Who doesn't love seeing wedding that actually comes in under budget? That's exactly the sort of wedding  we're featuring today on BSB.  Stephanie and Joel came in $2K under budget through negotiating with their vendors, using decor provided by their venue and keeping their guest list small. What's more, they planned their wedding in 30 days! I love all the lace, blush details and gorgeous flowers! Enjoy today's elegant $11K wedding! xoxo, Jessica

Stephanie + Joel

December 4, 2015

Fayetteville & McDonough, GA    | The Alexander House

What was your budget? 

Our budget was $13K, but we only we spent $11K.

Reception: $3872

Flowers (Ceremony + Reception+ Bouquets): $750

Photography: $300

Stationary (Invitations + RSVP+ Reception cards + Thank you cards): $151.00

Rings: $1182

Attire (His + Hers + shoes+ veil+ head piece): $4080

Beauty (Make-Up + Hair for bride & wedding party): $535

Gifts: $130.00

Our total was $11000

How many guests did you have?

We had 30 guests.

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

I wanted to create a romantic and intimate vintage wedding, so we made sure to add a few of my personal favorite things like, roses, pearls, vintage keys, burlap, candles, a DIY ring box, and of course lace!  Also, we decided to have our wedding in December because it’s our favorite time of the year, so adding a few of our own winter and Christmas decorations helped create a jump start for the holidays. The Alexander House also provided Christmas decorations like tree and lights, garlands, and candles on their fireplaces. 

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

We kept our guest count small. We both have big families and we love them very much but we wanted to keep it intimate, so we only invited immediate family and closest friends. This was great because we planned our wedding in 30 days.  We let our bridesmaids wear dresses they like because I wanted make sure they could re-wear the dresses as much as they wanted. The only thing I requested was the dress to match our wedding colors and lace theme, which they loved!   We also, saved on photography, flowers, and bouquets. Sarah Bush was my two-in-one go to, she’s a floral designer and a photographer. She’s experienced in both areas and helped me create a package that fit my needs for my wedding.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Know and express what you want for your wedding. Think about what kind of highlight moments of your wedding you’ll want to experience. Sometimes having highlight moments can show vendors what you truly want to see and happen in your wedding. For example, make sure you communicate to your vendors that you’re on a budget and how much you’re willing to spend.  If you really want their business, don’t be afraid to negotiate prices or see what they can do to fit your needs/budget. Be open minded to suggestions that can make your wedding vision better or close to your wedding vision (considering your dream wedding is over your budget). Stick to your budget and guest list. Don’t be afraid to downsize your guest list, decorations, etc. Too much of anything can steer away the intimate setting.

Also, let your bridesmaids buy/use a dress they like, but express the color you’ll like it in or a detail that will compliment  your wedding dress/theme/personality. We also let our groomsmen wear their own suits and we provided a bow tie that fit our wedding colors.

What was your biggest splurge?

Our catering, flowers, my dress, and hubby’s suit were our biggest splurges.

What was your favorite detail?

It’s really hard to choose a favorite detail because every detail of our wedding was our favorite. Everything had a meaning behind it, and that’s what made our wedding beautiful.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

Our hot chocolate toast and honoring the longest married couple with a bouquet of flowers were my favorite moments.

VENDORS 

Photography & Floral: Sarah Bush Designs • Venue: The Alexander House • Caterer: The Grand Gourmet • Make-up Artist: CaliRose Beauty • Hair: Stephana Bellamy + Simply Stephana Styles • Eyebrow Threading: Bianca Ramos • Bride’s Dress: Fabulous Frocks • Groom’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse • Wedding Favors: My Wedding Favors + Amazon