I have been with my man for 7 years, engaged for 3.5. We have never had the money to get married and it won't be for a while until we do. We were just going to get married at the courthouse, but I REALLY don't want to do that. I will if it comes down to it but I hope it doesn't. I considered getting married at the chapel, but I can't see myself paying close to $500 for something thats only going to take about 15 minutes.
So, I began thinking (scary) about the crazy ways people have gotten married. Like hot air balloons, or underwater, or whatever. I think that would be kind of neat. That way we don't spend as much money as we would on a traditional wedding, yet it would be way more memorable than a chapel or courthouse.
SOOO..... I need ideas on different ways to get married. We also have a 3 year old girl so I wouldnt want it to be dangerous or anything.
PLEASE GIVE ME IDEAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, I began thinking (scary) about the crazy ways people have gotten married. Like hot air balloons, or underwater, or whatever. I think that would be kind of neat. That way we don't spend as much money as we would on a traditional wedding, yet it would be way more memorable than a chapel or courthouse.
SOOO..... I need ideas on different ways to get married. We also have a 3 year old girl so I wouldnt want it to be dangerous or anything.
PLEASE GIVE ME IDEAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got nothing for ya. I just married in August for the first time, I'm 36, and it was my husbands second. We were on a major budget but I still had traditional in some ways in my head. we live in Vegas so we had our wedding and reception at a local hotel/casino. they don't do weddings so it was much cheaper to rent and extra room for the ceremony. I did our flowers, a friend did our cake and I got my dress on sale at Davids Bridal for $250. We had 100 guests and total for everything, including paying for the entire bridal party was $15,000. He has three kids that I wanted in the ceremony. I had my 2 nephews and niece. It was beautiful and "cheap". the reception cost the most. It was worth it! I'm only doing it once and I wanted all our family there. We both have super big families.
Use your imagination. What're some of the things you both love to do?
Alex and I like to explore wooded areas, go off the trails at parks, and play by the river. We both like historical areas, so it's only fitting that we get married at one. There's an old canal near by in a metropark that we'll say our I Do's at in the early hours of the morning. We like it kind of dark and gloomy, the only light being the sun twinkling through the trees and bouncing off the dew on the grass.
It's a lot better than some courthouse wedding or some chapel that we don't believe in, and it's really inexpensive. Because it's outdoors with no aisle or floors or anything, I can't really wear a big, poofy, expensive ballgown wedding dress, so I'll wear a knee-length dress I'm making myself. We originally wanted to have guests, but our families clash and annoy us so we're doing without. When we were planning on their attendance, we planned on them standing as it's going to be a really short exchange of vows before we go off and do our own thing.
So what're some of the things you like? It's a lot easier to help you get ideas if we know your likes and dislikes.
Alex and I like to explore wooded areas, go off the trails at parks, and play by the river. We both like historical areas, so it's only fitting that we get married at one. There's an old canal near by in a metropark that we'll say our I Do's at in the early hours of the morning. We like it kind of dark and gloomy, the only light being the sun twinkling through the trees and bouncing off the dew on the grass.
It's a lot better than some courthouse wedding or some chapel that we don't believe in, and it's really inexpensive. Because it's outdoors with no aisle or floors or anything, I can't really wear a big, poofy, expensive ballgown wedding dress, so I'll wear a knee-length dress I'm making myself. We originally wanted to have guests, but our families clash and annoy us so we're doing without. When we were planning on their attendance, we planned on them standing as it's going to be a really short exchange of vows before we go off and do our own thing.
So what're some of the things you like? It's a lot easier to help you get ideas if we know your likes and dislikes.
$15,000??? What kind of major budget were you on? No offense, but if your on a budget, you shouldn't spend $15,000 on a wedding. That's half of what we make in a YEAR!!!! Sorry, I'm really depressed about not being able to ever get the wedding of my dreams. I really didn't want to hear that.
Its hard to say what we like. He works two or three jobs all the time and I'm home all day with my daughter in the day, and go to school at night. We never get to go out.
I would like the idea of an outdoor wedding. Though, being in Michigan its really hard to predict what the weather may be like. But you gave me an idea.... maybe seeing if we could take our vows in the planetarium at the museum. I don't know if that is something we'd be able to do or how much that would cost. That's all we need-- no fancy decorations or lots a people... just our immediate family.
I would like the idea of an outdoor wedding. Though, being in Michigan its really hard to predict what the weather may be like. But you gave me an idea.... maybe seeing if we could take our vows in the planetarium at the museum. I don't know if that is something we'd be able to do or how much that would cost. That's all we need-- no fancy decorations or lots a people... just our immediate family.
Yeah, I was a little bug-eyed at 15K, too. My wedding, we've got a budget of $250, food included. It's really not going to be some big, grand ceremony and reception 'cause that's not what we go for.
There are tricks to getting around budget issues. A major savings could come from the dress. If you befriend someone who knows how to sew (hell, if you lived near me, I'd volunteer to make your dress!) you could easily have a dress for fifty bucks, and that's if you don't get the fabric at WalMart.
The sooner you lay out your dream wedding, the sooner I can show you the blue collar way of achieving it.
There are tricks to getting around budget issues. A major savings could come from the dress. If you befriend someone who knows how to sew (hell, if you lived near me, I'd volunteer to make your dress!) you could easily have a dress for fifty bucks, and that's if you don't get the fabric at WalMart.
The sooner you lay out your dream wedding, the sooner I can show you the blue collar way of achieving it.
Oh, cool, you are near me. Unless you're like, way up in Sault Ste. Marie, then you're not. I'm about forty-five minutes from the Michigan state line.
Anyway, call your local museum! You'd be surprised what they'd allow you to do. So long as you don't mind onlookers of their regular customers, they may allow it.
With outdoor weddings, the weather is definitely unpredictable, but that's half of the fun. Think back to last year, when was it decently warm without many showers? Usually around April, right? Even though they say April showers and blah blah blah, I recall last year, April was dry and May was pretty wet. Another option is June or July, popular wedding months, but for good reason.
Tent rental isn't that expensive. If you really want an outdoor wedding, you can rent a tent for a few hours to ensure everyone stays dry, unless you really don't like the rain.
Anyway, call your local museum! You'd be surprised what they'd allow you to do. So long as you don't mind onlookers of their regular customers, they may allow it.
With outdoor weddings, the weather is definitely unpredictable, but that's half of the fun. Think back to last year, when was it decently warm without many showers? Usually around April, right? Even though they say April showers and blah blah blah, I recall last year, April was dry and May was pretty wet. Another option is June or July, popular wedding months, but for good reason.
Tent rental isn't that expensive. If you really want an outdoor wedding, you can rent a tent for a few hours to ensure everyone stays dry, unless you really don't like the rain.
I can't speak for others, but of the three churches I've been to, members of the church were married for free. Only non-members paid a fee.
No church for us. We are not of any religion...
cellulitedelight... I think you are on the same page we are on. I'm willing to spend a few hundred dollars but nothing much more than that. When I say we're on a tight budget, thats an understatement. The butterfly house at the zoo just popped in my head. That may be a good idea. And I was hoping to get married in April or May so its funny that you mentioned those two months.
Still open for ideas.. the more the better.
cellulitedelight... I think you are on the same page we are on. I'm willing to spend a few hundred dollars but nothing much more than that. When I say we're on a tight budget, thats an understatement. The butterfly house at the zoo just popped in my head. That may be a good idea. And I was hoping to get married in April or May so its funny that you mentioned those two months.
Still open for ideas.. the more the better.
Oh, wow, a butterfly house. That's something that didn't cross my mind. I saw the one in Toledo last summer. It's a cool idea to have little butterflies fluttering around.
Let's see, other outdoor places.. Does your museum have a garden? Do you have any nice metroparks around (cliche, I know, but they're free)? Especially ones with gazebos. I had a friend who wanted to get married on the dam at Grand Rapids with all the water rushing past their feet and have their guests either on the stairs nearby or in little boats on the water. That would've been cool had she done it, 'cause on that dam you look like you're on the edge of the earth.
On a bridge. If you don't like the traditional aisle, you can have a bridge be yours. I'll be walking down a little rock stair thingy to a bridge that Alex will be awaiting me in the centre.
There's a river here (Maumee River) that's so shallow in the summertime, you can walk across it via a few stepping stones. I think getting married there, and having guests standing on their own little stones, would also be a cool idea. We're going to be on the Maumee ourselves for photos and part of a little spiritual journey. So if you've got a river nearby, there's an idea. Or on a dock, if you like water.
The sweetest idea I can think of would be under a weeping willow tree. Oh, can you imagine how gorgeous that would be to be secluded yet out in public by curtains of willow branches and leaves?
Let's see, other outdoor places.. Does your museum have a garden? Do you have any nice metroparks around (cliche, I know, but they're free)? Especially ones with gazebos. I had a friend who wanted to get married on the dam at Grand Rapids with all the water rushing past their feet and have their guests either on the stairs nearby or in little boats on the water. That would've been cool had she done it, 'cause on that dam you look like you're on the edge of the earth.
On a bridge. If you don't like the traditional aisle, you can have a bridge be yours. I'll be walking down a little rock stair thingy to a bridge that Alex will be awaiting me in the centre.
There's a river here (Maumee River) that's so shallow in the summertime, you can walk across it via a few stepping stones. I think getting married there, and having guests standing on their own little stones, would also be a cool idea. We're going to be on the Maumee ourselves for photos and part of a little spiritual journey. So if you've got a river nearby, there's an idea. Or on a dock, if you like water.
The sweetest idea I can think of would be under a weeping willow tree. Oh, can you imagine how gorgeous that would be to be secluded yet out in public by curtains of willow branches and leaves?
Alex's suggestion: At night (or early in the morning) around a bonfire. S'mores are cheap and would be a fitting dessert for your late night reception.
Man.. I kind of like that idea. :|
Man.. I kind of like that idea. :|
That's awesome that you mentioned a willow tree, because me and my mom are very partial to them (is that the right word I'm looking for). I think they are the bost beautiful trees. When my mom dies, she wants us to take her ashes and plant them with a willow tree.
I'll have to look around at different outdoor places. We do have a huge metropark that could be possible. I should take a drive around there and look for nice spots. Good ideas...
I'll have to look around at different outdoor places. We do have a huge metropark that could be possible. I should take a drive around there and look for nice spots. Good ideas...
GETTING married costs very little: $20 in Michigan for Michigan residents for the license, and the cost of the officiant, which could be nothing if this is a friend or family member doing the honors, or a couple of hundred bucks if you have to shop for someone in the yellow pages or online.
Celebrating getting married is what costs $$$. The hot air balloon idea is great, until you learn that a private hot air excursion costs $900 or so. Tent rentals most certainly are expensive if you're on a budget that balks at a $500 facilities fee for a chapel. Weddings in public spaces usually cost; a garden here that is popular for wedding ceremonies charges $500 and up for having the ceremony in the garden, with the reception co$ting more, and museum rental is way more than that.
If you have a friend/colleague/family member who will work with you who is licensed to officiate at weddings and you don't plan to have a dozen guests or more, you may be able to have a park ranger look the other way if you get married in a park or forest. You might look to a local college, private school, or university for a place to wed; they often have pretty gardens and people not really concerned with why folks are standing around in them.
If there is someplace special to you and your fiance -- a movie theater, bowling alley, restaurant, store, whatever -- consider having the event there with the blessings of the staff. THAT, you may have very good luck with. People who don't usually throw weddings may love the opportunity to make this happen for you in their theater, bowling alley, restaurant, store, whatever, especially if they get some press out of it! :-)
Good luck! And yes, April is a lovely month in which to wed, as is May. I like them so much I got married once in May, and the second time (to someone else) in April. (I also like October. I'll have to save that for husband number 3! :-D)
Celebrating getting married is what costs $$$. The hot air balloon idea is great, until you learn that a private hot air excursion costs $900 or so. Tent rentals most certainly are expensive if you're on a budget that balks at a $500 facilities fee for a chapel. Weddings in public spaces usually cost; a garden here that is popular for wedding ceremonies charges $500 and up for having the ceremony in the garden, with the reception co$ting more, and museum rental is way more than that.
If you have a friend/colleague/family member who will work with you who is licensed to officiate at weddings and you don't plan to have a dozen guests or more, you may be able to have a park ranger look the other way if you get married in a park or forest. You might look to a local college, private school, or university for a place to wed; they often have pretty gardens and people not really concerned with why folks are standing around in them.
If there is someplace special to you and your fiance -- a movie theater, bowling alley, restaurant, store, whatever -- consider having the event there with the blessings of the staff. THAT, you may have very good luck with. People who don't usually throw weddings may love the opportunity to make this happen for you in their theater, bowling alley, restaurant, store, whatever, especially if they get some press out of it! :-)
Good luck! And yes, April is a lovely month in which to wed, as is May. I like them so much I got married once in May, and the second time (to someone else) in April. (I also like October. I'll have to save that for husband number 3! :-D)
I don't even need to have a reception... just the ceremony. I'm sure we'll all go out to a bar or something afterwards.
Oh Gee, I have been to so many different kinds of weddings that don't even know where to start. So here is my list.
1. I have been to many weddings that have had a picnic as the recpetion. Everyone brought something . The bride and groom furnished the chicken or ham ect.
2. The wedding ceremony have been outdoors in a park or in someones backyard.
3. The craziest weddings have been where everyone dressed as cast members of the Rocky Horror Picture Show,one couple I know got married in a bowling alley(because that is where they met), Another couple rented a float and they had the ceremony during the Fourth of July Parade that we had in our town.
4. I don't where you are but getting married on a beach sounds nice to me.
Oh, I thought of one more!
One of my friends got married in a field of pumpkins! They had a wagon that took us out to the middle of this field. I know it sounds corny but it was a nice wedding. They also had a friend that played the fiddle and they had a campfire going. It was in the Fall and the weather was perfect.
Do you know anyone that owns an orchard? The blooms off of the trees would be real pretty.
Vegas would definitely be a good choice...you can do anything from a quick little chapel wedding (a co-worker did it and said it was like $50), or you could have a "real" wedding at one of the casinos.
In May I'll be getting married at Caesars Palace...places like that offer nice little wedding packages that sometimes include a room. I think our ceremony and reception combined are going to run around $7000 - $10,000 (I know, that's steeper than what you're looking for).
Really, they have options to fit every budget in Vegas. I think they can even fly you down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to have a private ceremony with champagne for just a couple hundred bucks.
Something I always thought would be cool would be a wedding at a winery/vineyard. Also, museums usually don't charge that much if you use one of their menageries/gardens/promenades, etc.
I don't know where you shop, athena_tavener, but when I priced out tent rentals it was a little over a hundred fifty for the entire day. And any public garden or park (including the gardens within museums) don't charge you for things.
Unless that's solely a Michigan thing, in which case I recommend monkey08us make a trip down to Ohio where everything is apparently cheap.
And so you know, monkeys08us, Alex and I are having our wedding reception at Hooters. 'Cause nobody in our family likes Japanese food and we don't have enough of us to rent a hall or something, and we're afraid of bugs if we do an outdoor reception. We both like Hooters's food, we both like Hooters's boobs, we both like Hooters's booze, and for the most part, so does my family. His, however, are overly Christian but a couple of 'em made it clear they're looking forward to going to Hooters.
Bar receptions are awesomeeeeeee.
Unless that's solely a Michigan thing, in which case I recommend monkey08us make a trip down to Ohio where everything is apparently cheap.
And so you know, monkeys08us, Alex and I are having our wedding reception at Hooters. 'Cause nobody in our family likes Japanese food and we don't have enough of us to rent a hall or something, and we're afraid of bugs if we do an outdoor reception. We both like Hooters's food, we both like Hooters's boobs, we both like Hooters's booze, and for the most part, so does my family. His, however, are overly Christian but a couple of 'em made it clear they're looking forward to going to Hooters.
Bar receptions are awesomeeeeeee.
On average how much does it cost to hire someone to marry us?? Is there really such thing as getting ordained online like Joey did on friends??? That would be pretty funny to have someone we know get ordained and marry us.
I have to tell you that wait until you can have more of the dream wedding if you can.
Bit of background. I met my husdand in 1988. We moved in together, in 1989. Got engaged in 1994. Had our first child in 95, then another in 99. Same year we bought our first house. the whole time we were working to better our lives and financial situation. We always knew we would get married but the time wasn't right. And I never wanted to just do it ad hoc and then not be happy about it. We had our 3rd child in 2003. Around that time started to seriously think about the marriage factor. In 2005 we booked a venue that does the whole thing ceremony and reception. 9 months later we married. My oldest, he walked me down the aisle with my 2 girls were flower girls. It was a small wedding only 70 guests, but we had everything from flowers to photographer, D.j. and a honeymoon. We were engaged for over 11 years before we got married. During our day we danced and partied for 6 hours. We also did away with all the traditional events like cutting the cake throwing bouquet, speeches and noone even noticed
I would recommend waiting as the last thing you want is in 5 years regrets that you never got the celebration you wished for.
Bit of background. I met my husdand in 1988. We moved in together, in 1989. Got engaged in 1994. Had our first child in 95, then another in 99. Same year we bought our first house. the whole time we were working to better our lives and financial situation. We always knew we would get married but the time wasn't right. And I never wanted to just do it ad hoc and then not be happy about it. We had our 3rd child in 2003. Around that time started to seriously think about the marriage factor. In 2005 we booked a venue that does the whole thing ceremony and reception. 9 months later we married. My oldest, he walked me down the aisle with my 2 girls were flower girls. It was a small wedding only 70 guests, but we had everything from flowers to photographer, D.j. and a honeymoon. We were engaged for over 11 years before we got married. During our day we danced and partied for 6 hours. We also did away with all the traditional events like cutting the cake throwing bouquet, speeches and noone even noticed
I would recommend waiting as the last thing you want is in 5 years regrets that you never got the celebration you wished for.
cellulitedelight, I looked up the price for the gardens I mentioned before I posted. They are public gardens, but private events cost, and yes, this one really does charge a minimum of $500 just for the ceremony.
If a public garden knows you're going to hold a wedding on its grounds, it may very well charge for that. I strongly suggest that anyone thinking of holding a wedding in a public space check. Public spaces are for the public -- private events, such as weddings, in public spaces often require permission from officials responsible for the public space, and may very well incur a fee.
I have to wonder what kind of tent you'd be renting for $150/day, but hey, if you found a rental that included everything usually used for a wedding for that low a price, more power to you!
If a public garden knows you're going to hold a wedding on its grounds, it may very well charge for that. I strongly suggest that anyone thinking of holding a wedding in a public space check. Public spaces are for the public -- private events, such as weddings, in public spaces often require permission from officials responsible for the public space, and may very well incur a fee.
I have to wonder what kind of tent you'd be renting for $150/day, but hey, if you found a rental that included everything usually used for a wedding for that low a price, more power to you!
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