The Wedding Where...

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The Wedding Where...

Amanda Walck Ottinger

52 episodes

1 week ago

Send me a message or any questions! We bring back Jocelyn of Danny Mae Photography for a candid look at vendor chemistry, safety, pricing realities, and the art of keeping a wedding day calm. From an out-of-control bridesmaid to Pinterest expectations, we break down boundaries that protect joy and great photos. • setting harassment and safety clauses to protect vendors and couples • booking timelines, hot dates, and when to reserve early • what you actually pay for in photography rates • han...

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Personal Journals

Society & Culture,

All content for The Wedding Where... is the property of Amanda Walck Ottinger and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Send me a message or any questions! We bring back Jocelyn of Danny Mae Photography for a candid look at vendor chemistry, safety, pricing realities, and the art of keeping a wedding day calm. From an out-of-control bridesmaid to Pinterest expectations, we break down boundaries that protect joy and great photos. • setting harassment and safety clauses to protect vendors and couples • booking timelines, hot dates, and when to reserve early • what you actually pay for in photography rates • han...

Show more...

Personal Journals

Society & Culture,

Episodes (20/52)

The Wedding Where...

We Learned "Don't Do Drugs, Kids" featuring Jocelyn, Owner of Danie Mae Photography

Send me a message or any questions! We bring back Jocelyn of Danny Mae Photography for a candid look at vendor chemistry, safety, pricing realities, and the art of keeping a wedding day calm. From an out-of-control bridesmaid to Pinterest expectations, we break down boundaries that protect joy and great photos. • setting harassment and safety clauses to protect vendors and couples • booking timelines, hot dates, and when to reserve early • what you actually pay for in photography rates • han...

1 week ago

34 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Interview with Jocelyn, Owner of Danie Mae Photography

Send me a message or any questions! The best wedding photos don’t happen by accident—they come from preparation, clear boundaries, and a team that reads the room. We sat down with Jocelyn of Danny May Photography to trace her journey from high school photo staff to 30+ weddings a year, including the hard reset that forced her to sell gear, rebuild, and go fully legit with an LLC, insurance, and sustainable pricing. Along the way, a supportive partner learned to second shoot, a local media edi...

1 week ago

41 minutes

The Wedding Where...

We Froze to Death

Send me a message or any questions! Weather doesn’t ask permission to crash a wedding, and that’s exactly why we’re talking about it. From a four-degree ceremony on Mount Penn to a triple-digit barn field with no shade, I’m sharing the real stories and the hard-won strategies that keep ceremonies meaningful without risking your health. If you’ve ever wondered how pros decide when to shorten vows, skip a unity ritual, or move locations on the fly, you’ll learn the cues I use, the policies I’ve...

3 weeks ago

20 minutes

The Wedding Where...

It Felt Like a Funeral

Send me a message or any questions! A wedding can hold more than one truth at once. We walk through a ceremony where grief didn’t just peek in—it shaped the room. From an opening moment of silence and an in‑memory candle to vows that named loss and a unity ritual layered with tokens for loved ones, the choices were heartfelt yet heavy, and the energy turned somber. That experience raises a vital question for any couple: how do you honor those you miss without letting sorrow overshadow the day...

3 weeks ago

25 minutes

The Wedding Where...

They Said it Wasn't a Wedding

Send me a message or any questions! We share the story of a couple who wanted a full wedding while telling most vendors it was a “family brunch,” and how that choice created confusion, stress, and last-minute improvising. Practical advice follows on budgeting ethically, setting priorities, and being transparent so vendors can deliver. • why mislabeling events breaks logistics and trust • how wedding pricing reflects staffing, risk, and prep • simple swaps to cut costs without cutting joy • w...

1 month ago

22 minutes

The Wedding Where...

The Bride's Dress almost Caught on Fire

Send me a message or any questions! One breathtaking candlelit aisle almost turned into a crisis, and that single moment changed how we think about ceremony safety without sacrificing style. We walk through the real story behind a near-miss with a billowy dress and open flames, then unpack the quiet hazards many couples overlook: narrow aisles, wind-tossed veils, slick runners, uneven pavers, and those picture-perfect docks that flex under a full wedding party. From there, we get practical. ...

1 month ago

21 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Bonus: A Thousand Thank-Yous

Send me a message or any questions! A thousand listens later, we’re clinking an imaginary glass and sharing the real secret that makes a ceremony feel like yours: a thoughtful consult call. Before timelines tighten and group chats explode, that first conversation gives us a clear read on your voice, your values, and how you want to feel standing there. We walk through the questions that matter—how long you want to be up front, whether you want vows out loud or private, how to handle unity rit...

1 month ago

25 minutes

The Wedding Where...

They are Divorced

Send me a message or any questions! Love feels invincible at the altar, but real life has a way of testing vows. After officiating around 250 weddings over more than a decade, I’ve seen both the glow and the grit—how small patterns at a rehearsal can foreshadow big challenges, and how couples you’d bet on sometimes unravel while others quietly grow stronger. Today I get candid about divorce, the 48‑hour marriage that stunned me, and why choosing each other is still the bravest move we make. ...

1 month ago

18 minutes

The Wedding Where...

I Filled in for Another Officiant

Send me a message or any questions! We share the untold realities of backup officiating, from inclusive ceremonies to last‑minute saves that keep couples on track to say “I do.” The throughline is simple: presence beats perfection, and a real backup plan protects the day. • why vendors need clear contingency plans • inclusive officiating when paperwork lags identity • handling illness, emergencies and no‑shows • COVID‑era safety choices and policies • stepping in with hours’ notice and stayi...

1 month ago

18 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Interview with Emily and Bobby - The Sequel

Send me a message or any questions! What if the best way to plan a meaningful wedding is to slow it down, laugh on purpose, and design rituals people can feel? That’s the heart of Emily and Bobby’s story: a small, dog-forward elopement followed by a family-packed “sequel” ceremony with a five-cord handfasting that brought parents and godparents into the center of the moment. We talk through the craft of vows that actually land—how a single well-timed joke can center a nervous partner, and ho...

2 months ago

1 hour 13 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Interview with Emily and Bobby part 1

Send me a message or any questions! The best wedding stories aren’t polished—they’re true. Emily and Bobby take us from OKCupid chaos to a tractor-stalled first date, then straight into two ceremonies that honored both practicality and heart: a tiny elopement with dogs and koi pond serenity, followed by a vintage garden party built on lawn games, Peaky Blinders flair, and a soundtrack curated with zero compromises. We dig into the choices that actually reduce stress: separating the legal mom...

2 months ago

1 hour 23 minutes

The Wedding Where...

They Tied the Knot

Send me a message or any questions! Ever wonder why we still say “tie the knot” and what it actually means? We pull the thread from ancient handfasting to today’s ceremonies and show how a simple cord can turn your vows into something tangible, visual, and deeply personal. From Celtic villages and seafaring towns to pagan blessings and churchyards, this ritual has traveled centuries because it adapts to the couple in front of it. I share how to place handfasting at the perfect moment in your...

2 months ago

26 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Friends are Family

Send me a message or any questions! What if the most important choice you make for your wedding isn’t the venue or the vows, but who gets a seat in the room? We dig into the real work behind guest lists—why they’re emotional, political, and surprisingly revealing—and how to choose people who protect your peace rather than drain it. From intimate ceremonies where every guest was a friend to larger parties balanced around values, you’ll hear stories that challenge the default assumption that fa...

2 months ago

20 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Back to the Aisle: Officiant reacts to Frank and Monica's wedding on Shameless

Send me a message or any questions! A vow can land like a lightning bolt—simple words that suddenly feel heavier than the room they’re spoken in. Thank you for joining me back from my break - a whirlwind stretch of 29 fall weddings, a new nine-to-five, and a house move, I’m back with a new idea: officiant reacts. We unpack Frank and Monica Gallagher’s vow renewal on Shameless, and use their messy, memorable promises to explore why certain lines stick—and how you can shape vows that surv...

3 months ago

26 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Vows Mini Series - Custom Words from the Heart

Send me a message or any questions! Love speaks in many languages, and personalized wedding vows might be the most beautiful dialect of all. As we wrap up our six-week exploration of wedding promises, this final episode celebrates the magic that happens when couples put their authentic selves into the words they'll exchange on their special day. What makes personalized vows so powerful? It's the way they capture the unique rhythm of your relationship. Like the yoga instructor who calculated ...

4 months ago

6 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Vows Mini Series - Vow Volley

Send me a message or any questions! Searching for the perfect wedding vows that balance tradition with personality? Look no further than "vow volleys," this year's refreshing trend for couples who want custom vows without writing them separately. Vow volleys create a beautiful rhythm to your ceremony through alternating promises—you say something, your partner responds with their promise, and back and forth you go. This collaborative approach solves the common challenge of vow imbalance whil...

4 months ago

4 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Vows Mini Series - Still Repeating After Me!

Send me a message or any questions! Amanda explores repeat-after-me wedding vows as part of her six-week mini-series on vow options for couples planning their ceremonies. She provides practical advice for those who want meaningful vows without the pressure of memorization or writing completely custom promises. • Repeat-after-me vows are broken into small chunks by the officiant for easy repetition • These vows require minimal preparation while still feeling personal and meaningful • Amanda r...

5 months ago

3 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Vows Mini Series - Repeat After Me

Send me a message or any questions! Amanda explores the art of "repeat after me" wedding vows in this episode of the Vow mini-series, offering practical guidance for creating simple yet meaningful promises that couples can easily repeat during their ceremony. • Part of a six-week deep dive into different wedding vow options • Explains how any traditional or custom vow can be adapted into a repeat-after-me format • Highlights the importance of clear pronunciation, slow speech, and simple word...

5 months ago

3 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Vows Mini Series - Long Traditional Vows

Send me a message or any questions! Have you ever wondered about all the different ways to say "I do"? In this episode of the Vow mini-series on The Wedding Where, I'm exploring one of my favorite traditional vow formats—a comprehensive four-question approach that packs multiple commitments into one powerful moment. As a wedding officiant, I've seen firsthand how this particular vow structure resonates with couples who want something traditional but meaningful. The beauty of this format lies...

5 months ago

3 minutes

The Wedding Where...

Vows Mini Series - Just say "I Do"

Send me a message or any questions! What exactly are you promising when you say "I do"? Wedding vows represent the heart of any marriage ceremony, yet many couples don't fully consider their options beyond tradition. In this first installment of our special mini-series on wedding vows, we explore question vows – those traditional promises where the officiant asks and the couple responds with "I do" or "I will." As a professional wedding officiant, I break down why these remain the most...

5 months ago

3 minutes