^We were married at The Little White Wedding chapel, but the wife wouldn't go for Elvis or else I would have!
^We were married at The Little White Wedding chapel, but the wife wouldn't go for Elvis or else I would have!
I got Married in May.
We rented two large houses for two weeks on the Outer banks of NC. We rented all of the tents, had all of the meals on the wedding weekend catered and had her cousin (who is a professional photographer) take the pictures. My mom used to make wedding cakes, so she made ours.
We put all of the music we wanted on an ipod and put it on shuffle. We had an amp and a few larger speakers.
We invited 50 of our closest friends and relatives.
IT WAS AWESOME!!! This was our honeymoon also. All told, we spent about $20,000 all included (renting the houses too.)
Everything went off perfectly. I never met Bridezilla. She was too interested in having fun and being on vacation the week before the wedding.
I highly recommend this idea to anybody.
Rob (and Julie)
It gets better after the wedding, my wife was absolutely awful for the week or two leading up to the wedding.
We're just about at 4 years now and it's been great ever since. 
County Courthouse-$50 for Marriage license, $50 to perform ceremony on front lawn of Courthouse...done.
Of course it was San Diego, gorgeous weather, and 50 feet from the San Diego Bay in a nice garden gazeebo. Neither one of us has any regrets. All that money that would have WASTED on ceremony was spent on a house down payment.
What I believe to be true of weddings (as well as other large "events"):
The longer you have to plan for it the more costly and complicated it will be.
OP, this doesn't help you, but maybe others can use it.
Also remember, the wedding is supposed to be about you two...but it really ends up being about everyone else. Keep it in perspective.
Clem "the first wedding didn't take" Sparks
More unsolicited advice about marriage that is not directed at the OP:
I've also learned that it's MUCH easier to get married than it is to become unmarried.
It's not popular to think about this...but the next time around, I'll have a prepackaged divorce (aka pre-nup) before the marriage ever takes place.
Don't think it won't happen to you...it's statistically probable.
Cone_Junky wrote: County Courthouse-$50 for Marriage license, $50 to perform ceremony on front lawn of Courthouse...done. Of course it was San Diego, gorgeous weather, and 50 feet from the San Diego Bay in a nice garden gazeebo. Neither one of us has any regrets. All that money that would have WASTED on ceremony was spent on a house down payment.
Change that to a scenic location outside of Redwing MN on the river, and you have my wedding. Bonus points for the MIL working at that particular courthouse, and the ladies that worked with her giving us a wad of cash for no apparent reason. Back to the inlaws for the worlds best Halloween party, a 2 story bonfire, (Seriously, it was a tall as the barn) food WE cooked and threw in warmers, and you have yourselves a recipe. You'd be hard pressed to find any of my guests that have been to a better wedding.
Yeah, we did the courthouse thing, too. Absolutely no regrets. Had about 10 family and friends there, (Hillsborough County, Tampa). Wifey's nephew was a meter maid, so parking was no problem, about half the courthouse staff joined in. Good, good, times. Still going strong, 19 years later.
In reply to RX Reven:
mtn wrote: My cousin had her wedding reception at the county fair grounds (normal place to have it where she is from). There was a demo derby going on across the parking lot
hell, i would have gotten married at the derby, then climb into a car and gop out and wreak it for the wedding part..and watch veryone try to pound on the married couple on the track.....
ckosacranoid wrote:mtn wrote: My cousin had her wedding reception at the county fair grounds (normal place to have it where she is from). There was a demo derby going on across the parking lothell, i would have gotten married at the derby, then climb into a car and gop out and wreak it for the wedding part..and watch veryone try to pound on the married couple on the track.....
I wanted to have it overlooking the pond at the collage where we met. The day it hosted an AutoX
ckosacranoid wrote:mtn wrote: My cousin had her wedding reception at the county fair grounds (normal place to have it where she is from). There was a demo derby going on across the parking lothell, i would have gotten married at the derby, then climb into a car and gop out and wreak it for the wedding part..and watch veryone try to pound on the married couple on the track.....
A couple years back, a couple got married at the local fair and even had bride and groom Double Figure 8 Demo Derby cars!!!
I'm up in October, on the Challenge weekend (hence why I will not be there this year). We are having a basic wedding, nothing too crazy. The bride-to-be and I are on a super tight budget, and paying for everything on our own. That is sobering, and none of the Bridezilla nonsense is happening. Hell, if it wasn't for my side of the family (old-school Italian over here!) we would be having a big BBQ instead of renting a hall and doing the traditional route. remember, in the end, it's just one day. Spending absurd amounts of money on that one day just doesn't make sense. I'm glad mine gets that.
BTW, this whole recent wedding popularity craze with all the stupid shows and everything (especially Bridezillas) needs to stop NOW. That damn show makes me sad for the human race because of the fact that the men on the other side of the situation are that dumb to go through with it with these materialistic and narcissistic beasts. 
My wife and I (13 years and counting) did it on the cheap. It's worked so far. Biggest expense was her dress, I had the remains of a suit, and everyone else just showed up in their best. It worked out well.
The thing people forget is that, at the end of the day, you're just as married. It doesn't matter if it was The Wedding Of The Century or a couple of friends meeting at the courthouse. The strength of the marriage is up to the two people involved.
Also, nobody really wants to hear stories about how big and fancy a wedding was. They do want to hear stories of disasters or of really creative stuff, like Elvis at the Little White Chapel or his-and-hers demolition derby cars.
So, Twin Cam - how are you holding up? Only one more sleep!
Keith wrote: So, Twin Cam - how are you holding up? Only one more sleep!
I'm a little nervous about the response, it's been a solid 24 hours since we've heard from him
I'm sure he's busy with all the last minute stuff you have to deal with. I'm sure tomorrow will be even crazier.
My wife and I payed for our friend to become a minister ($40 online) and got married at a local park that had a beautiful lake and gazebo right next to it ($72 to rent Gazebo) and had our reception at a local hall with a bowling alley in the basement (kids loved it). We bought all the beer and wine and food ourselves($350) and payed a couple servers to serve it ($75 a piece). My sister is a photographer and did the pictures as our wedding gift and our cakes came from kroger! Most fun I ever had in one night. Oh and for music my wife hired that band her and I went and saw on our second date. That was her wedding gift to me. Get past all the drama and enjoy it!
dankspeed wrote: I'm sure he's busy with all the last minute stuff you have to deal with. I'm sure tomorrow will be even crazier.
'Twas a joke ma friend
HiTempguy wrote:dankspeed wrote: I'm sure he's busy with all the last minute stuff you have to deal with. I'm sure tomorrow will be even crazier.'Twas a joke ma friend
Doh!!
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