Dollars and Cents (and Sense)

When assessing how much a celebration like this was going to cost, S and I made lists. Well, I made lists - S just shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Some immediate things we needed to consider were:

1. How many people? While S has a relatively small family, and would have been more than happy to elope, I have a lovely large (loud) family and wanted them all there to celebrate our day with us.

2. The ceremony location: the cathedral we ultimately decided on is booked about a year in advance. We had strongly considered an outdoor location, but the thought of getting rained out was seriously off-putting. The hassle of booking a tent and chairs for the possibility of rain (plus some kind of ground cover so our guests aren't standing in a pool of mud) wound up being too expensive for our budget.

3. The reception hall: we visited many halls. Our first choice was a hotel ballroom. It was a great location, had a lot of amenities, but also a lot of additional fees. Corkage fees, cake cutting fees, hall rental fees, catering fees (want coffee with that? It'll be an additional 2$/person) plus gratuities. Oh you wanted your cake cut too? That'll be an additional $2.95/person. Don't even get me started on the open bar!

Our second choice was the Italian club my parents have been part of for years. It was a smaller hall, didn't have any anterooms, but was so much easier to deal with. Catering for this many people? Then there is no hall rental fee! Cake cutting fee? What the hell is that? Dealing with a smaller hall made for a much more personal experience.


Opinion of Probable Cost: Wedding Style


At work I often have to assemble an Opinion of Probable Cost (OPC) for different building projects - adding up different materials and labour costs, plus a contingency and taxes, to figure out what a project might add up to.

Wedding Cost Estimate

I adjusted the costs to reflect typical costs in my area, while still allowing for some contingency money. It adds up fast! As we begin to pay for things, I'll update the 'Actual Cost' column to track our spending. Poor S just about had a heart attack when I showed him! I'm really glad we have two years to figure this out...

The Proposal

Three things crossed my mind when S proposed to me.

1. Oh! I'm the happiest girl in the world!

2. I can't wait to tell my friends and family!

and

3. How the hell are we going to pay for a wedding?

It's been a month since then. 

I spent the time calling different halls, churches, inns. I researched destination weddings - because eloping would be a welcome relief to S, who is now faced with having two hundred of my loud Italian relatives descend on him at our wedding. Poor guy, but I did warn him what he was getting in to.

Our guest list stands around 250. Our hastily established wedding bank account now contains $710.58. Possible? Not remotely!

I have 25 months before the wedding. This is my todo list:

1. Earn, beg, borrow, or steal around $25 000.

2. Find a FABULOUS used dress and alter it to fit my curvy frame. But who knows? Possibly over the next two years I'll find a way to afford an adorable vintage one?

3. Take engagement photos. Find someone to do it for free. Wait to print pictures until after the wedding is paid off.

4. Make 'Save the Date' cards. I'm thinking photobooth pictures, kisses and silliness and big signs reading "We're getting married!!"

5. Make wedding invitations. Recycled paper? Only if I'm recycling it myself!

6. Make Bridemaid's gifts: Little do those lovely women know, but I've acquired some gorgeous hot pink T-Shirts that I will paint. Glitter will likely be involved, they will be sensationally girly, and I can see them squirming with horror already. (real Bridesmaids gifts will be involved, more research to follow)

7. Design table centrepieces - I'm thinking re-purposed old bottles and vases, painted multiple shades of purple? I love this idea already!

8. Wedding cake. I can bake, fairly well, and I can decorate (also fairly well) so reasonably I should be able to decorate my own cake, right? I shall immediately start baking 'test' cakes and decorating them fabulously. Poor S, he has a lot of taste testing to do.

9. Make wine. Investigate wine kits sales. Luckily our hall has no corkage fees! Heck yes for lucky breaks!

10. Thank you cards - make them? Buy them? Wholesales?

11. Design seating chart. I can't wait to figure out who gets to sit with S's grandmother!

12. Put together music playlist. This will be fun.

13. Find Bridesmaids dresses. I want my fabulous girls decked out in purple, with different styles to suit each one. We're going to have fun with this one!

14. Coordinate wedding rings. Diamonds? No diamonds? S loves the idea of tungsten rings. All the rage or a passing phase?


That's enough todo list for now. Thoughts?