I guess I'm going to get married!
My SO and I have been together just short of four years. We have traversed some very dark waters together. He is not the perfect man and I am not the perfect woman, and together we have our issues - but we have made it this far and together. We have helped each other overcome huge, frightening obstacles and, for better or worse, I love the fellow. We also share a really (I mean really) amazing daughter and raise our also really amazing niece. I am proud of who he is, and who he is becoming over time. I can actually envision myself with this same person in ten, twenty, fifty years.
Alright. There, I said it. hah hah hah.
So, we don't have the money to do a large (or even small, for that matter) celebration, and honestly I really don't want one. I do think that the idea of committing oneself to another person, and affirming love in a ritualized ceremony sounds is fairly beautiful. I would like to do something to honor our love. I don't know, I sort of feel like I'm married already, and I've never really had blushing bride syndrome. I don't know wedding etiquette or ceremony etiquette...ha ha ha. I am hopelessly unromantic. So, my dear mamapedia cohorts, help me out! So far, we have called our family (they're response was, "about time"!) and we are trying to set it up so that all sets of parents could come into town in the next month or two and be present at the court house. Apart from that, I need ideas! What are supper simple, inexpensive, winter time friendly ideas for a "reception" or dinner or celebration for parents and children afterwards. I'm talking, for eight adults, plus the two kids. Really, really simple, small, intimate but also special. Basically, eloping with our sets of parents and kids - but staying in town, what does that look like? I need a getting married: the day 101 class.
Thanks in advance mamas, I know you'll have some great ideas!
Great Ideas...THANK YOU!
Congratulatons on getting married!
Maybe you can find a chapel that has an early morning package. That is what me and my husband did. Got married on a weekday at the chapel, already decorated, photos included and came with an affordable breakfast/brunch like meal in a wonderfully decorated reception hall our cost was only $300. Our friends and family thought we spent thousands...ha! weekday special; the only person we ever told was my mom.
when I got married we did it in the catholic church, got a burgendy (sp) dress from Ross Dress for Less ( a discount store not sure if you have heard of it) for $11 or so, my hubby got a white button down shirt fron he flea market $15. Our girls wore dressed they already had. Yes you can do it cheap just make sure to do what YOU and your SO want!
We had a civil wedding six months before our family/religious ceremony, which was for everyone else. I thought our legal ceremony was nice and the court where we were married was next to a beautiful library so we had the option of being married in the music room of an historic building, which was lovely. (We only had one witness and we met her that morning, so that would not work for you.)
You could find a charming local restaurant, maybe an Italian one if you like that, and see if they have a private dining room you could decorate a bit and have a nice family dinner after. I have no idea what things are supposed to look like, and honestly since you've been a family for a while I doubt there will be major expectations of what it should be, so something private and lovely would be perfect. If you have family who can stay at your house for a night you should see if you can go to a local bed and breakfast after. That would make it a little more romantic. :)
One of the nicest weddings I went to was a simple ceremony in the couple's home with a small reception after. The bride and groom and some friends prepared a buffet style meal, with other guests bringing dishes - kinda' upscale potluck. We all wandered around and talked and laughed, a friend took the photos, and we all pitched in and cleaned up before we went home.
Have a friend who is handy with a camera take your photos, have friends each bring a flower to make your bouquet, go to the local party store for festive paper ware - and tada! you have a wedding.
You could do casual take away food - like Chinese - or ask some friends who are good cooks to cater it for you. A couple bottles of inexpensive bubble stuff for a toast - or sparkly cider, some nice music on the stereo, everyone dressed up and sparkly themselves and you have a lovely, inexpensive wedding with all the people that are most important.
Don't forget to have your girls play a key role in the event. . They can be your hostesses for the evening. Do get a guest book that they can have anyone sign. Let them be your bridesmaids.
Congratulations on your wedding !!!!!!
A couple of wedding tips come to mind from friends who couldn't afford much:
Explore a local nursery or park for photo ops. Some of the most beautiful wedding photos were done at local nurseries. They were truly stunning.
So nice, that I went with my family for many years to local nurseries for Christmas time photos. The pointsettias are every where. Lights. Decorated trees. No one thinks anything if your polite. And Ollympia? You've got amazing beaches, rainforest and famous resorts in your backyard. Ask your family and friends to all take pictures for you.
Next one, a girlfriend had a potluck. They ordered their favorite pies from a cool baker, no cake. I brought a beautiful home made pasta meal in an Italian dish, and left the dish for her to keep. They played their own music. Very nice and intimate affair.
Yes, you can have small and nice! My only suggestion is don't do it at the courthouse. There is nothing romantic about the courthouse! A notary/justice of the peace can marry you. Maybe you can find a park near your home--somewhere free--and do it there. A notary would not cost you much at all! Heck, if you asked around, you could probably find someone you knew that was a notary. And, get a wedding dress! David's Bridal has $99 specials all the time. You don't have to get a fancy/puffy white dress if you don't want, but get a beautiful dress!!
There is nothing wrong with an intimate ceremony. You can either have dinner in a banquette room and have it catered, a private room of a restaurant, or at home and have it catered. I think it is too much work for you to handle this on your own on your special day. I used to do all the work for my daughters birthday, but have had it at a party place where they take care of everything for the last 3 years.
Congrats!
