Catching Up with Cat - The Wedding Era

Catherine Michelle
  • 5.0 (3)
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Catching Up with Cat - The Wedding Era is the warm, honest, beautifully real podcast where we talk about modern love, wedding planning, and the stories behind the big day. Hosted by Catherine Michelle, a bride-to-be navigating her own destination wedding, this era explores everything couples face - from proposals to planning, family dynamics, dresses, budgets, drama, and the emotional truth behind saying “I do.” It’s romantic, relatable, editorial, and full of wisdom from real couples and industry voices.

Episodes

  1. 5D AGO

    Wedding Planning in the South of France: Venue Tours, Food Tastings & The Most Emotional Weekend

    In this episode of Catching Up with Cat, I’m sharing a full, heartfelt recap of my recent wedding planning trip to the South of France with my fiancé and my mom. This weekend felt like such a special chapter in my life. From landing in Cannes and feeling instantly relieved that I loved it, to touring our venue, tasting the menu, selecting cocktails, and seeing everything come to life in person, it made the wedding feel real in a whole new way. If you’re planning a destination wedding, you truly have to go and try everything. Photos are one thing, but being there changes everything. One of the most emotional parts of the trip was having my mom there with me. Getting that uninterrupted mother-daughter time during such a meaningful season meant more to me than I can even explain. Watching her meet my future in-laws for the first time was a dream come true. It felt like our families officially coming together. I also share what I learned from my hair and makeup trial and why I ultimately decided to do my own glam for the wedding, how essential the food tasting was for finalizing our menu, and how this trip eased so many of the wedding planning anxieties I had been carrying. This was truly a weekend I hope I never forget. I felt so grateful, so emotional, and so excited for what’s to come. If you’re in your bridal era, planning a wedding abroad, or just love a good South of France travel diary, this episode is for you 🤍

    19 min
  2. Finding Your Wedding Dress Without Losing Yourself: Honest Bridal Advice with Designer Phoebe Crosby

    FEB 9

    Finding Your Wedding Dress Without Losing Yourself: Honest Bridal Advice with Designer Phoebe Crosby

    In this episode, Catherine sits down with bespoke bridal designer Phoebe Crosby for an honest and refreshing conversation about what it really means to find your wedding dress. Phoebe shares her journey into bespoke bridal design and explains how the custom process goes far beyond measurements, starting with mood boards, storytelling, and understanding how a bride wants to feel on her wedding day. Together, they unpack common bridal myths, including the pressure to cry in the fitting room, the belief that beauty must come at the cost of comfort, and the overwhelm that can come from too many opinions. They also talk candidly about balancing creativity, business, and family life, how social media has reshaped the bridal industry, and why trusting your instincts matters more than following trends. Whether you are at the very beginning of your dress search or feeling lost in the process, this episode is a reminder that your wedding dress should support you, empower you, and never ask you to lose yourself along the way.

    32 min
  3. Wedding Planning Q&A: Budgeting, Anxiety, Family

    FEB 1

    Wedding Planning Q&A: Budgeting, Anxiety, Family

    In this solo Q&A episode of Catching Up with Cat, I answer your biggest questions about wedding planning, from budgeting stress and family dynamics to the anxiety that can creep in as the big day gets closer. I share how my wedding vision has evolved, what has surprised me most about the financial side of planning, and how I am navigating family expectations while trying to stay true to what feels right for us. I also open up about wedding related anxiety, the pressure created by social media, and what has helped me stay grounded throughout the process. This episode is for anyone planning a wedding who wants honest reassurance, real perspective, and a reminder that you are not alone in this season.

    20 min

  4. JAN 18

    An Iconic London Wedding: Chris & Charlie’s Ten-Year Love Story

    In this heartfelt episode, Catherine sits down with Chris andCharlie to unpack their love story, from meeting 10 years ago to planning a wedding that truly reflects who they are as a couple. Together, they explore the delicate balance between spontaneity and planning in relationships, the complexities of blending families, and the importance of honoring personalvalues throughout the wedding journey. Chris and Charlie share candid reflections on their proposal,navigating family dynamics, and the intentional choices they made when designing their London wedding. From selecting the perfect venue and curating a playlist that set the tone, to incorporating icebreakers and deeply personal ceremony moments, their story highlights how thoughtful details can transform a wedding into an unforgettable experience. Filled with laughter, vulnerability, and practical advice, thisconversation is a reminder that marriage is not about perfection. It is about choosing each other every day, creating moments that feel authentic, and never forgetting to have fun along the way.

    59 min

  5. JAN 11

    How to Have Fireworks Every Anniversary: 13 Years of Love and a Hamptons Wedding with Paulina

    In this episode of Chats with Cat - The Wedding Era, I sit down with one of my oldest friends and the definition of a powerhouse, Paulina. She is an award winning, nationally top ranked real estate agent selling tens of millions in real estate every year, and she is also an award winning writer and director whose debut film has screened at festivals around the world. And somehow, she still makes it all look effortless.   Paulina found her forever person young. She and Logan started dating on July 4, 2012, which means fireworks have been built into their anniversary ever since. We talk about what it really looks like to build a relationship over thirteen years, from that weird in between phase when you go from friends to something more, to growing up together, doing long distance at nineteen, and choosing each other through the hard seasons.   Then we get into the wedding story, including the engagement trip that was supposed to be Iceland until the universe rerouted everything to Harbor Island, plus what it was like planning a Hamptons backyard wedding in just seven weeks during COVID. We talk rehearsal dinner on the beach, a boat night with friends, a Bavarian brunch that honored Paulina’s German roots, live instruments layered over the DJ, late night pizza, and the little choices that turned their wedding into an all time party.   This episode is for anyone who believes friendship is the root of real love, anyone who is growing alongside their person, and any bride who wants a wedding that feels like pure joy.   If you love wedding talk, relationship truth, and best friend energy, hit subscribe and come hang out with us.

    1h 4m

  6. 12/21/2025

    How a Wedding Florist Plans Her Own Destination Wedding in Argentina

    In this episode of Chats with Cat – The Wedding Era, I sit down with wedding florist Kat Romanelli to talk about love, wedding planning, and what it’s really like to plan a destination wedding when you’re the expert. Kat shares her journey from fashion to floral design, how she met her fiancé Stephen, and the story behind choosing Argentina as the place to say “I do.” We dive into the realities of planning a wedding abroad, from sourcing flowers and managing budgets to creating a wedding website that truly reflects you and hiring the right vendors. We also talk about the design details that make a wedding unforgettable, including florals, lighting, extended cocktail hours, and the often overlooked logistics that happen after the celebration ends. Kat offers honest, practical advice for brides who want a beautiful, intentional wedding without losing sight of what matters most. Whether you’re planning a destination wedding or simply love hearing behind the scenes stories from industry insiders, this episode is filled with inspiration, insight, and real bridal wisdom.

    1h 8m

  7. 12/14/2025

    Issa’s Barcelona Wedding: A New York City Engagement & The Ultimate Destination Party

    In this episode of Chats with Cat – The Wedding Era, I sit down with Issa, a pilates instructor who planned a stunning October destination wedding in Barcelona. From her love story and engagement to designing an unforgettable wedding weekend abroad, Issa shares every detail. We talk about finding “the one,” planning a wedding overseas, choosing the perfect dress, curating a guest experience that felt intimate and electric, and throwing a reception that truly felt like a party. Masks, hot sauce, outfit changes, emotional moments, and real advice for brides considering a destination wedding. If you’re dreaming of getting married abroad or want inspiration for creating a wedding that feels personal, stylish, and unforgettable, this episode is for you.

    58 min

  8. 12/06/2025

    From Childhood Neighbors to Soulmates: Madison's Hamptons Love Story

    In this episode of Chats with Cat – The Wedding Era, Catherine sits down with Madison to unpack one of the sweetest love stories ever: marrying the boy next door. From growing up as childhood neighbors to taking the leap into dating, Madison walks us through how their lifelong friendship turned into a forever kind of love.   She opens up about their engagement, the surprise twists of pregnancy, and their decision to elope at Gurney’s in Montauk when she was nine months pregnant. Madison also gets candid about wedding planning pressure, navigating family expectations, and the friendships that shifted along the way.   This conversation is honest, warm, and full of wisdom for any bride-to-be, especially if you’re juggling unconventional timelines, big emotions, or a few wedding dilemmas of your own. Get ready for an episode that feels like a heart-to-heart with your bridal bestie.

    44 min

  9. 11/29/2025

    From Minnesota to Mallorca: Adyson’s Destination Wedding Story

    In this first episode of Chats with Cat - The Wedding Era, I catch you up on my own wedding planning adventures before sitting down with the amazing Adyson, who planned a stunning destination wedding in Mallorca. She shares how she met her husband, their proposal, her civil ceremony in Minnesota, divorced-parent dynamics, guest list surprises, her dress journey, and everything that went right (and wrong) along the way.  If you’re a bride, a romantic, or just here for the gorgeous chaos of real wedding stories, you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it. Submit Your Anonymous Wedding Dilemmas! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScB3LfBBV4MCW_fCGRIg2dM5txMeNJ8DDxWkhYOb3Mr0H_ycg/viewform?usp=dialog

    53 min
  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Catching Up with Cat - The Wedding Era is the warm, honest, beautifully real podcast where we talk about modern love, wedding planning, and the stories behind the big day. Hosted by Catherine Michelle, a bride-to-be navigating her own destination wedding, this era explores everything couples face - from proposals to planning, family dynamics, dresses, budgets, drama, and the emotional truth behind saying “I do.” It’s romantic, relatable, editorial, and full of wisdom from real couples and industry voices.

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