To keep your marriage brimming with love in the loving cup
Whenever you're wrong, admit it: whenever you're right, shut up.
A few months ago my daughter asked if we would be willing to have a garden wedding at our
We do have a beautiful yard thanks to a love of gardening by my husband’s now deceased stepmother and a team of gardeners who work weekly magic. The partially wooded half acre features northwest flora, ponds in both front and back yards and a wonderful view of
The happy couple, thirty somethings, planned a “do it yourself” wedding with a budget of $5,000. Here was their approximate financial recipe.
$l,300 for a catered buffet and servers
$l,500 for an awesome local band of five
$ 600 champagne, mixed drinks, beer, soft drinks, juices and punch
$ 120 pies
$1,100 dance stage, covered area, tables, chairs, table cloths, dishes, silverware, etc.
$ 200 flowers
$ 100 favors
$ 400 invitation, minister, photography and other miscellaneous expenses
Note: The wedding dress was made by a friend at minimal cost. The veil was designed and made by the bride and my daughter.
Not seeing a three tiered cake? That’s because they decided they liked pie better. Seven different pies, including such favorites as apple, key lime, pecan, strawberry rhubarb, lemon meringue, cherry almond and peach were decorated with wedding photo cutouts of family members , and which listed the various fillings. The "to die for" pies came from High 5 Pie on Capital Hill.
The bride and groom met at the Shake the Shack Rockabilly Ball sponsored by KEXP 90.3 FM's Leon Berman, so they decided on a rockabilly theme. Flowers were red and white roses placed in canning jars. Miniature glass cowboy boots, filled with “red hots”, were table favors along with other tiny cowboy boots filled with bubble solution. Small jars of raspberry jam suggested the users “spread the love.” Red gingham napkins provided additional table color along with candy also wrapped in gingham which was scattered on the table tops.
Guests happily mingled on the terrace awaiting the moment the bride would appear, enjoying each other and the view on this mild northwest day. Two members of the band, one on a steel guitar and the other on an accordion, provided background music composed by them. When a signal was given the minister, groom and “best woman” along with the guests moved to a seating area in front of a pond, and waited for the bridal party to process. The non-traditional music was soft and dreamy as my daughter, the only bridesmaid and dressed in vintage red, appeared. She was followed by a young flower girl scattering rose petals. Finally the bride and her father appeared. She was dressed in a simple off-white gown and small veil, and carried red and white roses.
The ceremony itself was traditional and moving, and when completed, all present were treated to an outstanding buffet, while listening and dancing to Jo Miller and her Burly Roughnecks. It was fitting that one of the largest expenditures was the band. If you click on Jo Miller you will hear a youtube song performed by these musicians called “Let’s talk about love.” This performance will give you a taste of what the wedding guests enjoyed into the evening yesterday. The event was even sweeter because as a finale the band played an intimate acoustic set by candlelight for any remaining guests. Their professionalism and talent made every penny of their expense worthwhile. After hearing the music selection above, and you are interested in booking this band, go to http://www.davekeenan.com.
Basking in the afterglow we told ourselves over and over how wonderful the day and evening had been, and how glad we were to be part of giving such a romantic send off to this newly married young couple. Consider this: They are just as married and have as wonderful a wedding memory at $5,000 as do other couples who have incurred considerable debt. Online articles tell us that the average wedding price tag ranges from $l5,000 to $30,000.
This morning they returned to oversee the rental returns and clean up. I am not sure what the rest of their honeymoon will be like, but they had the look of love today, and I am thinking they will be in it for the long haul. Congratulations and have a wonderful life!
Planning a wedding yourself? Here are some on-line resources:
To find out the average costs of nearly every aspect of a wedding try this site:
http://www.costofwedding.com/index.cfm/action/search.weddingcost/zipcode/98020/cat/
If you are overwhelmed by the cost of a wedding, check out this site to find ways to reduce the average cost.
http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/family-money/theyll-never-know-eight-hidden-ways-to-cut-wedding-costs-13918/
Want a step-by-step plan for having an affordable wedding? Try these sites:
http://financialplan.about.com/od/planningforlifestages/a/saveonwedding.htm
"How to get dazzling wedding decor on a budget" by David Tutera
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