how to plan a 1st wedding when your already married?

Question

my husband and i got married this past june by a justice of the peace...he was enlisting in the navy and we needed to do a quick legal ceremony...we are planning on having a wedding reception on our 1 year ann. we dont have many friends but we have family combined to nearly 45 people. we dont want to spend a whole lot but i want to be able to say i had a wedding and pull out pictures of it. how should i go about doing this on a VERY tight budget and still make it look nice....i need steps please.. we are not religious

i would possibly like an outdoor wedding at a park...i think its prolly cheap to reserve. we want to have to ceremony...i like the idea of the re-commitment ceremony. what about having a few buffet tables with snacks and misc goodies at the park and just eating there? would that be tacky to have to move the chairs from one spot at the park to a close area with tables to sit at or maybe just sitting everyone at the tables for the ceremony too? i just dont know what is acceptable and whats not...no one is my family has had a real ceremony..we are fans of the whole eloping in vegas and surprising everone later...help

oh yea...what about cheap centerpieces and possible party favors? also i have heard people having disposable cameras around so the guests can get candids is this tacky as well?

Answer 1

Edited to add stuff since your add. :)

Well first you need to pick a place. Since you're looking for something on a tight budget, I'd suggest looking at family & friends. Since it will be June I'm sure it will be pretty & warm out...anyone have a nice backyard you could set up stuff in? If not check your local options. Parks are a great place to look towards in cases like this.

Next thing that needs picked is time. Going back to the budget, if you want to provide dinner you can have the reception around 5. If not, have an earlier or even a later one. I had a friend who had a beautiful candlelit night time wedding. That way you can serve snacks, way less expensive than dinner. If you want to do dinner it's possible to have help with the food, enlist family & friends who may help you plan also help with some food. You could even have a informal cookout after your wedding if you do it outside. A cake can be fairly reasonable, too. I know Wal Mart makes them for 65 people for around $75, some smaller bakers may even be able to beat that in your area. Research is your best bet.

I'm not sure if you're also doing a ceremony over, but even if you aren't it may be nice to have some for yourself in the pictures to recreate your special day. Plus that can be fairly cheap. I'm getting a beautiful fresh cut arrangment for $30. It's also possible to make your own or even buy a silk arrangment at a store such as Wal Mart.

You mentioned pictures, you need to decide if you want a professional. It's possible to check a local college or something to get a student, or call around & check professionals & their prices. Most I found are fairly expensive though, so any budget you have usually goes out the door there. But since you mentioned it's important, you way want to look into it. I've found it's usually worth the money.

The best advice I can give is research. Call around, check prices, compare shop. And start early. Buying a little at a time is alot better than buying all of it at once. That way it doesn't hit your pocketbook that hard all at once. Goodluck!

ADDED STUFF...
I'm having an overpriced wedding...so overpriced I'm ashamed of myself for getting out of control with it. BUT! It sounds like some stuff you're thinking about so I don't think any of it could be considered tacky at all.

I'm having my wedding & reception all in one room just because I saw no point in moving people. People will be sitting at tables during the wedding actually. And the camera thing I love, they sell wedding camera just for this reason actually, so again it's not tacky at all. I've been considering it myself. Check online, I'm adding my favorite online wedding store link at the bottom of my answer. They have those cameras, plus I think they are cheaper than just regular camera's you'd buy in the store. They also have alot of favor ideas which I'm sure you could do yourself at home for less than they sell the stuff for. Here you go... http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com/dynamicIndex.asp

Answer 2

So, if you're wanting to do the whole "white dress" thing, check ebay for some deals on simple, white dresses. Have your hubby wear his dress uniform (not formal dress though). Since you're planning this for June, why not use someone's (or your own) backyard, that way you won't have to pay to rent space somewhere, and it's more personal. You don't have to feed everyone a meal to have a reception, get a nice cake and serve punch (spiked or not is up to you.) Burn some CD's of music you like, and let everyone have fun. If you do feel the need to feed people, or have the $$ to do so, keep the food simple, the more elaborate you make it, the more expensive it will be.
If you want to have some type of ceremony, maybe just exchange rings and repeat your vows, you don't even have to have someone officiate (unless you really want to). If you want flowers, you can head to Sams or Costco and get fresh flowers that day, and just do a simple bouquet tied with ribbon. Hope this gives you some ideas for a starting off point. Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

I am actually planning the same type of event. Well if you are going to do it outside that would be cheapest but find the place first, get the more expensive items purchased, designate someone to do the cooking, reserve chairs and tables, entertainment, photographer (or just have a relative who takes nice pics to handle that), decide on who is going to renew your vows for you and being that you are already married it does not have to be a priest, have a back up plan just in case of rain (a banquet hall), make your own centerpieces and favors because it is more personal and it gives you and possibly your brides maids something to do for the wedding.

Answer 4

Since you're already married, it's tasteless to have a "wedding." Instead, have a nice reception. That way, you don't blow big bucks on a white dress that you'll never wear again.

A picnic in the park is very nice or a barbecue is good. Don't expect a lot of gifts or ask for them. Just tell people you want to bring together your family and friends along with his for the day.

If you don't have the usual wedding things, like favors, because it's a reception, you save a lot of money.

Answer 5

Have the wedding of your dreams. If you want the first dance as a couple in your wedding then have it don't call it as a married couple call it the first dance of the night. You didn't have a wedding and you deserve one. Have the big reception the big cake, dress etc. As long as you don't register anywhere so people don't think that you are doing this for gifts then have fun in your day. I don't care if i get thumbs down. I live in nyc and the last 2 weddings i've been to have been of people that have been married for a few years and then have their big wedding i don't see anything wrong with that. Everybody deserves to have the wedding of their dreams.

Answer 6

my husband and I did a similar thing, we were married and 1 month later he deployed. once he returned we decided to have a reception instead of a 2nd wedding. My parents rented a big tent and tables and chairs. They went to odd lots and found archs that came with lights for $10 each- we had the reception in the fall so we used fall decorations so they were really inexpensive. For the food we had a pig roast, baked potatoes, salad and some other food that family brought. For the cake we had a very small wedding cake made and then served sheet cake to the rest of the guests. A friend of the family was our DJ and my sister's wedding present to us was to buy the alcohol. I did get a wedding dress, but my husband wore his dress blues. All in all our wedding reception was very inexpensive but it was beautiful and was tons of fun because the stress of getting married was over so all we had to do was celebrate!

Congratulations and good luck!!!

Answer 7

I hear you. I'm trying to find the answer to this question myself. I will be getting married as soon as my divorce is over, like the next day. But I would like a wedding. Fiancee says maybe no wedding just justice of the peace. What about having a ceremony on the beach-just for the two of you and have it video taped, and have a photographer there. You can also try having a re-commitment ceremony that masks like a wedding ceremony.

Answer 8

Have a reception at your home or your folks make it pot luck dress nice and have some pics done don't forget to get pics with your family fake flowers are pretty cheap make a bouqet and corsages for the moms in law and grannyinlaws it can be done on tight budget and will look nice because the love between you and your hubby will make everything glow

Answer 9

For 45 people, you could easily do a barbecue at a park. Grill chicken (instead of burgers....marinate in Italian oil dressing for a really yummy flavor and moist chicken...a pack of 13 chicken breasts are only about $14 at Sams Club or Costco), have a salad, fruit/veggies, and your cake for dessert. Put sodas and water in coolers, get a keg for those who drink. For centerpieces, I would do maybe medium-large clear bowls filled with water and float some candles or flowers....or put some sand filled colored balloons in a clear bowl. You need something heavy for centerpieces or they might blow over...flowers might attract bees/bugs. For favors, I would recommend hard mints in organza bags or nuts...something that won't melt. For inexpensive invitations, favor bags, www.abcustom.com has a 30% discount coupon that you can get today only, but its good through March. Make a couple of CDs of fun music that everyone will love and a player.

Answer 10

Don't bother. Weddings are hellishly expensive and you are already married.

If you really want some souvenirs hire a wedding photographer and dress up nice and get some pictures. If you are on a tight budget even a small ceremony or party for 45 people will cost several thousand. Save that money and use it to buy a home later on, or pay off some debt.