With a teen daughter, the subject of weddings has been discussed more than once. Viola has some fairly strong ideas on what she wants for her wedding and I think it should wind up pretty nice. She wants a green dress... green, not as in environmentally sound, but green as in color. So, that will be a savings because it won't be a "wedding" dress. She also wants it to be on our property, so no expensive venue. The reception will most likely be at our Community Hall. Our good friend acts as DJ for the town dances, so we'll probably ask him if he can DJ for the wedding. She'll have her own beef by then, so that will be a huge savings on the cost of the dinner. I'll talk things over with the ladies of the community as far as getting the rest of the food together. I've been quietly thinking on things like table decorations, etc, and when I've ran my ideas by her, she's been excited for them. She's pretty adamant about no booze with the possible exception of some champagne for a toast...although she'll be drinking sparkling cider herself. We'll have to see what Joe... ahem, the future groom whomever he might be will want as well.... but apparently they've "talked" about weddings in general and she says that he likes all her ideas. (If that kid doesn't want her, he should probably start running now...two years might be enough time for him to escape...maybe...lol...)
But, all in all, I'm thinking a nice outdoor wedding on our property with a beautiful view, prime rib dinner with potatoes, rolls and salad, table decorations that I think I'll rock and most of which will come via the Dollar Store and a DJ led dance... should be nice enough and I really think I'll be able to get it all in under $5000.
I don't have a problem with a couple spending anything they like on a wedding... as long as they aren't being dumb and going into a lot of debt or, heaven forbid!!!! expecting their guests to defray the costs by asking for monetary "gifts" or creating websites with paypal options for guests to donate to help pay for the wedding and/or honeymoon. Keep it to whatever you really can afford. If that's a $30,000 extravaganza OK... if it's a humble trip to the Justice of the Peace with a nice cake in mom's back yard, OK.
I will say though that whenever I get a wedding invitation and there are cutsie poems, or little notes, or any mention of any kind about giving money instead of a gift (and an implication that it needs to at least be the amount of the cost per plate at the reception)... I pass on the whole she-bang.
