Wedding talk... when Sean and I got married we looked at a lot of different options.
Dawn, with your friend... usually CHINA would be one fee total, and sometimes the caterers even include a very base china... and if you wanted something different you would have to pay for it. with renting the ballroom... USUALLY some amount of tables and chairs are provided (but they would most likely be unmatched tables, and ugly chairs) so if shes wanting same size perfect tables with fancier chairs, it would definitely cost. Also with the chair covers, thats normal to pay per each as its not something that is necessary. any *extras* always cost. Also with linens, you must pay.
Sean and I looked at so many options. We didnt want to ask our parents to contribute because we knew they could not afford it. We finally decided, doing it all on our own, we would go small.... but still didnt have ideas nailed down. I had a thought in the back of my head from years before that I would like to get married at my moms, boyfriends mom and step dads house. I know. I just call them Grandma Judy and Grandpa Steve. Steve usta officiate a long while back and is a very sweet, religious man. Their home is a beautiful victorian home, already always decorated, though maybe not in a wedding way.
I kept falling back on this and finally just asked. My grandma Judy was thrilled with the idea. But it is a very small home and yard. Im talking small. We wanted Steve to officiate but he works for the Bremerton Navy as a supervisor for underwater welding and he is often away for 6 months at a time, with little notice. we stressed. We went ahead with planning the wedding there, and Judy wanted to do everything. Also, the back yard wasnt finished. It had been dug up and layed with old brick completely, the awning was only half built, and the whole for the huge fountain wasnt finished being dug yet... and it was 6 months away. We had set the date before figuring out location. Hahaha
So, Steve got to working non stop on that back yard. I absolutely love him. When we last went and saw the yard and Judys home about 3 months before the wedding, things still werent done out back. But Judy assured us it would be fine. Only thing we werent sure of was if steve would be there or not (possibility they would be sending him to CA). I was frantic. Judy made sure we had an officiant from their wedding squared away for just in case. A WEEK before the wedding we got work that steves work granted him vacation for that weekend so that he surely wouldnt be away. Thank God!
We didnt really have to do anything for the wedding. It was very small. Im talking smaller than a family BBQ small. Seans father and step mom surprised us by paying for the food we ordered, from a local BBQ place (only came to 300). It was brisket, smoked chicken, hot links, beans, potato and mac salad... yummy! We picked that up the day before the wedding and drove it over to Grandparents home to be reheated the next day. When we got there, no one was home yet and mom and Judy called and forbid me to go into the back yard. They had decorated (I didnt know anyone was decorating, the fountain was supposed to be the decor).... Anyway, they wanted to be there when I saw teh yard for the first time. So we waited. And Oh my gosh my family really pulled together. It was used stuff, tulle and bows, etc. But it was beautiful. I couldnt believe it. It felt like it was gonna then be a "real" wedding. While planning my fear was this wouldnt be like a real wedding and I was some what upset.
So the day before, we dropped off food, saw the yard and house, and then made the bouteneirs for Sean, and for fathers and grandpa steve... and the corsages for the mothers and grandmas... and then we made my boquet by hand with flowers I had let her know I like. We did all that by hand that day. We used decorative tables she had set up (lil garden iron things) and thats the only tables we had (maybe 3 of those)... and we just used the iron chairs and decor benches she already had. We only invited 16 people INCLUDING SEAN AND I. Next day, only 14 showed.
It was a beautiful wedding. Better than I could have imagined. I dont remember most of it. The single most expensive thing I bought was my dress. I was afraid of finding something pretty in my size. I was frantic with it, so about 3 months before the wedding I went to davids Bridal, alone, and tried on a dress. It was the first one I saw, and it fit. And it was beautiful, and thats what I got. It was over my budget (I wanted to spend about 300) but it came to 600 all said and done. I dont have a single regret though. I felt like a princess. I will never forget... standing on the porch of the home having my photo taken of the BACK of the dress, and I couldnt see what was going on... two teenage girls had walked by and I heard "Oh my gosh she looks soooooooo beautiful". It was the first time, aside from my family and Sean, that I had ever been called beautiful, pretty, whatever. I just about cried (if it wouldnt have made my eyes red). I cry thinking about it now *sniff*
Anyway, wedding went beautifully, someone else heated up the food even though I thought I would be able to do it. I was too busy. It was a whirlwind. We didnt have a professional photographer. Every member of my family had cameras as we just compiled those pics. They turned out okay. If I changed anything, it might be to get a real photographer, but oh well. Food was great (though I barely are any...) and Judy bought our cake from Costco. Simple, beautifu,, elegant. We still had a cake topper though. It was as elegant as it could have been for us, and perfect for who we were. Just our closest of family was there, no outside friends... as really, our family is whats important to us. Thats it.
Oh, and there was absolutely no alcohol. First, my dads an alcoholic and I didnt wanna deal with him drinking there. My split family already doesnt get along. And steve being very religious, doesnt keep alcohol in his house. So it was also out of respect for them.
The room I got ready in was my grandmas bathroom, and it was just as luxurious as any star hotel bathroom. Its the size of my bedroom. A sunken tub that is jetted, huge mirrors and sinks with Swans the water comes out of... plush carpets, etc. Great lighting. It was wonderful.
Sorry for rambling. Its nice to rethink of that day :) I still havent seen the video from it and its been a year and a half..... No regrets with what we chose to do. all it costed us was the dress, and Seans clothes. Simple. Most other stuff was borrowed or already had there. Perfect.
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Anyway,
Dusta, have fun at Walmart. I must go in there with a list because if I dont, I end up buying a buncha crap I dont need.
Muril, I will start that threat later today.
Well, I think Ive typed long enough. Have a great day ladies!