42. Engagement Stories and Wedding Insights: A Chat with My Soon-to-Be Brother-in-Law Kevin

Welcome to a brand-new series on The Dressing Up Podcast! In this special Real Brides series, I’m inviting past brides I’ve worked with to reminisce about their big day, share insights, and relive those unforgettable moments. If you’re planning your own wedding, or simply love hearing about all things bridal, you’re in for a treat!In today’s episode, I chat with three incredible women who each have unique and beautiful stories to tell:Alexa Starnes (2021 Bride): Alexa shares her post-wedding journey, her favorite wedding moments, and how planning her wedding led her into the world of event coordination. She also talks about the importance of giving yourself time to order your dress and we reminisce on our alterations experience together 3 years ago!Tara Freni-Kenbeek (The Fashionista Bride): Tara talks about her stunning, classic bridal look, her incredible Prada shoes (yes, you heard that right!), and how she and her husband anchored their planning decisions on staying connected and present!Rachel Rossini-Rhoades (The Nostalgic Bride): Rachel wore her mother’s 90s wedding dress, honoring its original style while making it her own! From a custom corset to preserving her wedding flowers, Rachel’s creativity shines through!If you have questions for Sarah to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

This week, my mom Cynthia Kolis joins the Dressing Up Podcast to walk down memory lane with me! Ever since I was a child, I knew that this was the path I wanted to go down with my career - so in this episode my mom shares her side of the story seeing me grow up!From sewing doll clothes and entering competitions to creating custom wardrobes and bridal gowns, my mom and I share the evolution of my craft, childhood milestones, and the occasional crafting mishap. Whether you’re a lifelong crafter, a fan of family stories, or simply curious about the journey of a dedicated fashion entrepreneur, this episode is sure to inspire and entertain.In this episode:How my childhood obsession with sewing, knitting, and crafting shaped her career.The importance of parental support in nurturing a child’s creative talent.Behind-the-scenes stories of my sewing competitions, handmade wardrobes, and unique creations.The influence of mentors like Aunt Dian and Vicki in fostering my skills.Sewing Expo memories and the joy of connecting with the sewing community.If you have questions for Sarah Kolis to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

Today’s guest is Loren Taylor, the founder of LDT Events, a thriving event and wedding planning business in Metro Detroit, and the wedding coordinator of my sister Melissa’s wedding this past May! From design to execution, Loren is the founder and event planning expert of LDT Events, she strives to tailor the event to the client’s unique vision, style & personality!Loren shares her inspiring journey of starting her own business, her experiences in the wedding industry, and how her personal style and creativity influence her work. We also talk about coordinating dozens of weddings a year, the importance of a wedding planner in helping to create a low-stress engagement experience, and her exciting plans for rebranding and growing her team!Whether you’re planning your big day, running a business, or just love a good story about following your passion, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice!In this episode:How Loren transitioned from bridal styling to creating LDT Events.The role personal style plays in her business and her love for timeless neutrals.Tips for planning a low-stress wedding and why hiring a planner is a game-changer.Why smaller bridal parties (or no bridal parties!) are becoming more popular.Loren’s plans for growing her business while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship.Connect with Loren:Website: https://www.ldtevents.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ldtevents/If you have questions for Sarah Kolis to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

In this episode, Sarah speaks with a very special guest, Kevin Dombek, who is her soon-to-be brother-in-law! They dive into the fun details of Kevin’s engagement to Sarah’s sister Angela, from their engagement photos to the proposal itself. Kevin shares his thoughts on wedding planning, the process of choosing engagement rings, natural vs. lab-grown diamonds, and even planning a wedding day wardrobe. This episode is perfect for anyone planning a wedding or just wanting to hear about love and laughter along the way!In this episode: Kevin’s thoughts on engagement photos and how he enjoyed it more than he thought he would!A look into the ring-buying process and why Kevin chose a natural diamond.The 6:45 a.m. proposal story, Angela’s reaction, and the importance of having your nails done!Kevin’s role in wedding planning and the family tradition of a candy bar at the reception.Rapid-fire Q&A: Weddings, wardrobes, and hilarious "what if" scenarios.If you have questions for Sarah Kolis to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

Are you a bridesmaid for an upcoming wedding? Well, you are in luck because in this episode I am joined by my sister, Angela, and we’re chatting all about bridesmaids, from funny stories to helpful tips you don’t want to miss. Whether you’ve been a bridesmaid 27 times or it’s your first go, this episode is packed with advice, laughs, and our experiences!In This Episode:Bridesmaid dos and don’ts for the wedding day and before!Things to avoid doing, such as drinking non-clear liquids around the bride, or being late to the wedding!Advice for bridesmaids planning bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and other events!Ideas and etiquette for wedding gifts. Details on Angela’s upcoming wedding on June 14th, 2025 and the reality of wedding planning during the fall, AKA the busiest season for vendors!If you have questions for Sarah Kolis to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

It’s official, I have moved into the new and improved Sarah Kolis Studio!In this special episode, I recap the exciting journey of transforming a raw garage into my dream studio and celebrating its grand opening in style! You may have heard me share information about this before, but this episode gives you a thorough re-cap of this fabulous event!From beautiful flowers and delicious food to live music and over 165 amazing guests, this grand opening party was a day filled with love, laughter, and lots of celebration! I share details on what went into this big studio transformation, details from the party, and what is next for me and the business!If you are watching on YouTube, I am showing you the outfits and accessories that I wore to the party as well as some bonus dresses!Thank you so much for your support on this incredible journey. If you were at the party, a big thank you for making it so special! And if you couldn’t make it, don’t worry—I’ll fill you in on all the fun details!If you have questions for Sarah to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

In this episode, sisters, Caitlin and Hannah sit down to discuss Hannah’s recent wedding, and how Caitlin, a wedding planner and coordinator, made it extra special! Hannah shares the story of her wedding ceremony and reception, planned by her sister, Caitlin, a renowned wedding planner with Bunny & June Events. Hannah’s dress was altered by yours truly, and she also shares her experience with that whole gown process!Caitlin shares her best tips for women planning their wedding, and how to know if you need a wedding planner, day of coordinator, or month of coordinator so you can actually enjoy your wedding day to its fullest! We also chat about wedding preparations, logistical challenges, and sentimental moments that can make your special day even more special!Follow along with Caitlin! Her website is https://www.bunnyandjuneevents.com/ and instagram @bunnyandjuneeventIf you have questions for Sarah to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

Beth Anderson from Ivory Loft Bridal joins the podcast again! In this episode, we build on our conversation that we started in episode 26, such as Natural Fiber Fabrics vs Synthetic for wedding dressings, the bridal experience overall, and much more. Beth shares details about her wedding dress and the experience she had when shopping (that is a fun story!), as well as what was on her wedding registry, monetary gifts at weddings, and other wedding etiquette!We also dive into her thoughts on wedding trends, the timeless vs trendy bride and her own style preferences and how that translates to what she carries in her store. She also mentions the new trends she is seeing when it comes to what brides really care about within their budget and priorities. Thank you Beth for another fabulous interview!Listen to the first interview with Beth! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dressing-up-with-sarah-kolis/id1654996671?i=1000638339033Connect with Ivory Loft Bridal:Website: https://ivoryloftbridal.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivoryloftbridalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivoryloftbridalIf you have questions for Sarah to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

What IS a preservation kit? And how does it work? These questions answered and more in this in-depth step-by-step guide about how to box up your preservation kit for your wedding dress and the benefits of doing so! Pro tip: give your gown to a friend the day after the wedding to box it up for you while on your honeymoon…and send them the link to this podcast episode! (or Youtube!)If preserving your wedding dress is on your mind, this episode is for you! To see step-by-step, head over to YouTube for the video tutorial, or follow along on this audio-only version. Preserving your wedding dress is one of the best things you can do for the longevity of your gown! We will go over what a preservation kit is, why do it, where to store your dress once you get it back, and step-by-step instructions!Today, I am showing you how to preserve your dress with a product that I sell in-store or on my website. The Wedding Gown Preservation Company has been in business for over 100 years - they are the go to company for wedding dress preservation! The preservation kit includes everything needed and easy-to-follow instructions to send your dress off to be cleaned and preserved for a lifetime! Sarah Kolis highly recommends this service to all brides! This listing is for preservation kits purchased after bridal fittings with Sarah Kolis, and includes standard shipping. Link below to purchase!https://sarahkolis.com/shop-cleaning-preservation-kitIf you have questions for Sarah to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ

I am starting a new series on this podcast called Hot Topics with Hana! Hana Abboud, the founder and creator of L'Amour Bridal, and founder of her own label, Hana Abboud. To kick off this series, Hana and I talk about our opinions on ordering a wedding dress on Amazon, alterations, natural vs lab grown, and wearing shapewear on your wedding day.  Do you have hot topics you want us to talk about in this series? Send us an email or message on Instagram!Listen to episode 17 with Hana: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dressing-up-with-sarah-kolis/id1654996671?i=1000619227174If you have questions for Sarah to answer, send an email to [email protected] with Sarah:Website: https://sarahkolis.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahkolisdesigns/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh7HlVmyj9N5VsleuySxcQ