Hello everyone,
Sorry for my disappearance over the last few weeks. The weeks leading up to the wedding were crazy and tiring to say the least. I thought I would say a quick hello and leave you with a few photos from my pre-wedding shoot to enjoy as a tease to our wedding photos.

Since I was spending the money on hair and makeup trials already, I decided to do a mini photoshoot with my photographer in my Indian outfit. I was only wearing it for a short time at our reception, so I wanted to have some photos in it still to have. So without further adieu…

All Images credited to Erin Leydon Photography

I wanted to do something out of the box from your typical seating chart and do something a little more creative. I showed you an inspiration picture in my last post, so I thought I’d give you an update as to where I can going with this idea.

My biggest challenge when figuring out how to make this idea work, was finding something sturdy enough for all of the frames to hang from. I didn’t want it to be very labor intensive because I didn’t know how much setup time would be allowed before guests started arriving in the foyer. I looked at a couple options but didn’t want to compromise the overall look of it. So, I decided to splurge a little (since every other aspect of this project was DIY’d) and rent an extra backdrop. The nice thing about this is that the decorator will be able to setup the whole thing, and I don’t need to worry about assigning this to a family member. I want everyone to be able to enjoy the day without worry about setup and takedown.

I started collecting gold frames from the thrift store over the past 6 months or so, some 8 1/2 x 11″ to fit a regular sheet of paper for the guest seating lists, and some smaller 5 x 7″ frames for a few of our engagement photos. I bought wooden letters and a basic tray from Michael’s Arts and crafts and just painted them black and gold to fit with our theme. I think it will stand out nicely and will grab the guest’s attention. What do you think?

Entertainment turned out to be the main focus for our reception. Nobody likes to go to a predictable ‘been-there, seen-that’ wedding, and I didn’t want that for our guests either. We went with a jazz-funk band instead of DJ, and are having a few choreographed dances to keep the party going. Since these are not your standard wedding must-haves, I found it difficult to commit and make decisions for the entertainment.

First, finding the right band was a challenge (they are ridiculously expensive), but with a little help from the parents, we booked a fabulous 6 piece band.

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Second, my mother-in-law-to-be gave Sam and I dance lessons as our birthdays gifts, so we will be doing a choreographed first dance. I have never taken dance lessons, so it was a bit nerve racking, but I know it will pay off in the end.

{via Style Me Pretty}

Third, we asked some family friends to do a bollywood style dance for us, and they asked me to join them for the last half of the song as a surprise for our guests! I am so excited and have loved learning the art of bollywood dancing!

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Needless to say, we’re hoping it’s a party full of fun and dancing! Are you becoming part of the entertainment on your wedding day or leaving it up to the pros?

As you go through the planning process, you realize how much things actually cost, and you have to re-evaluate your wants vs. needs. Since I have a mere 6 weeks left until my wedding day, the total cost is adding up, and I have had to take a step back and see where we can still save and where we can splurge! I will be giving you the final breakdown after the wedding, but sometimes it’s good to see where fellow brides stand during crunch time and see what money they have left. (if any at all)

Here’s a little Save vs. Splurge list from my perspective

Stationery

Save: Invitations/ Programs

Splurge: Thank you card

There are so many great DIY ideas out there for invitations and programs that save you a lot of time and money. Thank you cards are something that people may keep on their fridge for years to come, so here’s where I think hiring someone to design something unique is well worth it.

Beauty

Save: Pre-wedding pampering

Splurge: Day of Hair and Makeup

Instead of going out to a spa with your bridesmaids, why not set up a day of pampering in your own home. You can take turns doing each others nails and facials. Spend that money on a good hair stylist and make up artist instead. You will be looking at your wedding pictures for the rest of your life, so make your beauty a priority.

AttireSave: Shoes & Accessories

Splurge: Dress

Depending on what’s important to you, you may want to spend your money on a pair of Louboutin shoes for your wedding, but since we’re all Savvy brides, I doubt that’s the case. I say go for it all when it comes to your dress. You want to look back and remember your wedding day being the most beautiful you ever felt.

Ceremony

Save: Location

Splurge: Flowers/ Decor

This is a tricky one because you could switch it around and the ceremony could be as equally beautiful. It’s all a matter of opinion, so since I am a lover of beautiful things, I wanted to spend my money on the flowers and decor. We do have a beautiful ceremony location as well though, so I really didn’t have to sacrifice anything (Thanks Mom and Dad).

ReceptionSave: Linens/ Decor

Splurge: Venue/ Food/ Entertainment

The reception is the biggest expense for the entire wedding, so picking certain aspects that you really want to wow your guests with is key. If we all had a $50,000 budget, of course we could splurge on everything, but that’s unrealistic. Decide what you feel is most important and do as much research to find the best prices.

Photography

Save: Engagement photos

Splurge: Wedding day photography

If you really want engagement photos (like I did), ask around and find an amateur photographer that is working on building up their portfolio. You can get great photos at a great price. The photography is a huge part of the wedding day because those are the memories that you will keep forever. Don’t get sucked into thinking that you have to spend thousands on a good photographer, but don’t go cheap. You get what you pay for.

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