What's Your Priority?

This may seem obvious, but it's really important to prioritize when you're planning a wedding on a budget. Since it can be difficult to know where to start, I thought I'd get the juices flowing and lay out a few decisions to think about. Once you figure out the 2 or 3 most important things to you, the rest of the pieces will kind of fall into place. Start here...

Which is more important to you--
a) the location of the ceremony
b) the location of the reception

If the reception is more important to you, try to have your ceremony right there, if the location allows that. This will cut back on the cost of transportation (limo, shuttles, etc). Vice versa, if you've always dreamed of saying your vows in your family church, try to pick a nearby affordable reception spot.

Point being... be reasonable- you can't have your ceremony in the church you grew up in and then take a limo an hour away to your favorite reception spot on the water.

Which is more important to you--
a) decorations
b) entertainment

If you blow a huge portion of your budget on extravagant flowers, you might consider using an iPod for your wedding entertainment. If you really want your guests to unwind and have a good time, you might make your own bouquets and centerpieces in order to have a really good DJ.

Which is more important to you--
a) food
b) bar

If you want a really nice seafood and steak meal for your guests, you might limit the bar to beer and wine (and limit the variety). If you have a bunch of partiers on your hands, you might focus more on the bar, skip the passed hors d' oeuvres and have a more unconventional meal like Italian style (pastas & salad) or pulled pork (pig roast).

Budget Wedding Flower Fix- April

This month, I've incorporated bright gerbera daisies and fruit to create a great spring centerpiece for around $20.

The Intimate Wedding Party

One of the factors that can push that wedding budget over the top is something that most people don't even take into consideration.  You've cut out the videographer, made your own favors, set the event earlier in the day, etc... but did you ever think about making your wedding party smaller so you could splurge somewhere else?

I can't tell you how many times I hear brides talk about feeling "obligated" to have certain people as their bridesmaids.  Before you know it, they have 8 or more girls marching down the aisle with them.  I know because I was one of them!  You're not obligated to do anything on your day- only what you want to do.  If you cut your wedding party to 2 or 3 bridesmaids (including the maid of honor), people will understand that you are only including your absolute closest friends/family and they won't be offended.

Photo Credit: http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID10494/images/David_s_Bridal.jpg

Here's how you'll save:

• wedding party gifts (typically, people spend $30-100 on each bridesmaid)

• limo (instead of getting a stretch limo for 20 people, now you can get a smaller one for 8)

• flowers (a bridesmaid bouquet typically costs between $75-150)

• photographer (the more people in the wedding party, the more variety of shots and angles the photographer has to take.  I'm not talking about money on this one, but more the amount of time you have to spend away from your event to get all those shots)

• rehearsal dinner (less heads to pay for)

All costs aside, making your wedding party more intimate means more quality time with the people who are most important to you and less running around trying to get everyone doing what they need to be doing.  It's really less of a headache and more of a good time if you don't have to worry about dealing with a huge wedding party.

Inexpensive Honeymoon Getaways

Depending on the type of setting you and your husband enjoy, you could create a great honeymoon getaway that you may have thought you couldn't afford.  If you're thinking about skipping the honeymoon altogether because of money, you should definitely reconsider.  Just get creative and think about what your area has to offer.  I'll be focusing on the Maryland area, because that's where I'm from...

Camping in the woods- Ok, I know this sounds rugged and probably the farthest thing from romantic, but think about what it has to offer.  Laying under the stars each night, the beauty of nature, long walks together, possibly some nice streams to relax by, beautiful mountains all around.  There are so many nice places to go around here and it's usually only around $20 per night to camp. 

Camping on a beach- Asateague Island is such a beautiful and romantic place to visit.  Why not stay overnight?  This island is close to Ocean City and has beautiful wild horses that will usually walk right up to you.  Between the horses and the waves crashing on the beach, what more could you ask?!

 Photo Credit: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/086_family-vacations-assateague-island.jpg

Go off the beaten path- Everyone wants to be near water on their honeymoon, but instead of going to the usual tourist traps, try an area like Southern Maryland that has all the same beauty but virtually no tourists and much cheaper rates.  There are so many gorgeous spots on the bay down there, vineyards, tons of history, etc.

Ocean City- I know it may not seem this way when you're thinking about your honeymoon, but isn't a beach a beach?  You don't have to fly thousands of miles away just to experience different sand than what you're used to.  You could stay on the bay side for cheaper rates- then all you have to do is cross the street to get to the ocean!

Location, Location, Location!

Guest Blog by Celia Milton
 

There are SO many places you could choose to be married! Of course, there are churches and temples; reception halls and fire houses, but if you’re on a budget you might want to get a little more creative! Here are some ideas to get you started...

• Sports Stadiums; I did several weddings at the old Yankee Stadium a few summers ago (okay, okay, we snuck in…) What a perfect backdrop for a true sports fan, one that will provide your officiant (Well, that and maybe a permit; it never hurts to check…... with great metaphors for your ceremony script! Some of your more local stadiums may think this is just a wonderful publicity idea for them (and if you both wear team jerseys, think of the savings on wardrobe?)

• Retirement Homes/Assisted Living Facilities; many of these have beautiful party rooms or outdoor gardens, and you couldn’t have a more delighted if spontaneous audience!

• Train stations; how wonderful for a long distance relationship! Many of them are historic, lots of them are cute, some of them are landmarks. Check with the transit authority.

• Museums and gallery spaces; if you have a small group on a weekday, this could be the perfect path for you. A small donation would be in order for a non profit, maybe a goodie gift of chocolate or great stylish cookies for the staff in a gallery. Check your local art schools and colleges too; they may have quirky fun studio or exhibition spaces.

• Libraries; public and college libraries very often have private rooms or collections, which may be the perfect backdrop for a literary couple.

• College greenhouses; my alma mater has a wonderful little greenhouse that would be just perfect! (Note to self…make call…) Private greenhouses or garden centers…

• Local parks, gardens, zoos, skating rinks, ball fields; if you have a little group, a short ceremony and no amplified music, this shouldn’t be a problem, but you might call the parks department to ask about a permit. While being arrested might prove to be an entertaining photo opp, this might not be the way you want to start your married life together...

• Wine Cellar; many restaurants have little private rooms or wine cellars and having a short ceremony in the dining room would be a bright spot for anyone’s dining out experience!

• A box seat at the opera! (Probably only good for the two of you, your officiant and the witnesses!)

• Observations decks on giant buildings. Best to call about this one! Probably have to buy tickets, but what the heck! (And no, the Empire State Building will not let you do this except on Valentines’ day. If you’re thinking of a ceremony in say, 2015 you might have time to apply.

• Ferries and water taxis; how fun is this one! Have your officiant check on the legality of being married on the water, or do a quick vow on the dock.

• Do you have a friend or family member with a wonderful garden? Beautiful library? Gorgeous living room? I bet they would love to have you! Again, a sweet little present would be a great gesture of thanks.

 

Photo Credit: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2326839401_89085c0287.jpg?v=0

• If you met somewhere interesting; that might be a thought; I’ve done weddings next to the bears at Bear Mountain, on a pier in Wildwood, in a swamp in northern NJ.  If the spot is sentimental and meaningful to you, that is really all that matters.
  

Celia Milton is a wedding officiant serving New Jersey and New York. She is, so far, unincarcerated for her public space antics with her couples! www.celiamilton.com

First Day of Spring!

Any Marylanders out there get married this past weekend? What a beautiful day it was Saturday! 75 degrees and sunny-- who would have thought a March 20th wedding could be so perfect? I was in a beautiful town in Northern Maryland, off 270, for a wine tasting and saw the most amazing wedding going on in the back yard of a rustic inn, with farmland in the background.  A wedding at this vineyard where we were also struck me as the most adorable backdrop for a wedding.  It had a barn, a great patio, and it was the most perfect day.

Photo credit: http://www.marylandwine.com/mwa/wineries/images/sugarloafpix.jpg

Anyway, I will be in-- hopefully sunny-- Sarasota, FL later this week for a bachelorette party and I'll pick up posting again on Monday :) Have a great week and weekend!

Best Signature Drinks for Your Buck

One great way to save money on the bar tab is to go with a signature drink. Sometimes, though, people get carried away with a really intricate drink that might get pricey. Here is a list of great crowd pleasers that don't involve too many components...

Sangria
Try providing some red and some white to accommodate everyone!
white/red wine
club soda
sugar
sliced oranges, limes & lemons
(Let soak for 24 hours in refrigerator prior to wedding)

Spiked Iced Tea
Pre-made sweetened iced tea OR homemade tea (add sugar and refrigerate several hours)
vodka OR light rum
lemon wedges

Margarita on the rocks
sour mix
tequila
lime wedges

Bay Breeze
Cranberry juice
pineapple juice
vodka

Summer Beer
This might sound like a really strange combo but it's sooo delicious!
Lemonade
vodka
Corona