Choosing Your Reflection

Through weekly conversations with former brides and grooms, we unravel the significance of the perfect wedding day outfit and the stories of the relationships behind them.

About the show

Welcome to Choosing Your Reflection, a series of discussions about the allure and mystery of what to wear on your special day. Through conversations with our diverse group of former brides and grooms, we aim to unravel the unique significance of the perfect wedding day outfit and its meaning to our subjects’ pasts, presents, and futures.

Episodes

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    Follow Your Heart - Evelyn LaTorre

    June 16th, 2021  |  32 mins 29 secs

    Another episode, another fascinating conversation on Choosing Your Reflection -- this week with author Evelyn LaTorre. Originally from small-town Montana, Evelyn got a taste for a larger worldview young and decided to let it grow as fast and vast as possible by joining the Peace Corps where she met her future husband in Peru. Two sons, three decades, and two books later Evelyn takes us through her wedding experience, including an unexpected guest, a handmade dress, and a letter to her parents that took longer in transit than her engagement.

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    A Light Nod to the '80s - Anna Keizer and Derek Dehanke

    June 9th, 2021  |  41 mins 51 secs

    Welcome to another totally radical episode of Choosing Your Reflection with '80s movie buffs and fellow podcasters Anna Keizer and Derek Dehanke. In this fast-paced and fun conversation, Anna and Derek walk us through their special day, which was everything '80s (minus the outfit and leg warmers)! Listen in as Anna and Derek have fun picturing a fantasy wedding re-do, which would, of course, be directed by their beloved director Steven Spielberg!

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    The Essence of Who We Are - Mike Iamele

    June 2nd, 2021  |  31 mins 10 secs

    This week on Choosing Your Reflection we speak with author and brand strategist Mike Iamele. A consummate storyteller and a stickler for intention, Michael walks us through how he and his husband chose subtle details for their rings, outfits, ceremony, and reception, all of which were imbued with purpose. When a highly honored guest pointed out that perhaps only Mike and his partner would notice the subtleties, Michael is quick to reiterate another tenant of his vision: “but they'll feel it!” Join us as we hear the story of how Mike and Garrett displayed "the essence of who we are" in beautiful Aruba!

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    A Gift to Ourselves - Terry B. McDougall

    May 26th, 2021  |  35 mins 42 secs

    This week on Choosing Your Reflection we have the privilege of picking the brain of marketing guru and best-selling author Terry B. McDougall. Blazing a trail by being traditional, Terri takes us through how her ideal, classic event was far from her familial norm. As a professional at unpacking the purpose behind the presentation, Terri walks us through the meaning of a traditional wedding for her, and how it acted as a powerful statement of her strength of will and determination to write her own future with her husband.

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    White Gown, Blue Suit - April Stephens

    May 5th, 2021  |  23 mins 4 secs

    Married during college to an Army serviceman and an eventual mother of four, blogger April Stephens recounts her wedding dress decision and how her "going away" outfit suited the entrance into her new life as an Army wife. April also delves into what it means to lose a garment filled with happy memories.

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    Looking Back - Michael Fiore - NuView Weddings

    April 28th, 2021  |  28 mins 35 secs

    This week on Choosing Your Reflection we are "Looking Back" with Michael Fiore, editor and co-founder of NuView Productions, a wedding and special event videography company. Michael shares how his epilepsy makes documenting necessary for life and how he turned that need into a passion to visually document the magic of life's moments that lead up to a couple's big day. 

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    The Butterfly Effect - Crystal Wilson

    April 21st, 2021  |  28 mins 22 secs

    This week on Choosing Your Reflection we speak to business owner, wife, and mother of two Crystal Wilson. Crystal explains how she transformed as a person, starting when she met her husband at just 12 years old to accidentally finding her perfect wedding dress before being engaged. Featuring iconic butterfly sleeves and monarchs in her bouquet that represented a relative in spirit, Crystal transformed from being a mother before walking down the aisle to becoming a female entrepreneur after!

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    With Love from Mayberry - Joe and Amy Zalescik

    April 14th, 2021  |  32 mins 9 secs

    Thanks for tuning in to our conversation on Choosing Your Reflection with this week’s guests, Joe and Amy. Our guests take us through their musical chairs "meet-cute" and the intricacies of planning a wedding while up against a global pandemic. Nothing if not determined, Joe and Amy walk us through making it all work and some tips and tricks to live streaming your special day!

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    What You Wear Matters - Brandi Sea Heft-Kniffin

    April 7th, 2021  |  48 mins 52 secs

    This week on Choosing Your Reflection we talk with graphic designer and fellow podcaster, host of Design Speaks, Brandi Sea. Brandi shares how selective presentation and creativity fuel her everyday fashion choices and the outfits that defined her three wedding events. With a refreshing take on what it means to search for that special outfit and the relationships of artist and storyteller, Brandi talks about how looking “timeless” may be less important than viewing a dress as a time capsule in the evolution of one’s self expression.

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    Top Hats & Converse Shoes - Taylor Stilwell

    March 31st, 2021  |  34 mins 50 secs

    Welcome back to Choosing Your Reflection with this week’s guest and author Taylor Stillwell. Taylor walks us through her two trips down the aisle and her life’s journey in between, during which she formed her new nuclear family. For her second and surprise wedding, Taylor tells how she managed to convince her wife to help plan their outfits without her even knowing it!

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    Romance in Lace - Carole Foster

    March 24th, 2021  |  17 mins 9 secs

    Welcome back to Choosing Your Reflection! This week we take a trip back to a time when cinched waists, poodle skirts, and cardigans were in vogue. Our host’s grandmother Carole shares the story of her whirlwind romance with her late husband Richard. Just as she recognized perfection in her future spouse, when she saw her dress in a magazine she knew it was meant to be hers. Join us as we hear her tell her tale of romance with the love of her life!

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    A Regal Riegel Wedding - Liz Riegel

    March 17th, 2021  |  22 mins 46 secs

    Welcome back to another new episode of Choosing Your Reflection with this week’s guest Liz Riegel. With strong preferences for a traditional aesthetic, Liz recounts how she was able to focus earlier in life on her career, and how there was little internal fuss about her “proper” wedding style. Through our conversation, Liz reflects back on how her first trip to the bridal shop helped her realize how her life was transitioning into its next stage. A fun conversation with a traditional yet "chill" bride who fashioned a dress fit for a monarch!

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    Finding Balance through the Power of Story - Michael Kass

    March 10th, 2021  |  37 mins 48 secs

    This week on Choosing Your Reflection we have storyteller, coach, and author of the book Story Maps, Michael Kass. He recounts how weddings are one of few ancient rituals left in modern society and shares how couples can practice the "simple" acts of listening and breathing to make the process less stressful. Michael also discusses the importance of aligning your personal stories to find better balance, not only on your wedding day, but every day!

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    The Curvy Bride - Michelle Files

    March 3rd, 2021  |  20 mins 26 secs

    Welcome to another week with us on Choosing Your Reflection, where we interview Michelle Files, owner of The Curvy Bride bridal boutique. Michelle shares how hurdles in her own journey to find her wedding dress helped fuel her entrepreneurial drive in opening New Jersey’s first plus-size bridal shop. Emphasizing the comfort and inclusion that she didn’t feel in her own search, Michelle takes us through the doors and into the fitting rooms of the customized bridal experience she offers in her shop.

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    Who's Going To Do The Dishes? - Crystal Lutz Welsh

    February 24th, 2021  |  31 mins 41 secs

    Welcome back to another episode of Choosing Your Reflection, where we share a discussion with Pennsylvania native Crystal. In a gentle tale of two cities, Crystal describes how she met her husband Bill just after moving from one end of the state to the other. Pragmatic with a dry wit, Crystal shares how a pastor's simple question of “Who’s gonna do the dishes?” sheds light on how to successfully navigate the journey of marriage.

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    Trust Your Inner Voice - Dr. Lindsey Elmore

    February 17th, 2021  |  42 mins 45 secs

    This week on Choosing Your Reflection we are excited to have Dr. Lindsey Elmore, advocate and pioneer in female health and wellness. By sharing stories in which she was challenged to “trust her inner voice” Dr. Elmore recounts her own personal experiences with the wedding process and how she uses them to help others achieve a better understanding internally. Emphasizing growth through change, Lindsey shows ways in which tough decisions can be the best ones through the potential and possibility of the yet unexplored.