This is my first post as a knottie, though I've been on the bump under a different name. And if it seems like I post and run, I'm not. Both my 18month old and my 8wk old got shots today, so they are insanely cranky.
My FI (38) and I (32) are planning a very casual wedding for October of 2017. We'd rather it be this year, but we are moving ourselves and 5 kids across the country in a couple of months. Financially, it just works better for the next year. I know I don't really need to be planning this early, but I love planning and making all the lists! I love lists. I'll chill out over the next week or two. Apologies in advance, I'm an over-explainer.
Guest list: total of 60 people on it. That includes us, the photographer, and extra spots for currently singles to gain SOs. We only expect 45 people, because no one on FI's side will come except his mom (99% sure) but I'm still planning as if we'll have 60. Better too much than not enough.
Budget: $4k
Venue: $200 It's just a building at the back of a local park. It has a kitchen, ice machine, bathrooms, tables, and chairs (plenty!). My family has used it several times for bigger family parties (40-50 people) so I know it will work. October is busy in the area, so I already have a ($100) deposit on it.
Food: $600 It's a meal that my mom and I usually make for large family gatherings a few times a year, either in this building or at my mom's house, so doing it ourselves is no problem. My invite list is pretty much everyone that comes to these larger gatherings, so I know the food will go over well and how much it usually costs. No special food restrictions to think about. We're doing a sheet cake from a local store and assorted cookies for dessert. Tea, lemonade, water, and sodas. Venue doesn't allow alcohol, and my heavily southern Baptist family wouldn't expect it anyway.
Favors: $200 Mom and I make homemade jelly every summer for the last 15yrs, so next summer we plan to make an extra 60 jars of blueberry and cherry jellies, cover the lids with cloth/ribbon, and have them on the tables as part of the décor as well. $200 is WAY more than we'll need, but it's just in case something happens to one of our canners between now and then.
Clothes: $500 total for everyone. I'll either wear a midnight blue or burgundy dress that I find closer to then. My 3 dds (ages 18 months, 9, 13 in 2017) will be wearing simple dresses of the opposite color that mom and I will make. FI and my 2 ds (3 and 14) will be wearing charcoal slacks and a TBD color dress shirt.
Décor/Dishes: $500 Everything from decorations to dishes to table clothes. Keeping it super simple. Already priced everything out and added cushion.
Invites/Stamps: $150
Music: No dancing, just ipod playing background music over the room's system.
Pictures: $200 A girl I used to babysit is now a photography student at SCAD, and she has offered to do our pictures for next to nothing for practice. I'm aware they may turn out...not great, but I'm okay with that if it happens. If she backs out, I may or may not see about hiring an established professional.
Obviously I have room left in my budget for extras of if something falls through. What I'm I forgetting?