Poll - Married Knotties - Was it worth it?

Sara191431

So my FI and I keep on going back and forth on either having a somewhat big wedding here or going to Vegas for a small wedding and have a really nice honeymoon in Hawaii.

Quesion is, if you had the big wedding here, was it worth it?  Would you have rather of done something like our Vegas/HI thought?

I've always wanted a big wedding, but when I say big for us it will be about 150-200 people, budget is around $6,000ish (hoping that will be max!), so I'm not saying we'll have some extavagant wedding but even spending that for one day as people say seems like a lot.  We will be paying for the majority of everything ourselves.  So back to the question, if you could do it again would you do the same?

Thanks ladies!

akstanl

We aren't having a DW in Vegas, but we are having a very small wedding, approximately 45 guests and whenever people ask how big of a wedding and I tell them the overwhelming response I get is that they wish they would have had a small wedding or that it is great that we're doing it that way.

emilyj77

We had 275 people at our wedding here in the cities and it was fabulous. I wouldn't change it for anything. I always wanted a big wedding, so a destination wedding really wasn't an option for us. It is the only time in your life when all of the people you love and care about (and who love and care about you) are in the same room, from both your side and his.

We love to entertain and this was of course the biggest party of our lives. It was a lot of money for one day, but it never bothered me to be spending it on friends and family. Our goal was to make sure that everyone had a good time, and from all of the positive feedback we've received I think we succeeded. What better way to start your new life out than to be surrounded by friends and family?

If you're worried about spending all of that money on one day and you think you'll regret it, then just go get married in Hawaii and have your honeymoon in the same trip.

Good luck deciding!

supersalwa

For us it was less about having a small vs. big wedding - from the very start we wrote out the guest list based on who we really wanted to celebrate with. For that reason alone we ruled out a destination wedding right away, and although it sounds terribly romantic to get married on a beach somewhere, I wouldn't change it for the world!

LittleSweetie

We loved our wedding and wouldn't change a thing because it was US.  I'd say follow your hearts/instincts, and have the wedding you've always envisioned and see yourselves enjoying most.  If a big wedding intimidates you, don't do it.  If you want everyone there, maybe a DW isn't for you.  Follow your gut!

hkiesling

I agree with supersalwa.  We ended up with 120 people think it was totally worth it.  I loved sharing the day with our family and friends. 

Also, I didn't think of the wedding as just a day for us.  The marriage is for us, but the wedding is also for your family.  My dad's relatives aren't super close, but so many showed for our wedding.  Sometimes weddings and funerals are the only time people come together, and I'd much rather it be for a wedding.

threemarie24

We are doing a DW in Vegas! look at my bio, what I like about it is it will be a DW in Vegas, not a Vegas wedding. We invited about 100 people, and we think about 45 will come down. When first planning a DW we knew there would be people (grandparents) who couldnt fly down, and although it is hard, that is what we picked, what is nice is when we get back we will have them over and we will watch the DVD with them, as well as tell them the experiences. 

Like PP's do what is right for YOU, I would ask some VIP's that you really want at the wedding, and if they reply with "wherever you get married we will be there" Great! --you might also get a reply that you wont like..they know they wont be able to make it, but if you give them enough time they might be able to afford it!?

We first budgeted $10k for everything (including the honeymoon-Mexican Rivera straight from Vegas-driving to CL) and we will end up paying just about $13K...you also have to look at your budget, and your "needs" 

I have 28 days until my wedding, I am just a lump of ramble, feel free to ask away!

MichellePete

I'm with supersalwa also.  We debated about going someplace by ourselves and getting married.  But in the end, family won out for us.  When I sat down and figured out who I wanted at the wedding, who I wanted to celebrate with us, the list was too big for a destination.  We invited about 135 and ended up with about 95 and it was perfect.  Mostly family - a few friends and I wouldn't change it.

Sara191431

Thanks for all the opinions and thoughts ladies!  We had a long chat and decided to have a wedding here, basically due to what everyone was saying:)  I knew what my guy was telling me from the beginning but to hear you guys say that it was worth it for you, is just nice to hear and a little reassuring:)

We actually put a hold on the Landmark Center today so that will be the place, very excited! 

Oh and another very cool thing happened to me today, I won $1,000 on KDWB!!!  I'm like hmm that must be a sign, sign being - here's $1,000 to help ease the wedding sticker shock!:)

Thanks again ladies!

LittleSweetie

Oh my gosh, congratulations!  I won $1k on KDWB when I was in college - I didn't know how I would have paid my rent that month without it! 

One thing that helped us during planning was putting money in an online savings account every month.  We found that FNBO Direct had the best rates, better than ING or any of the banks.  We basically paid for our ceiling draping and candy buffet with the interest

You will love the Landmark Center - great choice.  Chap0188 had a beautiful wedding there last winter - be sure to check out her pics!

Sara191431

Thanks!  Yeah winning couldn't be any better timing!  Lol, on the rent.  Then I did my taxes last night and I'm getting almost double back what I thought I was getting which will be saved for the wedding.  I'm like hmm, man we could go on a mean vaca right now with all this.  I normally spend any extra money in vacas and what not so actually saving all my taxes etc. is definitely different for me, ha, but it will be worth it;) 

Great tip on the online savings acoount, def. looking into that tonight!  We also pushed our date back to get the Landmark to Sept. 2011, so that will give us more time to save/plan.  I've actually been talking with Jen (Chap), and her wedding is what really swayed me, totally my style!  I'll have to start setting up a bio soon.  Would like to see other pics from other brides that have had their wedding there, to see how they set everything up etc., so I'll have to do some looking.

Have a great day LS!

leggwilliams

Yay for Sept 2011! That's when I'm getting married too! Make sure to check out the Sept 2011 boards!

Sara191431

Woo hoo for the Sept. 2011 brides!  I will def.check out the 2011 board.  Fun fun:)