Frustrated and mildly stressed out. Also, hi fellow September brides!

Re: Frustrated and mildly stressed out. Also, hi fellow September brides!

• ellone400 member

  

  January 2012

  We are having our wedding at Lakeside garden and rose park in fort Wayne because its a beautiful park. First its a matter of the permit and the hours and how many chairs do they allow.mine only allow 100.since its a park nothing can touch the ground.not even a aisle runner.we are only paying for drinks during thecocktail hour because most people invited don't drink.so it is perfectly accepted to have a dry wedding if you cannot afford the alcohol

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• mamameech

  

  January 2012

  Welcome!! 

  
  

  First thing, why would it have to be alcohol-free just because you're not paying for it? Maybe it's a canadian thing, but we pay for our own alcohol (other than wine at dinner) at most weddings.

  
  

  Second thing, find yourself a venue as soon as possible! The rest kinda depends on that. It's prob one of the biggest decisions because it involves figuring out # of guests, your budget and theme. Once that's decided the rest kinda falls into place.

  Another priority would be florist; they book up fast! Photographers do too!

  
  

  Hope that helps!! Good luck!!

  

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• jessa1228 member

  

  January 2012

  Welcome and congrats!

  
  

  If you ask most people on other boards, they'll tell you that having a cash bar is against etiquette and is rude because your guests shouldn't have to open their wallets at an event that you are hosting. I've been to 1 wedding that had a cash bar, and we didn't know ahead of time. I'll admit that I was taken aback, plus I didn't really have any cash on me anyway.

  
  

  However, I don't think cash bars are the end of the world. Like PP suggested, I think it would be a good idea if you gave your guests a heads up so that they are prepared to bring enough money.

  

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• morenachica110 member

  

  January 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2012-weddings_frustrated-mildly-stressed-out-also-hi-fellow-september-brides?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:a464c18c-2e4d-469b-8eae-3865079cb9cfDiscussion:72bc5272-c077-45ee-a296-74b836aae3c2Post:305e47c5-bed9-4350-a8d4-f382e07b3146">Re: Frustrated and mildly stressed out. Also, hi fellow September brides!</a>:
  [QUOTE]Welcome and congrats! If you ask most people on other boards, they'll tell you that having a cash bar is against etiquette and is rude because your guests shouldn't have to open their wallets at an event that you are hosting. I've been to 1 wedding that had a cash bar, and we didn't know ahead of time. I'll admit that I was taken aback, plus I didn't really have any cash on me anyway. However, I don't think cash bars are the end of the world. Like PP suggested, I think it would be a good idea if you gave your guests a heads up so that they are prepared to bring enough money.
  Posted by jessa1228[/QUOTE]
  
  <div>I ditto this. But FI and I want to supply as much as we can. We can't afford to have a bar, but we are buying enough beer and wine for everyone to have some. You would need to check with whatever venue, though, if you decide to do something like this. My venue will let us bring our own alcohol as long as we provide proof of insurance. I got a quote for about $90 for insurance.</div><div>
  </div><div>On the other boards, they say only host what you can afford, so if you can't afford alcohol, then have a dry wedding instead of a cash bar. But, personally, as a guest, I'd much much much rather have the option of at least paying for my own that nothing. IMHO dry weddings can get a little dull. But that's just been my experience around here.</div><div>
  </div><div>I also ditto PP about figuring out your budget first. That dictates pretty much everything you do in your wedding. Venue, guest list, food, etc. Also, I'm not having my wedding in a park, but we are having it at a barn. (Ceremony outside, reception inside) Make sure you have a rain plan cause it can happen to anyone. And tents can be expensive. Also make sure there's enough toilets. Also a place for food (if you need outlets for heating, etc)</div>

  
  
  9-22-12
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• SCogs18 member

  

  January 2012

  I was just a bridesmaid in a dry park wedding in early October.  Here is what I learned:
  
  1. It was cold.  If it's going to be chilly where you are getting married consider space heaters or a fire pit (the wedding I was in had a storm shelter for the reception and it had a fire place...not that it was used, but it would have been nice).
  
  2.  Use nature as your background.  The asile was a concrete path leading up to a gazebo.  All the bride had to rent was folding chairs for the ceremony.  The company came and set them up for her the morning of.
  
  3.  A lot of public parks don't allow alcohol, so even if you could afford it, you may be forced into having a dry wedding.
  
  4.  It was really short.  I don't know if it was because it was chilly or if it was because there was no booze or if it was because there was no dancing at the wedding I was in, but it was SHORT.  The whole thing, ceremony to end of reception, only lasted 2 hours.  People just started leaving
  
  5.  There will be strangers there.  In a public park, you can't control who wanders over.
  
  6.  Logistically, it was very hard to "hide" the bride before she walked down the aisle.
  
  7.  Factor in the wind when creating your cake and centerpieces and choosing linens.  The bride didn't weight down the table cloths and they flew up with a gust of wind and nocked over a center piece (the vase broke).
  
  Hope this helps!  Start with booking a venue and then move on to photographer (mine has been a huge resource to me and has made a lot of wonderful referrals).
  

  

  225 Invited so far!
  148 Are ready to party!
  77 Will be missing out!
  0 Are MIA!
  

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• MBeezKneez

  

  January 2012 edited January 2012

  Update!

  
  

  So last night my FI and I walked to a park less than 15 blocks from where we live. It is gigantic! There's a picnic area with 20 tables and an electricity source, and then right next to that is another picnic area with 10 tables arranged in a shape like this: ( ). There is also a massive grassy field about 20 feet away from that!

  
  

  To rent the 20 table area ALL DAY LONG (for the reception), serve alcohol, have music, and get a permt to have our wedding ceremony anywhere in the park that we like (such as the parentheses area, or the grassy one) will cost us a maximum of $850- including security deposit, special use permit, and liability insurance! Compared to the $2500 + fees, deposits, and other crap that we've been quoted from other venues, that is a bloomin' STEAL. That gives us an extra $1700 or so to work with, which is going to open up a lot more options for us for refreshments (including alcohol) and decorations. 

  
  

  We could actually pay for our venue, my dress, and his tux, straight up with our tax returns. Pretty sexy if you ask me!

  
  

  Soooo...I feel like we're finally pulling our budget together which makes me feel a whole hell of a lot happier. Now I'm just sorting out the guest list.... which looks like it can be a lot bigger than I had originally planned, and I am now a super happy bride to be.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

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