Full Transcript – Dana Branstetter – Wild Business Growth Podcast #213

This is the full transcript for Episode #213 of the Wild Business Growth Podcast featuring Dana Branstetter – Wedding Recap. You can listen to the interview and learn more here. Please note: this transcript is not 100% accurate.

Max Branstetter 0:00
Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright): Congratulations, Dana, Max. Oh my gosh. Well done! Max Branstetter: Hello, hello. Welcome back to the Wild Business Growth Podcast. This is your place to hear from a new entrepreneur every single Wednesday morning who’s turning Wild ideas into Wild growth. I’m your host, Max Branstetter, Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting. And you can email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast. This is episode 213. And it is a very, very, very, very unrepeated etc. repeated eight is a special episode. This is the the annual Thanksgiving special which is a family or family business episode. And I think this one is by far the most unique yet full disclosure, it does not have too much business talk. So it’s a little bit different except for the outstanding customer service of the vendors but this is the interview with my wife, Dana Branstetter formerly Dana Gottdiener who I’m very appreciative was willing to recap our very recent at the time of this recording wedding and it was just the most special and beautiful and wonderful and amazing as you’ll hear and night and weekend of our lives and we wanted to share you know kind of our take our perspectives of how the weekend when everything from the build up through brunch and into the mini moon after it and give you some behind the scenes from the new husband and wife. So this is the wedding recap. Special Edition Thanksgiving Family Edition wedding recap edition of the Wild Business Growth Podcast. If you’re listening to this around the time of Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving! have the best the bestest time with your family. And if not have a have a spectacular day. Enjoy the shoooooow! Alrighty we’re here for maybe the most special episode and with I’d have to say the most special guests of all time. Very special Thanksgiving family episode with the artist formerly known as Dana Gottdiener. My wife, my lovely, beautiful wife, Dana Branstetter, aka Dana Gottdiener Michelle Branstetter who’s already making faces. I mean, Dana, we are recording this one week Exactly. After getting married. So we we thought we’d do a special wedding recap celebration episode. Dana, thank you so much for joining us. You’ve had the longest commute of any guest how’re you doing today?

Dana Branstetter 3:09
I’m doing well. Thank you. Oh, see

Max Branstetter 3:11
your natural podcaster no more faces were made no eyes were rolled in the in the taping of this recording. But yeah, so this is a very, very surreal time I alluded to in the previous episode, we’ve we had the passing of my Grandpa Fred. And you know, right after that we had you know, the build up the final build up for the wedding, which was amazing. We’ll talk a lot about that today. And then between the funeral and the wedding, we had a little hurricane scare. So why not just throw craziness on top of craziness. But what we’re going to do today is cover some of the memorable moments for the wedding from the wedding. And for those who are there thanks again for coming. I mean, it was the best night of our lives easily. And for those who weren’t there I think you’ll you’ll enjoy this look whether you’re there or not you’ll enjoy this look behind the scenes and I think for us selfishly this is going to be kind of a keepsake to look back on. So we want to start off without further ado with the build up to the wedding where we were checking the weather all week leading up to our wedding in Florida and we see there’s rain rain and more rain and and then it comes out that you know there’s a storm brewing in the tropics. And actually they think it’s going to escalate to a hurricane, the week of our wedding. So all of a sudden it went from you know, stress enough people traveling down to Florida as usual to oh my god, we’re we have a bunch of guests that need to dodge a hurricane including ourselves. So Dana, what was what was going through your mind when we first learned that a hurricane might be invited to our wedding as well?

Dana Branstetter 4:47
It was definitely a stressful situation. I’m trying to make sure that we get down in time and have time down there to do what we needed to do as well as all our guests get down there in time. It was right If it was hard,

Max Branstetter 5:02
it was hard. Was there any point that you thought, oh my god, the actual wedding might be in jeopardy or get postponed? No, you know, you had faith. So this hurricane scare we we eventually got into Florida and we’re able to write out the hurricane there and it was great obviously that the bride and groom were there, you know, that was kind of the first checkbox were like, Okay, we’re going to our own wedding. That’s great. But then we have the super stressful and this of like, oh my god, all of our friends and family, including people from all across the US, even people family family or up in Europe, people in Europe, people from all all around the world coming in for the wedding. And we kind of just have to sit there and and hope that we get the text from everybody Hey arrived and landed. What – how was that experience for you of like just sitting in waiting for people to hopefully come in?

Dana Branstetter 5:52
Um, well, luckily for me, two of my bridesmaids had arrived either right before me or right after me. So that was very relieving. But I still had two other bridesmaids that needed to get in. But other than that, it was a lot of not sure. Who was going to be able to get in if we were going to cut our guestlist in half based on who was going to arrive. How would the last minute shuffle of tables work out? There was definitely some stress.

Max Branstetter 6:23
Yeah, like, do we need to move from the ballroom to like, you know, like the bathroom of your parents house. Do we need like, we were joking. Like, okay, we’re at least up to double digit guests. Okay, where are we? Okay, we are 20 guests, and oh my god. Yeah, that was crazy. So why not throw a hurricane in between a funeral and a wedding. So anyway, we got in let’s fast forward to Friday. So Friday, you know more and more people are in obviously in this was like the Friday welcome party slash welcome dinner hosted by my parents shout out Greg and JoAnn Branstetter. This Friday night, I think was the first time that like, it really, really hit us in those first time that we saw, like lots of people together in it kind of hit us of Oh, my god, like all these people are here to celebrate with us. And somehow everybody made it from all around the US and Europe to Dana’s point. So welcome party, what was what was kind of Dan was what was like your main takeaway, or like a memorable moment from the actual Friday night welcome, party.

Dana Branstetter 7:19
Um, like you said, I think just having everybody who was there for us and was celebrating us all in one place was really cool. My outfit was definitely something that I was really excited about wearing my mother’s wedding gown. That was very special and to have other people see, it was awesome. But I remember when we pulled up to the hotel, I like hop jumped right out of flowing right out of the car. Because I was just so excited to see people that we knew and just knowing that all these people had flown in for us to celebrate us. That weekend was amazing.

Max Branstetter 7:57
It was in your outfit. I remember. It was so cool. And there’s obviously pictures online of it. And I think you first heard of this idea. What was it? It was like a friends or family friend’s wedding that there was there was a bride that you can basically explain

Dana Branstetter 8:12
it. Yeah, shout out. Lindsay Goldberg. She won’t listen to this. But she might like, I don’t even know how many five years ago maybe she had her wedding over the summer and her Friday night outfit was recreating her, her mother’s wedding gown. So she wore that and I like fell in love with the idea knowing that my mom’s dress was preserved. We didn’t know what it would look like. But after about two months after we got engaged, we were down in Florida. So we decided that would be my whole family was down there. And that would be like a perfect time to pull it out. Try it on and see if we could do that with my dress. Some we didn’t know have many contacts down in Florida to know who could recreate the dress. But luckily we had our wedding planner, Joanie gave us someone who was amazing and really had a vision for the dress, and took the dress and made it what it was. But when I back a year ago, when I tried on the dress, it didn’t fit me it was from the 80s the sleeves were huge. There was a corset back that wasn’t even close. So there was definitely a lot of work that had to be done to that dress to make it wearable. That’s the word.

Max Branstetter 9:29
And I think the coolest part about it was it looked beautiful on its own. And you can see in the pictures and like everybody who saw you in that dress was like oh my god, like I love your dress. It’s so amazing. And I think there were a good amount of people that didn’t even know the story behind it. So like they genuinely just thought it was really cool and really nice and like a creative dress. And then they learn the story behind that they’re like, wait, wait, that’s Sheryl’s dress. So that’s Yeah, that’s really cool. It came full circle and made for some awesome throwback pictures. So the outfit was awesome. I gotta say mine was pretty good as well just didn’t have as much story. Do it.

Dana Branstetter 10:00
One more thing. If you need a dressmaker down in Florida shout out Sasha. She was amazing. If you need her information, let me know. And I’m happy to give it out.

Max Branstetter 10:12
Perfect shout out Sasha, a lot of S’s, a lot of Sasha sells seashells by the seashore. The other thing that I think struck me Friday, and I don’t know if you felt the same way, but I had people ask me like, my buddy Jason was like, hasn’t hit you yet. Like, you know, this is your wedding weekend, like, all these people are like, like, Does this feel like your wedding and I was having a hard time describing it, which you know, as you know, per usual for me, but I was like, it’s kind of strange. This weekend. Like, it’s like, you’re invited to a party that all your friends and family and like everybody from your life that you love are at. And everywhere you look, it’s like, oh my god, so and so’s here. Someone’s it was here, and you go, and it’s constantly and then you like kind of have to remind yourself like, Wait, like they’re here. Like, for our wedding to celebrate with us. It’s almost like just a big party. Everybody loves that. And you have to keep reminding yourself. We were kind of the star of the shows here.

Dana Branstetter 11:03
Yeah, I mean, I’m not sure if it really hit me that it was our wedding weekend until maybe my first look with my dad. But I guess we’ll get to that. But it was just you know, a lot of everybody was there for us. But like it wasn’t really fully hitting me that it was the weekend that we’ve been planning.

Max Branstetter 11:24
So Mrs. Branstetter, you’re officially the queen of segues because we’re gonna get to wedding day. So yeah, again, amazing night, Friday night. We stayed up not too too late and were able to get some sleep. At least some you know, I think any sleep you get the day before your wedding is you’ll take it. Saturday, we wake up Saturday, November 12 It’s wedding day. Holy schnikes To keep this age appropriate. You know, the girls obviously Dana, you and your bridesmaids and you know the moms and anybody else who was getting ready the grandmas got kind of about two to three hour early start than the guys me and the groomsmen in my dad and your dad. But yeah, basically that whole morning and then like lunchtime was like getting ready time. So you know for the guys like we’re getting our makeup done. We’re getting ahead now the girls were getting, you know, you’re getting hair makeup, which I have to say You of course and then everybody looks stunning. Unbelievable. And then the guys that’s more of like Alright, show up later eat lunch and then put the tuxes on. But how was the whole like, what were like the vibes the energy, like how would you describe that whole you know those few hours of like you and all your girls and you know, the moms like getting ready in anticipation of this huge day.

Dana Branstetter 12:35
So my mom and I arrived first we started at nine but we wanted to get there a little early and do just a walk through of the venue and make sure everything looked okay. So we got there. Obviously I woke up way before my alarm, which doesn’t often happen for me. But I was very excited. And then we got there and then slowly my bridesmaids started coming and Emma, my Maid of Honor arrived. And then my other bridesmaids arrived as well. So by the time I was getting going with my hair, all my girls were there and they were we were just celebrating and and having a good time. And everybody got their hair and makeup done. And my mom went and then I finished up mine. And it was it was exciting. Our wedding planner was arrived, the system arrived. Hair and makeup was awesome. Their assistants were great. And we just had a fun time we had breakfast and we had lunch it was a lot of meals that we spent having that we had there.

Max Branstetter 13:44
What was like the ratio of excitement-nervousness-anxiety in that time.

Dana Branstetter 13:50
It’s probably a lot of both 50-50 50-50 Yeah. Exciting knowing like that. It was like the wedding day but not really like feeling that it was like not hasn’t really hit you fully yet. But definitely like nervous that knowing that like everybody’s eyes were on you that day and it was all about you. But it was it was overall fun. It was a lot of fun getting ready.

Max Branstetter 14:16
Absolutely. And I’ll echo that for the guys obviously less hair and makeup but yeah, we showed up at one and had a there’s a beautiful spread out as the guys and part of my takes a sub spread. And we had a great meal. Watch. Indiana get crushed by Ohio State football on in the background per usual. And then we started getting dressed and I do have to say that we all including the fathers took one shot of Macallan 12 whiskey to start off the day so that was a good jumpstart to everything and we made it through the day so that was a good tradition, which is our tradition. But anyway, let’s get to the good good stuff. First look couple first looks here. The first first look, Dana, can you describe how the first look with your father went,

Dana Branstetter 15:08
um, the first look with my dad was awesome. I that’s like, really the time that it all kind of hit me that this was happening. Um, just having him walk in and he had never seen me in my wedding gown. He didn’t want to go to any of the fittings, because he wanted it to be a surprise. So when he saw me for the first time, it was just, obviously a lot of emotions now, and even more emotions. That

Max Branstetter 15:40
is beautiful. And I obviously I didn’t, I was up next. I didn’t get to see any of that. But I saw the pictures after but I think afterwards one of the planners or so maybe it was your mom or my mom said like the probably your mom said, like, view and your dad’s first look was just absolutely beautiful. And like it was emotions all around. And it was, yeah, that like, you know, it’s one of the first huge like wedding like, oh my god moments and you’re The Buddy as Gary said in his speech. So that was Yeah, I have chills thinking about it. It’s just beautiful. And then this dope Max comes in. No, but I have to say that’s when, because I kept for our first look, I’d have to say that’s the moment that it all really really hit me because I like wasn’t like the night before. I wasn’t nervous at all. People kept asking me Are you nervous? Nervous? I’m like, No, I’m like kind of nervous that I’m not nervous. Because it was a little unsettling. Like, I thought I’d be more nervous. And even the morning of I was like, No, I was excited. I was I was like, let’s make this happen. I wasn’t nervous. And then when they pulled me out, well, first of all, like walking me through Addison to the wedding venue, you know, like the planners and photographers walking me through and then had to make sure not to like let me get too far ahead, because they didn’t want me to see you before it was time. That was kind of funny. I felt like I was walking around with like Secret Service agents or something. And then when they pulled me outside, they literally were like, alright, well, Dana’s in that room to the left. So you can walk out this way, but do not look to the left. So that was weird, because I’ve never been in that situation before. So I walked out and they spent a few minutes getting me ready. And I’m literally just standing out there like looking in the opposite direction. And that was like, when it all hit me because I remember looking at the videographer and photographer me like oh my god, okay, I think I think it hit me because it was so nerve wracking, just waiting there. Like, knowing that you’re gonna, like walk up behind me and, you know, tapped me on the shoulder or whatever you’re gonna do. And I was finally gonna get to see you in that dress for the first time, which of course, you were really good at not letting me see it either. Not that I tried. But

Dana Branstetter 17:38
that was like I definitely tried to show you

Max Branstetter 17:42
know, you were very excited. You’re like, I cannot wait to show you how amazing this looks. But that was just so nerve wracking, just standing there waiting and being like, oh my god, like this is like I’m about to see like my bride and her dress like any second now. And also, I think the way that they do it of like you walking up from behind is like extra nerve racking. So finally, I hear you. I’m like almost like shaking, and I hear like your footsteps walking out. And like the videographer photographers like, okay, Dana’s behind you, like don’t look just like keep looking this way. And then this is the way to turn. It was also really funny because you end up tapping me on the left shoulder. But the photographer shadow layer who’s amazing, told me to turn to the right, because that’s where the camera was. So you probably expected me to turn to the left because you tap the left. or to the right, just for photos.

Dana Branstetter 18:27
I just would like to say that I wasn’t told which shoulder to tap. So it wasn’t my fault that that happened.

Max Branstetter 18:34
No, it’s great. But so I can’t wait to see this picture. But I I’m trying to think of what I just I think I said like, when I finally saw you said like, Oh my god, it was gorgeous. Or like it’s just speechless. I don’t even know but it was the video will tell. Exactly. But you you are I mean, you’re you’re always studying in that in that moment. I was I oh my god, I almost like flew in outer space. Okay, anything else in first look, that’s that’s a hefty one.

Dana Branstetter 19:04
No, I mean, I feel like from that, from the first look, I was a little nervous walking up. But when I saw you from behind, I felt relaxed and fine.

Max Branstetter 19:12
Oh, the back of my head is ridiculous.

Dana Branstetter 19:15
So then, after that, it was it was honestly it was a little awkward having everybody cameras on us, like recording us. And I felt like we had to like, act some way. But like then it kind of went back into place and everything was normal again. But

Max Branstetter 19:35
I do want to shout out our buddy Jared Friedman, who probably one minute after the initial first look. walks through the back around shirtless like post workout. So Jared was a big part of the first look as well. So that was that was hilarious. All right. So as you alluded to, there were just a couple photos. I think the next block of like, what, two three hours, actually? Yeah, it was about three hours. All in all in all with our pictures, bridal party photos, photos, bridal party pictures, and then family pictures is obviously big blocks of tons of pictures, which at the time of this recording, we’ve gotten the sneak peek on some of them from Lara and they are just gorgeous like we can’t we literally can’t stop scrolling and scrolling through them. So we can’t wait to see the full albums but just awesome pictures and a bunch of different cool settings. I think what was really cool about the weekend was like after the storm passed in the middle of the week, vast majority of the weekend in days leading up to it like it was beautiful like 82 and sunny and it did storm on our wedding night but we so much of it was inside that it didn’t impact anything. But the pictures we were able to do like all outside and that was really really cool. But yeah, as you mentioned it was really funny like it was very cute after we had our first look you know we had our you know just pictures with you and I and brought us out by the putting green and by like the waterfall in the background. And then we look out and we see like we’re like oh wait there’s my my buddy is like the groomsmen were peeking out trying to get glimpses like in saw my parents out there saw your grandma Phyllis, like everybody was just trying to catch a look of us together for the first time which was which was really really really sweet. But yeah, there’s tons of stuff with photos but what else sticks out to you sticks out to you from like the photo experience overall.

Dana Branstetter 21:19
Sorry to Addison Reserve if I ruin their putting green with my heels walking on my you’re already on your tippy toes when you’re in heels but I had to walk extra on my tippy toes so that my heels went sink into the petting green. So that was definitely a challenge but I’m so happy we did it because we some of those photos were in our sneak peek and they look awesome it’s even the background of my phone right now. I just love looking at it so I can’t wait to see all the photos that come out of that

Max Branstetter 21:49
yeah, it was like that one was like instant lock screen for you you’re like oh my god this is perfect and your dress looks amazing. And as you might expect it slightly more maintenance and kind of propping and setting up with your train then versus you know my shoes in boot near another thing that sticks out of that was I mean it was really fun like doing the you know the bridal party ones and like the groomsmen together and oh my god there’s some ridiculous like there’s one where cam is a like a football center snapping me to a fake football and I’m the quarterback so you know get excited for those. Oh, can’t wait. Yeah, no sarcasm

Dana Branstetter 22:22
there had after that we went with the girls to the pool. And you guys were kind of there to in a different area. But this I guess these kids saw me as a bride. And they she was came running at the pool. And she was soaking wet. And we were all like do not get that close to me. Like don’t get anywhere near. And she was like saying like how she was she was a bride and she was married and we were just like, Okay, great. The night you gotta go because you’re wet and we don’t want you anywhere near us. But that was definitely funny. And luckily she did leave at some point. But then we were able to take our photos but that’s what the pond of water was by us. I don’t know if you remember if you saw it there. But we were always like don’t walk in the water because of the girl.

Max Branstetter 23:11
Oh my god. And I think I don’t know if it’s the same grown up but came over to the groom’s and this might have been all the bridal parties together, but came by kind of towards the end, as you’re taking pictures and got like really, really close be on the photographer. And this cute little girl was just like, “Are you getting married?!” No, we’re just playing dress-up. But that was it was really really cute. Might have been the same girl that complimented you and your dress the next day. Anyway, that so we took those pictures. The other thing I just want to shout out, especially your your bridesmaids during the family, family during the family photos, during the family photos, especially Dana and Alyssa, we were outside just outside the building in this, you know, we had like an hour of family photos to get through. And you know, it’s tough to shop with so many different combinations that people get through. And I know you felt like like it didn’t come through in the pictures. But you said you were dripping sweat i was really hot in my tux jacket. And so it was like it was really hot at that point in the day. And we’re kind of like, alright, let’s just get these done. And Dana and Alyssa were literally like holding ice to our backs and like, like cooling you down. And they’re like literally whatever you need, like we’re there for you. And so like they were just so so helpful. They’re amazing. Yeah,

Dana Branstetter 24:21
they were great. It also I felt like it got like 10 degrees hotter from our couples photos. And then the bridal party photos were great. And then all of a sudden it was family photos time and it just felt like it was 10 to 15 degrees hotter at that moment. I could just feel the sweat dripping down me and I was just hoping that it couldn’t be seen through the wedding gown. But

Max Branstetter 24:44
yeah, yeah, it was. No they from what we’ve seen already. They came out amazing. We got through photos, and then we have like, a half an hour to chill before the Ketubah signing. So that was really nice just to kind of like take a breather for a little bit. And then I thought like, besides the first look, the next thing that really really made it feel We always like the Ketubah signing because this was, you know, a little a little dirty inside trick, you know, we called the wedding for 6. But that really that’s when the consumer signing was we were walking down the aisle to 6:30. So you get buffer time for people to get there. So we meet back in, you know, that private room at six for the Ketubah signing. And we’re there with, you know, our immediate families, the grandmas, shout out our aunts, Karen and Lori who are the witnesses, we meet the rabbi in person for the first time, which was awesome. Shout out Rabbi Kaplan where they were the planners and photographers and everything. And, you know, we signed the whole Ketubah signing process I thought was like, Robert Kaplan did a really great job of like, making sure we knew what we were signing, and making jokes about it and making you know, it’s like, I’m required to buy your jewelry every year on your on our anniversary. Probably your birthday too. And then, you know, we took some amazing family pictures together. But overall, I just thought that was really cool. And also felt really real, because we knew within half an hour, we’d be walking down the aisle, and you know, people are gathering outside and go into their seats. How was that experience for you?

Dana Branstetter 26:03
Yeah, I mean, the vault the room called, it’s called the vault itself. It’s just a gorgeous room. So just being in there and having our like you’ve said, who was there, our meeting family, the grandmas, everybody was just there. And that was like a moment like, we were signing the papers, like we were, according to the Jewish religion, we were legally married, once we signed the Ketubah. So like, that was very, like real in the moment as well. But just having everyone surrounding us and, you know, taking those pictures, and now we have the pictures of it, and it was just, I just got everything was it was amazing. Like, keep using it was just it

Max Branstetter 26:44
was amazing. It’s amazing that you keep using that word. No, I agree. Yeah, I was just studying real life big stuff. Let’s get close to 6:30. By the way, I guess when I get, I’ve just had this happen in the past before, like a big presentation or something. But when I get really nervous, and at that point, I was definitely nervous. When I get really nervous, my mouth starts to get really dry. So I tried to make up for that by drinking a ton of water, which was great, except like it wasn’t really helping my mouth that much. And then right before the ceremony, I had to pee really bad. So at some point, we were all like lining up. In order of what we’re walking down the aisle, I like, disappeared for a little bit. And then I hear outside people going where’s Max? Where’s Max? And then your dad, like, found me in the bathroom? And was just like, oh my god, I thought we had like a runaway groom. And I was like, oh, no, no, I just had to be. I wasn’t concerned

Dana Branstetter 27:35
at all. I don’t even think I was there when they were saying where was Max. So that was good. One less thing for me to stress about. He stressed that I was more stressed. Like, it seemed like it was just taking forever to like get started. I’m sure it wasn’t that long that we were standing in line there. But it felt like a lot of time. I don’t know about for you. But I guess he went to the bathroom. So.

Max Branstetter 27:58
Yeah, exactly. So one of the more memorable that from experiences of my life, we’ll save that for a different episode. But anyway, we’re all lined up. And we’re outside. And like we can actually, I don’t know if you could see it from your angle, because you’re at the back, obviously. But like, we could kind of see the last two rows of people in the room looking in when we were outside. So that was crazy. Like, oh, wow, people are like seeing us and looking back and like we’re seeing them and then like seeing some people who for the first time like was just that that was really, really cool. So ceremony starts the grandmas walked down or siblings walked down, you know, the pairings of different groomsmen and bridesmaids I walked down with my parents and then at the tail end is you know, obviously you’re your maid your MOH your Maid of Honor and cousin we joke sister-cousin bestie Emmy, and then you and your parents. And I just have to say like, you know, we already had the first look obviously, but seeing you walk down the aisle with your parents was was very, very surreal and just beautiful. And you could just see like, there wasn’t like a single person in the room that wasn’t like ear to ear smile and or tears down their face. And so it was perfect. And also was seeing it cool, cool seeing it all come together. Because you know, we had talked, we picked up the songs that they played during that and it was cool to like experience that, you know, live everything planned. And yeah, it was it was just gorgeous. How, from your perspective, what was it like walking down that aisle.

Dana Branstetter 29:18
I felt very relaxed. And then we started we like I got into the view of like the first like you said the first few rows in the back and I just heard like the reactions of people. And that kind of made me a little a little nervous to walk down the aisle. But obviously like seeing you at the end was great and it made it a lot easier. My dress did have a very big train that did get caught on the the runner as we walked down so that was I felt like I was really pulling myself down that aisle just to get the dress there but hopefully it didn’t show in. Yeah, when other people looked at it. We couldn’t tell

Max Branstetter 30:00
Train Kept a Rollin’ no I don’t I don’t think it came off that way. Okay, well that’s good and like everybody in their mom literally some for some of the cases was was taking pictures of you. I was taking mental pictures so yeah, that was that was amazing and then I think the whole for me I thought like looking back now the whole ceremony was like a blur like there’s so many different parts of it you know we did a walking with round each other in circles that was funny moment because we both like counted out each time we did it and everybody saw it. So we did that rabbit Kaplan did amazing job with everything.

Dana Branstetter 30:28
Yeah, Rabbi Kaplan was amazing. Yeah, like a couple of conferences with him just to you know, get to know each other. But he really pulled it all together.

Max Branstetter 30:37
And he also got us to think about we were debating whether to that we should have speaking parts doing or not. But he said don’t think of it as vows thinking of it as words from the heart. And I thought that was a really good way to approach it. And you had like thought yours out before and it was beautiful. And I was very emotional during that. And then I did mine, which probably mine were probably more non traditional, but it was, but it was I really enjoyed saying that to you in front of everybody as well. Anything else that like stood out to you about the ceremony before what we’ll get to the the smash glass in a second but overall,

Dana Branstetter 31:10
no but the the ceremony space and you to have it’s the first time I’d seen like the chuppah and the tallied set and the florals and it just like we had a meeting with the florist to kind of see what he was thinking and make sure that that was the vision that we had. And then just to see it all together. And the ceremony room was awesome, because you can only like you know, the separate pieces and you don’t really you have ideas for the the chuppah, but you don’t really know exactly what it’s gonna look like. But it just, it was perfect. I mean, in my opinion, it was perfect.

Max Branstetter 31:47
It was perfect. I agree. I second the perfect perfectionist. And then this was a part that I was most nervous about at anything the entire weekend. Because you don’t think it’s a big deal when you see other people do it. But then when you’re the one that does it, you’re like, oh, man, I really want to do this on the first try was smashing the glass at the end, which I think is one of the coolest traditions, obviously very popular Jewish tradition at weddings. You know, smash the glass, everybody says Mazel Tov. And I was, you know, I never smashed the glass before. So I was just like asking people, like, there’s not many tips like I live in Google online, there’s that many tips about the way to do it and successfully do it, successfully do it. But I think what helped us you know, it was on our registry, we did ask for an actual smash glass that was made for this purpose. So it was probably easier to break then if we were using like a big wine glass or something else, life will probably be easier.

Dana Branstetter 32:38
If you look at the inside of the smash glass, there were like little lines that definitely wear like the brake lines like to make it easier for it to break.

Max Branstetter 32:46
But I have to say like the moment of so it’s very nerve wracking when like Rabbi Kaplan puts the glass in front of me, lowers the mic down there and says, Alright, Max, whenever you’re ready. It goes from like, a moment of being like very nervous, and like, oh my god to when I actually stomped on it, and it broken right away. It was like, instantly, like pure, you know, jubilation celebration relief in a way because, you know, I was good. And then it’s so cool. How like everybody says, Mazel Tov, and, you know, they say that we can kiss. And it came through in the photos of like, I think we both raised our arms and like celebrated and obviously kiss each other and then walk down the aisle after that. But it’s just such a cool tradition. Because it’s, you know, the ceremony is like, pretty serious. There’s some, you know, some light humor in there, but it’s pretty serious thing. And then in like an instant it goes to like, Alright, congratulations, let’s party. So I thought that was really really cool. So let’s party Well, I guess before the the actual party at night was right. So right after that was a cocktail hour. So right after that we walked out, of course more and more pictures, there’s you know, there’s the recession, and then recessional that too, and they we go back to the vault where we signed the tuba where it was just kind of a moment for us to be by ourselves. And for like the person that was like attending to our ever need to shout at Richard to you know, as if we weren’t in a food or drinks theater signature drinks out for us. They had an amazing spread of like everything, all the order from the cocktail hour. And it was kind of our moment to just decompress. And then it was also the moment for your dress to get bustled is that the right term bustle? Yes. I heard a lot about bustling

Dana Branstetter 34:29
a little bit into that. That’s when we bustled my dress. So my mom was there. And Karen me was there my Maid of Honor and Jill was also there. Jill was awesome with the bustle. We had a video and it would seem so easy, but it wasn’t as easy when it came to do it. But they made it work. Unfortunately, the bustle did break a few times during the night and I had to safety pin it but by the end of the night it was over my arms and Was it was fine, it was awesome.

Max Branstetter 35:02
The hustle and bustle is real. So then we so we basically I think we chilled in there for like maybe 30 minutes to 45 minutes, just chilling, eating a bit, which was great because everybody says you don’t eat at your wedding and like we actually were able to eat a little bit than there. Try the drinks. And then right before we went out and finally joined people in the cocktail hour, which we we really missed a lot of it. But we heard it was fantastic. We, you know, we were just soaking in like being by ourselves, and like having some peace and quiet for, you know, the only time over the next, you know, seven hours or whatever it was. And we did practice, just because we never practice in our wedding attire, we practice our first dance in there, which was really fun just to do it one more time. And we were like, we got it right. But you realize that you had to maybe raise your dress a little bit with your hands to make sure you that you don’t trip on it. So that’s kind of like the last row and then it was like, go out and boom, just like the flooding of everybody coming up and like congratulations, cogratulations. Like, get pictures all around. So that was

Dana Branstetter 35:59
yeah, I’m not sure if we were ever together during the cocktail hour. You’re getting I mean, we took maybe like two pictures with like people in the beginning. And then we were all being we were both being pulled in different directions. And just seeing you know, everybody, they’re just trying to get to everybody so that we could see everybody. That was definitely hard.

Max Branstetter 36:20
And then the party. So like we could talk for hours we could talk for as long as the party was about the party. I mean, it was so much fun and always goes by so quick. It’s amazing how quick like four or five hours goes by when it’s just having the time of your life. But it was just amazing all around. And so we can’t spend too much time talking about it. But as you mentioned with you know, the decor and flowers and everything, like everything looked amazing, the lighting was incredible. The band private stock was out of this world, like we got so many compliments. They’re so like interactive and they played the took a lot of requests that I sent in, but also like they really like read the room and saw what people were interested in. So that was all incredible. I think some of the most memorable stuff is just the way that it starts off like it starts off they introduce the bridal party, which there’s the especially Cam shoutout there’s some killer dance moves there. And then they introduce us and that was amazing walk into this room of just like tons of our close friends and family and like people we love all going crazy just that like the sight of us and like announcing us as Mr. & Mrs. Branstetter which is amazing. And then we get out there and like instantly it was the put on our first dance song crazy little thing by love. By Queen, shoutout Freddie Mercury

Dana Branstetter 37:32
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” exactly. You

Max Branstetter 37:34
think I know it by now many times I’ve heard “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen shoutout Freddie Mercury and the started playing it and then we you know, we just got to our spots on the opposite side of the dance floor. And I think it was really like shout out to our, our dance instructor Uros in Hoboken, I think it’s Hoboken Latin & Ballroom who just within four or five lessons like has taught us go from like zero to like, pretty skilled swing dancers. I thought, that’s when your swing dancers, people were just like me, it was really fun doing that, you know, so much we could do it done that dance in front of we practice in front of rows. And we’d practice just by ourselves, like in our kitchen, kind of a miniature version of the dance floor. And I think just doing it in front of everybody was so cool, like people going crazy. You know, like when you would do your your spins, or we would do the dip and everybody would absolutely go nuts. I don’t know, how do you think the first dance went? Overall?

Dana Branstetter 38:30
I mean, I thought we did a great job. Like we said, we did practice it in my dress once before we went into the cocktail hour, but even when I we were doing it full out, like, once my train got in there, it was really hard to get fit that second turn in. But thank God you were there to continue to spin me I was there. So that was that was so funny. Because like I was like laughing because I like kind of was like stuck and you’d like kind of helped me along the way. And then we’re like, it’s okay, we’ll just get back into it. And I doubt anyone now they’ll know. But I doubt anyone noticed that. Or maybe they did. And they were still like, Wow, that’s awesome. But just you know, having everybody cheering and with all the spins, it was it was great.

Max Branstetter 39:14
Right after that, which was like the best transition ever. Right after that we go straight into the horror, and the band of the horror live play the song which was incredible. I always love a horror that’s like really fast paced. And they did that. So it was great. And they also kept it going for long enough that not only were we up on the chairs, but we got your parents Gary and Sheryl up in the chairs we got my parents, Greg & JoAnn up on the chair. And it was just an absolute blast but blessing at that too, but an absolute blast. And I think what struck me from that was like, the horror is always fun. Like I think it’s one of the best traditions one of my favorite Jewish traditions. But when you’re literally in the center of like all those people spinning around you, it’s just like insane. Like that’s one of the you know, it’s like that will forever be one of the most memorable moments of our life. So that was a ton of fun. How was it for you?

Dana Branstetter 40:01
agreed it was awesome. Thank you for the people who were holding me up because you hold held me flat. So I didn’t feel like I was falling off the chair. But I know Max, it wasn’t as as easy for you.

Max Branstetter 40:13
I lasted a decent amount and then yeah, I fell. And then another really funny moment when we got my parents up there, they lasted a good amount of time. Thanks again for everybody holding up the chairs. But my dad started slipping down forward at some point in tried to hold himself up by grabbing my mom’s dress. So we almost had a wardrobe malfunction there in front of literally everybody that would be there. So that was that was a moment but you know, not close call. Nothing happened. But yeah, it was just it was so much fun. Dancing, the entire night was fun. They played so many, so many favorites from like, so many different genres and decades of music. And they were amazing. I thought it was so cool that the band like come out in you know, like horn section, or like, you know, Erik, the band leader on his bass or like electric bass, whatever that was, would be like, in the middle of the dance floor right next to us. Like it was so cool. And then overall, another super memorable thing was obviously the speeches. So your dad gave an amazing speech and toast kind of earlier to start everything off. And then Maid of Honor MOH, cousin Emmy, gave an amazing speech kind of tied around your history going up to stren and Vermont together and use metaphors for skiing and like your history as being like literally growing up as like a top ring skier in kind of tied everything back together with life. So that was really cool. And then Andrew, brother Best Man literally just pretty much turned into like, a full on roast of me, which was amazing. And he nailed that in any nail that so like, what do you have to say about the speeches overall, they all they all like knock off all

Dana Branstetter 41:49
three speeches, and even your dad’s from the Friday night. Like all of the speeches where I’m trying to think of new words to use amazing, they’re amazing. I mean, they all put so much thought and effort into the speeches. And it really just captured our relationship and everything that they are to us and what we are to them and don’t want to use the word again.

Max Branstetter 42:19
It was amazing.

Dana Branstetter 42:20
They did a great job. I mean, I’m so excited to get those speeches, so we can like reread them and replay them and see it in the video because they all did. They’re all the speeches were so different, but they all I thought were amazing speeches.

Max Branstetter 42:34
They were they were and they were Yeah, I can’t wait to like soak them in again. Because they were what’s a new word. Amazing. So party overall, just like a million out of 10 like it was it was perfect. And then you know before you know it, it all goes so quick and it’s the after party and it was really cool how it kind of transition we end up using the same word. Same word, same room for the after party and our planner Joni had the awesome idea to like, get like, you know, like all these different glow up things. So like, there were like flower headdresses. They were they were lined

Dana Branstetter 43:07
up flower crown, like the flower have a new word for it every single time you mentioned it because they were a big hit. They were awesome. We have a very cool photo

Max Branstetter 43:17
bright like light up neon glasses flashing that were a huge hit. And Joni was like people eat this stuff up people love it. So like we didn’t know how much to order so we ordered it we’re like is this gonna be too much is this in like it was all used instantly. It looks so cool. And the pictures also with like the what they call it intelligent lighting in the background, like they change the lighting in the background to be like party lights are like rave lights. And so that was just amazing. And at some point, my groomsmen and buddies reenacted the scene from Rudy, where they put me on their shoulders and like kind of cheer and chant and carry me out of the room. So they bid so there’s pictures of that, which is amazing. But that was just a ton of fun overall. Anything else from wedding night that you want to mention, or is that it?

Dana Branstetter 43:57
No, I mean, I feel like it was the most dancing I’ve ever done not being a huge dancer. Like we were on that dance floor the entire night,

Max Branstetter 44:05
cut a rug, cut several rugs. And then yeah, it’s also real. Of course, you know, stayed up late, but you still got enough sleep to interact with people. Although it is. The Sunday brunch is awesome, because it’s like you see everybody before they go, but it’s also you know, it’s bittersweet because so many people are leaving and it’s also you’re so kind of just like emotionally drained from the night before and like kind of high from that but also sad it’s over that you’re like, oh my god, like we have to work the room we have to go and like you know, hanging out with everybody and thank them for coming and saying hi and all that. But there’s also like, like we’re pretty exhausted at that point. So it’s it’s kind of like a mental workout. That brunch. Oh, the food was really good too. But the brunch was great. And then overall like after that, you know before we started our mini moon which you know mini moon and future honeymoon could be a whole separate podcast, but you know, we all hung out with your parents at your parents place with your family and cousins for a little bit before going off to our mini moon in Fort Lauderdale. I was so excited just to like, sit down do nothing watch football, like eat a little bit like it was just so nice just to like chill after all that.

Dana Branstetter 45:09
No definitely agreed. I felt like very like all of our stuff was all over the place like, you know moving from the hotel to I mean from my my room to the hotel and I just feel like I was like I have to organize myself or I’m going to be a mess. So just going back and we ended up not really doing any organizing because we wanted to be with my family and see everyone but it was definitely a nice way to debrief before heading off to the mini moon.

Max Branstetter 45:40
And minimoon. We don’t need to get too much into it, but it was just absolutely perfect weather beautiful, like amazing. Thanks, Dan. Just absolutely perfect time and it was so nice that after like the storm scare and then the wedding and that crazy crazy, but super memorable weekend. It was just really nice to kind of decompress and kind of have that a bit before getting back to reality. That was that was a wonderful experience all around. I do this is the part that Tina doesn’t know about. I do want to wrap up with a special wedding edition rapid fire q&a. You’re ready for it?

Dana Branstetter 46:19
Yep. All right.

Max Branstetter 46:22
Let’s get wild. What was I know there wasn’t much that you tried. But of the food you tried at the wedding? What was like the most delicious thing bite you tasted?

Dana Branstetter 46:34
That was like arancini? Is that how you pronounce it? Well, I don’t know. Arancini and I we weren’t even sure what it was and then we realized that’s what it was. But those balls were really good. I wish I went to the cake or cake was very good. But I wish I tried the desserts the His and Her desserts. sounded amazing. There’s so much makeup back to our table for

Max Branstetter 46:55
that sound so much that we missed out on because we were just constantly like on the dance floor and like talking to people, but we heard from everybody that like all the food was was amazing. So yeah, well to go back next time we’re at Addison we’ll have to try more. Yeah, that was that was really good. I thought the steak was amazing too. And the lamb medallions were amazing.

Dana Branstetter 47:13
That was very good.

Max Branstetter 47:15
I had some of that. Other than like, the songs we picked out for like first dance. You know the song for the ceremony? What was your favorite song that they played like when we were on the dance floor that you like, just think of and have great memories of?

Dana Branstetter 47:31
I don’t even think you were there for it. But definitely shout out my bridesmaid Alyssa. For we always she taught me how to do the line dance to “Wagon wheel.” And whenever it comes on, no matter what wedding it is I’ll always do that line dance and it was just so fun to do it with her shout out Emma Wolkoff for joining in because the last wedding we were at family wedding we were at I we did it and she joined in on it. And it’s just like everyone was just watching us do this like weird dance. It wasn’t really a normal. I mean a line dance. Not many people see it. But that was that was a lot of fun.

Max Branstetter 48:07
And for the record I was I might have been talking to somebody on the phone who called in for that family member but I also might have been in the bathroom for that which again, wasn’t cold feet. It just had to be. So that’s why I missed it. But yeah, I’m really glad they played that. That’s a classic.

Dana Branstetter 48:21
What was your favorite song that was played?

Max Branstetter 48:23
Oh, the basic answers. “Shout” is always a good time. And I think not only you know, “Shout” that always gets people going. But my dad did the gator, which I’ve seen him do before, but only on rare occasions. It’s I don’t know if they did this back in the day or what? You know, the part of shout where they go like a little bit softer now and he gets down to the floor. I’m not gonna sing it. He was laying with his back on the floor. And he like kicks his legs like a baby. You’re like a baby crocodile baby alligator, I guess. And everybody around was just like, What is going on? But apparently it’s like it’s a tradition. And he’s like, yeah, it’s good. Or you got to do it. And I was really glad he whipped that out for you. Because he just you don’t see my dad on the ground, you know, kick his legs like that often. So it was great. Next topic. So but then the the non basic answer, which are those kind of basic, I had requested “Smells Like Bean Spirit.” That’s that should be a flavor of beans. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana just because it’s one of my favorite songs of all time. And they played it. And I remember I was like right next to Cam during it and we both were doing like, you know, drunken Kurt Cobain impressions, you know, because nobody knows the words in that song. But it’s just it’s a classic. And that was a lot of fun because the band really like rock like they really they could do rock. They could do jazz. They could do you know, like all sorts of classics, but that was really cool. Okay, next topic. Enough my dad kicking his legs. But let’s get to my brother. As we mentioned he kind of you basically it’s his speech and he kind of asked for permission or said that he’s going to take the more of the roast approach. He had an incredible roast and I don’t think that was the first time in my life. I was crying laughing and like crying like crying and the same time and Lara captured it and cry Got a little picture of us like reacting to his rose? When we’re at you know the sweetheart table and you know that’s what we’re looking at ahead of any of his I don’t know how much you remember any of his lines or like jokes that he made about me. What did you think was the funniest?

Dana Branstetter 50:15
He never met someone who has a buzz cut takes so long to get ready because it’s so true. I don’t understand. But you take so long to get ready. You’re always late. Always

Max Branstetter 50:28
late to record this. Yeah, that that was incredible. And then he like he added on another level to at least like the way he could have been done with that. And then he was like, it was like, I just never have understood how a man with half an inch of hair takes. Yeah, that was incredible. And then this would be random shout outs. But you know, last question. Who was someone who was at the wedding that you were you were very surprised by who was like a really, really good dancer.

Dana Branstetter 50:57
myself. I was dancing.

Max Branstetter 51:02
Yeah, you’re really good. I remember.

Dana Branstetter 51:05
Max has someone in mind. So we’ll just let him

Max Branstetter 51:07
well this is I know when you talked about. I remember you said that gave a shout to Alan Gamza a saying that like, Oh, I didn’t know Alan was such a good dancer. I don’t remember what it was specifically, but it was really cute. And he was dancing with his mom Sue at some point. But he did like other types as well. But yeah, there’s overall just so any pictures of like, sons or grandkids or daughters with the grandmas were like the grandmas were like the All Stars of the weekend, especially on Friday, when our grant was all met for the first time like well met Adele for the first time and vice versa. My grandma’s met your grandma. I can’t wait to see those pictures. It was so special. Yeah, the grandmas

Dana Branstetter 51:42
really lasted the whole night. They were there they were on the dance floor. They were they were great.

Max Branstetter 51:49
It’s pretty hard to put a wedding until a podcast recording but shout out my Uncle Cliff who kind of put this idea in my head in the first place of we’d love to hear from Dana and you know, we’re making it happen. So this was this was really really fun. And I just want to say for those listening in I know Dana feels the same way and you can say whatever you want. In your own words you’re on amazing words but I just want to thank everybody again for making our our wedding weekend like the best wedding and best weekend ever. Special shout out to Gary and Sheryl for like literally throwing the best weekend party of our lives. Shout out to

Dana Branstetter 52:23
your parents Friday night and the brunch on Sunday. It was awesome.

Max Branstetter 52:28
Just everybody you know all the vendors and all the people that Addison like the whole team for making it like we’ve never heard such rave reviews across the board and everything and we’re like we’re literally just like you know, in the weeks since the wedding we’ve just been like scrolling through our all pictures and posts and comments and everything and just trying to soak it up and relive it as much as we can and we’re really excited for full full album and honeymoon and everything that’s ahead but it was just very very it was that was the best night and we can have our lives that much more say

Dana Branstetter 52:57
exactly. Definitely want to thank my parents. It was amazing night that was awesome. My Maid of Honor Emmy, my bridesmaids: Alyssa, Nicole, and Dana were amazing. You’re gonna make me list everybody too My brother Adam who was a groomsman was awesome. He lives in California, but like having him there with all of your your guys was awesome having him connect with that. All our vendors amazing job. Yeah, Joni, the planner, Joni, our planner,

Max Branstetter 53:31
like credits on a movie. Like the music. Get off the stage music

Dana Branstetter 53:38
Anna from Addison I’m sure we were so annoying, and she was so great. Your parents, your groomsmen, and our all our family friends, and I apologize for anyone I missed. Thank you and have a

Max Branstetter 53:51
good night! We should just pull it we should pull up the guest list and just go one by one. But no, it was amazing all around. Dana, I know how to connect with you, obviously at this point. But where’s the best place for people to connect with you if they want to, you know, follow your photos on social media or anything like that?

Dana Branstetter 54:05
Either Facebook or Instagram right now. I’ve not changed my name on social media. But that’s coming soon. But look me up. It’s probably when I do. It’s right now Dana Gottdiener. And when I do change it it will be Dana Gottdiener Branstetter so people can still find me

Max Branstetter 54:21
perfect and we’re adding a short and sweet last name to the mix as a you know making up for all your years of having a long last name. So there we go. Exactly. Last thing Yeah, no, you already gave thank you to everybody. But Final Thoughts. It could be words live by it could be just a line whatever you want. Final Thoughts. Send us home here.

Dana Branstetter 54:39
Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us even if you weren’t able to come we missed you. But it was an awesome weekend and thanks to your parents for having you and thanks to you for being my husband.

Max Branstetter 54:55
Thank you as well. You said it in your words from the heart but I can’t believe I get to call you my wife. Awwwwwwwwwwwwww! Thank you so much, Dana. And thank you so much everyone for making our wedding and the weekend and just everything in this special time in our lives the I can’t even put it into words. But thank you so much for making it the best day and night and wedding and weekend and, and moment in our lives of all times. If you want to hear more Wild stories like this one, which they’re typically a little bit different than this one, make sure to follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast on your favorite app and tell a friend about the podcast and then re-listen to this seven, seven times a day I think is the is the recipe. You can also find us on Goodpods where there are fantastic podcasts and podcasts recommendations and probably some more wedding recaps out there at some point. And for any help with podcast production, you can learn more at MaxPodcasting.com and sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter. Until next time, let your business Run Wild! Bring on the bongos!