Cutting the Guest List

I’m doing something I never thought I’d do. I’m significantly cutting the guest list for my wedding. I have so many great friends and I can't imagine them not participating in my day, but when it comes down to it, even my negotiated price per person is still quite high and I don't want to spend that much.

I initially wanted a destination wedding and the guest list got bigger when we decided to get married in Jacksonville. I love my friends. I hated the idea of not including them, but I hated the idea of going over budget more. I also hated the thought of inviting so many people that I wouldn’t get to dance or have fun myself. I’m throwing the biggest party of my life, I want to have fun too!

This has been the most stressful process determining which friends make it and which friends don't. There are so many important people in my life, and I hate the idea that a lack of invitation may make them feel less important. They aren't less important in my mind; it's just that family of course comes first.

I had an idea that Jimmy and I may go with to help alleviate some of this stress. We are each picking ten to fifteen people we are closest to and those will be our friend invites. Jimmy and I have large families and we never get to see them, so it is incredibly important to me to have them there. I also would prefer a wedding of 75 people, and I’m hoping that with plus ones we won't go over 100. When you almost hit 60 with family I think the ten friends limit is good. This helps make the decision less painful. Who do I want to dance with? That's it.

Until next time,

Kaycee

Wedding Food For a Thought

Every time I consider caving to an unnecessary wedding expense I repeat this phrase to myself, “I want a beach house.” My long term goal is to have a beautiful home on the beach, and the more I spend on my wedding the longer I have to wait to reach that goal.

Currently I am struggling with the cost of wedding food. Most venues want to charge a minimum of $55 a person for food, most reaching up to at least $85 a person not including tax, gratuity or alcohol. To me this is an obscene amount of money for what will likely be an average tasting meal. If I’m going to spend $65 on a dinner I want to go to Louie’s Backyard in Key West, not a wedding. This particular frustration has made me consider hopping a plane and in fact get married at Louie’s backyard instead.

I have come up with several solutions to this problem, including the one above (just kidding, although it would be fun). My first solution is to serve simpler food. My goal is to have easy, delicious beach food like sliders and fish tacos. I want to skip the hors d’oeuvres and salads, and instead serve a couple of stress-free favorites as the main meal. Most places serve items like this at reasonable prices, which can help when negotiating cost.

Another option, which I will be using if we get married at a location where we can choose our own caterer, is a food truck. It’s simple, fun and allows your guests to taste some of your local favorites. Most food trucks have a catering option, just go to their website. My personal local favorite is What’s The Catch. They have amazing shrimp tacos and can easily feed your guests local fare at reasonable prices.

My last suggestion is having your reception at a favorite restaurant. Because you know the food and the prices, you know you will get delicious food for a reasonable price. Many places have separate rooms or outdoor seating that can be used for events.

Happy tasting!

Until next time,

Kaycee

Saving Yourself From Wedding Stress

Wedding magazines stress me out. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I love getting the shinny new magazine and get so excited to see what is inside, but while flipping through them I start to panic, what do I actually want? Do I want a long dress or a short dress or two dresses? Do I want flowers? Brooch Bouquet or real? Bigger venue or smaller wedding? While reading these magazines I stress about making the "right" decisions. Am I going to be happy with a more laid back affair or am I going to wish I had done something different? There is no “do over” for your wedding. For the lucky ones it’s a once in a lifetime affair, and the giant wedding industry knows how to help make thousands of versions of a wonderful day you don’t want to forget. So how do you choose the right version for you?

When wedding panic sets in I stop what I’m doing and close my eyes. I take a few deep breaths and think about what makes me happy. There are only a few important things that make me truly relax and have fun, the beach, good times with family and friends, and good music.

With this in mind I think of the experiences I have loved. Playing cards with my dad, the cruise with Jimmy’s family, Disney with my mom, having drinks near the beach with friends … when I see all of this in my mind I am able to remind myself I want my wedding to be like that. I want my wedding to be a fun, relaxed day that spills over into a good weekend with family and friends. I don’t need to worry about having the “perfect day,” because I have experienced so many wonderful days. I just want to celebrate another day with the people that have made my life worth living. To me that means a relaxed beach affair, with good music and a laid back good time. When I see what I want all of the other ideas don’t matter, all that matters is that I marry the love of my life and have a good time doing it.

Until next time,

Kaycee

Something New

  When I initially started my wedding planning I had a vague idea of what I wanted, but was focused on details like the dress and bridesmaids, assuming everything else wouldn’t be too difficult to find. I was definitely wrong.

After realizing I wanted a non-traditional wedding venue, like a restaurant or beach house, I tried to enlist the help of a wedding planner. I was shocked when she turned me down! Dresses have been another frustration. My first few visits to bridal salons were fun, but every option would be a disaster when mixed with the sand and sun. After much online shopping I have decided to get more creative. After a lengthy discussion with my hairstylist regarding her frustrations with her wedding planning I realized something new was needed in the wedding industry and the something new would be this.

First I want to help you realize what is most important to you. This should be one of the first things you and your fiancé discuss along with the budget. If you don’t know your priorities it’s hard to plan any wedding, coastal or otherwise, without going over budget.

Jimmy and I decided our top priorities would be the view, photographers, and food and drinks. We both want a great view of the ocean while saying “I do” and I want great pictures and he wanted local beer and good food. Luckily we know more than a few good photographers (thanks to my mom being one of the best) and since the photos will be a gift to us we got to pick another priority, good music.

With these priorities in mind we started our search. What are your three top priorities? Let me know!

Until next time,

Kaycee

Welcome to Beach Bride!

Welcome to Beach Bride! For months I have been frustrated planning my beach wedding. I was shocked by the lack information available for the type of wedding I wanted to throw, and decided to create a new category to help brides like me wanting a better resource, Beach Bride!

These posts will discuss my ideas and tips for fantastic coastal weddings, and of course share my beach wedding as well! My goal is to help myself and others have a fabulous wedding that doesn’t give you a credit card hangover the morning after you say “I Do.”

I hope you enjoy!

Until next time,

Kaycee