maybe

you noticed, maybe you didn't. I recently took the budget off of my blog. My first budget was $8k. ha. We mulled over the guest list, we decided we actually wanted some people to show up. We wanted a wedding INSIDE our city limits. okaaaaay. 10k. Do you want me to count the rings? How about the fact that I bought not one, but two wedding dresses. Do I add in both of those? What about my monthly facials, I started them before I got engaged, but if you think I'm not going to continue them right up until... and the skin care products. How 'bout my gym membership? And the fact that when we couldn't send our save-the-dates as postcards, I used half glassine envelopes that I had for 9 years, and half that G threw out the receipt for, because I was stressing about spending more money on them than I intended. the boy seems to believe that a lot of the little things, like stamps and envelopes early on don't really count because they are small expenditures that can be absorbed into the beer and movie budget. No we haven't seen a lot of theater movies lately, and G started drinking Miller high life instead of microbrews. no big.

So, lets say I do make it under 10k. What does it mean to you? How does it help you budget your wedding? Unlike some bloggers, I don't have best friends who are wedding planners that get industry discounts. I don't have best friends that do letterpress. I don't have best friends that do catering. I don't have a family member with the most gorgeous, large backyard I've ever seen. If my backyard were triple the size, I would be having it in my own backyard.

I just read this TenThousandOnly post. She went over the 10k and she's not sure she wants to share her final cost. Many are up-in-arms about this. The thing is, I'm just under three months out and I'm realizing there are compromises and times when it is so much better to spend a little extra money instead of sobbing over a photographer who flakes or wilted handmade bouteniers.

We all make choices based on who we are and what we want. The first bridal magazine that I bought was Seattle Bride. Why? because it had a venue resource guide in the back that gives price guides including catering demands. Now if someone would just do that for area bridal gown retailers, photographers, florists, hair and make-up salons, invitation designers and printers, and whatever else I'm not thinking of...

If we could just help each other compile a list of cost ranges so we wouldn't all have to waste so much time doing the kinds of research that we hate. so we wouldn't get duped into putting on 10k dresses, and getting ridiculous quotes for "bridal hair". I've heard $75 for a bridal bouquet and I've heard $250. I'm making my own (supposedly) so that won't help you if you want to pay for one.

the point: I don't need or want your wedding total. I want how to make mine cost less, and still get what I want.

Then maybe we could relax a little and spend more time reading our blogs and adoring pretty things which is all we really want to do anyway.

something pretty:

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