Is it better to have a massive expensive wedding or a small family get-together?
87800
I think that you and your fiance should do what ya'll are comfortable with.  This is not your parents wedding, it's yours.  And you (hopefully) only have one in your lifetime.  If ya'll both want a big wedding, then by all means, have a big wedding.  If ya'll want a small one, have a small one.  There are pros and cons to each.\n\nA large wedding, as you've found out, takes a lot of planning.  While it can be the event for people to remember, or a way to show off, it is oftentimes EXTREMELY stressing (which is the last thing you want on your wedding day!)  Large weddings are also very costly.  You should think of how you would use the money that you would save by having a smaller wedding, perhaps a down-payment on a house, new furniture, or put it into a retirement savings account.  It's never too soon to plan these things!  \n\nSmall weddings, while not exactly the party that'll go down in history, are oftentimes more intimate, and mean more to the people involved.  They are less stressful (for the most part), and can help shorten the engagement period.  They are also usually a lot less expensive than large weddings.\n\nMy advice would be to sit down with your fiance and plan the wedding of YA'LL's dreams, not your parents'.  This is an expression of ya'll's love towards each other.  It may also make your fiance uncomfortable if he/she believes that you will do what your parents ask, even if it's not what you want.
1074288
if you want your family to be there then yes, that is lovely.  If you want it to be private, you can always tell them what is going on and invite them to come after--tell them to be there at a specific time--that way you and your significant other can celebrate alone first!
174598
Determine a) who cares the most about influencing wedding/honeymoon choices and overall cost, b) who can afford to contribute what, and c) how traditional all parties are. That will lead you to the right answer for you. \n\nBecause sometimes the groom's parents want an extravagant wedding for their own reasons, they wind up contributing more. If you want to call all of the shots, including who's invited and how big it is, think about paying for most or at least some of it yourself. If, for example, a couple isn't religious, but one or both sets of parents are, then the couple may not be able to choose a key part of the wedding because they're not paying for it. Conversely, if the groom's family is filthy rich and the bride's is not, then it would be ridiculous to ask the bride's family to pay more for the wedding. If you want an extravagant honeymoon, then you should probably plan to pay for at least some of it and maybe all of it.  This isn't the dark ages anymore. Unless, of course, you or your parents want it to be.
1068702
when you got married, your family became your spouse and any subsequent children.  Time to grow up and prove to yourself and everyone else that you are mature enough to go it alone.  \n\nsince, like you mentioned, the entire cost is going to be out of pocket, is it REALLY worth it?  let the grandparents come to you if they want to see thei rgrandkids so badly.
692801
It would certainly be memorable, but if you want many of your friends and family to attend the ceremony you will have to consider their financial situations OR pay all their tickets yourself.  If you want to get married on a "holiday island", which is certainly a better option if you want the event to remain about you and your fiance and less about what your families think you should do, you could always go for a small ceremony and then you could have the big reception party for everyone when you got home.
851997
Hi, \n  You know?...any absolutley any wedding is decent !!!\nI do feel I understand what your asking ...how much will it take to have a nice gathering to witness your union with your "to be" and have a nice dress....and ...then refresments for your quests..I hope i am right about that am I?\nWell I will take the chance and give you a resonable idea..along with some charming money saving ideas....\nMy number one answer is this. \nAt first it may not sound appealing ...but You can find the most beutiful wedding gowns ever ...at a second hand store...and I can tell you that because Ive got a collection of georgous white some off white wedding gowns .the avergage price?...about 65 dollars for a designer gown.\nhave you ever thought of having the wedding outside?...If the weather is good....it is just the cost of chairs ..which is not much ..or you can borrow from a few for nothing......i think ougtside weddings a great....kids like them also indoor weddngs can be hard on a young one...or your home or parents or a favourite aunt  may be a perfect setting for you to join with your partner...and thats also a free one ...I went to a couples weddng and it was in an apartment ...but it was set up nicely and the furniture moved and was purfect for them. and of course no one had to go anywhere for the reception.each one of those ways are charming and with the cake and refreshments ..the cost is just a few hundred.... im all for inexspensive, elegant, and beutiful memories....You can have a beutiful intimate wedding at a chaple where there biz is weddings and they have it all thee for you for maybe 2-3 thousand....and i truly hope you can use my ideas and i wish you and you husband to have the best life and all the happyness ever!!!!!\nhope i helped \nPEACE
650987
I think this is a great idea!  So many of my unmarried friends have expressed this very same interest.  We celebrate weddings and baby showers for others, as we should, without blinking an eye.  But single people have reasons to celebrate and rejoice in life, too, and may want to share important events with friends and family members.  This is a good time to send out the invitations and register for gifts for that special occasion.  Think about an event that others will want to share with you.  For example, that first big move into your own house would be reason to celebrate, throw a party, and register for all the items you still need to make your house a home.  Good luck!
129119
You can do all the flowers yourself. You can make the cake yourself. You can make the invitations.  These three things alone will save you hundreds of dollars.  A wedding is not "made" by how much money is spent.  What matters is that the bride and groom are happy and everyone had a good time.  If you know anyone with a nice sound system of their own you could ask them if they would be willing to do the music.  Why hire someone that will charge you an arm and a leg when you can just use a nice stereo system and ask everyone you know for different CD's.  Depending on how many women are in the wedding party you can either make the dresses if you know anyone that sews, or ask them to pay for half the dresses themselves.  Depending on location and if you want alcohol instead of having an open bar have it so that they have to pay. That way only the people who want to drink can and you are not paying for drinks that are not going to be consumed.  Small Weddings are great because you can limit the amout of people.  I hope some of these tips help.  Good Luck
161195
As of 2/9/06..(subject to change)..I plan to just go to the courts this August to get married that way we can be sure to have a honeymoon wherever we like. \n1. We are 22 & 24 years old. I am a senior in college and he was a victim of Katrinia so we don't have a lot of money to spend.\n2. Also our families are 12 hours away from each other so which ever state we would choose to wed one of our families presence will be limited.\nSo we have decided to have a reception or party after we are married in each state for our family.\n\nHe actually was the one who wanted a big wedding but it didn't matter to me. I rather prepare for our future then to go in to debt because of one day. Some of my family and friends will be upset once they hear this news but unless they are paying for most of it this is how its gonna be. Besides, I have enough student loans!!
408566
Um, if they're living in the same household, then it's only courdial to invite everyone.  Yes, it is your day and it should be planned out to your specifications, but think about the "bad-blood" that could be created or spared based or your decision to just let someone show up and hey....maybe give you an extra gift.  It's worth it to me to suck it up.  Besides, there will be so many other people there, it isn't like you have to sit and hold hands with him/her the entire time and be like "look who I invited, right here, uh huh, see who came, blah blah blah."
1185279
If you want them at your wedding, of course you have to invite them!  It doesn't matter if they are your siblings or not...people don't feel right about going to something like that if they weren't invited.
794893
Depends on the formality of the wedding.Why not ask someone in the Bridal party.
364983
I would say since the wedding and the graduation are so close, why not just invite close friends to the graduation or grad party, you don't have to invite the world, save that for the wedding, your close friends will probably just give you something small for the graduation a book or something like that, and its almost useless to ask them not to. Congrats on both and good luck.
76755
Why not head over to the Justice of the Peace and get married now...then plan a BBQ reception party in a couple months.\n\nYou will be less stressed, and the cost of a BBQ reception is way less than a formal wedding, and a LOT more fun!
1074012
it depends on how many bridesmaids you want. some ppl have 3 or 5. but my aunt had like 7--big wedding.
663665
sure i would, my husband and I didnt really have a wedding, we did the justice of the peace thing, it would be nice to do it again and have all of our friends and family there. our 8 year is on thurday and we would like to do something of the sort for our 10 year anv.
46804
If you want a fancy ceremony, go for it.  A nice one would be in a park.  VERY inexpensive.  Or in a greenhouse.  I had mine there and they took care of everything for a VERY low price and even helped me find a minister.  I think it was like $100 and they set up the chairs and flowers and alter.  It was so beautiful.  Then we had our reception at a decent restaurant that had a buffet line.  The whole wedding only cost about $500 which is actually really cheap.  And it was wonderful to top it off.  You could get a teenager to do the music.  A friend to take pictures.  You dont need a lot of money to have an incredible wedding.  Just some imagination is all.