Let's see... I wish we hadn't spent the money on so many disposable cameras. They were supposed to be for candid shots of the wedding and such but the hippie kids at the hostel pretty much took goofy pictures of each other with all of them. Out of 10 cameras we maybe got 30 pictures of us and people we know.

Renting plates and tables and cloths and all that stuff was totally worth it since we weren't at a hall or anything. I would pay that money again just to have them set everything up and take it down. And we only lost one fork!

For example, my mom ran into one of our family friends (who I've never liked) and told her that I was getting married, and the friend immediately started offering all kinds of help in the planning process (which is fine). But then she said that I should make sure to have a non-pork or a non-shrimp dish so that she and the other "kosher guests" would have something to eat.

I'm Jewish, but the thing is, I don't even know any kosher people, except her, and I wasn't planning on inviting her! So who are these kosher guests she is referring to? We will be having some vegetarian guests, so we'll definitely have some vegetarian-friendly food, but her "kosher guests" comment was a bit presumptuous. Or maybe I'm just grumpy today.

i'm REALLY picky -- if i had more time to plan, i would've gone insane with all the details having to be perfect, etc. and hubby is happy-go-lucky and is the type to wait till the last minute.

we spent the majority of our $ on food and booze, we picked out and cooked everything ourselves -- and friends helped us w/ cooking too (hubby is a chef and distrusts caterers and servers).

Edited because I meant to add that if you are involved with any volunteer groups or charities and don't like the idea of wedding presents of whatever...ask them to donate money to your favorite charity or group.

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Originally posted by crowjoy:
Back to the food, I started out intending to do my own but quickly realized I would drive myself insane and it wouldn't save me any money after renting chafing dishes and such.

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those things are so expensive to rent! and dishes and silverware, too...

we had our wedding at my MIL's house -- she let us use her plates, but we had to buy a whole lotta wine glasses. ended up getting some non-crystal ones on sale at ikea, and we just kept them afterwards.

we also solved the chafing-dish prob by not having one -- some friends and our parents grilled steaks/salmon/chicken/shrimp in the backyard and we just piled it onto large platters right off the grill. as for other stuff, we had salmon mousse, veggies, salad, potatoes -- we made them in advance. some of it we served cold or at room temp, the other stuff we nuked really fast and them put it on platters. not the most elegant thing to do, but it worked.

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Originally posted by meredithva:
I can't help but post this dress for all to enjoy. I wonder how much it weighs!?

[This message has been edited by meredithva (edited 09-09-2002).]

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so you'll be going for that then, will you?

I've never been married myself but obviously I'm not going to let that stop me sticking my oar in. 2 years does sound like an awfully long time to wait (and, as you say, squabble). A year seems about right, IMHO.

And I don't think you have to do fall into the trap of doing all the traditional breeder hoopla (please don't anyone be offended, I'm only joking). I think it's the vows that really matter - if you write your own with all the care and depth they deserve, they are what will make everyone realise that this is a serious, honourable commitment they are witnessing.

Perhaps if student photographers come cheap, you could get more than one? That way, if one decides to experiment with an arty style that lops everyone's heads off, you've still got another set of films.

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Originally posted by ralphyr:
My sis's wedding is next Saturday, it is informal with just a celebrant and a reception afterwards. She showed me her dress. My parents are going to be pretty shocked. It is an off the shoulder dusty pink mini dress with fur trim. She is going to be wearing a doggy collar (with diamantes) with a doggy-tag with her new hubby's name on it!! Oh yeah she is nearly 5 months with child. They are not even getting married in Grace Land.

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Originally posted by Sophie:
Ralphyr, I thought you said in your Host thread that your sister was going for minimalist and tasteful? How on earth does a rhinestone dog collar fit with that?

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*rolls on the floor cracking up*
Sophie, I can only put it down to the pregnancy hormone thing that she is suffering. She wants to look like a sexy kitten. The girl who is doing her hair & makeup is the stylist who got Kylie go go from permed to straight all those years ago. These postings are sounding worse & worse, I might have to stop posting till after. Big promises on the photo's.

Mum and Dad to teenager's first girlfriend/boyfriend: "Here, just let me show you these photos of our kid on the potty when s/he was a baby"
Teenager: "Ha! I dare you! If you do that I'm going to email your wedding photos to all your colleagues! and our neighbours! They'll think you're perverts and move away!"

The wedding thing is going to be on a ferry and the ceremony is being done by the ship's captain (who also does Elvis weddings).

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Originally posted by PB&J:
rumor78: it is not at all unusual to have the children of the to-be-married couple in the ceremony where I am from. I think it is a wonderful idea. You are a family, and this is a family occasion--why wouldn't your baby be a part of it?

Now, may I change the subject for a minute? I am four weeks away from my wedding day, and I have not talked to my MOH since June. I am getting a little ticked. Everything that I have needed help with I have either done by myself, or enlisted the help of friends. (thank goodness for them) I am getting so stressed that I am losing sleep, and am getting so tired of the wedding, that a JP (or my fiancee's stepmom the judge) is looking mighty tempting. She overloaded herself by aggreeing to stand up in two other weddings besides mine this summer so I hear about all the things she is doing for her other brides. Whenever I ask for help she doesn't have time. I hate to sound selfish, but I am sick and tired about hearing how demanding her other friends are. She seems to have no trouble saying "No" to me, why can't she say "No" to them sometimes?
Thanks for letting me rant. I hope no one else is having this problem. Well, I am off to hot-glue tiny flowers on to tiny bottles of bubbles now...alone.

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The reception went wonderfully. The food was excellent, the conversation (and wine) flowed and the music was great. We hired a violinist from the University in our city to provide a little atmosphere, since we did not have a dance.

I don't regret having a dance for a second. Instead of crashing at our suite in the middle of the night, we actually got to relax and TALK to each other. (in our private hot tub, of course)
Another thing I am quite proud of is having a putting green at the reception. Instead of annoying glass clinking to get us to kiss, we had our guests sink a putt. After the novelty wore off, it kept the kids occupied so their parents could talk.
If you are familiar with my previous posts about my MOH, you all must know how she came through for me. So calm and effiecient, I could not have gotten through the day without her. (or the night-before meltdown I had) Our best man was also perfect for the same reasons.
I am just counting the sleeps to my cruise now! (when I get wedding pics, I'll post them if anyone wants)

Edited to add: Brookiebaby: THANK YOU for your sage advice. I kept your words in my head on my wedding day. (especially when a friend called me up the night before to tell me "its not too late to back out") Thanks to everyone. We really have a good thing here, don't we?

so here are our options
choice #1 - get married at some tropical carribean location on the beach with only closest friends and few family

choice #2 - get married at the botanical gardens outside and then have the reception outside too with all the beautiful flowers and plants