What am I not understanding here?

plainjane0415

FI and I decided last minute to do a sand ceremony.  I was pretty against any kind of ceremony like this because I thought they were super cheesy, but then our wedding coordinator was talking about it and how we could use the sand from the beach we are getting married at, and it would be really neat, yada yada, and we got talked into it.

So I start searching for sand ceremony sets....................

$50?! $75?!  There is no way that I am spending that on pieces of glass that I can get from the Dollar Tree for a dollar.

Would it be super tacky to get a couple of plain vases from The Dollar Tree to take with us for the ceremony?  I just can't see paying that much for a sand ceremony set.

wandajune6

I've never actually seen a sand ceremony but I can't see why it would be a problem. Paying for a fancy kit seems a bit silly to me too.

novella1186

plainjane0415 said:

FI and I decided last minute to do a sand ceremony.  I was pretty against any kind of ceremony like this because I thought they were super cheesy, but then our wedding coordinator was talking about it and how we could use the sand from the beach we are getting married at, and it would be really neat, yada yada, and we got talked into it.

So I start searching for sand ceremony sets....................

$50?! $75?!  There is no way that I am spending that on pieces of glass that I can get from the Dollar Tree for a dollar.

Would it be super tacky to get a couple of plain vases from The Dollar Tree to take with us for the ceremony?  I just can't see paying that much for a sand ceremony set.

No, absolutely not tacky at all. Anything with "wedding" attached to it is always stupidly inflated in price. They figure SS will pay anything for a big Princess Day, and some people honestly seem to believe that their marriage ins't valid unless they shell out an insane amount of money for a huge fancy wedding. It's all so stupid. 

BM dress at a wedding boutique: $300 

Same style dress in same type of fabric from a regular store: $120 

Wedding band: $300

Just a ring for fun: $140 (actually had this experience) 

And so on. 

emmaaa

I don't see why you would need to buy "speshul" vases and "speshul" sand when you can get the exact same thing at Walmart, Dollar General, or even Hobby Lobby.

KatieinBkln

This could be one of those things where I don't realize what I'm talking about because I don't do crafts and haven't seen/heard of a sand ceremony, but...buy the cheap vases and go about your day.

pinkcow13

novella1186 said:

FI and I decided last minute to do a sand ceremony.  I was pretty against any kind of ceremony like this because I thought they were super cheesy, but then our wedding coordinator was talking about it and how we could use the sand from the beach we are getting married at, and it would be really neat, yada yada, and we got talked into it.

So I start searching for sand ceremony sets....................

$50?! $75?!  There is no way that I am spending that on pieces of glass that I can get from the Dollar Tree for a dollar.

Would it be super tacky to get a couple of plain vases from The Dollar Tree to take with us for the ceremony?  I just can't see paying that much for a sand ceremony set.

No, absolutely not tacky at all. Anything with "wedding" attached to it is always stupidly inflated in price. They figure SS will pay anything for a big Princess Day, and some people honestly seem to believe that their marriage ins't valid unless they shell out an insane amount of money for a huge fancy wedding. It's all so stupid. 

BM dress at a wedding boutique: $300 

Same style dress in same type of fabric from a regular store: $120 

Wedding band: $300

Just a ring for fun: $140 (actually had this experience) 

And so on. 

Are they that inexpensive? We have to get our bands, but for some reason I thought they would be like in the thousands. I mean, I'm sure they can be, but I thought that was the average. I guess it's what you said. Now that I'm typing this and actually thinking about it - it's just a ring. But tack on "wedding band" to it, and the price skyrockets.

plainjane0415

KatieinBkln said:

This could be one of those things where I don't realize what I'm talking about because I don't do crafts and haven't seen/heard of a sand ceremony, but...buy the cheap vases and go about your day.

Google sand ceremony set.  And you'll see what I mean, and how ridiculous it is.

novella1186

pinkcow13 said:

novella1186 said:

FI and I decided last minute to do a sand ceremony.  I was pretty against any kind of ceremony like this because I thought they were super cheesy, but then our wedding coordinator was talking about it and how we could use the sand from the beach we are getting married at, and it would be really neat, yada yada, and we got talked into it.

So I start searching for sand ceremony sets....................

$50?! $75?!  There is no way that I am spending that on pieces of glass that I can get from the Dollar Tree for a dollar.

Would it be super tacky to get a couple of plain vases from The Dollar Tree to take with us for the ceremony?  I just can't see paying that much for a sand ceremony set.

No, absolutely not tacky at all. Anything with "wedding" attached to it is always stupidly inflated in price. They figure SS will pay anything for a big Princess Day, and some people honestly seem to believe that their marriage ins't valid unless they shell out an insane amount of money for a huge fancy wedding. It's all so stupid. 

BM dress at a wedding boutique: $300 

Same style dress in same type of fabric from a regular store: $120 

Wedding band: $300

Just a ring for fun: $140 (actually had this experience) 

And so on. 

Are they that inexpensive? We have to get our bands, but for some reason I thought they would be like in the thousands. I mean, I'm sure they can be, but I thought that was the average. I guess it's what you said. Now that I'm typing this and actually thinking about it - it's just a ring. But tack on "wedding band" to it, and the price skyrockets.

------------preemptive box-------------------------------------------------------------------

I just wanted a thin, plain, rose gold band. The first jeweler we went to, we told them it was a wedding band. The cheapest one was $300 (but they were only showing me fancy stuff, no matter how many times I said I just want something VERY SIMPLE.) 

Next jeweler we went to, I told FI "no matter what, DO NOT say this is a wedding band." They showed me stuff in a better price range, and I got exactly what I was looking for-- including re-sizing, a warranty, and their protection policy-- for $140. 

I have a friend who's very familiar with the first jeweler we went to and I told her what happened. She said, "You shouldn't have said it was a wedding band, and I'm sure some more affordable bands would have magically appeared." 

anjemon

I think this is one of those instances where places jack up the price. I also think this is one of the details that only you and your groom (and maybe the Moms) will notice. I can't remember what the vases on any sand ceremonies I've seen have looked like. 

I'd definitely find some pretty vases you want to keep and use those.

wandajune6

pinkcow13 said:

novella1186 said:

FI and I decided last minute to do a sand ceremony.  I was pretty against any kind of ceremony like this because I thought they were super cheesy, but then our wedding coordinator was talking about it and how we could use the sand from the beach we are getting married at, and it would be really neat, yada yada, and we got talked into it.

So I start searching for sand ceremony sets....................

$50?! $75?!  There is no way that I am spending that on pieces of glass that I can get from the Dollar Tree for a dollar.

Would it be super tacky to get a couple of plain vases from The Dollar Tree to take with us for the ceremony?  I just can't see paying that much for a sand ceremony set.

No, absolutely not tacky at all. Anything with "wedding" attached to it is always stupidly inflated in price. They figure SS will pay anything for a big Princess Day, and some people honestly seem to believe that their marriage ins't valid unless they shell out an insane amount of money for a huge fancy wedding. It's all so stupid. 

BM dress at a wedding boutique: $300 

Same style dress in same type of fabric from a regular store: $120 

Wedding band: $300

Just a ring for fun: $140 (actually had this experience) 

And so on. 

Are they that inexpensive? We have to get our bands, but for some reason I thought they would be like in the thousands. I mean, I'm sure they can be, but I thought that was the average. I guess it's what you said. Now that I'm typing this and actually thinking about it - it's just a ring. But tack on "wedding band" to it, and the price skyrockets.

It depends on what you want. I have this ($140) and DH wears this ($20). My ring was actually $20 less when we bought it. If you want something fancier, it will cost more.

plainjane0415

Thanks for the comments everyone.  I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks paying that kind of money for something like this is ridiculous.

jenna8984

@pinkcow13 Depends what the metal is. Solid gold rings were like 300-800. Mine is white gold with channel set diamonds for $700. DH's was tungsten for $120, lolo's husband got tungsten online for like $40.

OP, hell to the no! Dollar tree that shit! I said the same thing about card boxes- I was like why are these $150 on Etsy?? I got a suitcasey looking box for $8 from Marshalls.  

littlemushroom

We did a sand ceremony. You are not missing anything. Buy your own vases and call it a day.

We did buy a set from Michaels using a 40% off coupon which brought it down to the realm of not ridiculously over priced. The only extra thing we got was that our set came with a cover for the big vase so it can't spill and nothing gets in the vase.

KatieinBkln

plainjane0415 said:

KatieinBkln said:

This could be one of those things where I don't realize what I'm talking about because I don't do crafts and haven't seen/heard of a sand ceremony, but...buy the cheap vases and go about your day.

Google sand ceremony set.  And you'll see what I mean, and how ridiculous it is.

Um, no. No, wedding industry. NOT TODAY.

levioosa

Before I was even done reading your original post I was going to suggest the dollar tree. So...I'd say not tacky. Go right ahead. And flip the bird to those $75 vases while you do it.

novella1186

Also want to add, I wanted milk glass vases for my reception (I know I know, so annoyingly pinterest-y but I seriously did not know that at the time. Didn't even have a pinterest account at that point). I found some on Etsy-- a set of 5 for $60. I went to Goodwill and some other second-hand stores and flea markets. Bought 35 of them for probably less than $20. 

If buying essentially the same exact thing for a cheaper price at a discount store or wherever is tacky, then I'm glad to be the tackiest tack that ever tacked. 

southernbelle0915

I think it'd be cool to get a container you actually like. The containers you pour from don't have to be the same either. He could pick his and you could pick yours. 

They don't need to match and it might be cooler if they don't.

hellosweetie1015

plainjane0415 said:

KatieinBkln said:

This could be one of those things where I don't realize what I'm talking about because I don't do crafts and haven't seen/heard of a sand ceremony, but...buy the cheap vases and go about your day.

Google sand ceremony set.  And you'll see what I mean, and how ridiculous it is.

Apparently the most recent Duggar to marry had a sand ceremony. My sister was all, "OMG you GOTTA do one it's SO CUTE!"

FI and I have already discussed that shit. We are not cheezy people. The sand ceremony thing would end up shook up in a box in a basement somewhere. Keep that.

However, if "you are what you eat" is true... we are definitely cheesy people.

Maggie0829

You could probably go to the toy section of craft store and pick up a sand kit for like $20.

And really no offense here to anyone who is planning or has done a sand ceremony, but every time I see it I think back to my childhood where I would mix sand in layers at a local fair or buy using a kit my parents got me for my birthday.  I mean I get the significance (can't separate the grains of sand blah blah blah) but it really just makes me think of a toy/craft project for a kid rather then something for a wedding.

anjemon

southernbelle0915 said:

I think it'd be cool to get a container you actually like. The containers you pour from don't have to be the same either. He could pick his and you could pick yours. 

They don't need to match and it might be cooler if they don't.

I am liking and quoting because I really like this idea. Especially if you get a pretty vase that represents your style for you and a nice vase that represents his style for him.  Or something pretty and colored. Then it's even more meaningful and you can have multiple pieces you can use later for flowers or whatever you want.

And now I'm sort of wishing we were doing a sand ceremony. Although I know that the thing would only end up in a box somewhere down the line. But it could look so cute in pictures

plainjane0415

southernbelle0915 said:

I think it'd be cool to get a container you actually like. The containers you pour from don't have to be the same either. He could pick his and you could pick yours. 

They don't need to match and it might be cooler if they don't.

I like this idea a lot.

plainjane0415

Maggie0829 said:

You could probably go to the toy section of craft store and pick up a sand kit for like $20.

And really no offense here to anyone who is planning or has done a sand ceremony, but every time I see it I think back to my childhood where I would mix sand in layers at a local fair or buy using a kit my parents got me for my birthday.  I mean I get the significance (can't separate the grains of sand blah blah blah) but it really just makes me think of a toy/craft project for a kid rather then something for a wedding.

I'm totally with you..I was against it.. hardcore..  but I think FI got sucked in to the idea more than me.  He had a big change of heart and was all, I really want to do this, and I thought, how can I say no to that?

Second time he's been all sentimental and sweet in regards to planning (he's usually super practical, and not SUPER sentimental) the other time was when I asked if he wanted to do a first look, and he surprised me and said no, I want the first time I see you that day be when you walk down the aisle. 

I know those aren't super sentimental times, but his responses have surprised me I guess...

Just when you think you have them figured out.

plainjane0415

anjemon said:

southernbelle0915 said:

I think it'd be cool to get a container you actually like. The containers you pour from don't have to be the same either. He could pick his and you could pick yours. 

They don't need to match and it might be cooler if they don't.

I am liking and quoting because I really like this idea. Especially if you get a pretty vase that represents your style for you and a nice vase that represents his style for him.  Or something pretty and colored. Then it's even more meaningful and you can have multiple pieces you can use later for flowers or whatever you want.

And now I'm sort of wishing we were doing a sand ceremony. Although I know that the thing would only end up in a box somewhere down the line. But it could look so cute in pictures

Honestly, I don't know what we will do with it.  We may end up just shadow boxing it and keeping it in storage to pull out and reminisce over someday, I don't really know!

plainjane0415

Dollar Tree ftw!  3 vases, $3.25. 

ohannabelle

Yep. This is what I think of. 

plainjane0415

ohannabelle said:

Yep. This is what I think of. 

How awesome those were... ahh... childhood memories.

larrygaga

My friend did a sand ceremony and spent big bucks on it. It's regularly knocked over by various people and her dog. She eventually put it up out of sight so it doesn't lose all the sand.

I don't think it's tacky to cheap out. Nobody will ever know! And that's an extra dinner on your honeymoon or something!