Sisterly Advice Needed

Well, I have 5 brothers (I'm the only girl) and I'm not close to my family.  So basically all of the wedding planning is falling on my shoulders.  I wanted to share some of my ideas and see if anyone else might have any to share.  I'm very upset that my family won't be in attendance (due to financial restrictions) so this lonely time is even lonelier!

We are getting married at a state park, right on a lake.  Everything is MINIMAL.  For table centerpieces, I have some half-gallon Mason jars that will hold white candles with some red ribbon tied in a bow along the top rim.  Our "theme" is apples and mums.  I'm going to make our cake myself (a carrot cake, perfect for fall I thought!) and we're going to do simple barbecue fare.  This isn't your typical food-and-dancing wedding, this is barbecue food and visiting.  I just don't feel like it's enough.  We can't afford much more than that with the baby on the way...does anyone have any ideas? Or comments? How would you feel attending a wedding like this (a very short, sweet and simple ceremony and some food)?  Is this tacky? This is why every girl needs a sister!

Thank you in advance for your help!

Its more than I had. I got married in a place in Idaho with just our Neighbors as witnesses, even the camera she used to take pictures didn't work, and our twins came 3 months early so they were born before we got married

I think it sounds beautiful!  I love carrot cake and BBQ.

You just make sure you are relaxed and looking lovely on that day.

How would a person feel attending a wedding like this (very short, sweet and simple ceremony and some food - HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE PART AS A GUEST . Sorry my question mark and exclamation mark have suddenly disppeared and foreign language symbols have taken their place. jeanie

I thought I might also share the menu for the day:

APPETIZERS: Cream cheese stuffed bachon-wrapped jalapenos, pico de gallo with chips

ENTREES: Burgers, brats, and barbecued chicken

SIDES: Twice baked potatoes, cornbread muffins with honey butter, baked beans

DESSERT: Carrot cake (main wedding cake) and Amaretto biscotti torte

 I'm still "tweaking" it here and there, but for the most part, this is the menu. 

I would attend and think that whatever the couple wanted would be the way that it should go.  It is your day and you should have it ANY way you want it!! 

When my husband and I got married-almost 13 years ago.  We got married in a church, very few people there, no reception, no food etc.  We did have cake and punch that weekend at our house.  So, what you have planned sounds like a good meal, good visiting and a promise of your love.  God bless you and keep you.  Congratulations on your wedding.

Hugs,

Angie

it sounds absolulty lovely.

a wedding is about you two anyways....dont worry about what others might think i know its hard but its supposed to be about you two as its your special day. and people will love it anyway and at the end of the day if they dont well it doesnt matter cause the most important thing will have happend anyway you will be married and be husband and wife thats the most important thing and you will both be very happy :)

 take care

jane

I just had to add....took me a minute-had to change a diaper! lol  It shouldn't matter what others think.  Like I said it is your and your soon to be husband's day-not theirs.  Anyone that has a problem with it can have their wedding the way they want when they get married.  I'm sure it will go over beautifully.  The whole menu sounds good!  When and where & we'll be there!  LOL 

Hugs,

Angie

Hi Chriskit81,

I think your wedding plans are just fine...they are perfect if that is what you want.  You are the Bride & it is your special day.  I was married twice in Las Vegas, no family, no reception, just got married.  The 3rd time I got married in a church with friends & family & we did our reception in our back yard.  We did all the food ourselves as well.  We kept it very simple...cold cuts, fruit boat, chips, etc.  We did have a professional wedding cake but that is only because someone we knew paid for it or I would have made my own.

I think your day will be perfect.

Hugs,

Maggie

Hi Chriskit,

I think your outside wedding will be great!  I had a carrot cake for my wedding cake and it was perfect!  There was a yummy cream cheese kind of icing on itthat was very pretty. 

I also did planning for all parts of my wedding and it was outside-so I'll try to think of some ideas for you.  First, your wedding will not be tacky-don't think like that! 

I think your centerpieces sound beautiful!  Also, I am not sure what the temperature is like where you are but you might consider getting some of those metal tubs (the old-fashioned looking kind) and filling them up with ice and throw some water bottles in them.  Tie a towel to one handle of the tub so the guests can help themselves to a drink. 

Here's something to do if you want the guests to throw rice.  If you get the tiny bags of rice (or make your own with a few yards of mesh fabric and a big bag of rice) you can make them pretty with a little card attached with a ribbon.  We did this at my friends wedding-she liked butterflies so we got some cardstock or just thick paper and stamped a butterfly on one side of a 2" x 2" card (we even colored some of them in to make them prettier) and then on the other side we wrote the couple's initials (or you could do your new last name initial).  Punch a hole in the corner of the card and slide a ribbon through it and use it to tie up your bags of rice. 

And apples are not too expensive, it seems like you could work them into your decorations somehow.  Just before my wedding a big storm came through and knocked a bunch of small pears off my mom's trees.  we couldn't eat them so we stuck dowl rods into the bottoms of them and stuck them into the flower arrangements-maybe something like that could work with the apples?  Or you could stack them into a tower shape using dowel rods for a fun centerpiece.  You would arrange like 8 of them into a circle-then attach the two accross from one another with dowel rods. Keep doing this until all apples are attached with a dowel rod to another apple.  So you have a circle of apples with lots of sticks inbetween-tie the sticks up with some string to secure.  Now you can easily attach more apples to make the "apple tree" which will be a nice sort of cone shape when you finish.  I hope this makes sense-I wish I could draw a picture here of what I'm talking about, lol.

And how about serving some candied/caramel apples for a treat at the wedding?  I am trying to think of things that will go along with the apple theme.  I will keep thinking and try to post more later.

  china

One more thing before I forget it!  If there are going to be kids at the wedding here is something to keep them happy and occupied.  At my wedding I had some special kids attending (brothers and sisters and cousins!!)  They deserved a little treat after all their hard work at the wedding, lol-so when the ceremony was over and we went to begin the reception I brought each one of them one of those big colorful lollipops. You know the ones you can get at walgreens for a dollar-some are big and round and colorful and others are "unicorn horn" shapes.  The kids loved them and I got THE BEST PICTURE of them enjoying them on a porch swing.

WOW Chris.....where is this wedding and can I come!!!! lol sounds great!!! I love it!! Sounds like something you can be proud of for sure!!! Hope you don't have to do all the work!!!! Hugssssssssssss Evie

I think it all sounds totally PERFECT!! I think all peple should get married in the setting and surroundings that they are comfortable with. I have four married children. We did all of them on very strict budgets. And we served dutch oven at all the dinners!! Outside! I think your menu sounds yummy! And if there is anyone on the guest list that would not be comfortable with this then they will be missing out in life a lot of times!!  Congratulations to both of you!!  Kate

Hi Christy,

This is coming from a great grandma and I think your wedding sounds lovely.  I would feel very comfortable coming to it (now when and where is it so I can make my plans!)

One suggestion, at Micheals or any hobby store you can buy fake apples.  Would it be possible to work a couple into your bouquet?  Are you making your bouquet yourself?  Silk flowers are quite reasonable.  I've made a lot of bridal bouquests, corsages, etc. and they can be very expensive and very reasonable.

I wouldn't change a thing about your wedding and everyone invited should be proud to be there to help you enjoy your day.

Oh and one other thing.  When one of my son's got married the first time, after the baby was born,  we were able to do the wedding for about $50. for everything.  Of course it was 29 years ago and they had a just family wedding and reception at our house.  Bride's DM was having a fit about the whole thing.

Be happy and enjoy that new baby.

I think your plans sound wonderful!!!!  A friends' daughter got married in the fall, they had pinecones and acorns for decorations.  That might also be nice with the mason jars.  Have fun!!!!!

Janet

I think your wedding sounds lovely!! I love carrot cake and BBQ!!!!  When my youngest DD got married, she was married in the evening in church.  Her MIL, also my good friend, and I made and prepared most of the food for the reception.  I made a roasting pan full of horderves...just dried beef with a cream cheese,  kosher dill pickle, a little hot pepper flakes for the filling.....At  Sams or some place like that, we bought veggie lasagna, regular lasagna, Italian bread, assorted lunch meats and made salads.  It was all put together very easily and affordable.

Enjoy your special day!!!!  Congradulations!!!!  Can I have some Carrot cake??  LOL

Mary