My Wedding Wednesday - Your Guest List is HOW Big?!?

Happy Wednesday!  Once upon a time, long, long, long, ago, I used to have a series of Wedding Wednesday Posts.  This Wednesday I get to talk about my own wedding process... and boy is it nothing like I thought it would be!

I have been engaged about a month and a half now and I don't have much to show for it on the wedding planning front.  I've picked out my wedding colors, we've assembled a loose guest list (ugh, big problem!), and I've got a whole lot of pins on Pinterest.  I THINK I have nailed down two dates to go between - mid- to late-June, but as most of you know, that could all change on the venue.  Why don't I have that all tied up yet - well, let me tell you, it's not as easy as it sounds!  Here's what I'm dealing with:

1. A guest list that is at 480 people (yes, I know this is insane... I'm trying to trim it up but it's proving to be a difficult task).

2. My finance's family is from Iowa.  A lot of my extended family is from Wisconsin.  The Twin Cities is the perfect middle point... which brings me to my next point...

3. Budget.  I'm not disclosing how much it is, but let me tell you that I'm playing Hudini for the next year.  This girl needs to get crafty!

4.   I'm picky.  I'm a bride-to-be who has a vision and Minnesota's venues just don't measure up.

What my dream ceremony site would look like  {Source}

So, what do you get when you add up all these variables?  An unhappy, super stressed bride-to-be who's having trouble saying "yes" to a venue.  Here's what I have found:

1.  Venues that are within our price range but further for our guests to travel (and a further drive for me if I need to head over to get some quick measurements or meet with some vendors).

2.  Venues that are AMAZING but have too high of food prices to fit our budget.

3.  Venues that are so-so for the budget but don't include everything I want (it's like buying a house, there's just some things I don't really want to compromise on)

4. Does anyone have a large piece of land with ample parking that will let me rent their space?!?! (seriously.)


Did anyone else have the problem with venue choices that I am having?  Were you a "too picky" bride?  Did you have too large of a guest list that you had to pull something out of your hat to get everyone to fit?  Were you more concerned with accommodating your guests than finding your perfect venue?  I want to hear all about it!


I'll be posting soon with some more wedding updates - I'd like to document my experience from start to finish.  Hopefully you'll join me for the ride!