Small Winter Wedding.. Ideas?

Re: Small Winter Wedding.. Ideas?

• mbcdefg member

  

  October 2009

  If you avoid a mealtime (usually stating around 5-7 p.m.), you can serve cake and coffee. Or you can do light appetizers or small sandwiches/wraps. Go to some local supermarkets and delis, pick up their catering menus and see what you can afford.  If you want alcohol, buy some wine and beer and serve that. You can buy sodas and bottled water at wholesale clubs to save money. If you need cocktail hour foods, get a platter of fruit and vegetables and cheese cubes at a supermarket. If you want a full meal, again look at local shops' catering menus, or maybe try Boston Market's website. You don't need a theme, and you may drive yourself crazy if you try to stick to one. Just use things you like and don't do anything wacky that won't "go" with everything else, and you'll be fine. Candles make pretty and inexpensive centerpieces, or borrow some vases from loved ones (or buy them from thrift shops), buy some farmer's market flowers and put them in the vases.Do you have a laptop? Make an iTunes playlist and borrow/rent some sound equipment and use that for the entertainment. Or use a radio with a CD changer. If you're on a budget, I'd skip the favors. They are not at all required and nobody will miss them. Put that money toward food and drinks instead. If you really want to offer something, bake some cookies or make some chocolates at home. People like edible stuff, usually.

  

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• cowgirl_tarr member

  

  October 2009

  For the centerpiece you could do candles or branches sprayed silver you could even hang snowflakes from them. As for the theme being over done I have yet to go to a winter wedding so I would say its not. For favors you could give away small bags of coco or a winter blend of coffee.

  

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• aerinpegadrak member

  

  October 2009

  Check out the latest issue of Brides magazines, they have some cool winter wedding ideas.  They're probably pretty expensive, but they should get you thinking.One of my favorite ideas they brought up was an evergreen wedding, where you use a lot of green and brown along with the white to evoke a snow-covered forest feel.  You could decorate with a lot of branches, pinecones, and berries, which would be way cheaper than flowers and really easy to DIY.Brides had a pinecone bouquet that I absolutely adored.  They said that it cost $150, but I'm positive that you could make the same thing with supplies from Michael's for under $30.

  This is a neglected planning bio.
  This is a belated married bio, with no reviews yet because I'm lazy.
  
  
  Sometimes I feel like people think that brides are delicate little flower princesses who get all dressed up and pretty for one special moment of their dreams, when really they're just normal people who just happen to be getting married. Things shouldn't have to be sugar-coated for grown-ass women. -mstar284

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• Catwoman708 member

  

  October 2009

  If you are on a tight budget, I'd suggest you sink most of your money into the essential elements, and forgo most of the non-essential or one use items. Essential elements are: simple attire, the marriage license and officiant, simple flowers, food and drink, music, and some minimal decorations. Non essential elements: one use items (aisle runner, flower girl baskets, unity candles/sand cermony stuff, guest book, cake serving set, toasting flutes, cake toppers, etc..), any paper decorations/balloons, favors, programs, etc... Plus, Legion and VFW halls are typically notoriously tacky looking, so you could spend a small fortune to "dress them up" and it would still look lame. No offense intended (my own reception was at such a place). I've been to many a fun party at a Legion or VFW. They pour some good, cheap drinks, lol. Most VFWs and Legion halls I've ever been to are big into decorating for the holidays, and would likely have some tablecloths and decorations of their own. And most have a Ladies Auxiliary. I would suggest you contact the Ladie's Auxiliary, and see if they would accept a modest (tax deductible) donation to use anything they might have on hand, like tablecloths, decorations, dishes/tableware, candles, etc.... For an additional donation, maybe you could wrangle some volunteers to help decorate, set up and clean up. They might even have a juke box, or know of an affordable DJ or band, might have sound equipment and lighting, and a dance floor.

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• babyjojo928

  

  October 2009

  Thanks everyone. My issue at the moment is the where... all the friends and family have been asked (politely) and they have all had some excuse as to why we can't do it there. Everyone keep suggesting a hotel they know, etc, at which point I GENTLY remind them that we don't have the $500 or whatever the amount is for the deposit. A friend (who is a cook) has volunteered to make the reception food as a gift to us, I have another friend who is making great invites for us... the only problem is where!

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