I have been in three weddings, you know what they say? Always a Bridesmaid, never a Bride. Ah well. I wouldn't mind never being a bridesmaid again, but not because of the omen. So much money is spent on weddings, and then most people, except for the Bride I'm pretty sure are utterly miserable. It's the longest day EVER and almost everyone is HUNGRY. Not to mention most Brides spend well over 10,000 dollars on there weddings. I don't know that I would want to spend the first couple years of my married life having to pay off credit card bills and loans taken out to pay for a wedding. I would much rather take the 10,000 dollars extra I was about to pay for my $20,000 wedding and put it on a down payment for a house, or condo, or put it into my future childs college fund. I mean really? Who has an extra $10-$15,000 dollars floating around to spend on a giant party? Where are our priorities people? Have we been dreaming of big expensive weddings, or fabulous, loving marriages that last for the rest of our lives? Why are your parents taking second mortgages out on their houses? Why are you buying a thousand dollar dress when you can't afford to pay your rent or make care payments?
The key to less expensive weddings that no one will forget, is keeping the guest list small and intimate, between 50 and 80 people. I mean, how many people do you REALLY REALLYREALLY know well enough to expect them to be with you through thick and thin of your marriage? Your immediate family members may or may not be, but you're kind of obligated to invite them. Your close friends? Definately, but if you have more than 20 of those a piece I dare say they are not REALLY that close of friends...then again, I COULD be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm not.
Stepping down off my soap box... My background is in theatre design, and a lot of times, we don't have infinite amounts of money to spend on maginificent sets, costumes and the like, so we have to bargain shop, and come up with solutions to the tight budgets we are allotted. I apply the same principle to wedding planning and budgeting. I present to you weddings for under 10,000 dollars....how sweet it is.
Since Christmas is coming up, and the decorations have been in the store since....oh before Halloween, I've been inspired by the sensations and concepts of the season. I have come up with two different Winter/Christmas weddings.
I love looking at the Knot.com. A couple months ago they had a wedding planners challenge for creating a wedding in different cities for under 10,000 dollars. I think they should do this every month or so. In these weddings I have followed some of those planners templates for creating these weddings, just to help me along with not leaving out the little details. I will also post the websites where I got most of these ideas from, and the prices.
Wedding #1
The Santa Baby Wedding
(I live in Kansas City so unless a reader requests otherwise, most of my pricing and choices will be from local Kansas City Vendors.)
My Inspiration for this wedding came from the book Merry Kitschmas! I LOVE this book! It's so quirky. This wedding definately has a late 1950's martini bar feel.
Colors:
Emerald, Ruby, Lime Green and White.
Invitations
Simple is the way to go mjeanm.com has lovely red and white snowflake invitations for a great price. No need to include an RSVP card -- simply ask your wedding guests to email or call you with their RSVP. With a laid-back wedding like this, the wedding website (not the invitation) will be essential to keep everyone informed. Be sure to check in with the less internet-savvy guests to be sure they're in the loop too.
Wedding Ceremony
Have your guests gather in the main lobby at 7 p.m. for self-serve milk, hot chocolate and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies set out on a table borrowed from the church. Inside the church, programs will be placed on each pew There's no need to spend extra money on flowers -- the church should have Christmas trees out and the rest of the decoration can be a series of red white and green glitter candles set up around the alter and in the windows. Have a few friends and family members play instruments and sing at your wedding.Pew decorations can be as simple as a red or green ornament dangling from a white ribbon.
Bouquets and Boutonnieres
Instead of a bouquet or a boutonniere for everyone in the bridal party, only the two of you will get them. You will carry red amaryllis with marabou trim. The Maid of Honor and Bridesmaid Will carry matching green clutches that you bought them as attendants gifts.
The Suit
The groom can wear a suit he already owns, then jazz it up with a vintage Christmas tie from eBay, a consignment shop, or even Dad or Grandpa. If he has groomsmen, he can get them coordinating vintage ties in red or emerald to match.
The Bride's Hair and Makeup
Head to Macy's Benefits counter or Sephora and have the girls do your makeup there for free. You'll want to buy a couple of products so you can apply your own makeup on the day-of. Splurge here and have your favorite stylists do your hair in a vintage style.
Reception Setting & Decor
Your guests will arrive at 510 Events at 8 p.m. for drinks, light bites, and dancing. Have the room strung with Christmas lights (preferably the big bulbous kind) rent an electric fireplace from Rent A-Center. The existing lounge furniture can be moved into clusters around the room with coffee tables set up nearby. Inside, the tables will be dressed with brightly colored linens. Small, contrasting arrangements of paper cylinders with marabou feathers and sparkly twigs will be arranged on the various tables.
In addition to the small arrangements, there will be two larger focal floral displays(Christmas trees) on the bars. To cast a soft, ambient light throughout the space, scatter votive candles with glitter everywhere. Martini Glasses will be filled with red and silver christmas bulbs. Sparkly Red silver and green. Place card holders are hand made polymer clay christmas bulbs.
Set Up an Aluminum Look Christmas Tree with Red and Green Glass Christmas Bulbs. Decorate the Christmas Bulbs with Each Families names and the year and date to give as Christmas favors. Arrange mirrored Green and Red Ornaments and white Christmas Lights as a Disco Ball…chandelier effect over the dance floor.
In addition to the small arrangements, there will be two larger focal floral displays(Christmas trees) on the bars. To cast a soft, ambient light throughout the space, scatter votive candles with glitter everywhere. Martini Glasses will be filled with red and silver christmas bulbs. Sparkly Red silver and green. Place card holders are hand made polymer clay christmas bulbs.
Set Up an Aluminum Look Christmas Tree with Red and Green Glass Christmas Bulbs. Decorate the Christmas Bulbs with Each Families names and the year and date to give as Christmas favors. Arrange mirrored Green and Red Ornaments and white Christmas Lights as a Disco Ball…chandelier effect over the dance floor.
Reception Music
Set up your own wedding website (they're free on TheKnot.com!) and ask your friends and family for song suggestions prior to the wedding day. Once you have your guests' picks, create an iPod playlist with their favorites (and include some of your own) to be played through 510's existing sound system have a friend DJ.
Reception Food
Guests can enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres of mini weenies and meatballs along with other kitschy cocktail party staples and grab a beer, a glass of wine or a signature cocktail from the bar. Each Table will contain two melting pots, one for cheese and one for chocolate, with a selection of dippers. For dessert, treat them to a chocolate cake in the shape of a stack of Christmas Presents.
Photography & Entertainment
At the reception, there will be a photo booth with Santa Clause set up with an album on hand where guests can attach their photos and write special notes to the two of you. At the end of the night, you'll get a CD of all the images from the photo booth. Price Breakdown to Follow. (Once I figure out how to cut and paste excel spreadsheets into this thing.)
Reception | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $2000.00 | |||
| Sugar and Spice Catering | $1200.00 (80 x $15.00) | ||
| $1,000.00 | |||
| 3 Women and an oven Bakery | $280.00 | ||
| SUBTOTAL $4,480.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Attire + Beauty | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $300.00 | |||
| $100.00 | |||
| $100.00 | |||
| $100.00 | |||
| $200.00 | |||
| $0.00 | |||
| $0.00 | |||
| SUBTOTAL $800.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Ceremony | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $0.00 | |||
| $100.00 | |||
| $60.00 | |||
| SUBTOTAL $160.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Flowers + Décor | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| fiftyflowers.com | $75.00 | ||
| $100.00 | |||
| $20.00 | |||
| $15.00 | |||
| $50.00 | |||
| $400.00 | |||
| $140.00 | |||
| SUBTOTAL $800.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Music | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $0.00 | |||
| $0.00 | |||
| $0.00 | |||
| SUBTOTAL $0.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Photography + Videography | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $1800 | |||
| SUBTOTAL $1800.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Stationery | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $149.00 (80 x $1.89) | |||
| $160.00 | |||
| SUBTOTAL $300.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Wedding Rings | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $100.00 | |||
| $100.00 | |||
| SUBTOTAL $200.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Transportation + Lodging | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $0.00 | |||
| Pech Limo | $200.00 | ||
| SUBTOTAL $200.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
Gifts | |||
| Req. | Item | Budget | Actual |
| $100.00 | |||
| $150.00 (80 x $1.88) | |||
| $50.00 | |||
| SUBTOTAL $300.00 | SUBTOTAL $0.00 | ||
TOTAL COST OF WEDDING | Budget Total $9,040.00 | Actual Total $0.00 |
| Amount left to spend: $10,000.00 | ||
www.theknot.com www.brides.com www.hostesswiththemostess.com www.etsy.com http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/easy-holiday-crafts> http://www.calabresegirl.com/CollectionProductDetail.aspx?cname=Calabrese&season=Fall&year=2009&did=504354&pid=504780
No comments:
Post a Comment