Wedding Advise

[Guest]

I’ll put in my two cents as I am planning my vow renewal for December. I

have $1000 budget for 80 guests at our church (free) with our pastor (free).

I am trying desperately to find everything from other people. The only

thing I haven’t found easily is white fabric as I have to hide two large

speaker stands I was going to hang fabric from the ceiling to floor (about

10yds) and uplight it. Also I really want to find some artificial Christmas

trees someone is getting rid of to use as decorations. I have lights and

lots of glass, white, and silver ornaments. It is going to be a candlelight

service so I shopped around for candles and am getting some from Target and

some from a local craft store. I need lots of pillar candles as I don’t

want to light 1000 of votives to get the same effect.

I had a deal of a time finding a modest but beautiful dress but finally

found Eternity Gowns. Mine is $595 which a friend is paying $400 of as I

only had a two hundred dollar budget. However we are going to go to the

consignment place in March after tax returns come in and look before paying

full retail price. Also I have kept my eye on Ebay every weekend looking

for a tiara and necklace both of which I have found there for about $20 each

after shipping and handling. I will get my dress before I buy accessories.

Shoes will likely be clearance at Target or Payless. Undergarments will not

be an issue as a modest dress doesn’t require such special lines and cuts

though I am going to treat myself for my birthday in September to going and

picking out new ones. Flowers I am only doing a bouquet for me of 13 white

tulips. Should cost me about $20 and I will tie them up myself. I am

getting about 20 potted white poinsettas that I will donate/gift to my

church and neighbors afterwards. Everything else decoration wise will be

white and silver. I cleared out the after Christmas clearance and got some

amazing deals on ribbon, bells, lights, and other snowflake and winter

themed items. Spent $50 and got a whole table full of stuff to inspire me

through the next year. I am getting my daughter’s flower girl dress in the

after Easter clearance and am hoping to grab a Macy’s dress for $20 or

less. I downloaded 3 songs from Amazon for our ceremony for .99 cents

each. So that is our music selections and we are going to burn a CD of our

favorite worship songs for background before the ceremony.

The big splurge for us is going to be the reception as it will be desserts

for 80 with a hot cocoa and coffee station as well as punch, southern sweet

tea, and cold cucumber water for those who desire something refreshing. I

have $200 in the budget. Deserts will be made by 5 friends of mine each

bringing 20 servings each of some of my favorites of theirs. I will also

have a small (I mean really small) 5″ round cake for my husband and I to

cut. I am having my sister in law make chocolate candy chess queen and king

for the top. No caterers for us. Just borrowing and sharing without too

much of a potluck feel as it is dessert. So far I have found that I am

focusing more on what is going to happen and allowing my friends and

family’s talents to shine through as their gifts to us. Like my husband’s

grand parents both of who are widowed are going to light our unity candles

as they lived “until death do us part” and those candles will truly signify

the union until death in our hearts and we will have their marriages to

reflect upon. Hope this helps.-Jessica

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