Being a big fan of Say Yes to the Dress & 4 Weddings I knew that a big wedding was for me. I wanted the cool DJ, pretty flowers, lots of close bridesmaids, an awesome brunch bridal shower, and everything that will cost $20,000 + at the end.
This past week I had to pump the breaks and think about the money that my parents were going to spend on just one day. I realized that the big wedding wasn't for me or my fiancé. Honestly, the #1 reason for canceling the big wedding and going for a small wedding with just family and close friends is because we are buying a home. Purchasing a home isn't cheap.
This past week I was watching a show called Arranged it showed the process of the couples wedding day and after it. There was one couple that stud out to me the most, because the wedding was BEAUTIFUL. It was something out of a pintrest board, but reality sunk in after the wedding when the couple moved in with the husbands brothers home. Moving into your brothers home when your parents just spent $30,000 + on your wedding? Ummm no.
Now back to my story :
Since when we aren't doing the big wedding next June, the date is moved up to next month ! We are going to go too the courthouse to receive our marriage license, then outside the courthouse have our officiant marry us. The courthouse that we are going to they don't perform marriages inside, the couple has to find someone that they either no or use someone from the counties preferred list. After the ceremony we are going to have a "cocktail hour" at the restaurant were dinner will be served along with our first dance, father daughter dance and mother & son. Guest are free to dance as well. The timing works out perfectly, because his family will be in town next month.
Honestly, we are both excited for our intimate wedding. I purchased my dress yesterday from Macy's and my heels from Nordstorm. I purchased makeup yesterday and received tips from a sephora employee. The only thing that we invested in is a good photographer. Smart phone pictures are cool, but a photographer will be best.
My advance for brides on this form and others that still have time to change the wedding is think about the money you or your parents are spending. Just think about all of the things that could be done with that $, purchasing a home, paying off student loans, or buying a car.