Another reason why imaginary timelines and pretend budgets aren't a good idea...

CCO2012

Timeline: wedding in September 2012 ( he has an idea that's what I want) Budget: $20,000 (thank god this is the actual budget, saved by my parents since my last engagement. hopefully I can save more since pur wedding will likely be expensive since we are foodies!) Also we are buying a house first, we are splitting the downpayment and mortgage, but his credit will be way better before the wedding and mine gets counted in.

jdrose5

My timeline---

FI said he wanted a house for us before we got engaged.  That he wanted to know he could provide a place big enough for my kids and us.   I told him that was all well and good but I just couldn't bring myself to move in with him if we were not at least engaged.  So I figured the timeline was around the time the house was almost done he would ask me to marry him . 

I actually want a pre-nup that the house is his.  I figure that will put his parents at ease.  The land the house is being built on has been in his family for 3 generations.   The house would be his if something were to happen. 

Well he has not even started work on the house yet and he asked me to marry him last weekend!   So there goes the timeline.  LOL  

Now he really would like to get married around the time I move in.  He doesn't want the kids to move during a school year.  So the timeline (if all goes according to plan) is to have the house done before next summer.   Then have us get married next September. 

Budget for wedding--  Depends on my dad.  My grandmother has this ideal wedding she wants for me.  I would be willing to do that for her.   However her dream is not in my budget.  My dad said a year ago that he would pay for my wedding if I did things her way.  I am fine with that.  However I don't expect my dad to do that.   So my plan is to sit down with my dad and step-mom.  Talk to them, find out exactly what my grandmother wants.   Figure out what I can do in my budget and then if they want more of what she wants, they can choose if they want to supplment the budget or not.  I don't think my dad realizes exactly what my grandmother wants will really cost.   Also Granny might be willing to scale back what she wants for budget.  Because my Granny is like me, she likes to dream big but then when it comes time for it is very practical.   So I am thinking my budget will be somewhere between $5,000-$15,000