Today's wedding is filled with sophistication while featuring some darling rustic details. Megan and Zachary's navy and black color scheme with white roses is so lovely. By sticking to a simple color scheme, it is easy to create an elegant a feel on a budget.  I also like that Megan and Zachary strategically chose rustic details like the burlap fabric table decor and succulent favors to give the wedding the feel they want while maximizing their budget. Fun fact: this couple has known each other since they were 12 years old — so cute! Enjoy this elegant navy and black wedding! xoxo, Jessica

Megan + Zachary

December 20, 2014

Tucson, AZ | The Stillwell House

What was your budget?

Our budget was $8000.

Venue: $ 3000 (included venue, food, tables, chairs, linens, wait staff, bartender, all beverages and ice excluding alcohol)

Alcohol: $200

Dress: $200

Suit: $90

DJ: $500

Flowers: $400

Photographer: $1600

Cake and cupcakes: $150

Hair” $60

Make-up: Free!

Misc: ~$1000

How many guests did you have?

130

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

I tried to DIY as much as I could. I made the ring bearers box, the card box, and the flower girls basket myself. My wonderful Stepmom made my veil. I made the table numbers using favors from another wedding (wooden coasters) and painting them myself. A lot of the decorations on the tables were made by us. The sign for the favor table, I bought a cheap picture from Ross and painted over it with chalkboard paint.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

In addition to making things ourselves, we used our resources! My make-up was done by a friend whose does it professionally, as was my hair. The cake and cupcakes were also made by a friend. My mother-in-law worked at a place that did weddings, so she had a lot of connections, including for the flowers and DJ, so we got great deals on those things. We bought our alcohol at a grocery store that was having a sale. I bought my dress on sale. My husband bought his suit at H&M, forgoing the traditional tux because it was significantly cheaper. And I shopped online. Amazon is amazing! I bought the flower girls dress on Etsy for $40. I bought postcard invitations. The ties were bought wholesale online for $9 a piece and they looked great. We also used a venue that had everything included, off season, so it saved us a ton of money. To me, my wedding was perfect and I don't think I sacrificed a thing.

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

Shop around! You can usually find things online for cheaper then in the store. And don't sweat the little details. Chances are no one will notice them anyway.

What was your biggest splurge?

My photographer, Emily Jayne Photography. She was a friend and I have always loved her pictures. But before my wedding I did shop around. I really found that her quality was amazing and her price is a steal. She was so worth it and honestly for how hard she worked she deserved more. Most photographers only give you a few hours, she was with us the whole day.

What was your favorite detail?

My dress, and my bridesmaids dresses. I let them pick their own, so they could get ones in their budget and that they felt beautiful in. They all looked amazing.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

Too hard to choose. At my venue, the bridal party went into a small gate to walk down the aisle, and my dad and I stood behind a bigger gate. In the few moments when the bridal party was finishing walking down, and my dad and I were standing there alone, he told me how proud he was of me. My dad raised my brother and I on his own and he is the most important person in my world (aside from my husband). That will always be my favorite memory. That, and my grandparents winning the anniversary dance. They have been married 60 years!

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Photography: Emily Jayne Photography • Venue: The Stillwell House

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