bounce some wedding ideas off you guys? I don't want to sound like I'm crazy, but FI and I have been thinking about ways we can cut down on wedding costs so we can make something happen sooner rather than later because we are tired of waiting on luck and just want to be married already. My grandparents have offered to help with costs, so we would like to present them with the options we are thinking about.
1. Synagogue Ceremony, Dinner After
We are friendly with the rabbis at a lovely synagogue, the one where FI took his conversion classes. We were granted special permission to have the ceremony there (we have a written agreement) but we cannot use any of the other facilities because we are not members of the congregation, so a reception there is not possible. Our favorite Japanese restaurant/sushi buffet has a private dining area, and this also happens to be the restaurant he proposed at. So we sent a price request to them, to see if they could accomodate us and how much it would cost. We are waiting on that, but we thought that would be a really special place to have our post-wedding dinner.
2. Beach Ceremony, Boardwalk Reception
FI and I have a lot of happy memories in this one beach town. He has been vacationing there with his family since he was a toddler. A great option, we thought, would be to have the ceremony on the beach (it would be BYOB - bring your own blanket...or chair) and then haved the dinner at a place on the boardwalk. There is a restaurant we like that has a private upstairs banquet hall with an ocean view. Their pictures are nice and the prices are reasonable. Then, we figure people can enjoy the boardwalk afterwards - go play games, go to a bar, go to the amusement park. I think it would be super fancified to strut the boardwalk in a wedding dress. Plus, this would be a super fun and casual thing to do. My only concern is that FI's sister did a wedding-on-the-beach-dinner-afterwards thing, and I don't want anyone to think we are copying her.
3. Still working on a third option.
I have heard suggestions like a backyard BBQ wedding but there is no way in heck FI's parents' backyard could accomodate us (our bare-bones guest list is 80 people. FI has a large family). We could find a place like a public park but I am worried about weather (which I know defeats the purpose of the beach wedding, but at least there would be places to go hide under if there is inclimate weather).
I would only consider a VFW or something similar if there was a nicely decorated space. I SUCK at decorating. Like, really suck. Plus, the cost of catering, decor, tablecloths, chairs, tables, all that extra stuff really adds up and if I was left in charge, the place would look like a 5 year old's birthday party.
So...that's it I guess. Sorry if I sound like an insane person. Feedback would be appreciated or any help or other ideas. Thanks
170 Invited (holy crap!)
98 are coming to party!
29 have other plans
43 need to respond!
"Bside - You're just too sexy for your own good" ~ leia1979
"True love = I still love you even though we hang out all the time and most other people would be tired of each other already" ~ flygirlmeg