my fiance are doubting on the whole wedding ceremony expense. we want to get married, but even a simple garden wedding is starting to look around $5,000 aust. we were curious if the money for the day is worth going on something else, or if people had positive comments on the money they spent on their big day. thanks
2007-12-04 00:42:17 · 17 answers · asked by scary5 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
My husband and I just went to the courthouse to get married. We invited all of our closest friends. We all had such a good time they said it was the best wedding they had ever been to. The Judge was running late. We had so many people that the Secretary had us wait in the courtroom. All of the guys started pretending they were doing a trial. They were hilarious! We didn't know it but there were video cameras on, and every office in the courthouse was watching them! After we were married everyone came out of their offices laughing and saying how much they enjoyed the performance. Even the Judge was watching before he came out and married us!After wards we all went and ate at O'Charleys. And every time we see the Judge who married us he laughs and talks about that day. It cost us a total of $20.00, marriage license. We are so glad we didn't spend alot of money getting married. And our memories are better then any big wedding could have given us.
2007-12-04 00:54:39 · answer #1 · answered by Snow 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand why your wedding ceremony would cost that much unless you're being extravegant with your gown and are planning to feed everyone dinner.
You can have a very lovely garden wedding and memories that will last a lifetime - so no waste of money there!
Keep the cost down on unnecessary items. Find someone who can play an instrument (like a guitar) and sing for your ceremony. The wedding march doesn't have to be played on a guitar. My husband and I got married in a chapel, so our song going to the altar was "Chapel of Love" and was a wonderful memory.
You don't need to have 15 bridesmaids, etc., just a maid of honor and best man will do - unless you need to include someone else.
Spend the money on a good photographer, a good harpist, etc., selective flowers, a nice cake and someone to cater.
Keep the costs down on your dress, rent his tux, and don't try to serve a 10 course meal to your guests. Keep it simple - finger foods and cake with some nice beverages like punch and enough wine or champaign to do toasts only.
As to after the ceremony entertainment, let your hired person from the ceremony continue to play soft music in the background and let people mix and mingle. Your ceremony and reception do not have to last for hours on end - keep it simple.
One of the most elegant weddings I ever attended was in a forest setting. The local college provided music up on a ledge and the birds actually sang along.
The only flowers were what was carried. Folding chairs were set up for the guests, and after the ceremony, everyone enjoyed a nice finger food buffet and conversation. It was really very lovely.
So if you don't want to shortcut the memories, you don't need to spend a fortune to have good memories with your closest friends and relatives. Let them share in your happy moment.
2007-12-04 01:01:27 · answer #2 · answered by Naturescent 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
my sister in law is talking about eloping right now because she is getting sooo stressed about money and the actual planning a wedding takes. What I told her was that if she plans on eloping who does she want to be there? Her parents? His parents? A best friend? Can all of the people you and your fiance want to be there afford to travel to be there on your big day? If not, then maybe consider saving up the money you'd like for a wedding that those closest to you could attend. Good luck! Congratulations!
2007-12-05 09:31:28 · answer #3 · answered by NBBTB 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My wife and I got married at a simple courthouse ceremony. At least it was in Christian County, I told me ma (yes, the name of the county was Christian County, in Kentucky, and by coincidence it happened to be both by where I was stationed in the Army and where my father's ancestors lived over a hundred years before I was born).
Anyway, we didn't spend much more than the fuel to drive there and the cost of a nice dinner with our best man, my buddy and barracks room mate at Fort Campbell.
So later we were able to blow a few grand on a very nice train trip to Montreal and Quebec City, to rent a car and travel along the St Lawrence to go see whales with our one year old daughter. We also did a detour north to Mastouiache a Montagnard First Peoples' community, where we visited the museum and bought my daughter a lovely comfy pair of moccasins. Indeed, a very memorable time.
You might consider doing the elopement, and later holding a large commitment ceremony when you have the money saved. No worries, mate.
And congratulations! Many happy years I wish for the both of yez. Masel tov!
2007-12-04 00:51:14 · answer #4 · answered by cafegroundzero 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think LOTS of couples regret eloping (which is running away to get married secretly), as well as those who have destination weddings.
Frequently, they still want to have some sort of reception anyways, which is basically kind of rude, since those people haven't attended the ceremony.
I just think it's more special to get married with family and close friends there to witness it - a ceremony costs little, and a basic, lovely meal for whatever number of guests you can afford, is a good thing to do.
2007-12-04 02:22:49 · answer #5 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we spent $4000 (Aust) on our wedding and wouldn't change it for anything. it was perfect for us.
I think elopement is a beautiful and loving way to marry. We didn't want a long dragged out ceremony, so we chose an elopement ceremony for our wedding.
there we were surrounded by 20 of our closest friends and family as we eloped... lol
2007-12-04 00:47:35 · answer #6 · answered by chilly 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
*The new thing people are doing now are "destination weddings", which are pretty much, going away and getting married in lets say, Jamaica, or something like that, and then spening your honeymoon there as well... that way you are only spending money on your trip, which you most likely would have anyways, but there would be less of a hassle....Then you could maybe have a family reception when you get back to celebrate your marriage at a much cheaper price*
2007-12-04 00:47:14 · answer #7 · answered by rollins_freak_21361 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well my wedding didn't cost a fortune so I have no regrets at all, every penny was money well spent and well enjoyed, so nothing to regret. If any of my friends wanted to elope of course I would be happy for them.
2007-12-04 03:41:42 · answer #8 · answered by sparkleythings_4you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad I spent the money on my wedding and didn't elope...I have beautiful pictures from it, and I was around numerous friends and family. It was a great day!
2007-12-04 01:20:53 · answer #9 · answered by Katy B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I eloped with my husband 18 years ago. Never regretted not having a wedding. We had a reception when we got home, it was nice, just family and friends.
2007-12-04 00:45:57 · answer #10 · answered by Little Miss Sunshine 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋