Where in the world have I been?! Well, my husband and I have been going non-stop since the wedding. Even though we have been SUPER busy, I have loved every second of it!
Since I told you all basically every aspect of my wedding, I guess it’s about time I show you what all our hard work accomplished.
My dress was inspired by a Monique Lhuillier that would have cost my entire wedding budget, so I “made” it myself. The top was actually from Victoria’s Secret and the skirt is from a dress I wore my senior year of high school for a cotillion. I bought the sash (which matched the bridesmaids’) in bulk and I picked up the vintage brooch at a thrift store.
I have to tell you that although my wedding day was the most amazing day of my life, everything was not “perfect “. The biggest blunders happened during the actual ceremony. While walking up on our make-shift stage I actually slipped on my slip and fell, crashing my shin into the platform. Everyone gasped, I laughed hysterically (honestly it was the only thing that made me stop crying) and I made a joke to the concerned crowd about making a dramatic entrance. Then, as if my tumble wasn’t enough, my pastor forget to let us have our first kiss. He pronounced us man and wife, the music started, everyone stood up, and then I turned around and whispered “I’d really like to kiss him now”. It was really funny and made for a memorable ceremony!
Then it was time for the party! The tables were the perfect fit for our “turquoise/green, vintage and handmade wedding” theme.
Our cake was not only gorgeous, it was by far THE most delicious wedding cake of all time. I am not exaggerating. It. was. amazing!
And as a surprise to my meteorologist husband, I had a special tornado cake made for him — complete with a path of destruction!
There are so many people who made our day wonderful and we were so blessed to have all our friends and family members there to help us celebrate the beginning of our lives together!
I am proud to say we stayed close to our budget (has anyone really come in under budget? haha) and everything fit perfectly into the “feel” we were going for.
I have really enjoyed being a part of the Budget Savvy Bride and I’m honestly sad to say goodbye. But I hope my wedding DIY crafts and budget savvy-ness has helped inspire other brides.
So thrilled to share this sweet budget wedding with you today from the lovely Megan from Glamour and Grace! Megan is a fellow blogger with lots of great inspiration for you and she just so happens to also have some fab photography skills! I just LOVE the sweet simplicity of this wedding– where to start? How about the daisy and baby’s breath bouquets– does it get any sweeter? Choosing inexpensive and readily available flowers is a great way to save money on your big day! They also kept it simple with a cake and punch reception– remember, in the end the day is about you and your spouse joining together in marriage, not about fancy, expensive details! I love it and it looks so lovely and stress-free, doesn’t it? Congrats to Ryan and Susan and thanks for sharing your wedding day with us!! xoxo- Jessica
Ryan & Susan
February 18th, 2012
La Belle, Florida
What was your budget? If you are able, give us a rough breakdown of how you spent your budget.
Our budget was $3,000
Ceremony & Reception Location: $400 ($300 back after event)
Officiant Gift: $150
Food: $220
Cake: $250
Gown: $265
Tux: Free w/ 5 tux purchases (groomsmen, fathers, ring bearer)
Flowers: $450 (given as gift to us)
Reception Decor: $150
DJ: $150
Photographer Gift: $100
Invitations & Programs: $150
Rings: $420
Horse & Carriage Gift: $300
Honeymoon: $1000 (given as gift to us)
How many guests did you have?
Approx. 100
What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?
Our invitations were handmade. We had a memory table with photos and memorabilia from our childhood to engagement. We made our wedding favors; we glued our engagement pictures onto small pieces of wood and put magnets on the back.
What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
We did all of our own food and reception serving, it was a basic cake and punch reception. Our location actually gave us our money back a week later if no damage was done. Our flowers were given as a gift. Family and friends helped as our coordinator, hair stylist, reception decor, food, etc.
What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
Simple can be very beautiful! Take one thing at a time and enjoy it! It means a lot to have family around, let them be a part but make sure it is your special day and is exactly how you want it.
What was your biggest splurge?
We didn’t have any one big splurge. Our flowers and honeymoon were given as gifts and they were the most expensive. The horse and carriage had always been my childhood dream so we made sure we had that.
What was your favorite detail?
So hard to choose! It was a perfect day! The horse and carriage was a dream come true. My brother in law married us; that meant the world to both Ryan and I. I loved the table decor for the reception, it was simple and beautiful!
What is the most memorable moment of your day?
Coming in on a horse and carriage. Seeing Ryan for the first time. Celebrating at the reception. The weather was perfect!
While many people who know me may describe me as “laid back,” throughout this planning process I’ve realized that they couldn’t be more wrong. In some areas I think I’ve maintained a light and reasonable grasp on things, but private freak-outs, anxiety, and momentary stupidity have unfortunately become the norm.
After being prescribed adrenal pills because my mental stress is using up all of my adrenaline (not leaving enough for my physical needs), I had to figure out some ways to chill the #!@% out. I found a great article online (that I’m kicking myself for not saving to share), which led me take some time to really analyze what’s working for me and what isn’t. Although I might not FEEL normal right now, after talking about it with others, sadly this isn’t totally abnormal. The doctor in fact said that they oftentimes call the adrenal issue “Wedding or Vacation Syndrome,” after he jokingly asked me “You’re not planning a wedding or something, are you?” and was answered with a blank stare.
Below are some adjustments that I’m really working on:
Time Management—It seems easy to find yourself completely consumed with everything wedding-oriented. I’m finding it much more healthy to designate days of the week where I will focus on bearing down on wedding details/plans, and then afterwards go a day or two where I try to not even DISCUSS the wedding, let alone plan or research (which can be a challenge). I don’t typically stray at work anymore, unless it’s during my lunch hour.
Chillax on the Lists—I’m a list-maker. In college I would make a daily “to do” list, sometimes even factoring in times, which I realize is strange. I feel like I have a better hold on things if I have a list. While they’re very necessary for me to function, I’ve had to kick back. I have one large “master list” for wedding things, but I don’t look at it daily—once a week is it , and I cross off whatever I’ve accomplished! If I need smaller sub-lists (which I do), I really try to not obsess over them (doing so makes me feel overwhelmed).
Keeping Time in Perspective– I have deleted myself from those notices from TheKnot.com saying that you have ____ days until your wedding. When a new month rolls over, I tend to also feel more rushed. I know May is coming up, I’m more ahead of my planning than I feel like I am, and too many reminders of this variety make me break out in hot flashes. They’re done.
Take It a Little At a Time—Dave Ramsey’s debt philosophies say, “Pay off the smallest debt first to create the greatest momentum in your debt snowball.” I’m applying that to tasks AND budget. Taking care of some smaller tasks throughout the week instead of just focusing on the huge ones is helping me to feel like I have more accomplished, and less to worry about at the last minute. To take the Gospel of Dave Ramsey that much further, I’m also using his envelope system. I’m marking envelopes for the photographer, flowers, decorations, favors, hair/makeup, etc., and putting the appropriate amount of cash in each. I’m a visual person, and this is giving me assurance that I’ve got what I need, and it’s ready when I need it. Just like with the “debt snowball,” I’m starting off with the lesser amounts.
Live Your Everyday Life—I don’t want to look back after all of this and feel like the last 8 months of my life have been dedicated to JUST to the wedding. Eric & I have been trying to do more non-wedding things, like having people over for the Super Bowl, to dinner, outside functions, etc.. It gives me something else to focus on during my “down time” from the wedding madness.
Unwind—Some people may find exercise, meditation, talking about it with someone who understands, writing, and tons of other things as good ways to unwind. Figure out what relaxes/calms you, and really try to dedicate some time to it.
Accept That Nothing is Perfect– Including your wedding! And no, figuring out WHAT will go wrong doesn’t necessarily need to become the pinnacle of your life.
I’ve found another helpful article that I’d suggest anyone reading who is going through some similar issues. It more analyzes some typical wedding stressors, and some solutions to think through:
By now, pretty much everyone knows about my dad’s cancer and The Boy and my impromptu civil ceremony in my home state of Alaska. Our ceremony was the thing that was most important to me from the very beginning of The Boy and my wedding planning. Like, ever since I was a little girl, all I ever wanted was for my daddy to perform my wedding ceremony. So, when I was faced with getting married in a quickly planned ceremony in Alaska with my dad officiating or hoping that he’d still be alive come our May wedding – I picked quickie (and it was a good thing, too. My dad passed away on December 11th). The problem was – we had no official ceremony and I ended up writing the entire thing at 11PM the night before!
Enter my sister’s computer and Google. I typed in the phrase “civil ceremony vows” and got a virtual smorgasbord of hits! I glanced through several options and ended up borrowing quite a bit from this website. I used the Christian Ceremony but altered it to remove all religious references as The Boy and I disagree on religion. I added in two readings that I found and luuurved – my older sister read the first one and my mom read the second.
I also am one of those brides and added the emotional wording from The OffBeat Bride’s Unplugged Wedding movement – for the record, no one seemed to mind a bit. Another thing that I did was add these secondary vows during the ring exchange. I also added a little section for my dad (and The Boy’s close friend – he actually introduced us!) to share this thoughts about us as a couple.
Since I had a bit of a difficult time finding a civil ceremony, I thought that I’d go ahead and post a download of our entire ceremony for all you Budget Savvy Brides (and Grooms) – just in case anyone wants to use it (or a portion of it).
DAD: Friends and family, I invite you to be truly present at this special time. Please, turn off your cell phones and put down your cameras. The photographer will capture how this moment looks — I encourage you all to capture how it feels with your hearts, without the distraction of technology.
DAD: We are gathered here today in the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes and blessings to Cris and The Boy. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.
DAD: Who is it that escorts this woman to this man?
J:I do.
DAD: Cris and The Boy, although life is a gift given to each of us as individuals, we also learn to live together in harmony. Love is a gift to us from our family and friends. Through these gifts of love we learn to ourselves to gift it back. Learning to love and live together is one of life’s greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life.
DAD: Today is truly a glorious day as today both of you are blessed with the greatest of all gifts – the gift of abiding love and devotion. All present here today – and those here in heart – wish both of you all the joy, happiness, and success that the world has to offer.
DAD: We will now hear a reading from the bride’s sister, C.
C: Spoken by Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall
Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. For those who choose to marry, and for their children, marriage provides an abundance of legal, financial, and social benefits. In return it imposes weighty legal, financial, and social obligations….Without question; civil marriage enhances the “welfare of the community.” It is a “social institution of the highest importance.”
Marriage also bestows enormous private and social advantages on those who choose to marry. Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family…. Because it fulfills yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution and the decision whether and who to marry is among life’s momentous acts of self-definition.
DAD: In this sacred and joyful celebration, we ask every blessing of this moment; a confirmation of the wisdom of your choice; great happiness on the path that is set before you; discretion, kindness, and caring as you walk upon it, strength to live out your purpose, grace and peace through each step of your journey, and beloved family and friends to support you.
DAD: Cris, do you take The Boy to be your husband, your constant friend, and your faithful partner from this day forward? Will you cherish your union and love him more each day than you did the day before? In the presence of your family and friends, do you offer your solemn vow to be his faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. Do you promise to love him unconditionally, to support him in his goals, to honor and respect him, and to laugh with him and cry with him? Will you trust him and respect him, regardless of the obstacles you may face together? Do you promise to love and support him through whatever life may bring you?
CRIS: I will.
DAD: The Boy, do you take Cris to be your wife, your constant friend, and your faithful partner from this day forward? Will you cherish your union and love her more each day than you did the day before? In the presence of your family and friends, do you offer your solemn vow to be her faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. Do you promise to love her unconditionally, to support her in her goals, to honor and respect her, and to laugh with her and cry with her? Will you trust her and respect her, regardless of the obstacles you may face together? Do you promise to love and support her through whatever life may bring you?
THE BOY: I will.
DAD: These are the rings that Cris and The Boy will wear for the rest of their lives and that express the love that they have for one another. Let us take a moment and send our prayers, our thoughts, and our love into these rings, so that as they wear them, they will carry our love with them as well.
DAD: May we have the rings?
DAD: Cris, please repeat after me. The Boy, I take you to be my husband from this time onward…
CRIS: The Boy, I take you to be my husband from this time onward…
DAD: to join with you and to share all that is to come…
CRIS: to join with you and to share all that is to come…
DAD: to give and to receive…
CRIS: to give and to receive…
DAD: to speak and to listen…
CRIS: to speak and to listen…
DAD: to inspire and to respond…
CRIS: to inspire and to respond…
DAD: and in all circumstances of our life together…
CRIS: and in all circumstances of our life together…
DAD: to be loyal to you with my whole life and with my being.
CRIS: to be loyal to you with my whole life and with my being.
DAD: The Boy, lease repeat after me. Cris, I take you to be my wife from this time onward…
THE BOY: Cris, I take you to be my wife from this time onward…
DAD: to join with you and to share all that is to come…
THE BOY: to join with you and to share all that is to come…
DAD: to give and to receive…
THE BOY: to give and to receive…
DAD: to speak and to listen…
THE BOY: to speak and to listen…
DAD:
to inspire and to respond…
THE BOY: to inspire and to respond…
DAD:
and in all circumstances of our life together…
THE BOY: and in all circumstances of our life together…
DAD:
to be loyal to you with my whole life and with my being.
THE BOY: to be loyal to you with my whole life and with my being.
DAD: We will now hear a reading from the bride’s mother.
MOM: “Marriage Joins Two People In The Circle Of Its Love” by Edmund O’Neill
Marriage is a commitment to life,
the best that two people can find and bring out in each other.
It offers opportunities for sharing and growth
that no other relationship can equal.
It is a physical and an emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.
Within the circle of its love,
marriage encompasses all of life’s most important relationships.
A wife and a husband are each other’s best friend,
confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic.
And there may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing,
and the love of the other may resemble
the tender caring of a parent or child.
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life.
Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher,
commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly,
and passes away more quickly.
Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life
is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life,
new experiences, new ways of expressing
a love that is deeper than life.
When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage,
they create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer
than any spoken or written words.
Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two people
who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfill.
Dad’s thoughts (my dad used this time to speak about setting the two of us up and how great it was to marry his friend to his daughter).
DAD: Cris and The Boy, as the two of you have joined this marriage; I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as unique individuals and that you respect the thoughts, ideas, and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together – as from this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort, and refuge. May your marriage be strengthened by your love and respect.
DAD: By the power vested in me by the State of Alaska, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
DAD: You may now kiss.
DAD: Friends and family, may I now present to you – Cris and The Boy!
Still with me? If so, I hope that you enjoyed this little rundown of our civil ceremony. Do you have any questions for me? Do you know what your ceremony will be like? How did you source it? You know the drill – fire away in the comments.
*If you purchase the music linked, I get a small kickback as a member of Amazon’s Affliliate Sales Group. You can also find each of these songs on iTunes.
I wish I would have used Reception Lighting. It would have given the bland banquet hall more pizzaz. I also wish I would have had a photo booth. I would have gotten more pictures of my guests and their personalities. A couple of things I’m glad I did was to have a live band instead of a dj. It’s more energetic and fun. Several of the guests were musical and they all got up and played/sang. Made for great entertainment. Also, I got my cake at a local grocery store. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was pretty and tasted good. I also highly recommend getting a good photographer
-Valerie, Oklahoma (wedding photographer)
Small wedding, huge reception helped me out a lot with nerves! Also I loved having the wedding video, but I should of paid for them to do the reception also. The photographer is worth the money, wish I would of gotten someone else but went cheaper. Don’t stress about the small stuff that is what the maid of honor and your personal assistant is there for, I loved my girls for dealing with issues. I also made a lot of my own things and that actually was fun because I saved money and it looked nice. Most importantly, do what you want and you make decisions and don’t let others make them for you.
-Katie, Iowa
My wedding was decades ago…I would not have done an ice sculpture I ordered a swan and it looked like a dragon. It was just another way for the hotel catering to charge daddy more! That “wow” moment we thought was going to be delivered when we saw it…. turned into a “WTF” moment!
-Tami, Florida
I thought doing a bucket of flip flops in the bathroom for the ladies was well worth it. You can get them at the dollar store. My aunt arranged the flowers that we bought wholesale and of course they looked great. We engraved bottles of wine from the vineyard we were married at for gifts for the parents. Bridesmaid dresses were regular dresses from Macy’s because I only had two people.
-Amy, Texas
I’d say, of course use your contacts to your advantage. I found a friend who was good at taking charge to lead the rehearsal. After the rehearsal we had pizza waiting for everyone in the church basement. I borrowed the warmers from the pizza place to keep the pizza warm till we were ready. I had gone to a yard sale and the girl was selling her centerpieces which were red and white. I snatched them up. After the reception, the reception hall wanted to buy them for their collection. Awesome for me! For the dinner I ordered half cornish hens for the main dish. If you know someone in the restaurant industry, they usually will help you out and order from their food truck for cost!
-Nanette, Missouri
My wedding cost a total of $3200 (including the dress & everything) Here’s what I did to save money: 1) I did the food myself (with the help of friends & family) Buffet-style with BBQ and sides. 2) I bought my cake from Walmart & it turned out AWESOME! (I was shocked too!) The reason I used Walmart was because I forgot to order the cake in time, and Walmart only needed 2 weeks (the wedding cake & groom’s cake both only cost me $105 TOTAL)! Everyone thought it was delicious & no one knew it was from Wally-World.
-Sarah, Tennessee
Don’t get uptight over the “little” things…..the important thing is that you are getting married…something may go wrong—-don’t let it bother you..just smile and move ahead. DON’T go in debt for the wedding either—it’s just one day—you don’t want to start out on the “short end.”
-Angie, Iowa (I was her flower girl at the tender age of 9)
I stressed about nothing and stayed extremely organized. I had a Wedding Notebook to use to compare prices on stuff and keep up with business cards. Fortunately we knew so many people we didn’t have to pay much for labor….as in for flowers, our cake, our caterer, the band, and the DJ. I got a beautiful dress but did not go overboard. I do suggest printing out the order of your wedding and take it with you to the rehearsal. Also have somebody who can take charge and direct and knows your vision so you don’t have to worry about it. But I would have a sheet that makes completely clear what you want. We bought decor from Hobby Lobby and even Party City. It was a beautiful wedding and reception, looked expensive because I decorated it well….but it was not
-Juliana, Tennessee
We had a sand ceremony in the park with our six children. It was the best and everyone commented on how cool it was!
-Sandee, Iowa
I didn’t want to waste money on favors, so we took about half of the money that would have been spent and donated it to the colon cancer society in honor of my aunt. On the tables we put little notes that stated what we did instead of favors. We saved money and it was better then spending money on favors that people don’t really care about. We did serve a meal but we bought lasagnas on sale and baked them the day of the wedding, added a salad and green beans and no one had a clue we did the food! It looked like it was all catered
-Amy, West Virginia
I felt bad about asking my bridesmaids to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress they’ll never wear again so I just told them all to pick out their own. I just asked they all be the same color. Something they liked that they could wear again. Some people may not like not having all the bridesmaids match, but I loved it. Each bridesmaid is a different person and so was her dress!! They all wore black cocktail dresses.
