The Chisme Corner with Vee Rivera

Episode: By The Way, I'm Getting Married..
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Vee Rivera
Guests: Jessica (Vee's sister), Shauna

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of The Chisme Corner, Vee Rivera welcomes back her sister Jessica and friend Shauna by popular demand. The trio dishes on the beautiful, budget-friendly, last-minute wedding they recently pulled off for Jessica. They share all the behind-the-scenes chisme—from planning chaos and emotional moments to practical advice on money-saving, blending families, and celebrating Latina sisterhood. The episode perfectly balances humor, tender family dynamics, and useful insight for anyone thinking about keeping things small and meaningful for life’s big milestones.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Surprise Wedding Announcement

• Jessica’s Casual Reveal (02:19)

  • Jessica drops the bombshell: “Oh, by the way, we’re planning on getting married on Valentine’s Day.” Vee and Shauna are stunned at the one-and-a-half week notice.
  • They decide together: even if Jessica wants something intimate, they're making it special.

• Quote:

  • Jessica: "I just wanted something intimate. Just my parents, Aria’s mom, and my sister. Really small, something... I’d carry with me forever." (02:27)
  • Vee (Host): “We were like, bitch, nah. We get married once and we're gonna make it special for you!” (02:46)

2. Pulling Off a Budget-Friendly, Meaningful Wedding

• Cake & Decorations (03:11–05:37)

  • Bought an unexpectedly beautiful Walmart cake for $28.
    • Shauna: “28 doll hairs.” (03:17)
  • Decorations budgeted at $200–$250, came in under.
    • Olive Garden catered the food to minimize stress.
    • Emphasis on "baddies on a budget."
  • Shauna: “You can make them change the color scheme. You can write what you want on there. But that is on a budget. Walmart.” (04:40)

• DIY Photography (06:32–07:35)

  • Struggled to find enough couple photos after 16 years together—resorted to Facebook deep dives.
  • Future reminder: take more photos and consider professional shoots, but DIY (friends/family with phones) is perfectly fine.

3. The Emotional Impact of Marriage

• Does Marriage Feel Different? (07:55–08:53)

  • Jessica and her husband both "felt like adults" only after tying the knot, even after 16 years together.
    • Jessica: “It does feel different… we’re actually committed… it wasn’t official until we made it official.” (07:55)
    • Jessica: “In the car before getting here, I said, how do you feel? He goes, I actually feel like an adult.” (08:18)
  • She plans to hyphenate her last name to keep her maiden name: “I love my last name. Don’t get rid of Rodriguez.” (08:46)

• Lingering Joy and Family Love (08:58–09:59)

  • Jessica recalls seeing a new kind of love in photos from the day and how her husband "wouldn’t take his eyes off me."
  • Shauna, humorously: “I was ready to be gay again. And I asked if it was too late. And it was.” (09:24)

4. Kids, Pets, and the Realities of Family Life

• Blended Family Dynamics (10:10–10:28)

  • Jessica’s son, who’s known his stepdad since age 4, is “very happy” about the marriage.
    • Jessica: “He’s been in my son's life since he was 4 years old.” (10:23)

• Pet Logistics & Chaos (22:41–26:43)

  • Extended talk on struggles with arranging pet care for travel/vacation.
  • Running joke about demonic cats (“Her cat is demonic!” —Shauna, 23:27), dog drama, and co-pet parenting.

5. Planning Fun Future Vacations (and More Budget Tips)

• Disney & Universal Vacation Planning (13:47–21:24)
  • Joint family trip in the works; discussion of Airbnbs vs. resorts, splitting costs, creative payment strategies (gift cards bought with Target or Lowe’s credit cards).
  • Instagram/TikTok inspiration for “drinking around the world” at Epcot.
• Budgeting for Big Events
  • Shauna: “We’re not poor, but we like to do everything on a budget because the more money we save, the more, the better.” (15:58)
  • Advice to save for fun using every paycheck: automatic vacation funds make big trips possible.

6. Reflections on Intimacy, Simplicity, and Milestones

• The Value of a Small, Intimate Wedding (28:42–31:46)

  • Jessica doubles down on her desire for privacy and keeping things small: “I just didn’t want anyone there. I’ve always said if I’m going to get married... I don’t like the attention on me.” (28:45)
  • Vee and Shauna reflect on the rise of micro-weddings, avoiding debt, and spending intentionally.
    • Shauna: “People are going into debt as they start their union… That’s a tiny wedding, and they’re spending that kind of money…” (31:57)

• The Full-Day Celebration (32:26–33:43)

  • Early ceremony meant a long, joyful day of food, dancing, and games. “Twelve hours of partying almost… it was non-stop.” (32:54)

• Family Support as the Secret Sauce (33:39–34:28)

  • Shauna repeatedly tears up, moved by the rare quality of their close, supportive family bonds.
    • Shauna: "Watching the four of you up there getting the photos taken… Y'all really standing strong as a family unit." (34:13)

• Life Milestones, Accomplishments, and Moving in Silence (34:52–36:23)

  • Jessica and Vee revisit all Jessica has achieved since moving—new home, marriage, happiness at 40.
  • Vee underscores the value of "moving in silence" (not sharing plans widely), letting actions speak.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On micro-weddings:

  • Shauna: “Do you really want to do that when you could use that money for something else? Start your lives off on a better foot?” (31:57)

• On the intangible 'feeling' of marriage:

  • Jessica: "It does feel different… it kind of does feel different." (07:55)
  • Jessica’s husband: “I actually feel like an adult.” (08:18)

• On being practical and saving:

  • Shauna: “We're not poor, but we like to do everything on a budget because the more money we save, the more, the better.” (15:58)

• On family and love:

  • Shauna: “The love that I saw that day was just—well, y’all know, ’cause I kept crying.” (33:33)
  • Host (Vee): “You don’t see families that do like what we do—we're always do stuff together... it’s rare.” (34:05)

• On future love prospects:

  • Shauna: “I am a wife. I just haven’t found my husband yet. I be a wife to myself at home. Stay tuned for my wedding adventures.” (38:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------|--------------| | The surprise wedding reveal | 02:06–02:27 | | On the $28 Walmart cake | 03:11–03:41 | | DIY wedding on a $200 budget | 04:40–05:37 | | Struggling for couple photos | 06:32–07:10 | | How it feels to be “official” | 07:55–08:53 | | Children’s reaction | 10:10–10:28 | | Venue experience (city hall) | 11:06–12:46 | | Disney vacation plotting | 13:47–18:36 | | On micro-weddings vs. debt | 31:57–32:47 | | Full-day family celebration | 32:54–33:07 | | Family support/sisterhood | 33:31–34:28 | | Jessica’s milestones journey | 34:52–36:23 | | Shauna’s future prospects (dating apps) | 39:02–39:46 |

Tone, Style, and Spirit

• Full of laughter, spontaneous jokes, and cussing (“bitch, nah”/“28 doll hairs”)
• Deep and supportive sisterhood, authentic emotions, and reassurance
• Relatable “baddies on a budget” energy, accessible tips, and joyful chaos
• A blend of nostalgia, pride, and forward-thinking optimism

Closing Thoughts

This episode is a love letter to found family, doing things your own way, and finding joy in life's real moments. With their candid confessions and budget-friendly hacks, Vee, Jessica, and Shauna deliver both laughs and realness—whether you're planning a wedding, saving for a Disney trip, or just need some familia chisme to lift your spirits.

Next up: Will Shauna find her own prince charming and be the next to don a wedding dress? Stay tuned for more chisme, healing, and laughter on The Chisme Corner!