Here comes the bride....Wedding....Bliss??

[Mysteefied]

http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/shocked.gif Wholly cow batman!! Who the heck new I was going to totally lose my mind and all control life when Finally decided on where to have the wedding.? Now...on top of a cake that cost WAY more than a cake has the right to cost, I have hair and make up and dresses and shoes and fittings and vows to write and a DJ to find and it all costs WAY out of the range I was thinking of. I have no clue how people can afford to get married.

How much does the average person spend on a wedding? I am so not going overboard, but it's all adding up so fast its making my head spin.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Kahlua Kid]

How much does the average person spend on a wedding? I am so not going overboard, but it's all adding up so fast its making my head spin.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Well - some people have Mommy and Daddy to help pay for it... I have friends who set their parents back $25,000, $45,000 to get married (and then divorced in only a couple of years.)

When Newcomer and I got married, we figured we should be practical because Lord knows my parents weren't going to pay for it. And we were making zilch back then... so...

My Mom made my Wedding Dress.

We got married in a park with a pastor who charged $50 for coming out to do the 20 minute ceremony.

We played the Wedding March on a portable CD Player (no band or piano player here!)

We only had 1 Maid-of-Honor/Bridesmaid and 1 Groomsman.

Our Friends and Family took our photographs - they developed and gave us pictures with negatives. (I have your date in March on my Calendar for this!)

We had the reception at my Grandmother's home in her backyard.

My Uncle who likes to cook, put together a buffet out of food and drink mostly bought in bulk from Costco.

We splurged on our Invitations, Wedding Cake, Flowers and the Satin/Lace for my dress.

All in all - I think we got married for around $1,500 and had over 100 guests.

And here we are, 16 years later, still married.

Do I wish I'd had the $30,000 wedding... sometimes I would have liked the fantasy-wedding, but in reality, if I had that kind of money, I wouldn't use it for a one day event!

[Mysteefied]

sounds fantastik!!!

well, here's the deal. we decided to have it in our yard..will save on rental fees, except, I think we need to rent some chairs, the guest list has grown from 50 to 120 ...hmmm...have no idea how that happened. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/wiseguy.gif
Carl decided he wanted it catered...which...honestly now with the amount of people coming, is probably a good idea, originally, my friends were going to cook.
I only have one maid of honor...one dress, however, I also have 3 daughters, who are now going to be....bridesmaids I guess, they each got a special dress.
we were going to burn a bunch of CD's, but I don't really know how to do that, and so we dicussed a DJ, but so far there is only one that I like enough to have at my wedding and its a bit out of the realm of what I can afford, so I may be trying to figure out how to burn CD's anyhow. The thought just really stresses me out.
The cake...well....that is one thing I think is just crazy! but Carl really loves it and so ...I'm letting it go at that. It seems like a simple thing to me...I mean, Its a cake, but I guess more goes into it then just bakeing a cake.

I am SO thankful that KK is taking my pictures, I love her photography and there will be disposible cameras as well. But I think she can do some amazing stuff...she may even be able to make me look thin! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/shocked.gif

I wasn't planning on having my hair put up at the salon that day, but got to talking to the gal who colored my hair and she sounded reasonable if I could come to the salon, so I may still do that, however now I think my girls want their hair done too and she wants to do my make up for me too, she says that they do my makeup so it looks great in pictures, and well....I really want to look great.
Um...guess that's enough blabbering for now.

[Dodgergirl]

I spent $21,000 on Cristina & Justins wedding. BUT it was in Malibu, & accomodations for family are included in the total.
Talk to Cristina, she still has lots of her info & Justin just might be available to DJ, (he does not have the equipment) or at least help with the burning of CDs. He is a really good DJ with experience.
And Mystee, you're gonna be a beautiful bride. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/yes.gif

[Dawn]

Mystee,

Let me know if you need help burning CDs. I have a fast Internet connection and can burn CDs really fast. If you are going to try to do it yourself you might want to go to: http://www.morpheus.com/ and download their program where you can get all the songs you want for free...If you have never burned CDs before, it can be kind of confusing. If you need help, call me: 559-916-3922

[Mysteefied]

Dodgergirl, I did mention to Justin and told him when, becauce Christina had mentioned it, I asked him to think about it, I do have to call him today...bank stuff...but maybe I'll mention it again, I just don't want to seem pushy.

Dawn, I may be needing your expertise if something doesn't pan out soon. I'll check out that website too. Thanks!

[Yosemite Joy]

Let's see..
$1,000 plane tickets to Hawaii..
$130 Hawaii print dress/shirt/outfit
$300 rental car
$300 Hawaii/Guru/Hippie/Liberal wedding ceremony guy
$free cd of performance, a few pictures
$couple thousand dollar rings?
got married bythis guy (http://www.hawaiiweddings.com/TopLevelPages/HowieIntro/howie.htm)..
on this beach (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&q=waimanalo%20bay%20hawaii&btnG=Search&sa=N&tab=wi)

Really beautiful..

[Goddesschyyld]

In 1988 my ex and I planned a big Irish Catholic wedding and it got to be so overwhelming we ended up running to Tahoe.

It was a much better choice for us. I didn't really care about the dress and whole big affair. I also thought it was assinine for us to spend a huge amount of money that we didn't have.

The marriage lasted 17 years and it cost us $100 at a chapel in Tahoe. My cousin who got married within a month of my marriage spent more than $30,000 on her wedding and she was married less than a year.

You will be a beautiful bride Mystee http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif Just don't stress on the small stuff.

[BGW]

It was a million years ago but I think I can remember the details:

Photography was a gift

Food was a gift

Champaigne and other libations.....gift

flowers and cake made by friends as a gift

1 maid of honor 1 best man

in the park...free

Dress....used...Mom's

rings at wholesale....

Reception lcation ....private residence

License...reverend...notrary...etc. around $100

tables and chairs borrowed from Women's club...Grandmother a lifetime member...free usage for the day.

Much was hand made or given as a gift. We got through it for under $400. It just took lots of imagination and a glue gun!!

Everythig will turn out dreamy! You'll See!

[Yosemite_Wolf]

Mystee... if ya tell me the date in may.. .ill back up KK as photographer. Let me know http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif (that is if KK doesnt mind another camera around)

[Lacey]

Although Tocools and I did a commitment ceremony rather than a real wedding, I think it turned out great and it didn't cost us much. Course, we didn't send out any invites or anything. We just did a verbal thing. But we rented the Bass Lake Queen for an hour and said our vows there. We even had music. It was so beautiful and such a memorable time. Our friend made our cake and my bouquet as a gift. She did an absolutely wonderful job and it was SO much more involved than I had anticipated. I could never repay her for all her hard work.

My first wedding was done very cheaply. We had the ceremony at a wedding chapel, which was inexpensive but I couldn't tell you how much it was. Wouldn't matter anyway. It was in 1967. Prices have changed a little since then! hahaha My mom made my dress, bouquet and cake. We had the reception at my mom's house. She just put out finger food for eating.

One thing I know is that, no matter what you do, your mind is going to be on your husband and your future and you won't remember a bunch of what goes on. So do what YOU want and what YOU are happy with. Everyone else will live with your decisions!

You will have a beautiful wedding and make a beautiful bride. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

[beautiful_mess38]

Thats why I got married in vegas. I think the whole thing cost less then $500. minus rings of course. Our honeymoon up the coast was probably $1000.

Wolfie took great pics, it was stress free and we had a great time.

[Mysteefied]

Hey messy...Yup, You got it right, you did it exactly how I should have. but we went back and forth and of course back again...and here we are. Going crazy...Ok, it's just me going crazy, HE is just fine and I think even a little amuzed by my franticness. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/bonk.gif

[beautiful_mess38]

If you need any help Myst let me know.

[Mysteefied]

Hey, If KK doesn't mind, I don't either, at this point, the more the merrier. I appreciate your offer as well. Everyone has been so helpful and it really takes a load off of my mind.

Originally posted by Yosemite_Wolf:
Mystee... if ya tell me the date in may.. .ill back up KK as photographer. Let me know http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif (that is if KK doesnt mind another camera around)

[Mysteefied]

Thanks Messy, I wouldn't even know what kind of help to ask for....tranquilizers perhaps? http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/laugh.gif

Originally posted by beautiful_mess38:
If you need any help Myst let me know.

[frmmts2sea]

How very nicice of YJ. Thank you 4 offering 2 do that 4 my daughter

[Kahlua Kid]

I don't mind YW and Mystee - takes some pressure off me. If YW would like, we should coordinate and take pix from different angles, etc... I plan to do research on Wedding Poses so we can set up some formal portraits as well.

Mystee... Karl and you and I should plan a day to do your "engagement" shots! Pre-wedding - casual shots out somewhere... like Bass Lake etc.

TooCools and Lacey are owed a shot like this, but they've never taken me up on that gift I gave them as a wedding present yet!

Here's one formal photo I took of a friend about 2 years ago at her wedding - she wanted me to do her pictures also:

http://www.sierravistastudios.com/IWedding_resize.jpg

But I have to remind you, I'm not a professional wedding photographer! Just love photography.

[Mysteefied]

OOOHHH, pre wedding shots.. how cool! that would be great. just let me know when you're available and I'll make it work. I'm getting so excited! Thank you.

That is a beautiful picture. I realize that you aren't a professional wedding photographer but I happen to LOVE your photography, so, It's all good. Even if they don't come out good. I still have pictures that I wouldn't have had.
YEAH!

[Dodgergirl]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kahlua Kid:
I don't mind YW and Mystee - takes some pressure off me. If YW would like, we should coordinate and take pix from different angles, etc... I plan to do research on Wedding Poses so we can set up some formal portraits as well.


Just a thought..We had two photographers at Cristinas wedding, one shooting in color, one in Black & White. Very cool photos.

[Kahlua Kid]

Cool Idea Dodge!

B&W can be developed Sepia toned also - that's really cool!

[Yosemite_Wolf]

Im doing some wedding pics also in may for a very very special patient.... another nurse/photographer and I are gonna do team shots.... one will do b/w and one do colour.
We are both going to do digital and film pics.

[Kahlua Kid]

I plan to go 100% digital - but what's cool about that is we can take any shot and make it black and white on Photoshop!

Also all the shots can be put on CD, emailed to friends or an online photo album! And any shot can be printed any size - 4x6, 8x12, etc...

[Yosemite_Wolf]

ill do both film and digital.. but focus on digital.

[Mysteefied]

oh, neat, some black and white would be fine with me, actually, I'm so thankful, if you want to make them rainbow, I'm still happy. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

[Sandman]

I didn't read the whole thread, but thought I'd throw this in....

Need a DJ? I'm friends with Jeff at Bergi's DJ. I can ask him how much.... and/or check out my music collection here: http://thesandman.com/music.html and let me know if you want me to burn some CD's for you. Just let me know what songs you want and in what order. I'd be happy to do this for you.

Anything else I can help with? Let me know. Just send me a PM.

[Mysteefied]

WHOA! do you have a lot of music or what!!??

Well, I was waiting to hear from Justin, but I think he may be too busy, I think it's going to have to be burnin some music, as I can't really afford a DJ.

I appreciate your offer to burn some music for me. I am going to print out your list that you have and pick some music for some CD's and I'll see what I can do about burning some music that you don't have. Thank you so much Sandman. You ROCK! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/eusa_dance.gif

[Mysteefied]

Well, I think it's official that we are going to burn some CD's, Carl has already been writing down songs that he hears and likes for the reception. Now if I could only find the time to sit and do the same, I have to go through my own CD's and then through the list I have from Sandman, and then burn them I guess. haha, I'm so over this whole wedding thing, I'm ready for the honeymoon!! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/wink3.gif