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
67 episodes
Best of Season 2
Welcome to our Season 2 send-off! Before we head off on summer break, we wanted to highlight some of our top moments from this season. Enjoy clips from our most-listened-to episodes, vendor advice from the “Where to Begin Series,” real couples’...
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35:51
Real Brides Ask Us Anything Pt. 3
You asked, so we answered! In this episode, Mel & Malea are tackling all the wedding questions submitted by YOU, and no topic is off-limits. They’re diving into the pros and cons of buffet vs. plated dinners, where to draw the line on plus-...
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41:36
Part 4: Real Bride’s Journey to ‘I Do’ with Anna Graham
Happy Wednesday! This week, we’re catching up with Mrs. Anna Graham, post-wedding bliss for the final chapter of our “Real Bride’s Journey to ‘I Do’” series. Anna shares the highs, surprises, and lessons from her wedding day—from memorable pers...
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37:28
How New Tariffs Could Impact Couples Planning a Wedding
Welcome back, listeners! With new tariff policies on imported goods set to take effect in 2025, we know many couples in the midst of planning might be wondering, 'How will this affect my wedding plans?' In this episode, Mel breaks down what the...
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22:41
Our Favorite Wedding Registry Must-Haves of 2025
Happy Wednesday! We’re back with another round of wedding registry must-haves! This week, Mel & Malea share their favorite registry picks of 2025, from big-ticket investment pieces that are great for group gifts to fun and practical f...
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31:00
A Wedding Vendor Disappointed You, Now What?
Wedding planning is full of excitement, but what happens when a vendor doesn’t meet your expectations? This week, we’re joined by Cora Mercer, founder of Tailored in White, to tackle the tough questions couples face when things don’t go as plan...
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31:01
Busting the Myths About Shopping for Men’s Weddingwear with Eric Acuña
Happy Wednesday, listeners! This week’s episode is all about making wedding day style stress-free for grooms, groomsmen, and fiancés. Eric Acuña from Friar Tux joins Mel & Malea to share expert styling advice, highlight the latest trends, e...
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32:44
RSVPs & Seating Charts Made Simple
Wedding RSVPs and seating charts don’t have to be overwhelming! This week, Mel & Malea share how to set RSVP deadlines, follow up with guests who don’t respond, and manage last-minute additions. They’ll also break down the pros and cons of ...
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55:36
How to Plan Your Honeymoon Using Points and Miles
What if your wedding expenses could fund the honeymoon of your dreams? Believe it or not—they can! This week, Mel & Malea sit down with Aimee Crosby, a travel enthusiast who has mastered the art of optimizing credit card welcome offers and ...
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30:14
From Couple to Family: Navigating the Transition to Parenthood
Welcome, everyone! If starting a family post-wedding has been on your mind, you’ll love this episode. This week, Mel & Malea get real about the transition from newlyweds to parents, sharing their personal experiences of adjusting to new rol...
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41:57
Part 3: Real Bride’s Journey to ‘I Do’ with Anna Davidson
Happy Wednesday, listeners! With just over 30 days until she says “I do”, Anna Davidson is back with Mel & Malea to talk all about tying up loose ends in the final stretch of wedding planning. Anna shares her experiences working with a wedd...
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Season 2
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37:48
Lessons in Love: Valentine's Day Fails
Hello & Happy Valentine’s Week, everyone! Mel & Malea are swapping wedding planning tips for Valentine’s Day fails this week—seriously, these stories don’t disappoint. From one-too-many heavy handed cocktails to a fountain-side proposal...
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17:57
Where to Begin: Wedding Dress Shopping
If saying “yes to the dress” is still on your wedding to-do list, you won’t want to miss this week’s episode! Mel & Malea bring over 14 years of bridal industry expertise to simplify the process of wedding dress shopping. In this episode, t...
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Season 2
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26:15
Where to Begin: Designing Your Wedding Cake
Happy Wednesday! Warning: This episode may cause extreme cake cravings — but we’re totally here for it! This week, Mel & Malea are serving up a slice of wedding planning sweetness with owner & cake artist, Jo Kohnhorst of 1320 Bakery. F...
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Season 2
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31:06
Where to Begin: Preparing Your First Dance
Hi, everyone! This week, Mel & Malea talk with Elizabeth Marberry, founder of Wedding Dance Coach in Denver, Colorado, to help couples create a first dance that’s fun, unique, and totally true to you - no matter your experience level. Say g...
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Season 2
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34:20
Where to Begin: Hiring a Florist
If “find our wedding florist” is still unchecked on your to-do list, this is the episode for you! Mel & Malea sit down with Jordan Meek, founder of Fleur PHX, to help couples simplify the process of hiring their florist. They break down whe...
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Season 2
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31:38
Where to Begin: Hiring A Wedding Planner
Happy 2025, listeners! We hope you had a joyful holiday season surrounded by loved ones. We’re thrilled to kick off our "Where to Begin" series with an episode dedicated to wedding planners, featuring our special guest, Ashley Sirjord,...
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Season 2
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34:06
What to Do if You Suspect Your Partner is Going to Propose
It’s engagement season! If you’re starting to suspect a proposal might be around the corner, this episode is for you. This week, Mel is joined by newly engaged Emily Hays from the Brilliant Bridal marketing team to share proposal prep ...
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Season 2
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32:22
Weddings with a Twist: Fun Ideas Your Guests Will Love
Happy Wednesday, listeners! This episode was inspired by a popular question from our Instagram community: What else can guests do at a wedding besides eating, drinking, and dancing? If you’re looking to add a fun twist, Mel &...
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Season 2
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24:59
All You Need to Know About Wedding Content Creators with Socially Weddings
Welcome, everyone! This week, we’re diving into the exciting, fast-growing world of wedding content creation. Mel & Malea sit down with founder of Socially Weddings, Carmen DeLoux, to discuss everything you need to know about capturing mode...
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Season 2
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32:16
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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29:42
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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Season 2
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26:43
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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Season 2
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37:17
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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46:17
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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Season 2
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29:50