Newly engaged and looking for advice!

Re: Newly engaged and looking for advice!

• Shaki

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  hey and congrats!!!
  
  its your wedding you can plan however you want, the only thing about doing it in a field would be like what time of year because you hope it woudln't rain that day so you would need a back up plan and things that if you haven't thought of that already.

  Report0 Reply
• mhuesser2 member

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  Congrats! My fiance and i had a long engagement as well and the one thing that helped us was to book everything as early as possible. We were able to lock in 2008 prices for our 2010 wedding. it saved alot of money.
   I defintly suggest thinking about the weather because even if it rains the day before that field could still be muddy or squishy. but other then that enjoy being engaged it is so much fun.
  Also if your doing the little things like including an asle runner, candels and such. I would suggest getting all of that before the year mark you wouldnt believe how much that adds up too.
   

  Report0 Reply
• demeoja member

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  Thanks so much.  Yeah, I am thinking I will have to have a tent as a back-up incase the weather is isn't great.  I was thinking of just contacting some local farmers and ask if we could rent their property for an afternoon.  I'm sure we will have to rent portable restrooms in that case, but someone posted on one of the boards about a rental company that has nice porta pottys- flushable with sinks.  I know, not the most desirable thing to talk about, but I have to be practical!
  
  In regards to booking in advance to save money... I haven't thought of that!  This is a good way to get my fiance more interested in making arrangements now!  And that for the advice to consider the aisle runner and other small things like that.  It is easy to forget about the small things when there is still so much to do!
  
  Thanks for the support.  It is nice to talk to people that are in/ have been in the same boat!
  

  Report0 Reply
• psu2002

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  Congrats!  I sounded just like you when i first got engaged   I wanted laid back, non-traditional and just a fun party!!  Well, the more and more research I did I found out that to have a 'classy' wedding outdoors is way more expensive than having it in a venue.  Again, when i say that I took into consideration formal dining, glasswear (not plastic), linen tablecloths, tents with walls (in case of bad weather), generators for electricity, porta potties, chairs, tables, kitchen-like area to prep food, etc.  So my point is if you want to have a fun, casual, laid back BBQ style wedding go for it and enjoy it and your guests will love it.  BUT, if you want to have it 'classy' then the costs sure do add up quickly!  And, my parents have a horse farm so we even had the space to do it and it was going to be much more expensive than a venue.  That's my two cents:)  You have plenty of time to decide and just enjoy planning....it really goes so fast!

  Report0 Reply
• demeoja member

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  Thanks for the advice psu2002.  I think I have to be a little realistic considering we will have a small budget.  I am willing to do a lot of the work myself considering how much time I have to plan (linens, etc.), but the things like the generators aren't negotiable.
  
  So the other idea would be to find an off-beat venue.  If anyone has any ideas keep me posted.  In the mean time, I have a lot more research to do!
  
  Thanks again!

  Report0 Reply
• demeoja member

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  I am looking into Abington Art Center.  I used to teacher there, and the area if beautiful.  We'll see!

  Report0 Reply
• lmparlett member

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  Check into some of the wedding venues, you will find that some of the "less posh" ones can be very affordable in comparison to doing it yourself and paying for all the things that the previous post suggested. 
  
  Look into a few of these places, and if you are willing to do it in an off-season, or a Fri or Sun, you can get even better deals:
  
  Elite Catering at the Coliseum
  Paris Catering
  Shannon's Country House
  
  Some of them have great packages. I am not sure of the actual price at Paris, but their packages include everything.  Bar, cake, DJ... the works and I have heard they are really reasonable. 
  
  So if you are thinking of doing a field just for budget, I would look into these choices.  If you are doing it because it fits your style better, than thats a different story! : ) 
  
  Good luck!

  

  Report0 Reply
• noelwellin

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  Congrats! I'm recently engaged as well, and it's a very exciting/stressful time when it  comes to making some decisions.  Before I say anything else, just remember that rain is not the only type of undesirable weather!  I went to a wedding a few years ago in June that was outdoors.  In 90+ degree heat with no shade whatsoever.  It was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but the heat was unbearable; some people were so hot they had to go inside and miss half the ceremony!
  
  As for regular venues that are relatively inexpensive, I just received Tomasello winery's package pricing.  Their packages start at about $45 per person, alcohol not included.  If you're planning on open bar, a friend of mine got info from a liquor store that would do a wedding package for about $12 a head (I'm not sure where though).  Most of those places will let you return any unopened liquor when you're wedding is over, too. 
  
  Best of luck! 
  

  
  my read shelf:
  

  Report0 Reply