Need wedding advice please.

[BoardwalkBride]

I loooooooove your candy/caramel apple idea for favors! So cute, and people won't just leave them behind...if they do I'm sure others will eat them up for them, I know I wouldn't be able to leave one....

I'm happy to hear that! I think it will be hilarious to see my family and I making 130 candy and caramel apples...I may just end up ordering them.

 

[HelenePA]

I dont know if your planning on using real or fake flowers but this place has REALLY good prices on gerbera daisy's they are my favorite flower... Good Luck with your decision!

http://www.afloral.com/Silk-Flowers...1desc=F&sort1=Item_ONLINECUSTOMERPRICE&range=

 

[Linzybrooke]

I'm happy to hear that! I think it will be hilarious to see my family and I making 130 candy and caramel apples...I may just end up ordering them.

They are actually pretty easy to make, and it might be something fun to do together. They sell caramel "wraps" at the grocery store year round, and I think they sell the candy "wraps" seasonaly. Now I want a caramel apple...I need a drooling smilie....

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I dont know if your planning on using real or fake flowers but this place has REALLY good prices on gerbera daisy's they are my favorite flower... Good Luck with your decision!

http://www.afloral.com/Silk-Flowers...1desc=F&sort1=Item_ONLINECUSTOMERPRICE&range=

See, now you have the DIS planning your wedding

I found this website that has some cool flowers info....
http://www.beau-coup.com/wedding-flowers-bridal-bouquets-arrangements.htm

for example (something I never thought of!): You can reuse the flowers from the ceremony in your reception. Most florists will design arrangements that serve more than one purpose. For instance, the bridesmaids' bouquets can be dropped into vases set along the length of a banquet table at the reception.

 

[Corryn]

Mrs. Prindables (from QVC) are The Best caramel apples in the world.....absolutely Delicious!
http://www.mrsprindables.com/?s=gbd&kw=mrs_prindable
Because it's summer, they're not offering any apples on the QVC site right now, but come September, they have specials, like 20 decorated apples for $35.00. They're pretty expensive on her site, the one listed above, but just take a look and check the QVC schedule once August/September rolls around. They're much cheaper on QVC.....
They are huge, they store well, they are wrapped with clear plastic and a bow printed on them. Much cheaper and cleaner to buy from her rather than spend 8 hours making apples that are half covered with caramel.

Me and DH had a small (100 people) simple wedding. With my exBF whom I thought I would marry, I wanted a huge New York City wedding with all the bells and whistles. When I met my now DH, I just wanted to get Married. We were both going to elope to Fiji, but I didn't want to disappoint our families. We've yet to visit Fiji - one day, though!
Just like you, we Disneymooned for a week. We spend another week at the Ocean Key House in Key West. It was perfect.

I would have a simple wedding with friends and family and enjoy your Disneymoon. The DIS'ers who have posted ideas are so smart, their ideas are so cute.
As for a wedding dress, I wore something very non-traditional. It was white lace, just below my knee. I ordered it from a catalog (!) I took it to a Columbian woman in Queens who was known for her tailoring and she sewed opulent sequins and rhinestones all over the sleeves and front of the dress. It was beautiful. I went to the "flea market" for my veil ($150 cheaper than the bridal store!) and purchased my headpiece from a big floral outlet for half the price as a bridal store.
My DH's BF paid for my limo to shuttle me from my aunt's house to the wedding hall (we didn't marry in the Church), otherwise I would have drove myself....no biggie
My sister was my Maid of Honor and DH's BF was his Best Man. That was our wedding party.
We kept it simple, saved A LOT of money, and wound up purchasing our home right after our honeymoon.
Please keep us updated - I'm really interested! Having a wedding in Salem right by Halloween sounds fantastic - if that's what you're planning on doing. And God Bless your father

 

[Linzybrooke]

Corryn, those apples sound FABULOUS! Can you guys tell that I really like caramel apples.....

God Bless!

 

[barkley]

heads up-i was a wedding coordinator and had a bride want candied and carmeled apples for her wedding. we charged her quite a bit when all we did was go to the local grocery store and ask if they would give us a bulk rate on the ones they sold (individualy packed and ordered from a manufacturer). when the store found out we wanted over 50 they cut the price by about 20%. you might want to check this out.

 

[HelenePA]

I have a great wedding dress site with very good prices on dresses if your interested. I bet between everyone on the dis you could do your wedding for alot less than you thought!

 

[BoardwalkBride]

Wow, I'm floored by the amount of suggestions and help. I appreciate any and ALL advice that you have. In my opinion I can never have too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to planning my wedding. Whatever advice you've got I'll take. If I can keep this under budget and have a wedding at home I'd be absolutely thrilled.

Helene - what's that wedding dress site?

 

[BoardwalkBride]

heads up-i was a wedding coordinator and had a bride want candied and carmeled apples for her wedding. we charged her quite a bit when all we did was go to the local grocery store and ask if they would give us a bulk rate on the ones they sold (individualy packed and ordered from a manufacturer). when the store found out we wanted over 50 they cut the price by about 20%. you might want to check this out.

Thank you Barkley! I'll definitely try bargaining....I'm not too proud to haggle, either! A bride's gotta do what a bride's gotta do!

 

[HelenePA]

I actually gave you the wrong site for flowers.. sorry! On here they have some 12 stems for 4.98...http://www.save-on-crafts.com/gerberdaisies.html

I like this site.. here is some for 199$ and under http://www.bridalonlinestore.com/store/bridal_gowns_wedding_dress_gowns_199andbelow.asp

 

[barkley]

for a wedding dress now is the time to call area stores and see if they are having their twice yearly sales.

traditionaly stores clear out the previous seasons dresses twice yearly to make way for the new stuff. you can get tremendous deals on display dresses, floor models AND very nice dresses people did'nt finish paying for i got a tremendous deal on a dress that retailed for over $1500 when i snagged it for around $200. if you need a slip for the dress-before you shell out the money see if a friend has one OR call a costume rental place (some theatre companies rent theirs as well). for shoes i went with something plain that i could have dyed and use after the fact (payless shoe store sometimes carries the dyable white and off white ones).

for tuxes-check and see if the entertainment book for your area (you can view it on-line) has any discounts. the one for our former region offered 50% off a tux rental-that can save $$$$.

for a wedding cake-the grocery stores do realy nice ones now that cost a fraction of what the bakeries charge. some will cut the price if you want to provide your own decorations so you can get ribbons and silk flowers to match your colors and just provide them.

we did'nt do much as far as center peices but when we looked around we found that some places rent these for much less than it costs to make them (and what do you end up doing with all of these unless you permit your guests to take them home). we went to a retirement party and i thought their idea for a centerpeice was fabulous. the purchased bottles of champagne and soaked off the labels. then they had new lables made with the celebrants photo and the date printed-put these on the table with ballons in the colors of the nite. when it was time for the champagne toast each table had their own bottle right there. i think the same could be done with a wedding.

invitations-kinkos and places like that now do just as nice invitations as those we used to have to order. they have books you can look at and pick and choose (they can also do the photo ones if it's not a copy written photo-if it's copy written get a release from the photographer).

 

[Bren's Mom]

BTW, my first wedding was on Halloween. It was an awesome party! Unfortunately, I married the wrong person but we had a great wedding and we're still friends. Anyway, it was very budget but everyone still says it was one of the MOST fun weddings they've ever been to.

For favors we bought a gross of black plastic masks from Oriental Trading Co and there was one at each place setting. I bought fancier ones for the wedding party from there also...the sequined kind and glued them to wooden dowels painted black (a la masquerade ball type masks). We also did a candy favor per couple...a cello bag filled with candy corn, tied with black curly ribbon and a tag (I printed myself) that said several different phrases like 'Our day would have been frightful without you!' using cool fonts. We also had a small basket of candy at each table, different kinds at each so everyone could 'trick or treat'...it was a good ice breaker. We used the reception places plain white flower centerpieces and attached black and white balloons to them. I found a set of 2 taper candlestick holders made of metal with jack o'lantern bottoms and used those for the head table. Used white linens with black napkins. My bridesmaids got to choose their own dresses as long as it was black...they all looked fabulous in dresses that were perfect for their body types and they ended up all choosing velvet (although I didn't care what fabric or that they were the same). And the girls carried bouquets of orange tiger lillies. The pics are phenomenal...especially with the orangey sunset in the background of the outdoor shots.

One other thing I'd suggest...if you want to do a Halloweeny/fall theme you might consider waiting until the weekend AFTER Halloween so you'll be able to get decorations and LOTS of pumpkins really, really cheap.

 

[Kimberly815]

Thank you, Kim. Do you happen to have any pics from there?

I just checked my photobucket account and I don't have any uploaded. I will see what I have at home tonight though!

 

[Bren's Mom]

Oh, and I forgot about invitations. I picked up invites with all the 'innards' (blank) at Christmas Tree Shop for $2.99 or so a BOX. I printed them myself. It's a piece of cake with MS Word or Publisher. Place cards can easily be printed as well.

 

[vistaphotography]

We decided it wasn't worth the expense to try and have a fall wedding near our home and followd our hearts to a Disney wedding. We were planning an escape wedding and maxed out our guest list, but still had extra family coming who wanted to watch the wedding and would do it from the boardwalk overlooking SBP

Well, my fiance was looking online for activities to do in Salem, MA on our day off. He came across the Hawthorne Hotel

I looked into it and it's BEAUTIFUL. It's $53.95/pp before tax and gratuity, so we're looking at about $6,500 before appetizrs, gratuity, and tax...but it includes ....

It's all included in the 53.95/per person price, and I think that's a very reasonable price. It would be amazing to get married in Salem near Halloween. The town is all lit up, the smell of firewood and autumn is in the air, and it's all around just a beautiful place.
.

I want you to sit down and take a deep breath... First I applaud your desire to have a wedding in Salem for or around Halloween...
Now that said.. Here are the facts...
I'm a Salem MA wedding photographer and I believe there is no better time to be in this area for Halloween BUT!
If you are thinking you will save money it just won't happen... Hotel rates triple for the month of Oct And the Hawthorne is going to be 300-400$$$ per night for a room (my estimate since I never stay there).
Next if anyone doesn't enjoy a carnival atmosphere and 10,000 visitors on the weekends visiting the city and no parking anywhere...
Then you will want to rethink this...

I blog for Yankee Magazine and would never steer you away from New England... but it's a fact that Salem at Halloween is a crazy time and it's all excitement and weird and wonderful things going on...

Will it make for a special wedding day.. Yup! but if you want to save money then you need to book early and out by the highway is a Comfort Inn that will be cheaper.
Email me and I can make a few recommendations but if you hope for a "relaxing" time for your father then the stress of Salem will not be it.

That's my 2 cents and I hope where ever you end up it's a wonderful day to start a wonderful life.
Jeff

 

[nataliela]

For my wedding I couldn't decide between a small destination wedding with a larger reception when I got home or a large wedding in my town. I priced everything and decided just to do the destination wedding- no home reception. At first I felt bad for not inviting everyone I have ever met and leaving my friends out, but We made the right choice. The ceremony was small, we got to spend personal time with everyone at our little reception, and I don't regret not spending the extra money on the large reception at home.

We also had pressure from our family to get married in the church....sorry, but they are religious, my husband and I aren't- We weren't going to start our marriage off in something we didn't believe in to make someone else happy

Invite those who you feel closest to and would want to spend that day with. We didn't invite my cousins b/c the guest list would have doubled- one of my aunts didn't like this and didn't come- oh well- one less mouth to feed. Those who wanted to be there came and had a great time!

Everything was low key, no DJ- just a play list, No video- I doubt I would ever watch it, No huge fondant covered cake and it was still beautiful! I made the favors- If you put your heart to it, you will be able to make it work!

Good Luck in your decision~

 

[kidzmom3]

will a Friday night wedding work for you and your family? Remember any other package will cost a lot more per person. Would you consider the Friday after Halloween. Then you wouldn't have to deal with the Haunted Happenings craziness.

 

[budbeerlady]

Do both.

Have a small ceremony at WDW, and have a larger reception at a later date.

I would do that, have the reception at the site you like when you get back. We went to alot of receptions like this, its more relaxed and the bride and groom really seem to enjoy it more!

 

[DevilDuckie]

Devil, no really, there were no extras. I chose a Friday night instead of Saturday because it's less expensive, was making the centerpieces myself, no limo, no videography, and a student photographer. It was the venue, the dinner (regular four course), a cheese platter appetizer, wedding cake, dress, tux, place cards, homemade favors, invitations, etc...just the wedding basics. Even our flowers were very basic (gerber daisy bouquets...can't get much cheaper!) I would love pointers. Everyone says it's easy to have a very budgeted wedding, but everywhere we looked near our home (Boston) was booked, wanted a higher minimum than we had, or just out of price range. Since we are paying for everything ourselves there is no one else's money or mortgage involved...it will all be cash.

Okay, let's start with "four course dinner." Why is this mandatory? You can have a lovely reception without serving a full meal, let alone four courses. Even dinner receptions I've been two don't have four courses. Schedule the wedding for early afternoon and have a cake and champagne reception. We had a ice cream sundae bar at mine and it was a huge hit. Tables can have a simple centerpice- fresh flowers in a simple vase costs about $7 a table. Placecards are not necessary.

We did not need a big dinner, a band/dancing, etc.

We skipped favors. They are generally something that is a lot of time and effort and going to get thrown away anyway.

Consider your dress budget. Mine was $450. It was the second most expensive thing at the wedding. There is no reason a dress needs to cost 4 figures.

Enlist friends. You are bound to know talented people. My favorite overheard comment at my wedding was my aunt snarking about how my mother "claimed to be doing this on a budget" when my cake "HAD TO have cost $3000.) That amazing cake cost me $250 in ingredients and supplies, paid to a wonderful lady whose labor was her gift.

Flowers are an excellent place to save money by being flexible. I gave the woman who did mine a budget ($200), the color of my bridesmaids dresses (green) and a list of my allergies. She went to the floral market (where the professionals shop) and bought what looked good and was in season. Because of the location and date of my wedding I ended up with an assortment of brilliant colored wildflowers and a stunning visual effect.

We were married in my home church. Mom paid the mandatory "co-ordinator" ($75), the pastor ($200) and the organist (unsure- that was an add on by Mom).

We found a couple who were breaking into the photography business and building a portfolio. For $700 we got them both all day and a written copyright waiver so we could print the digital pictures on our CD ourselves. No jacked up prices on albums, no prints of pictures we didn't really want and no high prices when moms and grandmas wanted extra copies of things. We also had a basket of disposable cameras and our guests took wonderful candids of moments we missed because you just can't be everywhere.



We are not wealthy people. We saw no reason to throw a lavish and expensive party that we really could not afford. Even if we'd HAD $10,000 we would not have spent it on a wedding- it just seems insane to us. Conspicuous consumption is not our cup of tea and we have nobody we feel a need to impress. By "financing someone else's mortgage" I mean that $10,000 is going to go a long way to paying off the mortgage/bills/whatever of the people who drain you of it.

Rethink what you *need* for a wedding. Instead of trying to throw a $20,000 party on $10,000 look at what a reasonable amount of money to spend is and go from there. Discard the "well everybody has..." mentality. Four years later I still have people comparing other weddings they go to to mine and mine always comes out on top. Everyone had a good time. Nobody had to do anything that made them uncomfortable or buy expensive clothes or wear shoes that pinch. Other weddings might be fancier, but I have yet to hear of one that was more fun or happier.