Real Weddings – Kelsey Hundley and Parker Watts

At Dubsdread Catering we love being dedicated members of the team that makes your big day your best day. While we are masters at the planning and executing the behind-the-scenes work, we know our clients have their own unique perspective on their event. We thank recent client Kelsey Hundley for graciously sharing her experience to benefit others.

BRIDE AND GROOM: Kelsey Hundley and Parker Watts
WEDDING DATE: January 16, 2021
VENUE: The Historic Ballroom at Dubsdread
EVENT COORDINATOR: Michelle Edmiston, Wedding & Event Coordinator - featured blog: https://www.dubsdreadcatering.com/article-detail/post_detail/catering-team-michelle-edmiston

VENDORS
PHOTOGRAPHY: Rachel Doyle Photography https://www.racheldoylephotography.com/
Read more about Rachel Doyle Photography- Dubsdread Vendor Spotlight: https://www.dubsdreadcatering.com/article-detail/post_detail/orlando-wedding-photographer-rachel-doyle?search=Rachel%20Doyle&search_param=search

DJ: Our DJ Rocks https://ourdjrocks.com/
Read more about Our DJ Rocks - Dubsdread Vendor Spotlight: https://www.dubsdreadcatering.com/article-detail/post_detail/orlando-wedding-dj-our-dj-rocks?search=Our%20DJ%20Rocks&search_param=search

Floral: Lee Forrest Design http://leeforrestdesign.com/
Cake/Dessert: It's Tasty Too http://www.tastytoo.com/

SIX MONTHS OUT FROM WEDDING DAY

How/where did you get engaged?

When Parker and I were in high school together, we would have picnics at Lake Eola Park either after school or on the weekends. After high school, our Orlando picnics were curtailed because we go to different universities far apart from each other. We were both home for the Thanksgiving holiday and had one free day the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I thought we were having a special date because it was our only day together and I knew he had finals for law school right after the holiday and we wouldn’t see each other for at least a month. So, we picked up Black Bean Deli, my favorite food spot in Orlando, and we took it to Lake Eola Park. Parker had me sit right where we used to in high school and then he got down on one knee and proposed! I knew it was coming but I honestly did not expect it at all in that moment! I was in complete shock and excitement for a solid 30-minutes and could not even speak in coherent sentences.

What are you most excited about for your wedding day?

I am so excited to celebrate many things at my wedding including love and family! Parker and I have been together since high school and we also have been long distance now for a significant portion of our relationship so it’s a testament that no matter the distance or obstacles between us, we are finally to the stage of our lives that we can marry and look forward to the rest of our lives together. I’m so lucky to be marrying him and I’m excited to celebrate that with both our families! My family is from Peru and absolutely adore him, so it’s fun knowing we are bringing our families together and everyone is just so excited for us.

What aspect are you excited to plan the most? (ceremony, food & beverages, photographer, DJ)

My future mother-in-law and I are the ones mostly planning this wedding and I thought it would be a walk in the park, but there are so many details to put together to make a wedding happen that I would not have thought of. Luckily, Pinterest has been my hero. But it’s also really been a fun process so far! A few things I’m looking forward to is seeing my family all together since I don’t see them very often since they are coming from Peru, and I’m excited for them to meet Parker’s extended family. I’m also super excited to figure out decorations, specifically flowers for the ceremony and reception. I also really love music so I’m excited to put together songs that Parker and I both really love!

THREE MONTHS OUT FROM WEDDING DAY

How do you feel the planning is going?

The planning is going very well! Once I booked with Dubsdread Catering for my venue and reception, my coordinator, Michelle, and I had everything squared away quickly. Luckily this was all done pre-COVID-19 so that helped spare some stress. Once the bigger things were chosen, a lot of tiny details are still left to determine, but my future mother-in-law is so helpful and helps me make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

What have you found to be more difficult than you expected?

Really the biggest difficulties for me has been time. Trying to plan while working and going to school feels like I added another part-time job. Although I do find wedding planning to be a good excuse to avoid my responsibilities sometimes, LOL! But I’d be literally nowhere without my soon to be mother-in-law. Since my future sister-in-law got married three years ago, she knows the drill. A lot of books, magazines and online articles can be really overwhelming and confusing with all the different information, so it’s such a bonus my mother-in-law is my go-to source.

What has been more fun about the process than you expected?

My favorite part is just getting to spend more time with our families! The wedding planning has definitely brought our families a lot closer together, so it's been fun to have an excuse to get together after cake tasting or trying on dresses. I literally get so excited and emotional when I cross something off my list with my fiancé too. I cried at Michael's after buying these cute little vow notebooks with Parker. As he sees things come to fruition, Parker is also more excited too, and in a COVID-19 world where we are wondering how things can possibly get any worse, planning this wedding has lifted our spirits a lot.

WEDDING DAY

What was the best, most memorable part of your big day?

The most memorable part has to be the reception. I got to talk to so many of my friends and vividly remember dancing the night away with the people I love the most. On the other hand, for parts I was really nervous about I feel like I barely remember it, so a friendly tip would be to stay calm, cool, and collected otherwise you might miss out on cherishing the moment.

If you could change one or two things about your event, what would they be?

Absolutely nothing. All of my vendors went above and beyond everything I asked for. My mother-in-law was also the best wedding planner a bride could ask for, and she made sure not a single detail was missed. Every single detail was absolutely beautiful, it was a lot better than anything on my Pinterest board. One random thing I wish I had done, was take more pictures with my phone, I wish I had more goofy selfies with my friends and my husband. I would highly suggest having someone close to you hold your phone and take pictures for you and take a few moments to take some silly Boomerangs and other fun photos!

Is there any advice you would give other couples planning their event that you wish someone had told you?

Your day is all about you and your partner getting married, it's the start of the rest of your lives, so don't let any minor inconvenience get in the way of you remembering it. The more you stress you about tiny details, the harder it gets to relish the moment and focus on what matters most. Also, you are not too old for Tik Tok, there is so much good advice on the app that you wouldn't find anywhere else. I feel like I had seen so many great ideas on the app after it was too late.

Photos courtesy of the bride and  Rachel Doyle Photography

When you book a wedding with Dubsdread Catering at one of our exclusive venues, we provide wedding coordination at no additional charge. Our coordinators become dedicated members of your team bringing experience and expertise to help you execute your vision. Contact them today via our Contact Us page to make our team your team in making your dreams come true.