Weddingbee boards

I had a horribe time trying to plan my beach wedding in Monterey.  First I couldn't find any beaches that would allow a real wedding, then I couldn't find an affordable reception venue.  Finally, after months of searching I came up with some great places that I wanted to share.  They're affordable and they were awesome!  I spent a grand total of about $7000 for my ceremony and reception.  I had my ceremony on Asilomar State Beach and paid $300 for a permit, 50 chairs and antique white metal wedding arch.  I paid a local violinist, Laurel Thomsen (laurelthomsen.com), to play for my ceremony.  She did a great job and had an extensive selection of music.  My flowers were from Costco's wedding department for $420 plus about $25 for flowers to decorate the ceremony site. (red roses) My photographer was a friend of mine who I know and I paid $400, she is trained and has a photography degree but she has had a hard time getting work with the recession so she doesn't do it full time.  She is excellent though and I got almost 500 pictures.  I didn't get a limo, but my husband's cousin decorated our car. I found the BEST reception venue!  It's a place called Gatherings, it's a Victorian house that has been remodeled and now hosts private events.  Our entire reception package only cost $4600!!!  The food, service, and atmostphere are amazing and the staff were very friendly and helpful  (http://www.montereycatering.com)
It is all-inclusive except for the cake and alcohol.  I got my cake from this awesome deli on Prescott Ave called Campagno's.  It was chocolate peanut butter fudge and it only cost me $80.  For alcohol we went to a buy one get one for a dollar sale at Bevmo and bought about $150 worth of wine and a little beer.   It was more than enough for our 40 guests, so much in fact that we had a lot left over.  For my hair I went an splurged ($120) at Spa on the Plaza (http://www.spaontheplaza.com), my hairstyle was a "grecian goddess" look that was pretty complicated so I wanted to make sure that it was done right.  If you go there ask for Ember.  I had my makeup done at the MAC counter in Nordstrom's department store at Del Monte Center mall.  I paid for $50 worth of makeup and they did a full makeup application for free.  I went in there the day before and did a practice run, then scheduled an appointment and came back after my getting my hair done the morning of my wedding and everything looked great. 

Thank you so much for sharing! I am getting married in Aug and I am really panicing right now...