This united and strong couple, reflect on their wedding journey, highlighting the significance of their union in the context of same-sex and interracial marriage only being legal in the U.S. since 2015 and 1967, respectively.  Click HERE to become a premium subscriber and unlock all of the amazingness:       Ad-free, full length episodes      The TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center with  Access to 6 mini courses of The Big Wedding Planning Master Class  Wedding Planning Templates and Tools Emphasizing their commitment to what was important to them, they share how they navigated the complexities of family dynamics while maintaining clear boundaries. Their positive outlook and resilience shone through as they tackled wedding day snags with professionalism and grace. Melissa speaks passionately about how their queer love is both radical and revolutionary, underlining the historic and personal importance of their marriage. Topics We Covered Strategies for Curating the Guest List The Role of Community Commitment in Shaping Their Wedding Crafting Personalized Wedding Vows Avoiding the Pitfall of Over-Focusing on Minor Details Managing Family Pressure for Unwanted Wedding Elements Maintaining Focus Throughout the Wedding Planning Process Key Components to Incorporate into a Ceremony Script Handling Technical Issues During the Event About Our Guests Karissa Sullivan is an Assistant Principal at Ramapo High School with two Masters degrees and currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from Columbia University. She's been in the education field since her early career, starting as a teacher before earning her advanced degrees. When she's not shaping young minds, Karissa's all about family life. She's a loving sister, daughter, and aunt, and together with her wife, they're working on growing their family, which includes their two furry companions, right in the heart of Nyack, NY and a ton of plants. She's actively involved in her community, serving on the BIPOC Advisory Board for the Phyllis B. Frank Rockland County Pride Center, and is also a charter member and Treasurer of the Black School Educators of Rockland County. Karissa's dedication extends to her role as the inaugural Grand Marshal of the 2023 Rockland County Pride Parade, making her a true advocate and leader in her community. Links We Referenced Ceremony Script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pJxFCq3Tqe2PSraGjdv69oZs_YOAX-DQHq1k73GWFpo/edit?usp=sharing Wedding Coordination and Florals: @luxuryeventcollective  Photography/videography/Photo Booth/lighting: @stateoftheartvisuals and @societyofthearts  DJ: @djcoolee Hair and Makeup: @thekeylookllc @humblehands314  Wedding Cake: @bakerman1727  Rehearsal Dinner Event Space and Bartending: @xhousenyack  Rehearsal Dinner catering: @cravinjamaicancuisine      Wedding Officiant: Reverend Tabatha Holley @revfemmeblaqity  Dog day care: @papawsdoghouse Wedding Dress: @bridesbyyoung  Wedding Suit: @bindleandkeep NY Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/11/style/melissa-dandrea-karissa-sullivan-we Get In Touch:  The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is… Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez  Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics  On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention! Easy to get in touch with. Email us at [email protected] or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices