Wedding Tips for the Newly Engaged

[BrnSuga]

Bajan_Delta, I already sent my congrats to you. Angel, Congratulations to you as well. Both of you just keep in mind that the wedding is only one day, the marriage is a lifetime. I know a couple who spent $50K on their wedding. To this day, they regret spending that much money. I had a very elegant but simple wedding. It was family and close friends, only about 75 people. We got married in July and had just bought a house that May, so we were on a real budget. All in all, it was very nice. I did it on a Friday evening @ 6pm to cut cost as well. I have family members who cater and they did that for us as a wedding gift. All we had to pay for was the reception facility which was a Hilton Hotel ballroom, attire, decorations and other odds and ins. Oddly enough, the hotel allowed you to use your own caterer and they gave up a complimentary suite for 2 nights. Then we went on our honeymoon to Orlando, FL. My husband had never been to Walt Disney World. Another tip that I found useful is to not spend a lot of money on invitations. People look at them up until your wedding then they throw them away.

Anyway, those are my tips. I'm excited for both of you! I remember how it is to plan a wedding. It can also be stressful so take time just for the two of you and don't let anyone's views cloud what you both envision for your day.

[Bajan_Delta]

Well thank you very much for the well wishes and the advice. I am sure open to any other advise that sorors and sisterfriends may have to offer. We are budgeting for up to $10,000 and not a penny more. If it looks like it's going to go over that we are going to go to the justice of peace and get hitched. The wedding money will then be used to purchase a home.

Originally posted by BrnSuga
Bajan_Delta, I already sent my congrats to you. Angel, Congratulations to you as well. Both of you just keep in mind that the wedding is only one day, the marriage is a lifetime. I know a couple who spent $50K on their wedding. To this day, they regret spending that much money. I had a very elegant but simple wedding. It was family and close friends, only about 75 people. We got married in July and had just bought a house that May, so we were on a real budget. All in all, it was very nice. I did it on a Friday evening @ 6pm to cut cost as well. I have family members who cater and they did that for us as a wedding gift. All we had to pay for was the reception facility which was a Hilton Hotel ballroom, attire, decorations and other odds and ins. Oddly enough, the hotel allowed you to use your own caterer and they gave up a complimentary suite for 2 nights. Then we went on our honeymoon to Orlando, FL. My husband had never been to Walt Disney World. Another tip that I found useful is to not spend a lot of money on invitations. People look at them up until your wedding then they throw them away.

Anyway, those are my tips. I'm excited for both of you! I remember how it is to plan a wedding. It can also be stressful so take time just for the two of you and don't let anyone's views cloud what you both envision for your day.

[DSTRen13]

Originally posted by BrnSuga
Bajan_Delta, I already sent my congrats to you. Angel, Congratulations to you as well. ... Another tip that I found useful is to not spend a lot of money on invitations. People look at them up until your wedding then they throw them away.

Aw, congratulations everybody

So BrnSuga, you have me thinking about my own wedding plans (over a year distant tho' my wedding is): That is depressing about the invitations - that never occured to me. I wanted to try to make mine myself (myself actually meaning me and anyone else I can con into helping me) to save money, but that is a lot of effort just to be thrown away ... would it be offensive if I bought not-so-expensive invitations for most people and then just made the nice invitations for the people who I know would appreciate them and keep them?

[btb87]

Originally posted by DSTRen13
Aw, congratulations everybody

So BrnSuga, you have me thinking about my own wedding plans (over a year distant tho' my wedding is): That is depressing about the invitations - that never occured to me. I wanted to try to make mine myself (myself actually meaning me and anyone else I can con into helping me) to save money, but that is a lot of effort just to be thrown away ... would it be offensive if I bought not-so-expensive invitations for most people and then just made the nice invitations for the people who I know would appreciate them and keep them?

That's exactly what a Soror of mine is doing. She had 100 professionally done and is using others as a back-up.

And you know some folks don't need invitations, 'cause they'll come anyway whether you invite them or not. . .

[SummerChild]

DSTRen13,
One of my sorors created her own invitations using her computer. She simply used the software to create the cards (I think it's standard in the latest versions of Microsoft Office or soemthing like that) and typed in the text in a font that she chose. She bought the heavier card stock paper and printed them on her personal home printer. Afterward, she folded them and placed tissue paper inside to catch any excess ink, and slipped them into the mail. She basically only paid for the paper, tissue paper and the envelopes so she was able to keep it as inexpensive (or as expensive) as she chose the paper and envelopes to be. I came over and helped her fold the invitations and it took us about an hour and we got to catch up on our lives so it was fun. They were by far the prettiest and least cookie cutter invitation that I have seen in awhile b/c she was able to choose her wording, font, placement of text, etc.

SC

Originally posted by DSTRen13
Aw, congratulations everybody

So BrnSuga, you have me thinking about my own wedding plans (over a year distant tho' my wedding is): That is depressing about the invitations - that never occured to me. I wanted to try to make mine myself (myself actually meaning me and anyone else I can con into helping me) to save money, but that is a lot of effort just to be thrown away ... would it be offensive if I bought not-so-expensive invitations for most people and then just made the nice invitations for the people who I know would appreciate them and keep them?

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by btb87
And you know some folks don't need invitations, 'cause they'll come anyway whether you invite them or not. . .

Awww heck to the naw!

[DC_Zeta1920]

That was good advice on the invites. I'm still toying with the idea of making them myself.

I know I will be making the programs myself.

[Angel11E01]

Originally posted by DSTRen13
Aw, congratulations everybody

So BrnSuga, you have me thinking about my own wedding plans (over a year distant tho' my wedding is): That is depressing about the invitations - that never occured to me. I wanted to try to make mine myself (myself actually meaning me and anyone else I can con into helping me) to save money, but that is a lot of effort just to be thrown away ... would it be offensive if I bought not-so-expensive invitations for most people and then just made the nice invitations for the people who I know would appreciate them and keep them?

Soror, this is how you do it.

Look at all the things you have to buy for the wedding. Rate the most important to you, 1 being the most important through say, 10.

If invitations aren't that important, scrap it and spend the money on something that you feel is most important.

IMHO, I think you should have one invitation. don't make it cheap, and don't make it ridiculously expensive.

there are ways to make invitations look stunning, yet inexpensive.
for ex: thermography is cheaper, but looks the same.

Soror, when's the wedding? We just set a date: 10/20/07: Sweetest Day!

[DSTRen13]

Originally posted by Angel11E01
Soror, this is how you do it.

Look at all the things you have to buy for the wedding. Rate the most important to you, 1 being the most important through say, 10.

If invitations aren't that important, scrap it and spend the money on something that you feel is most important.

IMHO, I think you should have one invitation. don't make it cheap, and don't make it ridiculously expensive.

there are ways to make invitations look stunning, yet inexpensive.
for ex: thermography is cheaper, but looks the same.

Soror, when's the wedding? We just set a date: 10/20/07: Sweetest Day!

It's silly, but I'm a scrapbook person, so anything that will matter in a scrapbook I want to look good, lol. (Therefore, things have to at least be nice enough to look good in photos ... )

We don't have a date set yet - I graduate this May, but he doesn't until May 2007, so we'll get married in summer or fall of 2007 (once he has a job).

[Bajan_Delta]

This is great advice. I actually was planning to do that any way. I have decided that it's not that important for me to have flowers on each table so I will use candelabras instead. They give the room an awesome glow. Invitations are not that important to me either, they just need to not be tacky. The food needs to be excellent cause West Indian people will talk about you

I'm taking the plunge 08/08. I'll be Mrs. "Jamaican".

Originally posted by Angel11E01
Soror, this is how you do it.

Look at all the things you have to buy for the wedding. Rate the most important to you, 1 being the most important through say, 10.

If invitations aren't that important, scrap it and spend the money on something that you feel is most important.

IMHO, I think you should have one invitation. don't make it cheap, and don't make it ridiculously expensive.

there are ways to make invitations look stunning, yet inexpensive.
for ex: thermography is cheaper, but looks the same.

Soror, when's the wedding? We just set a date: 10/20/07: Sweetest Day!

[Angel11E01]

Originally posted by Bajan_Delta
The food needs to be off excellent cause West Indian people will talk about you

shooo...that's our people PERIOD.

I'm thinking of a late evening wedding with a cocktail reception.

[Bajan_Delta]

What exactly does a cocktail reception entail. Obviously cocktails, but how does it differ from a regular reception?

Originally posted by Angel11E01
shooo...that's our people PERIOD.

I'm thinking of a late evening wedding with a cocktail reception.

[StarFish106]

Originally posted by Bajan_Delta
What exactly does a cocktail reception entail. Obviously cocktails, but how does it differ from a regular reception?

From THE KNOT

If you're looking for a classy, low-cost, low-stress option, a cocktail reception may be for you. This type of reception focuses on hors d'oeuvres -- either all stationary or passed, or some stationary and some passed -- instead of a full meal, and guests stand and chat holding small, snack-laden plates while trying to balance their wine glasses.

Making sure guests know that a full meal will not be served is one of the most important factors to consider when planning a cocktail reception. Simply word your invitations like this: "Please join us for a cocktail reception after the ceremony." Keep in mind that your guests will eat more hors d'oeuvres than they would during a cocktail hour that is followed by a meal. So you'll want to pump up the volume and/or variety of foods you serve. Also, people will probably drink more than they would if they were sitting down to eat -- so your liquor costs could go way up.


Hope this answers for you!

[Bajan_Delta]

Thanks!!!! It sure does clear it up. Girl I have my foreign moments sometimes.

Originally posted by StarFish106
From THE KNOT

If you're looking for a classy, low-cost, low-stress option, a cocktail reception may be for you. This type of reception focuses on hors d'oeuvres -- either all stationary or passed, or some stationary and some passed -- instead of a full meal, and guests stand and chat holding small, snack-laden plates while trying to balance their wine glasses.

Making sure guests know that a full meal will not be served is one of the most important factors to consider when planning a cocktail reception. Simply word your invitations like this: "Please join us for a cocktail reception after the ceremony." Keep in mind that your guests will eat more hors d'oeuvres than they would during a cocktail hour that is followed by a meal. So you'll want to pump up the volume and/or variety of foods you serve. Also, people will probably drink more than they would if they were sitting down to eat -- so your liquor costs could go way up.


Hope this answers for you!

[BrnSuga]

I friend of mine is considering have a early morning wedding followed by a brunch style reception. It's cheaper because of the type of food being served. As far as drinks, she's having mimosas and other traditional brunch beverages (orange juice, apple juice, hot teas and coffee) instead of a champagne fountain, which should also cut cost.

As far as the invitations, I opted for a classic white card invitation with black fancy styled lettering. They were classy and very elegant but, because I didn't have them printed in colored ink, I saved a lot of money. My colors were periwinkle, platinum and white. Also, the church that we used had the candleabras and a kneeling bench already present, so we didn't have to rent those items.

I also have heard a lot of couples say that they chose one thing as a BIG ticket item. In our case it was the photographer. We didn't compromise on our wedding pictures. On everything else we were on a very strict budget. I even solicited help from one of my uncles for the videography.