Simple or Bust

Weddings can be very simple or as dramatic as ever. Sticker shock on purchases for a wedding can outrageous! Having been through MANY weddings and our own marriage of 3 1/2 years, it's amazing what you think of after the fact.

My suggestions to those that are planning a wedding would be to spend the money on what you will use and cherish in future years. For example, photography, in my mind was a high priority. Rings were another of the higher priorities. We had a fall wedding and I purchased a variety of greenery for cheap on the internet. I borrowed a decorative arch for the doorway and put my greenery w/ lights around it. I borrowed lattice that had been passed around for many different weddings to put up along the wall, and put lights running around the top of it. I had also purchased tulle on the internet for a very reasonable price. Our decorating was simple in terms of time and planning, yet we had a lot of comments on how lovely it looked. Fall was the time of year that worked best for both my husband and I, but I would have loved a summer wedding!

I love the outdoors, and there are so many things you are able to do with a wedding during summer months. If I was to redo it all over again, I'd love to have a wedding in my backyard. I'm a firm believer that simple elegance is much nicer than overdoing it. Keep in mind the debt load a high majority of newly weds acquire after marriage. Leaving a huge financial burden and a testing marriage from the get-go. Just what we need these days!

I love trying new flowers, bulbs, bushes. Garden archways are very reasonable to purchase and you are able to decorate them in so many different ways. Borrow tables from your local church, fire hall, school, or friends and family. Use friends and neighbors experience at what they love to do. If you're grandma is an avid gardener and is on a tight budget, by all means, give her some guidance on what you're looking for and let her help you out! You'll be thankful in the end!

There are so many "last minute" details to complete, that if you're not too particular, find a friend that loves to decorate. Give them some guidelines and let them run with it. It will surely be more spontaneous for you and your new husband to be. An extra added bonus when you're not having rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, fixing what didn't work right the first time for decorating and getting that much needed sleep for the big day.

Click here for some help on garden archway ideas. If you look around there is also a variety of other backyard ideas like ponds and outdoor lighting ideas.