What Is Neccesary....plus...
My wedding is going to be May 29th. Our budget is small, under 1500 dollars. We are inviting 70 people, but don`t know how many will actually show. I already have my dress, and my fiance is wearing the kilt. We`ve picked out simple bands in silver, though might upgrade to white gold, depending on what we`ve spent. We both hate yellow gold, so that`s not an option.
Anyway, we have a venue that will cost us around 300 to rent and decorate for the ceremony. We found a place that has really nice pasta dishes that will feed people for around 4.50 a head and people can gorge themselves on pasta, breadsticks and salad until they pop...so that`s another 300. We`re now at 600 dollars.
So..my question is this...what else is REALLY needed? In all the weddings you`ve been to, what impressed. I hate cake. My fiance hates cake. But, not everybody else does. Futhermore, almost all the wedding cakes I`ve had have been foul. I do like Tira Misu (spelling?) and we found a bakery that can bake us one that can feed everybody twice over for 50. But..it`s not a "wedding cake". Do you think it`s tacky to feed pepole a non traditional wedding cake?
I want flowers, but I don`t want anything really fancy. Advice? We were thinking of getting some live plants and maybe some candles for the tables. Good idea, bad idea?
It seems like te biggest cost to us will be the photographer. The least expensive one will be 750 dollars. That`s half the budget and it seems ridiculous. Neither of us likes to be photographed either, so again, silly to spend that much money on it. On the other hand, we want some pics. Basically, we just want some nice "formal" shots of us and the wedding party, but mostly we just want to have candids, which anybody can take. We were thinking of getting a digital camera and having a friend take photos for us, we`ve even found someone to do this for us as a wedding present for us. Do you all think this is a bad idea?
We`d like a DJ and found one for 300. We are setting aside 150 to buy gifts for our attendants and the person performing a ceremony (friend of ours). We each have only one attendant.
So I guess my question is this. As I`ve mentioned, what seems to be the important factor in your enjoyment of a wedding? I mean, to me, give me good food, good drink (speaking of which, we`re planning on having an open limited bar with beer and wine..will cost us 200 or so) and good music and around people I like, I`m a happy camper.
However, I know not everybody is like me. Do you all expect gifts (you know, nic nacks) when you attend a wedding? Our colors are green and periwinkle (sort of a flowery, springtime theme) and so we were thinking of giving our guests seed packets, but I don`t know if people expect this sort of thing or not.
So, am I forgetting anything major? ANY advice would be loved. I`m starting to panic, as I`ve not been to very many weddings, and I don`t know what is needed and what isn`t. Reading bridal magazines, one would think that you just can`t get married for under 20,000 dollars, and that just seems stupid to me. On the other hand, I want everybody to have fun!
Thoughts, suggestions, a shotgun?
Thanks!
Posted by Laura; updated 02/18/04
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I have been to at least 10 wedding in my day.
The only thing that people really care about is food, drink and music. Bam you got that all covered!
If you want to do the seed packs I thinks that`s nice but it`s up to you if you want to spend the money. For the cake do what you want to do and every wedding that I have been to they always have cake left over and it`s sicking -sweet and it gets thown away. I think it would be nice to see something other then cake at a wedding.
Once again do what you want to do!
I would just have a friend take pictures of your day then getting some over priced jack-ass to do your pic`s.
Stop reading wedding mag`s it`s all just bridal porn it`s sick!
Go spend 20,000 on a house ! Not on one day that you`ll have nothing to show for! Love is not mesured on how much you spend on one day! Love is how you and your boyfriend are going to look into each others eyes when you take your first dance as husband and wife that`s what everybody going to remember how much you really love each other!
Any way you do your wedding it will be perfect because you are joining yor lives together and no piece of tulle or cake will make that any more beautiful!
Best Wishes!
NinaK
P.S. This was written after shopping for a photographer and I`m a little bitter right now! Just because something has wedding on it does not mean you charge triple! Greedy vendors!
Posted by ninak; updated 02/18/04
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Most of my brides are on a budget. You got such great deals on everything! This is how I negotiate with photographers to get the price inside of the budget...
Sit down with your fiancee and decide on what really MUST be photographed by a professional. Make a list of these shots that you want done professionally. Then contact your photographer (and other photographers in the area) and tell them that you have xx amount of dollars to spend on photography. Give them the list and number of photos you want done.
(i.e. You want 20 formal shots of the ceremony and bridal party). Negotiate a package that you can afford this way. If you don`t get what you want with one photographer, try another. Most will do what they can to get your business. If you stick to your guns, you will be able to get what you want for what you want to pay, within reason. Then, for your candids, have a few trusted friends and family members take them for you.
This has worked out well time after time for us as we try to help brides stay within budget. Good luck to you!
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Posted by Stephanie Fudge; updated 02/18/04
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You could do something less traditional for the wedding "cake" and have the tiramisu or you could do pies or tarts or whatever you want. I think it would be refreshing, and still look very nice. As for the photography, we can`t afford a professional photographer either so we are going to the local college and hiring a student. We can pay them less (we`re paying for the film), all they have to do is bring their camera, shoot some pics and then give us the film so we can pay to have it developed. We`re then giving him some of the proofs for his portfolio. Works out well for everyone. I agree though, have someone take pics, because you will want something to remember your wedding day by. Pro photography is way to much, so we resourceful brides need to exercise our other options. Anyhow, good luck with whatever you decide, just remember to have fun!
Posted by Sarah; updated 02/18/04
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Whew!! Thank you so much guys! We`ve thought about hiring a student, and there is a university nearby, so this is a very good option. I will have to look more into it!
I`m also glad to hear that going with the non-traditional wedding cake is something that others would be cool with...
Again, thanks guys, and if you think of anything else, that`d be great!!
Laura
Posted by Laura; updated 02/19/04
