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HMMMMMMM Okay..
Sorry if it's long. At first I wanted the whole big white cookie cutter wedding. You know, wedding at a chapel, reception in a hotel ballroom, sit down dinner, lots of people. THEN I stumbled across a blog, 2000dollarwedding.com. It was there where I found other blogs of brides who had very lovely ceremonies under $10k.
It was then I decided to take a different approach to our wedding and make it more intimate with the people who really love us and not everyone I have met over the last 10 years. Also I decided that I was going to write our ceremony from scratch. We aren't religious at all. I practice Buddhism and he's a Evolutionist. I didn't want a stranger (JoP) marrying us so we are going to have our best friend get ordained and he will be able to marry us. Our ceremony will include:
Suzu Gongs: In Buddhist practice, we use bells for meditation, prayer, and to signify changing of activity. We will ring the bell at the start of the ceremony and then again during the memorial for my father and others who have passed away.
Audience vow: We will turn to our guests and ask them to stand with us as our friend ask if they will support us in our marriage and help us stay strong when storms come along. He will ask that no one try to pit us against each other or speak ill will of us. Some other things too. I haven't gotten that part written out completely.
Ring Warming Ceremony: During a breif music interlude and during the time where we sign the certificate, our friend will explain that our wedding bands will be passed around to the guests and that he asks them to each say a prayer, well wish, or put positive energy into our rings and marriage.
Sand Ceremony: Basically the same thing as a unity candle, but with sand. My daughter will be able to participate in this.
Vows: We will be writing our own vows.
Okay now as for decor/venue.Ceremony and reception are on the same grounds. We are having it at Hartwood Acres/Manor in Pittsburgh. It was $647 to rent the entire grounds. It's part of Allegheny Parks. The price is crazy cheap and the grounds are breathtaking. We have to rent everything, but I am finding out if you don't take the first quote as an answer and say you are still calling around, vendors will give you a discount.We will be using white garden chairs (right now I have 5 places bidding for me. ) and rose petals for the aisle. We will most likely have three table and an arch in the front. Memorial table with the bell and the names and photos of our dearly departed, a table for the sand ceremony, and a table to sign the certificate. In the back of the terrace, there will be a table for the programs and the Tears of Joy packets that Cheeks11 shared with us! Thanks!
The reception will be under a tent on another part of the grounds. Before the tent opens, we will have cocktail tables around for refreshments and guests can chat or walk aroud the grounds. INside the tent we will have our rock guestbook! Thanks to Mrs. Cola we found a way to do this Irish tradition with a twist. Basically Celtic Wishing Stones were used if the ceremony was near a body of water and guests would make wishes on stones and toss them in the lake. We will have guests write their well wishes on the stones and place them in a basket. We will keep them in our garden and home.
Since we are having an afternoon ceremony and reception, we will be serving heavy finger foods instead of a full meal. We won't have a DJ. Instead we are hooking the ipod up and let Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, ect. set the mood for mingling. We will have wine and beer (Guinness and Murphy's) and cake! Our first dance will be to Cheek to Cheek (orignially in Top Hat with Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers) cover by Frank Sinatra...or another artist if I find a cover I like.
The reception will be over by 5pm and then we will leave and go change into party clothes and go to a local Irish Pub for our after party with our bridal party, younger guests, and basically all of his cousins from Ireland, and party the night away.
DIY Projects: I am doing all of our flowers. I will be ordering from fiftyflowers.com. Mr. Tattoo is a graphic designer so he is designing the programs, invites, STD, signs for the program table, guest-rock table, bathroom baskets, ect. I want to make my own facinator and I'm watching tutorials for that. Colors are pink and yellow. We will be using gerbera dasies EVERYWHERE! Except for the rose petals for the aisle which I'm also ordering wholesale because it's $150 cheaper than going through a florist.
I would like to keep the guest list under 150. 100 would be awesome.
I too am planning a wedding for under $10k...I really hope it works. Anyways, I will definitely check out the 2000dollarwedding.com website.
Thanks for the tip!
I'm trying to budget under $6,000.00 And this inculdes everything from cake, venue, pastor, pics, food dj you name it..... I found a victorain house and her price ws great around 5500.00 for everything! I really do like it but I still am looking. Tomorrow I'm going to a old theater and check that out. I do want something differnt . I'm not that wedding cookie cutter girl. I like victorain or old glam..
Lets see if I have this right
What will your ceremony/reception/ect be like?
Fun, warm, inviting, and beautiful. The ceremony will be pretty traditional in the sense that there won't be anything outrageous going on. I will be having a few special guests speak, and possibly some sort of uniting ceremony (i.e. rose, sand, candle)
Are you jumping the broom?
Absolutely! It was my fiancé's idea...
Are you interfaith?
Nope, we are both Christians, although we prefer no denomination concerning our religion.
Colors?
Scarlet, gold, and ivory
Flowers?
roses, roses, roses!! THe theme is Romance and Roses lol
Are you DIY? Sometimes.. I am more of a get it for a steal bride... I never, and I mean NEVER pay full price for anything!
How much did your venue cost? I will be having my ceremony and reception at the same venue. $750 rental fee for reception, and $500 rental fee for ceremony. Then there is $27.00 pp catering that we estimate a total of 100 ppl. Eventually after including taxes and gratuity the entire venue and food came out to $5,500. We also get a free dance floor, free centerpieces, and so much more. We will have an open bar as well as part of our catering minimum which is $3000.
What is the largest cost?
The venue of course...but beyond that I look everywhere I can to save... ENtering contest is a second job. I've won trips to other countries, my wedding attire, wedding rings, concert tickets, and much more just from entering a contest whenever and wherever I can!
Just give it all!
I plan on having the best time ever! I saved lots of money on my vendors as well... Any DALLAS brides looking to save let me know... I'm your girl!
@lwilliams107: lol I am entering every photographer contest possible! Or look for a bunch of photographers on Criagslist who need to build their portfolio and and do services at low cost or free. I figure if I get 3 or 4 newbies together, I will get some pretty decent photos. ha ha ha.
I'll probably put an ad on Craigslist and have photographers come to me.
Our ceremony and reception will be pretty traditional.
I really want to jump the broom and my white fiance is cool with that. (I'm afraid of falling, but what the hell!)
Colors are purple and orange (with splashes of pink/red and maybe green). We will be DIY'ing it up big time!
As of now, our venue shouldn't cost more than $2,000. I have no idea how much catering will cost, though. We haven't paid for anything yet, but I'd say the reception space and catering will cost the most!
@lwilliams107: Wow! I definitely want to win something, too! Do you have any tips?
@Miss Tattoo: Your wedding sounds like it will be really elegant, but fun. I love the reception playlist idea.
@Miss Tattoo: Thats EXACTLY What I did.... GOt an excellent photographer for $700 branching out on his own from another photography company... His photos are awesome and photojournalistic like I love them! He also edits every photo at NO extra cost! iamvictorrosas.com
I found my videographer on weddingwire.com
I get three camera ceremony, and two camera reception for the entire duration of my wedding... All the frills and everything $900 www.autumnvideo.com
I refuse to sacrifice quality or price so I make sure to interview them prio and all of their work is really good.
I am just like you!! I will be doing my flowers from wholesale.. Since my theme is roses I am ordering from mrroses.com
their roses are a bit cheaper than the roses at fiftyflowers.com lol
I just put up ads saying I want quality without the million dollar price tag... It takes dedication but I succeeded.
I got my DJ all the way down to $500 but for an extra $200 he will do the whole room in uplights so we took him for $700 :)
I am thinking of having a family member ordained as well. Saves me $300 and some stranger from doing it.
@bRooklynRocks: Well I use to complain that I NEVER WIN ANYTHING.... THen one day I just started to enter darn near everything I saw... I of course am very careful to read the rules and privacy info to be sure it isn't spam.... A lot is so you have to be careful... I win stuff of the time. Its like this.... THe odds are much greater for you if you enter a thousand contest. At least you will win a few right? Well I HAVE! Check you local television stations websites, use search engines, and also don't forget to utilize radio stations. If I put down all the different places to look I will be on here for days lol
@RayRayFurious: CHeck out as many site as you can. Avoid things that are blatantly spam they will do nothing but give you a headache. You can't expect to win if you don't enter right? YOur gonna have to through your pride aside when it comes to entering. Sooo many people dont want to give out info and that greatly hurts your chances. Just be careful and READ THE FINE PRINT! I even enter the contest you see on the back of candy wrappers if I can find one. REad my above post. It has some places you can find a few contest. I just recently won a pair of Tickets to a lady gaga concert from a radio station (often I even enter ones from other states!) I won fashion week tickets, a pair of Gold Class CInemas VIP tickets and you better believe we ordered everything on the menu TWICE since it was all free! .... ITs just a lot of searching and digging... Turn over every rock and don't be lazy, you have to put a lot of work into it. I remember when I entered the one that I won all of my wedding attire and rings, I had to practically SPAM everyone I knew in existence to vote for me every single day... well, it paid off
I'll subscribe to this thread, I love reading about your plans.
Unfortutnely, I don't have any details to add yet cause we are STILL trying to figure out the details (date, where, budget etc). We were going to do a very small ceremony in NYC a few months ago but plans changed AGAIN.
Miss Tattoo: My venue has a fountain and I want to pass out pennies on the place cards and ask my guests to throw the coin in and make a wish for us. I love your rock idea.
No jumping of the broom...
We are having a blessing of the hands as part of our ceremony.
Colors are teal and ivory. I am DIYing invites, programs, etc. Our biggest expense besides catering is photography. We both agree that it was important to have a very good photographer and photojournalistic style.
I love all of the ideas...keep them coming
50 guests
Non-denominational Service (his family are baptists mine are jehovahs witneses)
Unity Candle Ceremony: Yes
Broom Jumping : No
Flowers : Calla Lilies
Dress: $80
Cake : $65 for wedding cake and dallas cowboys grooms cake (Great Deal!!!)
Venue: Free
Largest Cost will probably come out to be the food!
What will your ceremony/reception/ect be like? Traditional? Are you jumping the broom? The ceremony part of our wedding is somewhat traditional in that it will be very spiritual. But that's about it. It takes place in summer, late evening, on a Friday night. We don't have a bridal party, no groomsmen, no bridesmaids, no flower girls or ring bearers. Just he, I , and the minister. EVERYONE (parents, siblings, friends) will be able to enjoy the wedding from the audience. We have a limited guest list of 72. We are also doing the "Passing of the Rings" ceremony, Miss TATTOO! We're doing a sand ceremony, a dedication to my daughter to incorporate her into our marriage (FI isn't her father and it has just been she and I all these years), and we are jumping the broom. Minimal flowers, mostly white candlelight. The ceremony and reception takes place in the same room, but will be different from each other.
Are you interfaith? No. We are both Baptist. But it wouldn't be a problem at all if we were interfaith.
Colors? Black, white (damask pattern), with deep deep metallic purple. We call it "REGAL" purple (like "royal" blue. really metallic). Damask can get really busy, so I'm taking care in just adding it here and there so it doesn't overwhelm.
Flowers? Minimum flowers, lots of candlelight. And for some reason I'm having the hardest time deciding on flowers. I'm thinking roses but the deep purple is expensive. Maybe a punch/pop of RED roses for drama. Again, they are minimal in the space, just stems in tall vases filled with water for some of the centerpieces and small short clusters for short centerpieces. Maybe I'll post a poll for your opinions. :-)
Are you DIY? Yes. But more BUDGET than DIY, **ANNOYINGLY** budget. LOL. So I'd say 1/2 and 1/2. Buying invites, but having print shop to print on them. Centerpieces are DIY but they are minimal in design. Signs for candy buffet and favors, stuff like that.
How much did your venue cost? $3,000. Space, food, linens, staffing (security, waitstaff and bartender). We are bringing in our own alcohol but using their bartender. Saved us around $1100. FI is a salesman outside the wedding world and an awesome negotiator. But to be honest, I'm more of a haggler then he is!! Ha!!
What is the largest cost? Venue of course. But outside of that, most likely it will be the photography. NOTHING is more important to me than the photography.
Just give it all! Since the wedding is on a Friday evening, we are going for a piano-bar-type, swanky, glitz and glam atmosphere. The dress is "Cocktail Attire", specified on the invites. I'm wearing a fitted style gown and FI is wearing an Armani suit with Regal purple vest and tie. He'll be sooo handsome!!! I've incorporated a lounge area near the bar of 2 lounge type settees. I'm also having a few tall, pub style tables and uplighting in that area. LOTS of candles and sparkle. LOTS of passed hor'dourves, dinner, dancing, and cocktails. UBER excited!!!!
Woah, that post came out loooonggg. Didn't realize that when I was typing. LOL.
What will your ceremony/reception/ect be like? Traditional? Are you jumping the broom? Are you interfaith? Colors? Flowers? Are you DIY? How much did your venue cost? What is the largest cost? Just give it all!
My ceremony and reception would be in a country club. We will do the ceremony outside by the lake and then go into the ballroom or the reception. The ceremony would be traditional. We will be writing our vows. We are interfaith but neither of us practices our religion. We just kinda are doing it for parents you know?
My colors are pink, lilac and gray. With accents of gold if it comes down to it. I am using those colors for my flowers and the invites and all the paper products. I will also be having amber uplights and gold sashes and gold table runners to bring out the golden accents. The centerpieces would be wreaths and candles.
DIY: Nah, too lazy! I am having a graphic designer design them and then taking them to a print shop to print and cut. I will assemble them myself with liners, belly bands, the whole shebang. But not really DIY a lot of stufff. I'm cheap but the headache is too much.
My venue didn't cost anything. There is a minimum though. Let's just say it's over $10,000 but I'm inviting a lot of folks. I have family and friends coming from all over the US and outside the country. It's a summer wedding on a Sunday evening. July 4th weekend. We were able to save some by having it on a Sunday.
Now if only I could decide what to do with my hair. I'm natural. I don't know what to do. I've never done a full weave. I did a half weave and took it down in a couple of weeks. I am stressing out.
@bRooklynRocks:Yaaayyy!!! You have some details going now! I'm so excited and the wedding sounds gorgeous!!! When are you coming "home"?
@katieebee: Sometime next month to take engagement shots AND sample the food at the venue and taste the cake and meet the DJ and meet my florist and check the hotel I booked sight unseen and....lots of stuff. I'm getting a headache just thinking about it :(
@bRooklynRocks:WOW!!! That's alot to get all in 1 visit but I understand the destination wedding scenario. Don't forget to let me know when you're in town. Inbox me your facebook name or something. I'm not on the bee as much as I used to be.
Ok, ok. Don't want to hi-jack this post. Back to wedding details. LOL!!!!
My wedding theme is based around my favorite flower the peony and my favorite color pink. I wanted the whole wedding to be romantic and classy. We are having an early morning ceremony and a brunch reception with about 75-80 guests. Here are some pictures of my dress, my ring and some my other favorite things! 
@pussnboots:((Swoon)) W.H.E.R.E. did you get the cake topper? they are sooooo cute. i adore the groom's little beard and moustache. He looks like my Boo-skey!! LOL.
@pussnboots: Cute! I love the pink theme! And the cake topper is the cutest thing!!!!
@Miss Tattoo:Yeah so have mine. I was planning a bride and groom only destination wedding on a private island when I first started planning. I think the inspiration boards are still on my gallery. Far cry from what we are actually going to be doing! Ha!
@katieebee: I wanted a casual afternoon garden party! Now I'm having an evening country club wedding.
@Miss Tattoo:Oh really? I didn't know that you were having an evening wedding now. LOL.
Thank's for the compliments! The cake topper came from a lady on ETSY Candybriar. I fell in love when I saw her toppers. It is by far my favorite wedding detail! I cannot wait to see it on top of the cupcake tower. My fiance hates cake so were're actually having cupcake sized cheese cakes.
Wow! I love the details in here, ladies!
Here is my inspiration board for my Urban Vintage Evening Wedding in Philadelphia, which in my head is: French/classic/literary/green, purple & ivory.
So far, I've only purchased the dress :) I made this board a few months ago and even my ideas for the hairpiece, earrings, bracelet, and invites are slightly different -- but similar enough that I don't feel like changing the board!
Oh...and did I mention that I'm doing this for $10,000. Yea...pray for me. lol
@RayRayFurious: It can be done. research research research!!!! My budget is $10K and our sit down dinner is going to be $25 a person. Since it's a smaller town, everything is cheaper. The same menu here in Pittsburgh would be $75 a person.
@Miss Tattoo: So true. If it wasn't for researching on and off of Weddingbee, I wouldn't think it possible. I've learned so much from these boards.
I just wish Philly wasn't so expensive. It seems like the average price in the city is anywhere from $100-150 and if something is really inexpensive, it's probably also a little 'hood...but I've found the perfect spot for cheap! I just need to put down a deposit soon. I don't want anyone scooping it up!
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What will your ceremony/reception/ect be like? Traditional? Are you jumping the broom? Are you interfaith? Colors? Flowers? Are you DIY? How much did your venue cost? What is the largest cost? Just give it all!