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Ring Runner is coming soon!
Ring Runner is our in-house tool built for couples planning their own wedding.
At its core is a live wedding timeline that helps your day run smoothly from start to finish. From your phone, you can stay on top of every moment as it happens and keep everyone involved aligned in real time.
Planning begins with an integrated budget tool that does more than track expenses. It helps you understand what you can realistically spend from the start and continues to update as your plans evolve. Budget items and tasks are linked, so when something changes, everything stays connected and up to date.
Ring Runner also includes a centralized vendor hub where all of your key vendor details are stored in one easy place. Communication is simplified through an in-app group chat that keeps everyone involved in the same conversation.
Additional features include vision boards, contract storage, and document import and export tools, all designed to keep your planning organized in one place.
Check out our website for a full list of upcoming features and details of the waitlist.
Feeling overwhelmed by planning? Laura Taylor Weddings always starts with a complimentary customized consultation to determine how to take your biggest wedding stressors off your plate.
Feature Story
How To Ask Your Family For Wedding Money
Before I became a wedding planner, I spent years as a traveling financial advisor, walking into company break rooms, conference rooms, and sometimes literal factory floors to help employees understand their 401(k)s and plan for retirement. I had conversations about money with people who had never once talked about it out loud before.
What I learned pretty quickly: the hardest part was never the math. It was getting people to start.
Now I plan weddings, and I see the exact same thing. Couples who are so excited to say yes to venues and vendors but have never once sat down and had a real conversation about who's paying for what. So let's talk about the one conversation most engagement guides skip entirely: asking your family for money.
The numbers might surprise you
According to The Knot's 2025 Real Weddings Study, 86% of parents contributed to their child's wedding last year, covering roughly half the total budget on average. That means someone in your family is probably expecting to help. They're just waiting for you to bring it up.
Treat it like a meeting, not a moment
One of the biggest mistakes I see is couples ambushing their parents over Sunday dinner with this conversation. Give everyone a heads up first. A simple "we'd love to sit down and talk through the wedding budget with you soon" lets everyone come prepared instead of caught off guard.
Meet with each side of the family separately too. It's not about competition. It's about giving each family the space to be honest about what they can and can't do without feeling compared to the other side.
Come with a number, not just a dream
Here's where my financial planning background kicks in: you have to know your own position before you ask anyone else for theirs. Know what you and your partner can realistically contribute. Know what a wedding in your area actually costs. When you walk in with a real budget outline, you shift the whole conversation. You're not asking for a handout, you're presenting a plan.
Not sure where to start? I built a free budget tool specifically for this moment. It helps you figure out what you can actually spend before you start putting deposits down on anything. Use it before these family conversations so you walk in informed.
Know what comes with the money
Family contributions often come with opinions attached, and honestly, that's fair. If someone is helping fund your wedding, they deserve to feel included. The key is getting clear on expectations before the checks are written, not after. Ask directly: "Is there anything you'd want a say in if you contribute?" A little transparency now saves a lot of tension later.
One more thing worth saying out loud: make clear you're asking for a gift, not a loan. Starting your marriage in debt to your in-laws is a dynamic nobody needs.
The bottom line
Asking for money is uncomfortable. But I spent years watching people avoid hard financial conversations, and it never made anything easier. The couples who sit down early, talk openly, and come prepared are the ones who start planning with confidence instead of chaos.
You're not begging. You're building a budget. And there's a big difference between the two.
Vendor Spotlight
The Farmhouse at People’s Light
Bridget and Chris fell in love with the magical dance floor at The Farmhouse on their fall wedding day. Inquire here: https://www.farmhousepeopleslight.com/weddings (Photo: Becca Mathias Photography)
Know a vendor that should be spotlighted? Email us at [email protected]
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