Jeannine and Jared’s wedding is truly a feast for the eyes!

The couple’s gorgeous 75-guest park wedding in Orlando, Florida was chock full of charming little details – as you will see in the stunning photos from Shea Christine Photography.

“I worked for three months to collect and plan the décor for the reception area, but I was entirely dependent on friends to set everything up that morning,” says Jeannine.  “They worked so tirelessly and did such a beautiful job bringing the things I’d dreamed to life.”

Thanks so much to Shea Christine for the stunning images!

Jeannine,28 & Jared, 29

Orlando, FL

Wedding Date: November 13, 2011

Number of Guests:  75

Wedding Ceremony Location: Dickson Azalea Park

Wedding Reception Location: Dickson Azalea Park

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We both have wide circles of friends, but neither of us loves huge parties. Intimate gatherings are often the ones we enjoy the most, so it made sense. On top of that, a small wedding was much more cost-effective.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

We conceivably could have had a 400-person guest list, so keeping it small was a huge challenge. It broke my heart to leave anyone out! I faced a lot of inner turmoil every time I thought of someone I would have liked to include, but couldn’t. I also had to explain to lots of people why they weren’t invited. In the end, after the arduous process of paring it down, it was truly the right type of event for us and a sweet thing to have more time with those who were there.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Our families were actually very understanding. We had a harder time with friends because we had many acquaintances we didn’t invite. Most of them understood the constraints we were operating within, but I heard (through the grapevine, unfortunately) that some of them had expressed that they didn’t understand why they hadn’t been included.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Jared couldn’t get the ring on my finger, which ended up being a really funny moment. Making solemn vows was really important to us, but the sweetest moment in the ceremony was when our officiant (a dear friend and mentor) pronounced us husband and wife.

What were the highlights of the reception?

I worked for three months to collect and plan the décor for the reception area, but I was entirely dependent on friends to set everything up that morning. They worked so tirelessly and did such a beautiful job bringing the things I’d dreamed to life. The garden was just beautiful and the weather was perfect that day. We certainly felt blessed by that. Ultimately, spending the afternoon in the garden with our closest friends and family is something we’ll never forget.

That was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

As Jared put it, “Our wedding was just a group of our best friends and family hanging out together.” What could be better than that?

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

It’s okay to feel sad about not being able to invite everyone. I think feeling that freedom was important for me. At the same time, remembering the wonderful things that the intimate wedding would provide kept me encouraged as I worked to pare down the guest list.

Vendors:
Dress: Wtoo by Watters
Flowers: Sheridan Flowers
Wedding Photographer: Shea Christine Photography
Cake: Publix Bakery
Ceremony Music: Bonnie Taylor, harpist
“Day of” Coordinator: Susan Willard, Fabulous Celebrations
Invitations, Programs, Decorations, Food & Drinks: Many, many friends and family for whom we are so grateful!

Filed Under: Handmade Weddings, Real Weddings  |  8 Comments

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