We got engaged in July of 2008 and right away we were thinking of a Fall wedding for 2009. I really loved the fall colors, pumpkins, and the weather during this season. However, after we found our venue, which was the only one we had a meeting with and actually took a tour of, we knew that we needed more time to save money. We knew what it would take to really pull off what we really wanted....so our fall wedding of 2009 turned into a Spring wedding of 2010! It took two years and right up to the minute to save, plan, make invitations, bathroom baskets, a card box, a sign for the amazing Adesso Polaroid guest book, find the right cake topper, and make the seating chart for our venue...that was one of the worst things I had to do for our wedding, trust me it sucks!
Many couples have their reasons for their wedding date...some don't have the money or time to save so they plan for a 6 month engagement and some couples like us are lucky enough that we can save for two years for a $20,000 wedding. There are ways to plan and save for all kinds of weddings. Here are a few things about our wedding that may help you plan yours.
1. Our photographer including album was $1200, the DJ was $500 and our videographer was $800.
2. Our venue ( Glen Foerd Historical Mansion) cost half of our budget at about $11,000...most amazing time! Package included 5 hours, 5 different hor d'oeuvres, dinner, open bar, chairs, tables, silver, glassware, plates, pasta station, fondue station, our own bridal attendent, use of their beautiful bridal room to get ready, ceremony on site, and a beautiful historical mansion to take pictures at and walk through!
3. I bought our invitations for $60 at Michaels and printed them at home. (Takes time so plan for this)
4. My Allure W205 wedding dress was $1,000, which was a gift from my mother. PS it's not on their site any more!
5. Our centerpieces, bouquets, bout. and mother's flowers cost about $2000 and were very beautiful...we loved them!
6. We bought the MOH and bridesmaids dresses (Mori Lee)..my two bridesmaids were my now stepdaughters. The dresses were about $200 each with alterations.
7. We rented all the tux for the bestman, two groomsmen and my dad...total was about $400 with a free rental for the groom.
8. Our honeymoon was in Naples, Florida at a beautiful beach front hotel for 6 days, we had a car rental, and air fare for about $2300 not including what we spent there. Best vacation we've ever been on!! Our honeymoon was amazing!
9. His wedding band (the same as Mrs. French Fry's hubby!) was about $300, it's a handsome tungsten by Triton that we got at Robbin's Diamonds where we got both my engagement ring and wedding band. My wedding band was $880 I believe.
10. Everyone had their own transportation....no limo or wedding bus needed!
11. We had an amazing sand ceremony that included my now step children (two daughters and one son), it was one of the moments I will remember forever...because it was about our new family being bonded together forever. And no money can buy that!
Every wedding is beautiful and unique and as bloggers and brides we see these photos online and want to know how they made it happen...and this is how we made it happen!! PS...no budget for a wedding planner...so that was my duty!
Another peek at our wedding day....Getting Ready at Glen Foerd!
My flower headband (the headband part is covered up) was about $12.00 at Claire's and my pearl necklace I believe is from Kohls for about $18.00, and my veil was about $120...I bought it at the same bridal shop where I got my gown. I did my own makeup...very light colors, very natural.
No matter what your budget is, how stressful things can seem, how long your check list gets, don't worry about the little details and things you forgot because in the end its about what it all really means: Your marriage, your committment, your bond, your lifetime together.
