Miss Matrimony, an Iowa Wedding Planner on KCRG’s Everyday Iowa: A Dream Come True

Mercedes Burger
Jan 21
6 min read

Everyday Iowa- Miss Matrimony, the Iowa Wedding Planner

On Monday, January 19th at 9:40 AM, I had the absolute honor of appearing live on KCRG’s Everyday Iowa with Catherine at the KCRG TV-9 studio in downtown Cedar Rapids as an Iowa wedding planner. This was my first-ever TV interview, and saying yes to this opportunity was both incredibly exciting and very nerve-wracking — in the best way.

Just one month after officially launching Miss Matrimony in December of 2025, I found myself sharing my heart, my business, and my passion for wedding planning with thousands of viewers across Iowa. It’s a moment I’ll truly never forget.

Introducing Iowa Wedding Planner -Miss Matrimony to Iowa Couples

Mercedes Burger with Miss Matrimony on KCRG

The main focus of my Everyday Iowa segment was introducing Miss Matrimony and sharing how I help couples create a wedding day that feels joyful, calm, and stress-free as an Iowa and destination wedding planner.

While Miss Matrimony officially launched in December of 2025, I’ve been in the wedding industry for three years, learning the ins and outs of what truly makes a wedding day run smoothly. Starting my own business had been on my heart for a long time — and when the timing felt right, I knew it was finally my moment to step out in faith and build something of my own.

The First Thing Newly Engaged Couples Should Do

One of the first questions we discussed was what newly engaged couples should focus on first when planning a wedding.

My answer? Budget and expectations.

Before diving into Pinterest boards or booking vendors, couples need to have an honest conversation about:

Their overall budget
Guest count
The type of experience they want to create

Once those pieces are decided, everything else begins to fall into place. From there, couples can confidently search for a venue and decide whether hiring a planner early will help guide their decisions and eliminate stress. In most cases, the first vendor to book should be the venue and/or a planner.

If you feel like you need help finding a venue that fits your budget, your style, and the overall vibe you want to showcase on your wedding day, considering hiring a wedding planner to help guide those decisions and attend venue tours with you. Venue tours can be overwhelming without a professional by your side, you don't always know the right questions to ask and the hidden elements they forge to mention before placing a large deposit down. Hiring a planner to attend with you and support you through this process helps eliminate that stress.

Want to chat about what venue might be the best fit for you? Fill out my contact form and we can discuss how a wedding planner can support you throughout the entire planning process.

LET'S CHAT!

Common Wedding Planning Mistakes I See

Another important topic we covered was the most common mistakes couples make during the planning process.

One of the biggest issues I see is underestimating logistics — things like setup time, travel between locations, and how long moments actually take on a wedding day. Another common misconception is assuming vendors are automatically communicating with one another.

In reality, someone needs to be overseeing the timeline, coordinating vendors, and keeping the day on track. Without that support, unnecessary stress can creep in — and no couple should be worrying about logistics on one of the most meaningful days of their lives.

Finally, one of the most important tips I can give couple's is to enjoy being engaged. You can be so overwhelmed and pressured to start planning your wedding day that you forget to enjoy the sweet era of being engaged to your love. You will get your vendors booked. You will find a venue. You will pick the colors. You will do all the things, just sit back and enjoy this beautiful era of your life first.

Wedding Planners Aren’t Just for Luxury Weddings

A common misconception in weddings is that planners are only for luxury celebrations. While we didn’t dive into this on the segment, I want every couple to know: wedding planning support isn’t just for big-budget weddings — it’s for any couple who wants peace of mind.

I meet couples exactly where they are, no matter their budget, vision, or experience with planning. Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate gathering or a full-scale celebration, my goal is the same: to provide clarity, organization, and hands-on support so you can fully enjoy your wedding day. Every couple deserves a stress-free, joyful experience, and I’m here to make that happen.

What a Wedding Planner Does on the Wedding Day

On the wedding day itself, a planner becomes the point person for everything behind the scenes

“I can’t speak for other wedding planners, but as Miss Matrimony we arrive the second your venue opens for setup and leave the second the venue kicks us out at the end of the night.”

At Miss Matrimony, this philosophy means you have a dedicated point of contact for every single minute of your wedding day. From coordinating vendors to handling last-minute surprises, we’re there every step of the way so you can truly be present and enjoy your celebration stress-free.

That includes:

Setup and teardown of decor
Managing the timeline
Coordinating all vendors
Handling unexpected surprises like weather or last-minute changes
Solving problems before the couple ever knows they existed
Ceremony rehearsal coordination the day prior
& much more.

My goal is simple: by the time my couple arrives at the venue space they are calm, confident, and completely present with their family and friends knowing they have a trusted professional handling their special day.

Protect Your Peace

With Wedding Week in mind, I shared my biggest piece of advice for couples: ask for help and protect your peace.

As I mentioned in my interview, I’ve often said:

“When you don’t ask for help and you have a friend, family member, or God forbid the bride and groom handling wedding day logistics, they aren’t truly present for their wedding day.”

Your wedding day goes by so fast — you don’t want to spend it managing problems. Whether that support comes from family, friends, or a professional planner, having someone in your corner makes all the difference. By asking for help and trusting your team, you can focus on the moments that truly matter: celebrating your love, soaking in every smile and toast, and being fully present with your family and friends. Protect your peace, and let the experts handle the rest — your future self will thank you.

The Wedding Day Emergency Kit (A Crowd Favorite!)

One of the most fun parts of the segment was showcasing my Miss Matrimony wedding day emergency kit — something every couple receives when they hire me.

My emergency kit has four fully stocked levels, including:

Top tier: boutonniere pins, safety pins, glue dots, tape, and feminine personal products
Second tier: Kleenex, lighters for candles, floral scissors, regular scissors, and fabric scissors
Third tier: a first aid kit and medications like Tylenol and ibuprofen
Bottom tier: tools, envelopes, catering gloves, and anything that didn’t fit above

The kit is personalized with my name, bows, and pink details — a little nod to my personality and the care and personality I bring to every wedding day.

Miss Matrimony Wedding Planning Services

During the interview, I highlighted my three planning services:

Day of Elegance

Begins 90 days before the wedding and focuses on final vendor communication, timeline creation, and flawless execution on the wedding day.

Planning & Design

Starts the moment you book and includes vendor recommendations, planning meetings, Canva design mockups, and real-life décor walkthroughs.

Matrimony Masterpiece

A full-service planning experience for couples who want hands-on support from start to finish — including venue assistance, budget development, and complete planning guidance.

The best time to book a planner is either before choosing a venue (if you need help deciding) or right after booking your venue, so planning, vendor selection, and design can be supported from the start.

A Moment I’ll Never Forget

Being on KCRG felt absolutely awesome — but I’ll be honest, I was incredibly nervous.

I was the kid in school who dreaded public speaking. I can talk to anyone in a genuine conversation, but knowing this interview was live on television with thousands of viewers was intimidating. Still, I trusted myself and stepped into the moment.

Since the interview aired, the outpouring of love from the Iowa community, my friends, family, and clients has been overwhelming in the best way. The texts, comments, and encouragement meant more to me than I can put into words.

This moment was deeply meaningful. I’ve always dreamed of sharing my business on a larger platform — but having that opportunity come just one month after launching feels like a true blessing from God. I’ve poured so much heart, time, and effort into Miss Matrimony, and getting to showcase my “baby” was a dream come true. I’m still so giddy thinking about it.

(And yes — I definitely overthought my outfit. After days of research on what colors look best on TV, I landed on my taupe Express set with white heels, plus my watch and rings from Siebke Hoyt Jewelry here in Cedar Rapids. Presenting myself with confidence and authenticity matters so much to me.)