Kaitlyn and JoAnna knew a few things while planning their wedding: they wanted the wedding to be lovely but causal, and they wanted to celebrate their love with kisses and cocktails alongside their closest friends and family. When tasked with planning such an event, they easily settled on a location: a boat in the Pacific Ocean. Because when you live in Hawai’i… why not?
With a planned budget of $10,000 (and an actual budget of approximately $15,000), the pair planned their wedding down to the teeth—while simultaneously planning a three-week honeymoon in New Zealand. And you guys? It’s gorgeous.
One money-saving trick? Use what you have. Kaitlyn and JoAnna used their resources (a boat that barely needed any decor) and Kate’s DIY know-how (she made small mason jar centerpieces and wooden signage for the after party). The boat was spruced up with a few strings of faux flowers.
It’s also forever helpful if friends and family pitch in:
Choosing to keep the guest list small by not inviting second cousins and great aunts was a key detail in saving money and only having the people closest to us at the ceremony. And since we didn’t have a wedding planner, when it was time to decorate the boat, set up the after party, and bake cookies (and so on), we were very lucky to have willing members of our guest list help with the details.
The pair also maximized their individual skill sets in another way. While Kate was taking care of decor, JoAnna was in charge of getting people paid.
Jo made sure that everything was paid on time and actually early. We paid for everything in small amounts along the way. This helped us to not be overwhelmed by one large sum. Nothing was ever put on a credit card. We incurred no debt and were able to enjoy a three-week honeymoon adventure in New Zealand!
At the end of the day, the wedding was exactly what they wanted: a close time with family and friends, and hours of celebrating the two of them:
As a couple, we could not decide on just one single element. The entire day from start to finish was flawless. Everyone and everything was where it needed to be at the time it needed to be there. This allowed us to enjoy every moment and every detail without stress. Our day was perfect.
