress Optional! This week’s episode has ALL the tips + tools you & your partner need to help you design your dream home together. Anna Davidson, owner of Homzie Designs, is here to reveal game-changing advice + resources fo...
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34:54
Wedding Disasters + How to Avoid Them
This week on White Dress Optional, Mel + Malea share real-life stories of weddings gone wrong! From awkward officiant slip-ups to major etiquette faux pas, they provide a fresh perspective on handling wedding mishaps and offer invaluable advice...
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33:18
What to Do if Your Bridal Store Closes
Welcome back to White Dress Optional! We know this week's topic is one that most brides would rather NOT think about. However, in Mel + Malea's 13 years in this bridal business, they've seen it happen and are here to equip you with resources &a...
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18:42
Married Entrepreneurs: Navigating Love & Business with Sara + Rod Burgos
Welcome back, everyone! This week, special guests, Sara + Rod Burgos of Anonymo Studios, join Mel & Malea to discuss the balance between their work & relationship as a married business duo and share the lessons they've learned along the...
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43:44
Where to Begin: Finding Your Wedding Dress
This week, Mel + Malea are wrapping up the "Where to Begin" series with one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning: finding your wedding dress. The bridal business has been their wheelhouse for over 13 years, so Mel + Mal...
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25:52
Where to Begin: Writing Your Vows
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Join Mel + Malea this week for an exciting episode on where to begin when writing your wedding vows with Tanya Pushkine, The Vow Whisperer! Through her experience coaching countless couples through the vow-writing pro...
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37:18
Where to Begin: Hiring a Makeup Artist
Welcome to White Dress Optional! Meg Payne, owner & creative director behind Makeup in the 702, sits down with Mel + Malea to help you navigate where to being when hiring a makeup artist for your wedding. Having collaborated with Meg and he...
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43:46
Where to Begin: Finding a Wedding Venue
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Alyssa Keith with Wedgewood Weddings joins us this week to walk through where to begin when finding the perfect wedding venue. Mel, Malea, & Alyssa answer big questions and cover topics like: When...
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26:20
Where to Begin: Hiring a Photographer + Videographer
In this week's episode of White Dress Optional, Mel and Malea are joined by Matt Schenk of M Place Productions to kick off our 'Where to Begin' series. This episode is all about navigating the task of hiring the wedding photographer that is rig...
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30:18