Congratulations, KappaTarzan!

I need to third or fourth or whatever the recommendation of "Bridal Bargains"..... great resource!

In total we're going to be spending about $8000 on our wedding (thanks Mom and Dad!!!). It's going to be kind of unusual, though....

We're getting married on a Friday night, outdoors, at a resort in Lake Geneva (big touristy place, but also where my family is from). Having the ceremony on Friday saved us $$$$ all over the place.

We both have huge families, so Friday night is pretty much going to be family only for about 130 people. We're only serving cocktails and hors d'oeurves. Rental for the hall plus the catering is about $3000. We're definitely going for formal and serene.

I decided not to skimp on the photographer like many have been saying. That is the ONLY thing that will last past the wedding day (except for your marriage ), so that's one place you don't want to cut. Photographers around here range from $500 - $2000... I found one for about $1000.

What we're doing different, though, is on Saturday (the day after the ceremony) we're having a big, casual, cook-out/party at a local park so that all of our friends can come celebrate with us as well. That way we could include everyone, but it wouldn't cost millions of dollars and leave us with 600 people at our wedding!!! (and we can all get wild and crazy without having to worry so much )

Whatever you do, remember it's YOUR (you and fiance's) day. EVERYONE is going to have an opinion on what you should do...make your decisions and don't let anyone talk you out of them!!!