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I got married two weeks ago for less than that. Aemon Send a noteboard - 12/12/2011 09:56:43 PM
Which is not meant as a one-up, more of a "hang in there." ;) I know it's nerve-wracking to break away from well established traditions, but just do whatever makes the two of you happy. Trust me, when all is said and done, you'll be surprised at the reactions you get. A lot of the people that I most expected to have a hard time with the non-traditional parts of my wedding were actually the most complimentary afterwards. A lot of my old, tradition-bound (or so I thought) relatives told me that mine was the best wedding they'd ever been to, and they loved how fresh, comfortable and original things were.

Anyway, do what you need to in order to have a good time, and everyone else will come around.

As far as budget, I'm sure you've noticed by now that food and space are going to be your two biggest expenses. For my wedding, we cut those costs down by having the wedding and reception at the same place (rented a place on a lake and had the wedding on the huge deck over the water, then the reception in the attached conference room), and having friends and family prepare the food for us. I know that sounds like a big imposition, but with the right menu, it's actually not too much work. We had pot roast (leave in the oven for a few hours the night before, then heat up the day of), soup (buy giant bags of soup from Panera, and put in crockpots), salad (buy large pre-made bags from Costco), rolls (also bought in bulk from Panera), etc. The pot roast was the only thing that really needed to "cook," and the entire meal for 150+ people was prepared on the day of the wedding in less than two hours.

I'm not sure any of the above really helps you much, but I figured you might be interested in the experience of someone who was very recently in the same position. Good luck! :)
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So it turns out that weddings are expensive... - 12/12/2011 04:24:17 PM 1756 Views
I am looking to drop about a grand on my son's rehearsal dinner *NM* - 12/12/2011 04:42:53 PM 453 Views
It is avoidable, but people will treat you like you're a nutcase if you don't do most of the things - 12/12/2011 05:02:14 PM 795 Views
my first wedding was in church with a pretty dress and a preacher - 12/12/2011 06:12:02 PM 740 Views
We had a pretty dress and a notary public in the courtyard of the B&B. - 12/12/2011 09:36:52 PM 781 Views
If I had it to all over again I would have formed a Rock Band and dated supermodels *NM* - 13/12/2011 04:20:28 PM 421 Views
*NM* - 22/12/2011 10:15:04 PM 422 Views
Heh. - 12/12/2011 05:29:19 PM 854 Views
Re: Heh. - 12/12/2011 06:02:44 PM 763 Views
Re: Heh. - 12/12/2011 06:44:30 PM 919 Views
Re: Heh. - 12/12/2011 07:27:16 PM 858 Views
We kept it to about $5000 also (including cost of rings). - 12/12/2011 06:06:54 PM 818 Views
I would say our wedding was about that. - 12/12/2011 06:45:46 PM 981 Views
I feel like they only have to be expensive if you let them be. - 12/12/2011 07:07:59 PM 845 Views
I got married two weeks ago for less than that. - 12/12/2011 09:56:43 PM 905 Views
Congrats - 12/12/2011 10:03:35 PM 748 Views
Thanks! - 13/12/2011 02:53:11 PM 754 Views
You've been holding out on us. Congratulations. *NM* - 13/12/2011 12:02:39 AM 472 Views
Honestly, I didn't think anyone would care. - 13/12/2011 03:08:44 PM 729 Views
Congratulations, my friend. - 13/12/2011 03:21:22 PM 685 Views
Thanks. - 13/12/2011 06:38:59 PM 800 Views
Acceptable... - 13/12/2011 06:40:29 PM 743 Views
OMG! Congratulations! - 14/12/2011 10:43:05 PM 735 Views
Thanks Danu. *NM* - 15/12/2011 11:08:51 PM 427 Views
i had 500 people at my wedding....... - 13/12/2011 12:05:38 AM 914 Views
Yes they are. We're planning ours and... - 13/12/2011 02:19:42 AM 793 Views
Some people just don't seem to think outside of the box - 13/12/2011 09:15:49 AM 877 Views
And several items on that chart are soo unnecessary *NM* - 13/12/2011 09:41:10 AM 448 Views
They're only as expensive as you make them. - 14/12/2011 10:38:37 AM 718 Views
I'm so glad we went simple. - 14/12/2011 03:08:45 PM 870 Views
As someone who had a smaller wedding than was expected by certain people... - 14/12/2011 10:36:57 PM 832 Views
These seem kind of extreme. - 15/12/2011 06:03:15 AM 862 Views
because of your history you might find a cash bar lame... - 15/12/2011 12:59:39 PM 892 Views
Not my personal history, but culture. - 15/12/2011 03:53:12 PM 852 Views
I agree that there are better cuts to make than refreshments - 15/12/2011 04:35:13 PM 845 Views
Re: because of your history you might find a cash bar lame... - 22/12/2011 01:08:00 PM 861 Views
It is lame to expect the father of the bride to shell out tens of thousands for a party - 15/12/2011 02:00:54 PM 850 Views
seriously. who cares if people think you're "cheap". - 15/12/2011 04:41:33 PM 764 Views
Apparently it's becoming more common over here to do weddings on a weekday. - 15/12/2011 02:13:57 PM 757 Views
I can't imagine someone in America announcing their wedding was on a weekday. - 15/12/2011 10:07:55 PM 984 Views
People not in America have way more vacation days... *NM* - 15/12/2011 11:56:22 PM 418 Views
That was part of the logic in my thinking, yes. *NM* - 16/12/2011 12:46:53 AM 402 Views
Fridays are actually becoming more common. - 16/12/2011 04:51:41 PM 696 Views
Why does the band get more than the photographer? - 16/12/2011 04:30:29 PM 658 Views
well they do have to split it 4 or 5 ways - 16/12/2011 04:38:36 PM 755 Views
The thing is... it's NOT a night's work. - 16/12/2011 09:27:30 PM 1048 Views
My advice based on what I've done so far. - 22/12/2011 01:27:29 PM 718 Views

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