September 9, 2025 • 26 mins
The drama of the wedding guest list often rivals any reality TV show - who makes the cut, who gets a plus-one, and should kids be invited? Shawna Jackson of Savvy Southern Events joins us to unveil the secrets to navigating this emotional minefield with grace and strategy.
Drawing from her extensive experience in the wedding industry since age 18, Shawna shares her journey from bartender to sought-after wedding planner, revealing why the guest list might be the most challenging aspect of wedding planning. Her practical approach begins with the often-overlooked first step: examining your budget. With catering costs starting around $50 per person, every addition significantly impacts your bottom line.
Shawna introduces her brilliant A-list/B-list strategy that allows couples to prioritize their must-have guests while maintaining flexibility as RSVPs arrive. We tackle the controversial question of children at weddings (spoiler: it's perfectly acceptable to have an adults-only celebration) and explore the emerging trend of professional wedding babysitters for destination events.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Shawna reveals her personal wedding story - her own daughter was sent home after the ceremony so "mommy could party," and her husband's friend brought a temporary girlfriend who now appears forever in their wedding video. These candid anecdotes reinforce her practical advice about plus-ones and setting boundaries with well-meaning but intrusive in-laws and parents.
From leveraging technology for RSVPs to diplomatic ways of declining unwanted additions to your guest list, this episode provides actionable strategies to ensure your wedding celebrates your relationship surrounded by people who truly matter to you both.
Subscribe to the Tipsy Guest Podcast for more insider tips from wedding industry experts who understand the real challenges couples face beyond the picture-perfect Instagram posts.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Tipsy Guest Podcast.
I am your host, marcoBuenrostro, and every week I'm
here with the top industryexperts, amazing clients and all
my vendor BFFs to bring you thebest tips, advice and juicy
behind-the-scenes stories tomake wedding and event planning
a breeze.
So grab your favorite drink andlet's get this party started.
(00:25):
Hey guys, welcome back to theTipsy Guest.
I am Marco, your host, andtoday we're going to be talking
about invitations, rsvp andwedding guest list.
We want to know everythingabout it and we have one of the
best for this topic, shawnaJackson from Savvy Southern
(00:46):
Events.
How are you?
I'm great.
How are you doing?
I am doing fantastic.
Thank you for coming in today.
I am very excited about thistopic because I feel like this
is where the drama happens.
All the drama I feel like youknow, if you sit down and talk
about the entire process of awedding, when it comes to the
guest list, that's where it getsa little bit tricky with
(01:09):
everyone.
You know some people, I guessyou know, like one side of the
groom you know wants to invitecertain people, then the bride
wants to invite the other half,and then they don't agree on
things.
So I want to hear everythingyou have to say about this.
First, let's talk about you.
I want you to tell ourlisteners what you do, how long
(01:30):
you've been in business.
Tell us everything about youand your business.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, first off you already said it, my name is
Shawna Jackson.
I own Savvy Southern Events.
I actually got into the weddingindustry when I was 18 years
old.
I was going to college atIncarnate Word, getting my
bachelor's in nursing, and Iactually got in a car accident
and I was bartending at the time.
I dislocated my shoulder, hurtmy shoulder really bad, ended up
(01:55):
working for a catering companydoing behind-the-scenes work, a
lot of paperwork, and then kindof went from there and when my
shoulder got healed I was like,oh, can I get back into
bartending for weddings?
And started bartending weddings.
And I realized back in the day,like I'm so old, right Back in
the day, a lot of people did nothave, I guess, a coordinator.
(02:17):
So with my A-type personality, Iwas like, okay, you guys need
to go here, you guys need to gohere, you guys need to go here,
you guys need to go here, youguys need to go here.
And then I'm running back tothe bar to do what I needed to
do.
And then the catering company Iworked for at the time actually
was like hey, we're going touse you as a coordinator for
upcoming events.
And honestly, it kind of juststarted from there and then I,
after I graduated college, Iwent ahead and kind of did it on
(02:39):
the side for a while and aboutseven years ago ago I decided to
open up my own business and itjust flourished.
I God has truly blessed me.
It just flourished and Iabsolutely love what I do.
I love interacting with mybrides and my clients.
Honestly, a lot of them becomesome of my really good friends
and I know that everyone alwaysmakes that comment don't be
friends with their clients, I'mlike, but I get to be part of
their love story and be like, belike the main part of their
(03:03):
love story and it's just so funto watch them just flourish and
then, if I follow them on socialmedia, have babies afterwards
and everything like that.
Luckily I have not had to do uma client twice um.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I have, I have I was like.
Luckily I haven't run into anyof those yet, but but if this
you know, if ever comes, I'msure it'll be as fun as the
first time, I hope.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I just pray, that never happens to me.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Oh, my goodness, Well that sounds.
I like the way you know how youdescribed it.
I mean, I think that is theperfect way when you build that
relationship with your clientand then you eventually, you
know, go on to become friends.
You know, because that's thething you do spend a lot of time
(03:52):
with them as a planner.
I mean for you normally, howlong is the um, the whole
process from the moment theyhire?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
you to to the wedding day.
So it just all depends on thepackage they kind of get.
I have a lot of brides in SanAntonio that like to try to do a
lot of the planning themselves,and so they usually just hire
me for it's called my managementpackage, which usually starts
about eight weeks before theirbig day.
Obviously beforehand I willkind of contact them and all
that stuff.
I'm not one of those peoplethat you know pay per phone call
or anything like that.
(04:14):
I'm.
I'm an open book.
So if they have a questionbefore that eight weeks,
obviously they're more thanwelcome to call or text me.
But, um, starting about eightweeks, I'm like calling and
texting them every day makingsure everything is good, making
sure everything is like up topar, all that stuff, making sure
that their nerves are great.
And then my have a partialplanning package and then I have
a full planning package which Ilike to call myself.
They're pretty much theirwedding best friend.
(04:36):
I'm like their best friend forhire.
Um, I'm like, no, literally meand you are going to be holding
hands.
I'm going to know your favoritecolor by the end of all this.
I'm going to know what kind offood you like I was like,
because we get down into thedetails.
My job is to make their visioncome true, and I think that I've
had a client hire me threeyears in advance.
Wow, I've had multiple clientshire me before they were even
(04:58):
engaged.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I love that.
You know I've had that happento me as well.
You know I guess you, you know,I don't know I do a lot of like
open houses and then thewedding expos, the wedding shows
.
So a lot of the times you Imean you get to see these people
over and over again, dependingon how long they're planning
their wedding.
But it happened to me one timewhere you know I was, I think I
was at a wedding expo and then,you know, somebody walked up to
(05:21):
our booth and they used thephoto booth.
You know, the bride ended uphiring me, but then also she was
with her best friend and Iguess she loved, loved, loved
the photo booth and we got alongreally well and she told me the
best friend she was like youknow what, marco, I'm going to
hire you guys for my wedding.
She's like I'm not even engaged, she's like I don't even have,
(05:42):
you know, like I'm not engaged.
So, but I know I'm going tohire you for my wedding.
I really, really like what youdo.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Does she at least have a significant other?
She did, okay, she did.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
She did so.
A few years later she reachedout and she was like hey, marco,
guess what she's like?
I just got engaged, I don'teven have a venue yet, I have a
wedding date and you're going tobe my first vendor that I hire.
And I was like girl, thank you.
I was like you know, that'spretty cool, because normally
(06:11):
for us, for the photo booth,we're normally like the last
person thing they end up getting.
You know, we're like, almostlike you know, at the very
bottom of the list.
But you know, for her to tellme that I was the first vendor
because she had, you know, twoyears prior to that, she knew
she wanted us.
She was like I want to makesure that you're available, I
want to secure you and then I'llfigure out the rest for my
wedding.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
So that was one of my honor, that was yeah, like I
always, you know, talk aboutthat.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
It's such a cool experience.
You know, like we, I love whatI do and when I hear things like
that from from clients, I'mlike, yes, we're doing something
right.
That is such an honor.
Yeah, so for you to know, youknow, for you to to do that with
your clients I mean, just theway you're talking about it, it
sounds like you are so good atwhat you do and that you build
(06:55):
that connection.
So I am really excited to talkto you today because I I mean, I
feel like we came to the rightplace with you.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Well, thank you so much.
Honestly, I love all my clientsand, like I said, they do
become my best friends and Ilove following them.
I'm I'm kind of weird.
I like to stalk them, like Isaid, on Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
You have to get to know them, you have to get to
know them and it's good that youdo that, like, for example,
with me.
You know, same thing, you know,I know that you know when, when
I'm.
You know I'm very active onsocial media, so when I notice
that somebody follows me, I'dlike to go to their profile and
see, you know, okay, so is thisa potential bride, is she
already married and maybe she'slooking for somebody else?
(07:31):
Or is it for a corporate event?
Like what?
What do they want?
Like, why did they follow me?
And and yeah, like most of thetime, you know, like I click on
their profile and the firstthing I see, you know, the pin
on their, on their, on theirfeet.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
It's a wedding ring?
Speaker 1 (07:43):
yeah, it's a wedding ring so I'm like, oh, okay, okay
, so maybe she, you know, she,she likes us, she might be
interested.
So you know, of course I'm notgonna stalk them and send them a
message and be like hey, girl,I saw you followed me, do you
want to hire me?
I I never do that, but you know, I like I go and like some of
their posts, especially, youknow, the ones that have to do
with her engagement, theirengagements, or, you know, just
like cool photos where it's bothof them.
(08:04):
I'm like, you know, I want togive them those little hints
that I'm looking, that I'mwatching them and then
eventually I'm here.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I see you, yeah, yeah , yeah, and then get that
inquiry you know from thewebsite, or they send us a dm
and they're like, hey, you knowwe really like what you do, blah
, blah, and I'm like I know,girl, I know you're like, oh,
really right, but yeah, it's.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's always cool to get to know your client because
then you can always make youknow like little comments to
them that it makes them feellike like you've done your
homework.
You know, like, if they I don'tknow, she got engaged in Paris.
So when she reaches out she'slike, hey, you know, I noticed
you got engaged in Paris, I loveyour photos.
Or blah, blah, blah.
Without sounding like a stalker, it's more like you know,
giving them like littlecompliments.
I think that's a great way togo about, you know, making that
(08:50):
first connection with yourpotential clients.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Oh, 100%, you are spot on.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
But all right, girl.
So let's talk about weddingguests.
I mean, to me, I feel like thatis the most dramatic part of a
wedding.
So what do you think is thefirst step when you're trying to
build the wedding guest list?
How would you get started withthat?
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Honestly, your first step is to look at your budget.
Can you afford to invite 300people to your wedding, or is it
going to be one of those small,intimate weddings where you
invite 15?
Either way, it's going to bebeautiful.
But look at your budget.
You're looking for cateringcosts at least.
I'm saying at least $50 perperson.
It can definitely go up fromthere, depending on what kind of
(09:36):
food you're wanting andeverything.
So can your budget allow you tohave everyone you want there?
Um, I mean, having 15 people atyour wedding is still going to
be a beautiful wedding.
It's about you and, um, yoursignificant other, getting
married and all that stuff.
But I yes, that is the biggestthing is budget Um, seeing who
you can afford and how muchpeople you can afford and
(09:59):
everything like that.
And honestly, venue how muchcan your venue hold?
If you pick a smaller venue,obviously you're not going to
have 300 people there.
If you pick a huge venue, youdon't want just 15 people in
this huge spot.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
So venue and budget, honestly I would say they were
the first two.
And then after that you'regoing to set up your guest list
like an A list and a B list.
The A list are people I wouldsay your wedding party, your
close family.
I mean, we're in San Antonio,everyone's related to everybody,
everyone has an aunt and uncleeverywhere.
So family, wedding party, yourclose friends, like not a friend
(10:39):
of a friend of a friend, yourclose friends, the people that
you've actually grown up with,and then it's.
This is a hit or miss.
But co-workers, I know a lot ofpeople like to invite their
co-workers and it's honestly, ifyou've been at that business
for a while, those co-workers dobecome friends and pretty much
family.
So that would be on your A-list.
Your B-list are like extendedfamily.
These are people that whenyou're if your A-list can't make
(11:01):
that, you kind of bring them on.
Extended family people like, Iguess, like your friend of a
friend, not your friend of afriend of a friend, those people
are not invited Like a friendof a friend or people that you
kind of know and all that stuff.
And then I guess you would say,oh my goodness, what is that
word?
Like fellow vendors or anythinglike that, like your co-working
(11:23):
vendors, people that I guessyou know from the industry, your
network, there you go, kind ofgo from there.
But definitely, like, your Blist is your backup list.
Your A list should just bepeople that you actually want to
know and you actually like tocelebrate with, people that I
always tell people this is not afamily reunion, this is your
(11:43):
wedding.
So if you have an uncle therethat you hardly talk to and he
hardly talks to you, don'tinvite him.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Why even have a meal?
Yeah, I'm like don't feel badabout it either.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
And then also don't feel bad if you do not want kids
at your wedding.
If you do not want kids, atyour wedding?
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I thought that was going to be one of my questions,
yeah, I mean I guess yeah, likekids.
You know that is a veryinteresting topic because you
know some people get offended.
If you know, like, if you saylike, oh, no kids, and then
they're like well, I'm not goingto your wedding, then blah,
blah, blah, like how do youthink, do you think that adds
stress to the couple, likemaking that decision if they
(12:17):
want kids or not, or do youthink they stick to their guns
and they're like nope, mine isgoing to be no kids and no kids
at all.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
So, honestly, I think it adds a lot of stress and I
found, being in the years, Ifound a really good way to put
it onto your invitation, whichsounds very classy and
everything like that.
I'll talk about that later.
But honestly, can I tell yousomething funny?
Yeah, of course.
So me and my husband actuallygot married seven, seven years
(12:44):
ago.
It's been a while Seven yearsago, and I have a daughter from
a previous relationship.
My own kids were not eveninvited to my wedding, so she
was the flower girl after myceremony.
I was like, okay, you're goinghome with a sitter, mommy wants
to party.
I cannot.
How old was she?
She was five, oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
So I mean, it's one of those things.
It's, I feel like you shouldmake a wedding, a date night for
you and your spouse, unless,like this person is like I know,
it's kind of hard for out oftown guests and everything to
find a babysitter for a while.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Actually, you know what I've been noticing a lot
lately?
They have wedding babysitters.
Okay, I was.
Yeah, I've noticed, I've seenthat.
You know, I did.
I did this wedding.
It was a huge wedding and theyrented probably like three of
the ballrooms at the venue andthen, of course, you know, one
was the main wedding, the otherone was I don't know what they
had in there, but then one ofthe rooms, one of the ballrooms
that they that they rented, theyturned it into almost like a
daycare I guess like a nightcarein this case where they had all
(13:41):
kinds of games and they haddifferent sitters and all the
kids were there.
Is that a thing?
I mean, I've seen it once, I'veseen it once but is that
something that's becomingpopular?
Speaker 2 (13:51):
It's becoming a thing , especially here in San Antonio
, in the Hill Country.
We're actually being known as adestination wedding spot just
because we are more affordablein the whole United States area
to have a wedding and, honestly,the hill country is beautiful,
great backdrop and we havepretty good weather, except for
summer, all year round.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yes, except for summer.
Let's not even talk aboutsummer weddings.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
So we're becoming a destination spot, so a lot of
people are having to fly in,especially because we also are a
military city, so they'reflying in for a lot of these
weddings and they have to bringtheir kiddos along, especially
if they're little babies, um.
So I've been noticing a lotlately that they're starting to
hire babysitters like andthere's companies actually
coming uh about like weddingsitters and all that, which I
think is a a great concept.
(14:36):
Cool idea Parents can stillhave their date night If your
kids in the other room stillbeing watched having fun, it's
not like they're stuck with arandom babysitter.
Um, they're with their, theircousins too, or their friends,
and it's.
I think it's a great concept.
But, honestly, having kids at awedding, um, especially like I
personally, I would not wantsomeone to invite me and all my
(14:57):
kids to a wedding.
I'm like you have me, myhusband, which that's two, then
I have three kids.
That's five, that's five mouths.
I'm like that is $300 worth offood just to feed me and my kids
.
I'm like no, they can stay home, they can go enjoy themselves
at home with a sitter or grandpa.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
And I was like me and my husband love to go to
weddings and join date nightswhen we're actually invited.
And I'm not planning, yeah, no,that is true, because I mean us
as vendors.
You know we go to weddingsevery weekend.
But you know, I was justtalking.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I can't even remember what I was talking to and I was
telling them, like you knowit's so weird like we go to
weddings every weekend, but Idon't even remember the last
time that I was actually a guestat a wedding and the times that
I am an actual guest.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
It feels weird because I want to do things like
I want to work, I want to, I'mlike it's so.
It's sad to say, but we're soused to it that when you know,
but but yes, like you said, youknow, like you're there to have
fun, so you don't want to haveyour kids with you my kids can
be fun.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
You have your own fun with your kids but honestly a
wedding is just I feel likethere's it's not a place for
little kids yeah um, I think thecut cut off should maybe be
like 16 years old, okay, and youknow, when they're old enough
to mature enough and not at thecomplaining stage.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Yeah no, especially because I mean they get.
I feel like they would getfrustrated and then all they're
gonna do is just they're gonnabe running around the dance
floor, running into people orjust being in the background of
the videos or the photos and Imean it's a nightmare, We've
seen it and it's just crazy.
So to all of our listeners outthere, do a no-kids wedding no
(16:26):
kids, we love kids, but no kids,not for the wedding, but okay.
So, going back to the A-list andthe B-list, so when it comes to
the RSVP, so I guess, do youjust kind of wait on the B and
then you, I guess, make anexception, like once you start
getting the RSVPs from yourA-list, do you?
I guess, at this point youstart filling in those spots
(16:50):
that said no, but do you stillsend an RSVP, I guess, for the
B-list, or is that more like ahey, you're just getting the
invitation, or you just kind oflike tell them like hey, how
does that work, I guess, becauseI guess there's a cut off time
for RSVPs.
But, if you're using the B-listas a backup, how does that play
(17:11):
into the whole cut off time forRSVPs?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Honestly for the B-list.
It's one of those things likewhen you're going through your
A-list and Aunt Cheryl in Canada, you want to invite her.
You're really close to her,she's on your A-list but she's
in Canada and she hates going onflights.
So that's one of those thingsyou kind of have to use your own
mentality for.
So, okay, I love Aunt Cheryl,Still going to send her an
invite.
Hopefully she sends a gift,Just kidding, Hopefully Aunt
Cheryl you know she's, but she'safraid of flights.
She's not going to go fly fromCanada to Texas.
(17:42):
So it's one of those things youtake off the A list and you know
you put a B list person inthere.
Most of the time they also saylet's say you invite 100 people.
They say 75% of those 100people are going to RSVP yes,
and then 90% of the people thatRSVP yes are actually going to
show up.
So you might invite 100 peoplebut only 70 are actually going
(18:02):
to show up, type of thing.
So I always tell people toinvite a little bit more.
I know it's a little hard inSan Antonio because everybody
invites everybody.
When I tell everyone to RSVPtoo, I always tell them to make
it online RSVP because it's somuch easier to track.
Put the QR code on yourinvitation.
They scan the QR code.
They RSVP online.
You know exactly who it is andyou can honestly put it where.
(18:24):
They can only RSVP forthemselves and, if they're
allowed, a plus one.
You also do not have to giveeveryone a plus one.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
That was going to be my next question.
I am so glad you touched intothat.
So before we go into the plusones, do you have any
recommendations on a website oran online program for RSVPs?
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yes, honestly, I love using the Knot.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And I love using Zola , so both of those are great.
And then to capture addressesboth Zola and the Knot can
capture addresses for you.
And then there's anotherwebsite called
ineedyouraddresscom.
Okay, I always recommend thosethree.
And then what's pretty coolwith the ineedyour address dot
com is you can actually put itinto a spreadsheet.
And the spreadsheet Just clickon a bunch of buttons.
(19:09):
But you can actually print itout all the addresses onto
envelopes for you, so you're nothaving to handwrite all these
envelopes, so everyone just putsin their address.
You click on a bunch of buttons, that comes up with the
envelopes and you just put theenvelopes in your printer and
then you could print it out.
And it's not just standardprint, you can make it pretty
and pick your own font andeverything nice, so you can
(19:31):
actually get all that done,taken care of I love that.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I'll make sure to put that in the show notes so that
you guys out there, if you needthose recommendations, they'll
be listed there, and okay.
So now going back to the plusone.
Who gets a plus one, like Iguess, out of your eight?
I'm?
I'm assuming the b list is noton the top of the list when it
comes to plus ones, but I guessyou know more about this, who
(19:54):
who gets one and who doesn'thonestly, anyone who's married
obviously gets a plus one, andif they're in a like engaged or
a committed relationship, yes,they get a plus one.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
We do not want your frat boyfriend from college
bringing his fling for thesummer to your wedding um we
actually this is a littlepersonal note um, and you're
gonna laugh about this.
So in my own personal weddingvideo, um, in my actual wedding
video too.
Well, oh my gosh, he's going toget so mad at me when I'm going
(20:24):
to say this I love things likethis.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
We love the drama here at the Tipsy Guess, so talk
to me, tell me everything aboutthat.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
So one of my husband's best friends he
actually, yeah, invited somegirl that he met not that long
ago and they are dancing in ourwedding video.
Obviously, they're not a thinganymore.
They were just a itty-bittylittle thing for the time of our
wedding, but they're not athing anymore.
And so every time we see ourwedding video, I'm like, oh look
, they're dancing in thebackground.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
That's hilarious, and .
Speaker 2 (20:51):
I feel bad for one day when he actually, you know,
gets married and everything Like.
That's not something his futurewife's going to want, Just his
fling of the week the temp, thetemp.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
You know I always love to use that word, the temp.
I'm sure you watch this movie,but the Monster-in-Law with Jane
Fonda and Jennifer Lopez Lovethat movie, she's always calling
Jennifer Lopez a temp.
So every time, every time wetalk about something like this,
I love using the word temp andyou know what's so funny At
weddings?
Speaker 2 (21:20):
it's always the in-laws.
Everyone thinks there's abridezilla.
I'm like no, I don't getbridezillas, I get monster
in-laws-illas.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Oh my gosh.
Yes, but have you ever had anydrama with a situation like this
, when the mother-in-law isalways trying to get involved?
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Yes, and I always get situations where parents are
trying to invite guests too.
They want to invite guests too,like they want to invite their
best friend from college orsomething like that, and I'm
like, okay, well, this isanother thing like, do you call
that person?
I know down here in san antoniowe tend to call our parents, uh
, best friends and an uncle,like I was like, do you refer to
them?
Are they almost like family toyou?
(21:57):
Like, are we gonna?
Is your dad's best friend ben?
Is the uncle ben to you?
Like then you can invite him.
If he's just Ben and you hardlyhang out with him, he's not
there for social events orfamily events.
We do not need to invite Ben.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Definitely not.
No, I mean, you want to makesure that the people that are
coming to your wedding areactual people, that you, I guess
, going back to the video thatyou want to see, when you watch
your wedding video, when youwatch your your wedding video,
when you watch your photos, likeyou want to make sure that you
know every single person that'sin the background, like you know
, like you don't want justrandom people and and you know
(22:31):
it sucks sometimes because it'sso annoying when, when people
like on facebook or or justthrough your network of friends,
they like make you feeluncomfortable by bringing it up
and saying like hey, are youinviting me to your wedding?
Or blah, blah, blah.
They bring up the conversationevery single time they talk to
you just to pressure you intoinviting them.
(22:54):
That's really annoying.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
I always tell my couples I'm like honestly lay it
onto the venue, blame the venue, say there's not enough
capacity at the venue.
Yeah, the venue blame the venue, say there's not enough
capacity at the venue, yeah, orhave it blame your, your
mother-in-law.
Be like oh, I'm so sorry, mymother-in-law actually already
invited x, y and z, so it mademe cut my my list in half.
Like you can always pass theblame even though it might not
be the truth but they're nevergonna know.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Nope, well, I guess, maybe after listening to this,
no, but seriously, for example,uh, I mean us.
You know, like for me, that I'mpart of this huge Mexican
family.
Mexicans don't care about RSVPs.
Mexicans don't care about youknow, they always bring people.
They always like I don't thisis horrible to say, but Mexicans
don't care, like they will showup with the cousin.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
They just love a party.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah, no, seriously, they show up with people, they
show up with people, they showup with their with all kinds of
you know like guests and it'slike that's not a thing anymore.
Like maybe back in the day,yeah, it was okay to show up
with all these random people,but now I feel like they have to
.
You have to be respectful of,you know, the couple, you know
they're the ones spending themoney.
They I mean, like you said, thevenue has limitations.
(24:01):
So what if you, because of youbringing your neighbor and their
kids and the cousin and thefriend then the night of the
wedding, then they might getshut down because of all the
extra people that you showed upwith, or someone might be left
without food.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
So please be respectful of the wedding, the
couple that you know.
If they're inviting you, justRSVP for whoever you're going to
RSVP for and do not show upwith extra people.
Amen, all right, chana.
Well, I think this was a greatconversation.
I mean honestly I feel like Ikeep saying it, but it's true I
(24:38):
feel like the wedding guest listis probably the most stressful
part of the whole planning and Ithink our listeners today are
going to walk away with somegood tips here.
So, thank you so much, of course.
Thank you for having me Timeflew.
It's time to wrap it up, but Iwant you to tell our listeners
where can they find you online.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Of course.
So actually you can find meonline on multiple social media
sites.
I'm on Facebook and Instagram.
Just look up Savvy SouthernEvents.
That's Savvy with two Vs, or myemail address is info at
SavvySouthernEventsSAcom.
So, and also online, ourwebsite is
SavvySouthernEventsSAcom.
(25:18):
And if you could always look meup personally also, just Shawna
Jackson, yeah, I love tointeract and you know, always
look me up personally also, justshauna jackson.
Um, yeah, I love to interactand you know, make friends
awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Thank you so much and I'm sure we're gonna have you
again, because tell ourlisteners also what other
company you own well, I'mactually a mobile spray tan
artist.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I am known as the bridal bronzer and actually got
into that because I obviouslyhave a lot of brides that needed
spray tans.
So, um, I get to make everyonebeautiful and bronze awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Well, make sure that you stick around, because we
will have her on a differentepisode to talk about tanning
all right, guys, see you later,bye, bye thanks for listening to
the tipsy Guest Podcast.
If you know someone who couldbenefit from these tips, spread
the love and share it with them.
Don't forget to subscribe andleave a review.
(26:10):
Next round's on us, same time,same place, cheers.
This podcast is brought to youby MVP Photo Booth, the number
one photo booth rental companyin San Antonio, austin and
Central Texas.
Welcome to the Tipsy Guest Podcast.
I am your host, marcoBuenrostro, and every week I'm
here with the top industryexperts, amazing clients and all
my vendor BFFs to bring you thebest tips, advice and juicy
behind-the-scenes stories tomake wedding and event planning
a breeze.
So grab your favorite drink andlet's get this party started.
(00:25):
Hey guys, welcome back to theTipsy Guest.
I am Marco, your host, andtoday we're going to be talking
about invitations, rsvp andwedding guest list.
We want to know everythingabout it and we have one of the
best for this topic, shawnaJackson from Savvy Southern
(00:46):
Events.
How are you?
I'm great.
How are you doing?
I am doing fantastic.
Thank you for coming in today.
I am very excited about thistopic because I feel like this
is where the drama happens.
All the drama I feel like youknow, if you sit down and talk
about the entire process of awedding, when it comes to the
guest list, that's where it getsa little bit tricky with
(01:09):
everyone.
You know some people, I guessyou know, like one side of the
groom you know wants to invitecertain people, then the bride
wants to invite the other half,and then they don't agree on
things.
So I want to hear everythingyou have to say about this.
First, let's talk about you.
I want you to tell ourlisteners what you do, how long
(01:30):
you've been in business.
Tell us everything about youand your business.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, first off you already said it, my name is
Shawna Jackson.
I own Savvy Southern Events.
I actually got into the weddingindustry when I was 18 years
old.
I was going to college atIncarnate Word, getting my
bachelor's in nursing, and Iactually got in a car accident
and I was bartending at the time.
I dislocated my shoulder, hurtmy shoulder really bad, ended up
(01:55):
working for a catering companydoing behind-the-scenes work, a
lot of paperwork, and then kindof went from there and when my
shoulder got healed I was like,oh, can I get back into
bartending for weddings?
And started bartending weddings.
And I realized back in the day,like I'm so old, right Back in
the day, a lot of people did nothave, I guess, a coordinator.
(02:17):
So with my A-type personality, Iwas like, okay, you guys need
to go here, you guys need to gohere, you guys need to go here,
you guys need to go here, youguys need to go here.
And then I'm running back tothe bar to do what I needed to
do.
And then the catering company Iworked for at the time actually
was like hey, we're going touse you as a coordinator for
upcoming events.
And honestly, it kind of juststarted from there and then I,
after I graduated college, Iwent ahead and kind of did it on
(02:39):
the side for a while and aboutseven years ago ago I decided to
open up my own business and itjust flourished.
I God has truly blessed me.
It just flourished and Iabsolutely love what I do.
I love interacting with mybrides and my clients.
Honestly, a lot of them becomesome of my really good friends
and I know that everyone alwaysmakes that comment don't be
friends with their clients, I'mlike, but I get to be part of
their love story and be like, belike the main part of their
(03:03):
love story and it's just so funto watch them just flourish and
then, if I follow them on socialmedia, have babies afterwards
and everything like that.
Luckily I have not had to do uma client twice um.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I have, I have I was like.
Luckily I haven't run into anyof those yet, but but if this
you know, if ever comes, I'msure it'll be as fun as the
first time, I hope.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I just pray, that never happens to me.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Oh, my goodness, Well that sounds.
I like the way you know how youdescribed it.
I mean, I think that is theperfect way when you build that
relationship with your clientand then you eventually, you
know, go on to become friends.
You know, because that's thething you do spend a lot of time
(03:52):
with them as a planner.
I mean for you normally, howlong is the um, the whole
process from the moment theyhire?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
you to to the wedding day.
So it just all depends on thepackage they kind of get.
I have a lot of brides in SanAntonio that like to try to do a
lot of the planning themselves,and so they usually just hire
me for it's called my managementpackage, which usually starts
about eight weeks before theirbig day.
Obviously beforehand I willkind of contact them and all
that stuff.
I'm not one of those peoplethat you know pay per phone call
or anything like that.
(04:14):
I'm.
I'm an open book.
So if they have a questionbefore that eight weeks,
obviously they're more thanwelcome to call or text me.
But, um, starting about eightweeks, I'm like calling and
texting them every day makingsure everything is good, making
sure everything is like up topar, all that stuff, making sure
that their nerves are great.
And then my have a partialplanning package and then I have
a full planning package which Ilike to call myself.
They're pretty much theirwedding best friend.
(04:36):
I'm like their best friend forhire.
Um, I'm like, no, literally meand you are going to be holding
hands.
I'm going to know your favoritecolor by the end of all this.
I'm going to know what kind offood you like I was like,
because we get down into thedetails.
My job is to make their visioncome true, and I think that I've
had a client hire me threeyears in advance.
Wow, I've had multiple clientshire me before they were even
(04:58):
engaged.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I love that.
You know I've had that happento me as well.
You know I guess you, you know,I don't know I do a lot of like
open houses and then thewedding expos, the wedding shows
.
So a lot of the times you Imean you get to see these people
over and over again, dependingon how long they're planning
their wedding.
But it happened to me one timewhere you know I was, I think I
was at a wedding expo and then,you know, somebody walked up to
(05:21):
our booth and they used thephoto booth.
You know, the bride ended uphiring me, but then also she was
with her best friend and Iguess she loved, loved, loved
the photo booth and we got alongreally well and she told me the
best friend she was like youknow what, marco, I'm going to
hire you guys for my wedding.
She's like I'm not even engaged, she's like I don't even have,
(05:42):
you know, like I'm not engaged.
So, but I know I'm going tohire you for my wedding.
I really, really like what youdo.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Does she at least have a significant other?
She did, okay, she did.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
She did so.
A few years later she reachedout and she was like hey, marco,
guess what she's like?
I just got engaged, I don'teven have a venue yet, I have a
wedding date and you're going tobe my first vendor that I hire.
And I was like girl, thank you.
I was like you know, that'spretty cool, because normally
(06:11):
for us, for the photo booth,we're normally like the last
person thing they end up getting.
You know, we're like, almostlike you know, at the very
bottom of the list.
But you know, for her to tellme that I was the first vendor
because she had, you know, twoyears prior to that, she knew
she wanted us.
She was like I want to makesure that you're available, I
want to secure you and then I'llfigure out the rest for my
wedding.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
So that was one of my honor, that was yeah, like I
always, you know, talk aboutthat.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
It's such a cool experience.
You know, like we, I love whatI do and when I hear things like
that from from clients, I'mlike, yes, we're doing something
right.
That is such an honor.
Yeah, so for you to know, youknow, for you to to do that with
your clients I mean, just theway you're talking about it, it
sounds like you are so good atwhat you do and that you build
(06:55):
that connection.
So I am really excited to talkto you today because I I mean, I
feel like we came to the rightplace with you.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Well, thank you so much.
Honestly, I love all my clientsand, like I said, they do
become my best friends and Ilove following them.
I'm I'm kind of weird.
I like to stalk them, like Isaid, on Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
You have to get to know them, you have to get to
know them and it's good that youdo that, like, for example,
with me.
You know, same thing, you know,I know that you know when, when
I'm.
You know I'm very active onsocial media, so when I notice
that somebody follows me, I'dlike to go to their profile and
see, you know, okay, so is thisa potential bride, is she
already married and maybe she'slooking for somebody else?
(07:31):
Or is it for a corporate event?
Like what?
What do they want?
Like, why did they follow me?
And and yeah, like most of thetime, you know, like I click on
their profile and the firstthing I see, you know, the pin
on their, on their, on theirfeet.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
It's a wedding ring?
Speaker 1 (07:43):
yeah, it's a wedding ring so I'm like, oh, okay, okay
, so maybe she, you know, she,she likes us, she might be
interested.
So you know, of course I'm notgonna stalk them and send them a
message and be like hey, girl,I saw you followed me, do you
want to hire me?
I I never do that, but you know, I like I go and like some of
their posts, especially, youknow, the ones that have to do
with her engagement, theirengagements, or, you know, just
like cool photos where it's bothof them.
(08:04):
I'm like, you know, I want togive them those little hints
that I'm looking, that I'mwatching them and then
eventually I'm here.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I see you, yeah, yeah , yeah, and then get that
inquiry you know from thewebsite, or they send us a dm
and they're like, hey, you knowwe really like what you do, blah
, blah, and I'm like I know,girl, I know you're like, oh,
really right, but yeah, it's.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's always cool to get to know your client because
then you can always make youknow like little comments to
them that it makes them feellike like you've done your
homework.
You know, like, if they I don'tknow, she got engaged in Paris.
So when she reaches out she'slike, hey, you know, I noticed
you got engaged in Paris, I loveyour photos.
Or blah, blah, blah.
Without sounding like a stalker, it's more like you know,
giving them like littlecompliments.
I think that's a great way togo about, you know, making that
(08:50):
first connection with yourpotential clients.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Oh, 100%, you are spot on.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
But all right, girl.
So let's talk about weddingguests.
I mean, to me, I feel like thatis the most dramatic part of a
wedding.
So what do you think is thefirst step when you're trying to
build the wedding guest list?
How would you get started withthat?
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Honestly, your first step is to look at your budget.
Can you afford to invite 300people to your wedding, or is it
going to be one of those small,intimate weddings where you
invite 15?
Either way, it's going to bebeautiful.
But look at your budget.
You're looking for cateringcosts at least.
I'm saying at least $50 perperson.
It can definitely go up fromthere, depending on what kind of
(09:36):
food you're wanting andeverything.
So can your budget allow you tohave everyone you want there?
Um, I mean, having 15 people atyour wedding is still going to
be a beautiful wedding.
It's about you and, um, yoursignificant other, getting
married and all that stuff.
But I yes, that is the biggestthing is budget Um, seeing who
you can afford and how muchpeople you can afford and
(09:59):
everything like that.
And honestly, venue how muchcan your venue hold?
If you pick a smaller venue,obviously you're not going to
have 300 people there.
If you pick a huge venue, youdon't want just 15 people in
this huge spot.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
So venue and budget, honestly I would say they were
the first two.
And then after that you'regoing to set up your guest list
like an A list and a B list.
The A list are people I wouldsay your wedding party, your
close family.
I mean, we're in San Antonio,everyone's related to everybody,
everyone has an aunt and uncleeverywhere.
So family, wedding party, yourclose friends, like not a friend
(10:39):
of a friend of a friend, yourclose friends, the people that
you've actually grown up with,and then it's.
This is a hit or miss.
But co-workers, I know a lot ofpeople like to invite their
co-workers and it's honestly, ifyou've been at that business
for a while, those co-workers dobecome friends and pretty much
family.
So that would be on your A-list.
Your B-list are like extendedfamily.
These are people that whenyou're if your A-list can't make
(11:01):
that, you kind of bring them on.
Extended family people like, Iguess, like your friend of a
friend, not your friend of afriend of a friend, those people
are not invited Like a friendof a friend or people that you
kind of know and all that stuff.
And then I guess you would say,oh my goodness, what is that
word?
Like fellow vendors or anythinglike that, like your co-working
(11:23):
vendors, people that I guessyou know from the industry, your
network, there you go, kind ofgo from there.
But definitely, like, your Blist is your backup list.
Your A list should just bepeople that you actually want to
know and you actually like tocelebrate with, people that I
always tell people this is not afamily reunion, this is your
(11:43):
wedding.
So if you have an uncle therethat you hardly talk to and he
hardly talks to you, don'tinvite him.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Why even have a meal?
Yeah, I'm like don't feel badabout it either.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
And then also don't feel bad if you do not want kids
at your wedding.
If you do not want kids, atyour wedding?
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I thought that was going to be one of my questions,
yeah, I mean I guess yeah, likekids.
You know that is a veryinteresting topic because you
know some people get offended.
If you know, like, if you saylike, oh, no kids, and then
they're like well, I'm not goingto your wedding, then blah,
blah, blah, like how do youthink, do you think that adds
stress to the couple, likemaking that decision if they
(12:17):
want kids or not, or do youthink they stick to their guns
and they're like nope, mine isgoing to be no kids and no kids
at all.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
So, honestly, I think it adds a lot of stress and I
found, being in the years, Ifound a really good way to put
it onto your invitation, whichsounds very classy and
everything like that.
I'll talk about that later.
But honestly, can I tell yousomething funny?
Yeah, of course.
So me and my husband actuallygot married seven, seven years
(12:44):
ago.
It's been a while Seven yearsago, and I have a daughter from
a previous relationship.
My own kids were not eveninvited to my wedding, so she
was the flower girl after myceremony.
I was like, okay, you're goinghome with a sitter, mommy wants
to party.
I cannot.
How old was she?
She was five, oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
So I mean, it's one of those things.
It's, I feel like you shouldmake a wedding, a date night for
you and your spouse, unless,like this person is like I know,
it's kind of hard for out oftown guests and everything to
find a babysitter for a while.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Actually, you know what I've been noticing a lot
lately?
They have wedding babysitters.
Okay, I was.
Yeah, I've noticed, I've seenthat.
You know, I did.
I did this wedding.
It was a huge wedding and theyrented probably like three of
the ballrooms at the venue andthen, of course, you know, one
was the main wedding, the otherone was I don't know what they
had in there, but then one ofthe rooms, one of the ballrooms
that they that they rented, theyturned it into almost like a
daycare I guess like a nightcarein this case where they had all
(13:41):
kinds of games and they haddifferent sitters and all the
kids were there.
Is that a thing?
I mean, I've seen it once, I'veseen it once but is that
something that's becomingpopular?
Speaker 2 (13:51):
It's becoming a thing , especially here in San Antonio
, in the Hill Country.
We're actually being known as adestination wedding spot just
because we are more affordablein the whole United States area
to have a wedding and, honestly,the hill country is beautiful,
great backdrop and we havepretty good weather, except for
summer, all year round.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yes, except for summer.
Let's not even talk aboutsummer weddings.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
So we're becoming a destination spot, so a lot of
people are having to fly in,especially because we also are a
military city, so they'reflying in for a lot of these
weddings and they have to bringtheir kiddos along, especially
if they're little babies, um.
So I've been noticing a lotlately that they're starting to
hire babysitters like andthere's companies actually
coming uh about like weddingsitters and all that, which I
think is a a great concept.
(14:36):
Cool idea Parents can stillhave their date night If your
kids in the other room stillbeing watched having fun, it's
not like they're stuck with arandom babysitter.
Um, they're with their, theircousins too, or their friends,
and it's.
I think it's a great concept.
But, honestly, having kids at awedding, um, especially like I
personally, I would not wantsomeone to invite me and all my
(14:57):
kids to a wedding.
I'm like you have me, myhusband, which that's two, then
I have three kids.
That's five, that's five mouths.
I'm like that is $300 worth offood just to feed me and my kids
.
I'm like no, they can stay home, they can go enjoy themselves
at home with a sitter or grandpa.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
And I was like me and my husband love to go to
weddings and join date nightswhen we're actually invited.
And I'm not planning, yeah, no,that is true, because I mean us
as vendors.
You know we go to weddingsevery weekend.
But you know, I was justtalking.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I can't even remember what I was talking to and I was
telling them, like you knowit's so weird like we go to
weddings every weekend, but Idon't even remember the last
time that I was actually a guestat a wedding and the times that
I am an actual guest.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
It feels weird because I want to do things like
I want to work, I want to, I'mlike it's so.
It's sad to say, but we're soused to it that when you know,
but but yes, like you said, youknow, like you're there to have
fun, so you don't want to haveyour kids with you my kids can
be fun.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
You have your own fun with your kids but honestly a
wedding is just I feel likethere's it's not a place for
little kids yeah um, I think thecut cut off should maybe be
like 16 years old, okay, and youknow, when they're old enough
to mature enough and not at thecomplaining stage.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Yeah no, especially because I mean they get.
I feel like they would getfrustrated and then all they're
gonna do is just they're gonnabe running around the dance
floor, running into people orjust being in the background of
the videos or the photos and Imean it's a nightmare, We've
seen it and it's just crazy.
So to all of our listeners outthere, do a no-kids wedding no
(16:26):
kids, we love kids, but no kids,not for the wedding, but okay.
So, going back to the A-list andthe B-list, so when it comes to
the RSVP, so I guess, do youjust kind of wait on the B and
then you, I guess, make anexception, like once you start
getting the RSVPs from yourA-list, do you?
I guess, at this point youstart filling in those spots
(16:50):
that said no, but do you stillsend an RSVP, I guess, for the
B-list, or is that more like ahey, you're just getting the
invitation, or you just kind oflike tell them like hey, how
does that work, I guess, becauseI guess there's a cut off time
for RSVPs.
But, if you're using the B-listas a backup, how does that play
(17:11):
into the whole cut off time forRSVPs?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Honestly for the B-list.
It's one of those things likewhen you're going through your
A-list and Aunt Cheryl in Canada, you want to invite her.
You're really close to her,she's on your A-list but she's
in Canada and she hates going onflights.
So that's one of those thingsyou kind of have to use your own
mentality for.
So, okay, I love Aunt Cheryl,Still going to send her an
invite.
Hopefully she sends a gift,Just kidding, Hopefully Aunt
Cheryl you know she's, but she'safraid of flights.
She's not going to go fly fromCanada to Texas.
(17:42):
So it's one of those things youtake off the A list and you know
you put a B list person inthere.
Most of the time they also saylet's say you invite 100 people.
They say 75% of those 100people are going to RSVP yes,
and then 90% of the people thatRSVP yes are actually going to
show up.
So you might invite 100 peoplebut only 70 are actually going
(18:02):
to show up, type of thing.
So I always tell people toinvite a little bit more.
I know it's a little hard inSan Antonio because everybody
invites everybody.
When I tell everyone to RSVPtoo, I always tell them to make
it online RSVP because it's somuch easier to track.
Put the QR code on yourinvitation.
They scan the QR code.
They RSVP online.
You know exactly who it is andyou can honestly put it where.
(18:24):
They can only RSVP forthemselves and, if they're
allowed, a plus one.
You also do not have to giveeveryone a plus one.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
That was going to be my next question.
I am so glad you touched intothat.
So before we go into the plusones, do you have any
recommendations on a website oran online program for RSVPs?
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yes, honestly, I love using the Knot.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And I love using Zola , so both of those are great.
And then to capture addressesboth Zola and the Knot can
capture addresses for you.
And then there's anotherwebsite called
ineedyouraddresscom.
Okay, I always recommend thosethree.
And then what's pretty coolwith the ineedyour address dot
com is you can actually put itinto a spreadsheet.
And the spreadsheet Just clickon a bunch of buttons.
(19:09):
But you can actually print itout all the addresses onto
envelopes for you, so you're nothaving to handwrite all these
envelopes, so everyone just putsin their address.
You click on a bunch of buttons, that comes up with the
envelopes and you just put theenvelopes in your printer and
then you could print it out.
And it's not just standardprint, you can make it pretty
and pick your own font andeverything nice, so you can
(19:31):
actually get all that done,taken care of I love that.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I'll make sure to put that in the show notes so that
you guys out there, if you needthose recommendations, they'll
be listed there, and okay.
So now going back to the plusone.
Who gets a plus one, like Iguess, out of your eight?
I'm?
I'm assuming the b list is noton the top of the list when it
comes to plus ones, but I guessyou know more about this, who
(19:54):
who gets one and who doesn'thonestly, anyone who's married
obviously gets a plus one, andif they're in a like engaged or
a committed relationship, yes,they get a plus one.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
We do not want your frat boyfriend from college
bringing his fling for thesummer to your wedding um we
actually this is a littlepersonal note um, and you're
gonna laugh about this.
So in my own personal weddingvideo, um, in my actual wedding
video too.
Well, oh my gosh, he's going toget so mad at me when I'm going
(20:24):
to say this I love things likethis.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
We love the drama here at the Tipsy Guess, so talk
to me, tell me everything aboutthat.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
So one of my husband's best friends he
actually, yeah, invited somegirl that he met not that long
ago and they are dancing in ourwedding video.
Obviously, they're not a thinganymore.
They were just a itty-bittylittle thing for the time of our
wedding, but they're not athing anymore.
And so every time we see ourwedding video, I'm like, oh look
, they're dancing in thebackground.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
That's hilarious, and .
Speaker 2 (20:51):
I feel bad for one day when he actually, you know,
gets married and everything Like.
That's not something his futurewife's going to want, Just his
fling of the week the temp, thetemp.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
You know I always love to use that word, the temp.
I'm sure you watch this movie,but the Monster-in-Law with Jane
Fonda and Jennifer Lopez Lovethat movie, she's always calling
Jennifer Lopez a temp.
So every time, every time wetalk about something like this,
I love using the word temp andyou know what's so funny At
weddings?
Speaker 2 (21:20):
it's always the in-laws.
Everyone thinks there's abridezilla.
I'm like no, I don't getbridezillas, I get monster
in-laws-illas.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Oh my gosh.
Yes, but have you ever had anydrama with a situation like this
, when the mother-in-law isalways trying to get involved?
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Yes, and I always get situations where parents are
trying to invite guests too.
They want to invite guests too,like they want to invite their
best friend from college orsomething like that, and I'm
like, okay, well, this isanother thing like, do you call
that person?
I know down here in san antoniowe tend to call our parents, uh
, best friends and an uncle,like I was like, do you refer to
them?
Are they almost like family toyou?
(21:57):
Like, are we gonna?
Is your dad's best friend ben?
Is the uncle ben to you?
Like then you can invite him.
If he's just Ben and you hardlyhang out with him, he's not
there for social events orfamily events.
We do not need to invite Ben.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Definitely not.
No, I mean, you want to makesure that the people that are
coming to your wedding areactual people, that you, I guess
, going back to the video thatyou want to see, when you watch
your wedding video, when youwatch your your wedding video,
when you watch your photos, likeyou want to make sure that you
know every single person that'sin the background, like you know
, like you don't want justrandom people and and you know
(22:31):
it sucks sometimes because it'sso annoying when, when people
like on facebook or or justthrough your network of friends,
they like make you feeluncomfortable by bringing it up
and saying like hey, are youinviting me to your wedding?
Or blah, blah, blah.
They bring up the conversationevery single time they talk to
you just to pressure you intoinviting them.
(22:54):
That's really annoying.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
I always tell my couples I'm like honestly lay it
onto the venue, blame the venue, say there's not enough
capacity at the venue.
Yeah, the venue blame the venue, say there's not enough
capacity at the venue, yeah, orhave it blame your, your
mother-in-law.
Be like oh, I'm so sorry, mymother-in-law actually already
invited x, y and z, so it mademe cut my my list in half.
Like you can always pass theblame even though it might not
be the truth but they're nevergonna know.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Nope, well, I guess, maybe after listening to this,
no, but seriously, for example,uh, I mean us.
You know, like for me, that I'mpart of this huge Mexican
family.
Mexicans don't care about RSVPs.
Mexicans don't care about youknow, they always bring people.
They always like I don't thisis horrible to say, but Mexicans
don't care, like they will showup with the cousin.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
They just love a party.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah, no, seriously, they show up with people, they
show up with people, they showup with their with all kinds of
you know like guests and it'slike that's not a thing anymore.
Like maybe back in the day,yeah, it was okay to show up
with all these random people,but now I feel like they have to
.
You have to be respectful of,you know, the couple, you know
they're the ones spending themoney.
They I mean, like you said, thevenue has limitations.
(24:01):
So what if you, because of youbringing your neighbor and their
kids and the cousin and thefriend then the night of the
wedding, then they might getshut down because of all the
extra people that you showed upwith, or someone might be left
without food.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
So please be respectful of the wedding, the
couple that you know.
If they're inviting you, justRSVP for whoever you're going to
RSVP for and do not show upwith extra people.
Amen, all right, chana.
Well, I think this was a greatconversation.
I mean honestly I feel like Ikeep saying it, but it's true I
(24:38):
feel like the wedding guest listis probably the most stressful
part of the whole planning and Ithink our listeners today are
going to walk away with somegood tips here.
So, thank you so much, of course.
Thank you for having me Timeflew.
It's time to wrap it up, but Iwant you to tell our listeners
where can they find you online.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Of course.
So actually you can find meonline on multiple social media
sites.
I'm on Facebook and Instagram.
Just look up Savvy SouthernEvents.
That's Savvy with two Vs, or myemail address is info at
SavvySouthernEventsSAcom.
So, and also online, ourwebsite is
SavvySouthernEventsSAcom.
(25:18):
And if you could always look meup personally also, just Shawna
Jackson, yeah, I love tointeract and you know, always
look me up personally also, justshauna jackson.
Um, yeah, I love to interactand you know, make friends
awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Thank you so much and I'm sure we're gonna have you
again, because tell ourlisteners also what other
company you own well, I'mactually a mobile spray tan
artist.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I am known as the bridal bronzer and actually got
into that because I obviouslyhave a lot of brides that needed
spray tans.
So, um, I get to make everyonebeautiful and bronze awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Well, make sure that you stick around, because we
will have her on a differentepisode to talk about tanning
all right, guys, see you later,bye, bye thanks for listening to
the tipsy Guest Podcast.
If you know someone who couldbenefit from these tips, spread
the love and share it with them.
Don't forget to subscribe andleave a review.
(26:10):
Next round's on us, same time,same place, cheers.
This podcast is brought to youby MVP Photo Booth, the number
one photo booth rental companyin San Antonio, austin and
Central Texas.
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