So step one - complete!
I guess the harder stuff begins in 3...2...1...
So I started this blog at the request of one of my dearest friends - Crystal. So, to entertain them throughout this process and to document this once-in-a-lifetime process, I am happily starting my first blog!
So with Step 1 complete, Is step 2 joining TheKnot.com? If so, then step 2 - complete! Boy, we are soaring! So, 408 days until our wedding (projected/hopeful date of February 18, 2012)! Hah, this (of course) date is subject to change, considering ALL the things left to do... (according to TheKnot.com, I have 109 tasks to-do, with 0 completed so far) TheKnot.com is all bits of fantastic. We just started our guest list! With month-to-month checklists, interactive table seating layouts, a search box to help finding a local "anything," like wedding reception venues and caterers, etc. etc. this website seems refreshingly comprehensive! It even has a section where we could type in our budget, number of "attendants" in each part of the bridal party and it distributes the budget accordingly! So, since we don't need a videographer or photographer, I was able to X those things out and the website re-distributed our budget. It's really cool :) things might be do-able without buying a wedding book! Savings straight to the pocket! Crystal... Whitney... Laura - do you have any opinions on survival without a wedding organizer book?
So speaking of savings... that's something Jeff and I have to figure out - what's our budget? We are throwing around the figure of $15,000. From what the "average" quote is for a wedding in Washington, DC we seem to be low-balling it (my Bridal Bargains book said average DC weddings are $50k... yowza!!). One of our friends, Sara, who is also planning her wedding (May 2011) and works with Jeff, referred me to the Budget Savvy Bride blog (http://thebudgetsavvybride.com/). Some stunning photos and crafty DIY project ideas have wound many couples at humbling totals spent. One couple spent a total of $7500 on a beautiful wedding for 180 guests! (they had a family house to use as a reception venue, but even after adding in $2k to the total budget, it's not all that bad!) Sounds right up our (conservative) alley! Thanks Sara!!! (too bad we can't hire you as the wedding coordinator for the big day, haha... that's a joke, Jeff and I really want you to enjoy the wedding and not be hired help... well aside from being our paparazzi)
So in terms of money, Jeff and I are opening a savings account with Navy Federal Credit Union on Saturday, designated for wedding deposits and expenses. We'll be contributing $1000.00 each for every month leading up to the wedding. With $2,000.00 (my nursing instincts do not like these trailing zeros, haha) x 13 mos, we should have $27k for the wedding (first deposit we'll put in $1,500 each). This is well over our budget. I'm sure it will come in very handy in case we want to splurge on gifts, transportation, alcohol, etc.) or if some part of our projections are a little pricier than we thought.
Here's what we have (sorta) figured out:
- Invitations: Jeff's mom makes all sorts of beautifully crafted homemade cards, so she'll be helping us out a lot with putting these together. (maybe budget $80 for materials and $88 for postage on 200 invites = $168 on invites)
- Save the Dates: I got Jeff to somewhat agree to send out photo postcard Save the Dates. My idea: have Sara photograph us with some pretty landscape holding a nice antiqued frame that holds "Save the Date: February 18, 2012." I also picture this on a beach but alas...
- Photography: Sara and Scott, Jeff's two talented co-workers and photogs in Jeff's Microstrategy photo group (see http://microtography.blogspot.com/ and click on Sara or Scott if you want to see some of their work) have been "hired." We'll pay them off with gifts :) We hope to get Sara to do our engagement photo session at the end of February 2011.
- DJ: Jeff found a way to use iTunes as a jukebox, so that guests can add approved songs to the playlist if they want to. We'll start out with songs we want to have, but will also allow guests to add some input as well (Laura Safety Dance WILL on there, woot!!)
- Cake: In the works. A family friend makes a lot of cakes, so maybe we can pay for ingredients and a little extra for labor? Hopefully we can figure out some sort of sugar-free cake... man, if we could only hire the Cake Boss! I'm considering looking at Costco for cakes, too. Our backup-backup is the cake baker Jeff's friends Justin and Armita used for their wedding.
- Flowers: Even though Sara isn't my wedding planner, it almost seems like it! She gave me the contact # for the direct Costco floral supplier in the area. This will cut down on delivery, transportation, etc. I've (sorta) decided to only use flowers for boutonnieres, bouquets, mother of bride/groom corsages, and maybe light table decor to cut on costs.
Next on our checklist:
- Open a Wedding Savings Account
- Venues (need to call) for pricing, date availability, minimum requirements, etc. (my Bridal Bargains (ok I'll abbreviate it to "BB") book lists ALL important questions to ask during the visits!)
- Contact outside caterers (BB says that outside caterers offer more selection, better quality, and often include more fixins like linens, serving ware, wait staff)
- Pick a theme. Romantic, classic, ??
- Color combinations... I want cobalt blue as one of the colors... that's as far as I've gotten on that one!
Jeff doesn't think he wants to get married at a hotel (BB said that some hotels can swindle you- some require the use of their expensive caterers that don't have many options and they also can wind up being way more expensive. Brides have reported $140/head due to hotel inflation!).
I'm trying to think of civic centers in the area we could use for at least the reception. BB says they're much more affordable since taxpayer dollars pay for upkeep of the building and the city isn't necessarily looking to make a profit...a charitable donation might be all that's required. There are always banquet halls, conference centers, and.. OHHH! I want to look into Business Hotels (Jeff-approved since this may be a lot more affordable, according to BB) since they are always looking for business on weekends plus lodging is really really cheap.
So questions:
How do you tell a Business hotel vs. any other hotel?
Can anyone think of anywhere that may be fun and affordable?
What themes could go with Dahlias and Peonies? (I really like those) What kind of floral fillers or cheap flowers can I use to beef up center pieces?
To be continued...
Total Guest List (so far, not including our parents' lists): 123
Days til Wedding: 408
