Post # 1

Member
74 posts
Worker bee
Hi Bees!
What do you think are the wedding purchases/ideas that you must have / wanted to do and what are the things you wished you hadn’t bothered with?
My must have is a great photographer and videographer (I went with bargain priced people and I totally regret it … but we’re having a 5th anniversary do-over so I’m looking forward to that!)
I wish I hadn’t bothered with my DIY favors in addition to my dessert and candy bar. Total waste of time and the money could have gone to more decorations.
what do you guys think?
Post # 3

Member
680 posts
Busy bee
@amethystJCM:
Still over 3 months away but we recently got our engagement photos done and i’m so in love with them and it’s really made me feel good about spending a little more on a good photographer.
We’re not doing favours, i bought my dress pre-owned for a quarter of the price it would have cost new, i’m cutting corners in a lot of places, but we are splurging on food and drinks, having an amazing 4 course meal at a high end restaurant and having an open bar which is very rare around here normally just beer and wine is provided and spirits are extra. My Fiance was a chef for 15 years and has turned me into a a bit of a foodie too so the food was one of the most important things for us.
When are you doing your vow renewal? Is it going to be very different to the wedding?
Post # 4

Member
12249 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
For us?
Worth it: Spending the money for a Church, my dream dress (which was a gift from my parents, thank GOD–It was $1800!), real flower bouquets/corsages/buttonieres, taking a party bus to go out dancing that night (our wedding was in the morning with a luncheon)
NOT worth it: Real centerpieces (some of the flowers died and it cost us $50 to replace the dead flowers day-of), open soda bar (everyone was too busy drinking unlimited Mimosas!), hors d’evoures (there was not enough)
Surprise of the day: Our up-and-coming (read: CHEAP. We paid $950 for 2 hours at the rehearsal dinner, and from 9am to 4pm for our wedding day!) photog turned out to be a photography savant with CRAZY skills!
http://www.heliosunphoto.com/samantha-ryan-may-11-2013/
Post # 5

Member
74 posts
Worker bee
@Missy_Star: The renewal won’t be for another 2 years but I’ve started planning by making a list (and Pinterest – ing tons of images!) the things that I want. The original wedding was very DIY and low budget ($13k for 150 guests). The renewal one will be more extravagant (can’t wait!)
We’re planning to have it in the Philippines because most of our family and friends there couldn’t fly over to California and share the event with us. Also, the next time it will be a Catholic church wedding.
@BrandNewBride: I would have loved to have real flower bouquets. I made my own silk flower bouquets from garage sale flowers. They looked nice, especially in photos, but real flowers just give an extra feeling of elegance that a wedding needs. I’m glad your photographer worked out. I made the mistake of not asking for work samples beyond what they showed in their sales presentation. The final video and wedding album were not even close to what I had expected.