Possible Date Change...again

Originally, Mr. GrapeJuice and I had picked the all-typical Saturday night wedding.

photo : southwest airlines spirit

Our original plan was to have our wedding on a three day weekend so that all our OOT family and friends would be able to make it and have an extra day of travel. We are still highly considering this, and it will most likely be part of date picking. [See? Trying to be considerate of the guests! No bridezilla yet.]

 photo : gretchen b photography

The first weekend that was spat out was Memorial Day weekend. While I thought it would be a good idea and good timing, it won't be possible. I'm a teacher, and that's the end of the school year. Talk about stress!

 

photo : naomi win

The next 3-day weekend suggestion was 4th of July. I jumped on that bandwagon quickly. It was the perfect time because the 4th will fall on a Monday in 2011, which will give people an extra day to travel home.

photo : barrie downle photography

Now, here's where the possible date change comes in. Mr. GrapeJuice and I had originally chosen July 2, 2011 as our wedding date. It hadn't been set in stone because - obviously - we still have time to make that decision. But, we've seriously been struggling with where to hold our ceremony and reception. We're both Catholic so it's a no brainer that we'll be getting married in the church. But...which church? That's been our struggle all along. Don't get me wrong. I love the church that I'm a parishoner of, but, the new church is horribly designed. Hello! No center aisle = epic fail! [for me at least] Below are some pictures of the new church I found on our facebook group.

Picture One: A view of the whole church from the side

Picture Two: A view of the altar from the center aisle

Picture Three: A view of the baptismal font and door I would enter through

It's a beautiful church, but I always pictured my self walking down a long center aisle to my one true love. Could I suck it up and get married in this church? Absolutely! My grandmother is the wedding coordinator at the facility. My grandfather is a deacon at the church. Definitely some bonus points and freebies heading my way. But...the reception facility leaves a LOT to be desired as well...if you have your wedding on a Saturday that is.

On Friday, Mr. GrapeJuice, my parents, my grandparents, and myself all went to the church Christmas party. The party was held in the old church. And, let me tell you, it's gorgeous! It was originally a barn that was remodeled into a church. It has stunningly stained wood for the ceiling, and the lighting can be adjusted from bright, bright, bright to a sultry, romantic feel. Plus, it easily and comfortably fits 200+ people with a more than adequate dance floor, as we discovered on Friday.

photo : facebook

The only downside is that if we want to use this gorgeous space for our reception, we'd have to have the wedding on a Friday. There are pews and other knickknacks that have to be moved out and moved back in before Sunday mass. Totally doable though!

So...here's a recap:

1. we still don't have a for sure date

2. i could compromise and settle for my church even though i hate the logistics of the design and it cost millions of dollars to make it look like that

3. a friday night wedding gives us a prettier more spacious reception venue

4. i hate being indecisive

5. this would be VERY easy on our budget
6. but, now i'd have to rent tables, chairs, linens; find a caterer; etc.

p.s.

Merry Christmas Eve!

::BUDGET:: Bridal Show Update

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about a budget bridal show happening in the Middle TN area.
If you are interested, you should definitely attend!!
Here's an update about what's happening on Saturday.

Budget Bridal Show
Date: October 10, 2009
Time: 9am - 2pm
Location: Old Hickory Country Club
{1904 Hadley Avenue}
{Old Hickory, TN 37138}
Cost: FREE!

Here is a list of Participating Vendors:
[Bakery]
Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca
[Beauty//Hair and Makeup]
Arbonne/Pamela Stoll
Liza Jeane's
Studio BBC Salon
[Decorations]
Balloon Celebrations
Scentsy
[DJ]
Hood Entertainment
Will the DJ
Kevin Thompson DJ
[Event Planner]
Paint the Town Events LLC
[Flowers]
Basket of Flowers
[Formal Wear]
Encore Bridal and Formal Wear
[Insurance]
The Redan Agency
[Jewelry]
Melissa Mayer
[Photographers]
Crystal Bowron Photography
Michelle Hines Photography
Lori Quarles Photography
Worth a Thousand Words
Sloane Photography
[Registries]
Pampered Chef
[Venues]
Old Hickory Country Club
[Wedding Planners]
Weddings by Shelly
I DO Weddings
Your Day of Fairytales
Childress Wedding Events
POSH: Parties on a SHoestring

If I Could...

This is where I'd get married!
...but it's 30 minutes from the reception site we are seriously considering...
Is it okay to ask our out of town guests to travel the distance??

Wonder of Wonder

So sorry for not posting until now. The past two days I have been searching and researching all different kinds of wedding reception venues. R and I all ready know that we're getting married in a Catholic church by my grandfather who is a Deacon; we just haven't picked the church. That's not a main concern right now because there are quite a few in the Nashville area. However, it has been incredibly hard to find a reception venue within our price range, but after two days of looking...I think I've found it. According to the wedding budget I'm using on The Knot, R and I are supposed to spend about $800 dollars on the reception venue. That's nearly impossible if you want something spectacular in the city...which is what I want. I'm more city than country. But, despite all the odds, I have found a venue that meets my standards at a reasonable rate as well!!! It is the Old Hickory Country Club.

*~Sassy Bride~*

The Budget Breakdown

A couple weeks ago, I posted a budget breakdown of what the average person in TN spends on a wedding. It was heartbreaking because I know I won't be able to afford something considered "average" for a wedding in TN. However, to make the most of my budget, I have spent the entire day so far trying to maximize my budget by applying different percentage strategies to my it. On the plus side, I am getting better at percentage math. Now I can successfully pass 6th grade! Yay me!

I do have a positive note to post along with this though, courtesy of Real Simple Weddings. They have an article about how to save money while planning your wedding. It happens to be very specific too, which is something we brides definitely need in our lives!!

1.The Timeline

• Shorten the wedding-planning timeline. Don’t wait a year to get married and it will be easier to simplify the wedding. “A recent trend I’ve seen is that couples are saving money by planning a more last-minute wedding, rather than the traditional 11-month runup,” says Alan Fields, coauthor of Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget. “The shorter time horizon will force you to streamline and keep you, by necessity, from getting sucked into the vortex of elaborate weddings.”
• Or give yourself even more time. That way, you can take advantage of seasonal sales. “For example, you may be able to stock up on silver decorations at 75 percent off before the Christmas holidays, or pick up your ring bearer or flower girl’s outfit on sale at Easter,” says Sharon Naylor, author of 1001Ways to Save Money . . . and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding (McGraw Hill, $17, amazon.com)

2. The Date

• Schedule the wedding in off-peak times. When there’s less competition for dates, you can have more negotiating power. “You can shave 20 to 30 percent off the cost of a wedding by planning it for November, or January through March―except for Valentine’s Day,” says Fields.
• Choose any day other than Saturday. "That’s the most popular day to marry," says Anna Post, author of Do I Have to Wear White? Emily Post Answers America’s Top Wedding Questions (Collins, $15, amazon.com). Ask about rates for Friday- and Sunday-night weddings. They’re becoming more common, so you won’t have to deal with quite as many guest grumbles.

3. The Venue

• Consider choosing a nontraditional venue. “Where you have the wedding often drives the cost,” says Fields. Rather than a dedicated wedding reception hall or country club, check out less expensive facilities, from city-run spaces like zoos and civic gardens to restaurants or more offbeat locations that have some meaning for you, from a beach to your parents’ yard. One caveat: If the space is not equipped to cater a party, calculate extra costs for bringing in tables, toilets, or even a kitchen.

4. The Wedding Dress

• Shop designer or sample sales. Find out the dates of well-known annual sales at places like Filene’s, where you might snag a $2,000 dress for $249, or the sample sales at Vera Wang. “You can save up to 70 percent on gowns, headpieces, veils, and shoes at a sample sale,” says Naylor. “Look for the touring list on your favorite designers’ websites, or get on the mailing list at bridal gown salons.” You may even get to shop before anyone else and have first pick.
• Consider renting or borrowing a dress. “Or buy one secondhand,” Post says. Chances are, it’s only been worn once! Look on eBay or craigslist for postings. Oftentimes, if the bride changes her mind about her dress or has to postpone the wedding, you might be able to score a deal on a never-been-worn gown.
• Or combine self-interest with philanthropy. Says Fields, "Buy at one of the sales of donated new and used gowns" staged in many U.S. cities by bridesagainstbreastcancer.org. Or look for a vintage or consignment store that carries wedding dresses. The Bridal Garden in New York City (bridalgarden.org), for example, features designer-donated dresses, and a portion of the proceeds go to charity.

5. The Food

• Make it a daytime reception. “It’s always cheaper to serve lunch or brunch than dinner,” says Fields.
• Try a combination plate. Eliminate a choice of entrée to save on your food bill. “Serve a couple of grilled shrimp with a couple of beef medallions," Naylor says. “This cuts down on the cost, since the chef doesn’t need to buy enough of all the entrées to allow for people to change their minds.” Or serve an inexpensive dish like chicken and pasta and let the chef shine by creating great sauces.
• Avoid the traditional sit-down dinner or buffet meal altogether. Instead, host a cocktail reception with cake and punch or cake and cocktails. Or have a potluck reception, which makes for a less formal, more intimate wedding with a nice feeling of community.

6. The Liquor

• Serve signature cocktails. “Alcohol is one of the biggest expenses of a wedding and can burn a hole in your budget fast,” says Fields. Since most reception sites charge for every bottle opened, even if it was for just one drink, consider offering a limited bar. Choose a signature cocktail (or a series of signature cocktails) that use one type of liquor. Then, ask to stock a few other bottles based on the wedding party’s preferences (i.e., if your dad drinks only scotch). Another option is to serve just beer, wine, and enough champagne for toasts.

7. The Wedding Cake

• Add finishing touches yourself. “The cost of a wedding cake is all about the labor,” says Naylor, “so forget sugar-paste flowers or matching the lace from your gown in fondant.” Instead, try using real lace or satin ribbon wrapped around each layer. It costs almost nothing; just pin it on and it looks lovely. Or use a few real flowers here and there, scattered artistically. Also, go low, says Fields: “The more height, the more money―it takes more labor to build a taller cake.”
• Have a small cake. You can have a wonderfully decorated, yet smaller cake on display that’s used for cutting, and then have a sheet cake in the kitchen for serving.

8. The Flowers

• Make your own centerpieces. This is definitely a time commitment, so consider making the centerpieces for the cocktail tables or the rehearsal dinner. “A lot of people are using freshroses.com and other websites to order wholesale flowers to make their own centerpieces,” says Fields. “You can order enough flowers to do 15 for about $300, then check out how-to sites for DIY instructions.” (See Turn Supermarket Flowers Into Beautiful Bouquets) Or go online to check out the wedding flower packages from Costco―have bouquets and centerpieces shipped to you for huge savings.
• Choose seasonal and local flowers for your reception. “This not only brings the season into your event but it also cuts costs, because your florist won’t have to import any exotic or out-of-season blooms,” says David Tutera, an event planner. (Learn what will be blossoming on your big day with the Wedding Flower Finder Tool.)
• Use one kind of flowers in your bouquets and arrangements. It’s a budget-friendly move because your florist will need to place only one bulk order. “This brings a chic monochromatic look to your event,” adds Tutera.
• Avoid cascades. Like cakes, the hidden cost of flowers is the labor. “Order or make small, hand-tied bouquets for the bride and attendants―cascades require a lot of wiring, and more labor means higher cost,” says Naylor.

9. The Photographer and Videographer

• Try a less-expensive package. "Photographers usually offer packages based on the hours they’ll work," says Naylor. To buy a less expensive (shorter) package, she suggests, “do your at-home, getting-ready pictures as candids. Cut the cake early so you can release the on-the-clock shooters, and let your guests supplement your album with candids.”
• Talk to former brides. To help you decide whether you’re really going to need the 1,000-picture package or whether 500 will do, find people “with similar sensibilities to yours and see what their experience was,” says Naylor.
• Consider hiring a photography-school student. Make sure you check out his or her portfolio, with examples of portraits. Though, Fields says, “it can cut the bill in half,” it’s not worth the savings if photos aren’t in focus.

10. The Invitations, Programs, and Favors

• Take advantage of the talents of the bridal party and other friends and family. Anything you can make yourself becomes a fun shared effort and can save a lot. “My aunt did her own invitations and program for her wedding because she wanted the personal touch,” says Post.
• Make some items do double duty. To save the cost of printed place cards, add guests’ names to the favors and set one at each place, or print the names at the top of your menu cards.
• Make your own favors. If you have time, whip up your grandma’s famous macaroons or make your own chocolate-covered almonds. “Edibles are the most appreciated,” says Naylor. “Especially for nighttime weddings―a bag of cookies will be gone before the guests hit the car.”
• Skip favors. Place a bowl of candies on the cake table with a note saying, “Please enjoy these candies. In lieu of favors we’ve made a donation to charity.”

(source)

*~Sassy Bride~*