| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Feb 21 2008 : 8:25:05 PM
************Hop over to my blog to see who won! Details and pictures of the wedding will be following in a few days.********************
I am knee deep in planning a wedding for one of my daughters.
I was just wondering how you girls have done on budgets.
I think I'm sponsoring a contest on my blog to see who can guess what the wedding budget is for this one.
I'll try to mention specifics on details and then you guys can take a shot at it.
After the wedding-April 12- I'll reveal the winner.
Sound fun to anybody???
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Apr 17 2008 : 06:50:35 AM
HELLOOO out there- where are you?? 
I am searching for Candace who posted on my blog- she's a winner in the contest.
I need an address to send your goody to you.
Also Katy- I still need your address-
Thanks to all of you who posted! The wedding was wonderful and beautiful-I'll post pics and info soon I promise!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Mar 20 2008 : 07:01:33 AM
Just bumping so you guys can enter on my blog.
The prize is gonna be a "Nancy-Jo type" surprise package.( I hope I can put together as good a surprise as she does!)
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| Alee |
Posted - Mar 08 2008 : 7:51:29 PM
Ooo! Crunch time :D I bet it will be fun and beautiful!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Mar 08 2008 : 7:48:40 PM
Just bumping this up so you can enter this contest. I'm putting together a surprise package that I think you will be pleased with. Only 5 weeks till the wedding!!!!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| Sage |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 12:33:00 PM
Autumn; Sounds like things are going fine at wedding central and I hope you are enjoying these memory making days. I have a daughter named Sara also, with the same spelling. It is such a beautiful name. Sage :)
Farmgirl sister #140
www.heritagedesigns.etsy.com |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 12:24:04 PM
Today is "airing the quilts" day here at wedding central. My daughter's shower is tomorrow and the ladies asked to use them .
My husband took Sara out on their last dad & daughter date on Tuesday. What a good daddy he is!!!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Feb 26 2008 : 1:08:03 PM
These are all so interesting- there is another topic about tacky weddings- it is so funny!!!!!!!!
I didnt copy the link but it should be active.
Today's "getting ready for the wedding" event was making tags for the umbrellas. My husband wrote the poem that's on them and it's adorable.
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 26 2008 : 10:37:08 AM
I think I drove my mom crazy because I was trying to not get hung up on the details, so when she would ask "Do you want this or this or this?" I would say "I don't know...you pick!" LOL
I had a gorgeous formal dress and Doug wore a tux, but all my bridesmaids just picked out a black dress that looked good on their bodies and the guys just wore nice dress shirt with or without a vest and nice pants. We even had one groomsman wearing and _orange_ shirt in my black, red, and white wedding! LOL It was great! And I always smile when I see pictures of the groomsmen!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| Sage |
Posted - Feb 26 2008 : 09:59:06 AM
Jessie; You are right about wedding etiquette it does helps everyone know what to do and makes things flow and I don't like the out of control wedding stuff that can happen. I love a joyous occasion where the focus is on the new family that is being created not a commercial event full of stress and high bills for months later. It's also fun to attend a wedding that is a real celebration and a time for family and friends.
Farmgirl sister #140
www.heritagedesigns.etsy.com |
| JessieMae |
Posted - Feb 26 2008 : 07:32:35 AM
Oooh...weddings are a hot-topic button for me. I work in the catering department of a country club, so weddings are more or less my bread-and-butter. It is total torture; I am an absolute stick-in-the-mud when it comes to wedding (or for that matter, any formal event) etiquette, and sometimes the stuff that goes on here is just plain painful. Weddings can be such a circus.
My own wedding was plain, plain, plain...but very nice nonetheless. We had a ceremony in church, and then the neat thing was we used the church hall for the reception. The guests walked out of the church, through the receiving line, and right on in to the hall. We have hors d'oeuvres waiting for them to keep everyone happy while we had photos taken, and an hour later we ate dinner. We skipped alcohol and dancing. Most of our guests were older family members who wouldn't have danced or drank anyway, so that saved a lot of money. My dress was $300, and my bridesmaids wore $100 dresses from the J.C. Penny catalog. My headpiece was my mother's. We decided to go all-out for the buffet luncheon and ordered the best the caterer offered. The only other splurge we had was my flowers. I think they cost about $2,000! |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Feb 26 2008 : 06:06:35 AM
Sage has some wonderful advice--people that you love and love you will be happy to just "be there" and that's what a wedding is all about--all that crazy bridal hoopla just gets in the way.
Justin and I did and chose everything ourselves because, well, it's sounds weird, but we didn't want any input from anyone else...well, HE especialy didn't want any input from his 3 aunts. Someone ALWAYS has a suggestion about your hair, your cake, "so and so" used "such and such" florist, and we just didn't want the aggravation. My mom and I found the florist by accident and I loved the work she did (check), I get Justin's birthday cakes from Take the Cake (easy decision...check), I bought my dress by myself (check) and we split our "duties". He was responsible for music, food/drink and rings, I was responsible for flowers,dress/tux,invites,decor. What each of us are good at. And it worked out--we've never said to each other, "I sortof wish...."
Thanks, Judy--I loved the Golden Lamb!!! It is such a great memory for me. So neat that you worked there! How on earth did you end up in Spokane?
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| farmgirl1 |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 6:43:54 PM
My mom and I planned my wedding. We made my dress plus 5 bridesmaid dresses, 3 flower girls, and my moms. We did the whole Michaels coupons and alot of things on ebay. When doing the invitations, we did the kind that fold up and the reply card was a post card. It saved alot on postage because we could use a regular stamp and a postcard stamp for the reply. I have some pictures on my flickr site on my blog. I just love weddings. As far as our budget, this was my second marriage, I wanted alot of things that I didn't have the first time. We had everything catered at a B&B. The dresses, we had $130 in mine and $24 in each bridesmaid dress. Have fun!
Robin
Farm Girl Sister #28
#1 prissy farmgirl.
Oh, I want a pink John Deere Tractor.
http://fonvillefarm.blogspot.com |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 6:23:07 PM
Thanks Sage- lots of great advice in there!
Things are going so smoothly I feel a bit nervous- I feel like I should be more stressed. 
We are sewing some embellishments to the dress tonight- it has been a challenge.
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| JudyBlueEyes |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 3:14:54 PM
Oh, Jonni, your photo is lovely - he DOES look like James Dean! And dinner at the Golden Lamb!!! I worked there in the mid-seventies as a waitress on weekends/evenings. I loved working there - it was so much fun and the food was yummy!!! You brought back memories :-)
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden! |
| Sage |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 2:34:43 PM
You can email if you have any further questions and I think myfairlady636 memntioned she has worked as a wedding planner. You probably have everything under control and the wedding will be beautiful - it's the gathering of people for a celebration that make it memorable. Sage
Farmgirl sister #140
www.heritagedesigns.etsy.com |
| Sage |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 1:36:19 PM
The best part of the last minute rush was family & friends. Everybody pitched in and pulled our plans together. Alee's sister put togeather a tape of music for the day and that worked really well since we didn't know any musicians. While we were getting ready we had veggie & fruit trays and meat and cheese trays out so no one got too hungry & lots of drinks. I had toys for the little kids for later in the reception when things were winding down. We also had a sitter arranged in case we ended up with cranky kids. We didn't stress over details as the evening progressed and now we have some very special memories of Alee's dog wandering into the pictures and the two five year old ushers playing hide and seek and missing half of the ceremony. LOL We could hear them counting from the back yard. I hired two high school students to take care of the reception dessert table and to clean up and a cleaning lady to clean carpets and things I couldn't get to. That was the best money I spent.
More time was of course our biggest need, we had a last minute rush finishing all of the details. We should have taken more photographs during the week we were getting ready. I wish I had put together a supply box for last minute emergencies, sewing, make up, spot remover, shoe polish, panty hose, headache an tummy medicine,etc. We had a complete list for earlier weddings and I can get to you if you want.
Make lists and do everything you can ahead, ask friends and family for help cause you can't have too much help. Assign tasks so you'll know who is in charge of food, who is taking photographs, who is watching the little ones, etc.. You will need someone to help you with all the last minute details ask a friend or family member to come a spend several days just helping you.
Take lots of pictures and spend more time with everyone. Have extra food and drinks, more than you think you will need. Let the day unfold and don't worry about the little glitches they'll just be good memories later.
Farmgirl sister #140
www.heritagedesigns.etsy.com |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 10:42:47 AM
Girls!! The pictures are fantastic!!!
I'm convinced you guys know what's important-the marriage not the wedding!!
That's so encouraging- I never did have the big wedding princess dreams- but I did get the fairy tale marriage-living happily ever after for 35 yrs now and probably 35 more to go!!!
Hmmm- our wedding was pretty amusing now that I think of it. If I can find a picture I'll tell our story and post a picture.
Also- Sage, thanks for those tips- many of them I am doing and relieved to know it can turn out lovely on a budget. This wedding will be at our home as well so I'm wondering- what were the last minute things you wish you had done different or that worked especially well.
I'm not a detail person- I'm a people person- so I am a bit intimidated about some of the final details on the big day!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| Sage |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 10:02:02 AM
Thanks for the lovely compliment Alee.
Autumn; Here is what we did to keep Alee & Doug's wedding on a budget. I shopped all the sales at the dollar stores,craft stores, home decorating sections of discount stores and our local variety store. I always go to the clearance section first. Everything but the dresses was bought on sale.
The decorations were large and small black trays (picture frames) lined with deep red brocade fabric(brocade napkins). On the trays we had cracked glass rose bowls ($1ea) filled with rock salt and battery operated tea lights (bouight in bulk on the internet). The wedding was in our yard so rest of the decorations were garden flowers I got at a discount at the end of the planting season. The bridesmaids all picked out their own dresses so they could wear them later and I made the five flower girls dresses and did any necessary alterations. The cake was made locally and was decorated with fresh flowers and crystals. Even though we did rent tables and chairs and had a professional photographer, I think we kept the price reasonable.
Those disposable cameras are great for getting candid shots of the pre-wedding preparations and of the service and reception. We made desserts for the reception and a close friend helped with that and we had a lovely brunch the day after that everyone pitched in for.
Good luck with your wedding preparations.
Farmgirl sister #140
www.heritagedesigns.etsy.com |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 09:55:45 AM
I know, isn't it great? Minus all the crazy :)
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 09:44:22 AM
JONNI,
Your Husband looks like JAMES DEAN.
Nancy Jo
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 09:21:18 AM
Oh! Patricia! The photo is sooo great, but then what couldn't be great at AA Vagabonds Chapel of Chimes!!! What a great name, what a great day!!!!
This is ours...we look like 1950's mafioso's kids....
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 09:07:19 AM
Justin summed it up nicely when people asked why we were going so "cheap". He always replied, "Look, I want to have a big Marriage, not a big Wedding!", so that was our motto....
We got married at the lawfirm where I work--it's a mansion built in 1867 and still has all of the period details (fancy woodwork, grand staircase, solarium, etc...). It's GORGEOUS, and didn't need much adornment, except big white bows here and there, and light blue tulle wrapped all around the grand staircase. My boss offered it because he knew we were undecided about where to have the ceremony---Justin's family was pushing the catholic church and we didn't want that.
For the actual wedding, my only major expense was chair rental (75 chairs) and my dress. I had one bridesmaid, and I sent her a color and let her pick her own gown (she found a great gown on clearance!) My firm bought my wedding flowers, but in addition, I purchased 2 very large container gardens (with lots of variety of herbs, plants and colors) on sale because it was end of season ($40.00 for both), and I used pedestals for height. That fulfilled any "altar" decoration that we needed. (Afterwards, I planted the perennials at our home.) Our friends play in a classical quartet, so they played Vivaldi and other pieces as our gift, and Roger Drawdy, a bandmate of my husband's, sang an old Irish ballad as his gift to us, so wedding music was taken care of. Our rings were estate pieces and cost about $200.00 total for all (and I wouldn't trade them for all the money on earth).
Our reception was at the Irish pub where we met, where Justin worked (and played music) and where our social circle hung out--so he also worked out a "deal" for the food and drinks. It's 2 blocks from my office so we all walked the 2 blocks to the reception in "parade" style. So much fun!!! Cars honking and waving and my little bil holding the back of my dress up so it didn't drag.
Since the wedding was early in the day, we had a buffet style "luncheon" reception, with finger foods and light tea sandwiches, beer and wine and sodas. My husband is a musician, and at the time, played in 2 different bands, so we had a host of musician friends attending the reception. Give them an audience and they'll play, so all the "bands" took turns playing for 45 minutes to an hour. It was "free" entertainment, and the guests seemed to have a blast dancing and singing along. My FIL is a very talented photographer, so he did our pictures as one of our wedding gifts. They are still, to this day, the only photos of us that I love. Our cake was made by a local organic bakery called Take The Cake and that was my mother's gift to us--it was $110.00.
When the reception was over at 4:00, Justin and I checked into a nice suite at a local b & b and he surprised me with dinner reservations at the Golden Lamb, in Lebanon, Ohio. It's an old tavern/restaurant where many presidents have stayed and it's wonderful and sooo lovely. We sat next to a couple who were there celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
Wow. Seems like yesterday. I wouldn't have changed a thing!!!!
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| amyartgirl |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 08:48:40 AM
I got married in 1999. I got my dress on clearence when I worked at JC Penney's (it was a simple formal type dress and I bought it on my lunch break, about 90 bucks). I used all silk flowers except for the roses and such on the wedding cake (one of our friends made this inexpensively) and for the "memorial" flowers, for hubbys parents and my paternal grandparents. For the reception, it was downstairs at the church we got married at...it was a bit tiny tho...we had just finger foods/sandwiches and the cake. We did not have a DJ or anything like that. My one uncle took lots of pictures.
Good luck with your preperations :-)
Farmgirl Sister #21
Proud member of Bees w/o Borders and ArtFuL SisTeRs
http://artfulheart.blogspot.com
http://farmgirltales.blogspot.com |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 08:35:39 AM
We eloped two days before the baby was born on 7/11, the hottest day of the year in Seattle. $60 + $20 tip to Rev. Sady at A A Vagabond's Chapel of Chimes, in West Seattle. Luckily, one of the only things that fit was a white eyelet skirt and a white maternity shirt. I spent about $15 on peach roses and alstromeria, and had a beautiful bouquet, and enough left for corsages. We had my mom and little sister, my aunt Mary, and my uncle SKip there, then we went to Chinese food, then cheesecake at home. I wouldn't want to change a thing. It was the second wedding for the both of us, and so we both understood that the wedding doesn't make the marriage.
About 2 months later, my Aunt Mary threw a surprise picnic shower/show the baby off party. My family is huge, as in 60+ people at my babyshower, and I just couldn't handle the planning of a real reception with my brand new family.
I wish everyone would post a pic, if they can. Our place was the cheesiest ever. MMM I love cheese.
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war! |
| babysmama |
Posted - Feb 25 2008 : 07:32:14 AM
We spent about $600-$700 in 2001 for our wedding. We had about 50 people attend, had simple foods like sandwiches, found my dress on clearance, etc. I wouldn't do anything differently as it was a very nice day and we were able to start our married life out together without any debt. Getting married is not about the wedding, it is about the 50+ years after the wedding!
-Elizabeth |
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