Wedding Stuff

[bertine]

Stop reading now if you don't want to hear about this.

So, this morning I have been adding people to our guest list. I was really worried that it was going to be huge. However, after the initial shock of 90 people in my family (grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts & uncles and first cousins) it hasn't been so bad. Zach has a small family, our friends mostly overlap and neither of our parents really feel the need to invite a ton of people. The only request my parents had was to invite their still living aunts and uncles, which isn't a big deal since it was only about 10 people total.

So, it looks like my estimate of 200 people is about right.


Of course, last night I was reading a wedding blog and they were talking about the tradition of the brides family paying for the wedding and how it came out of the dowry. I know that is where it came from and then I started feeling bad about my dad paying for the food for the wedding. Of course, he offered and wants to do it. Plus I am trying to keep the costs down as much as possible. Still, feeding 200 people is expensive.

BTW, we are really debating not having a photographer for the wedding. They are so expensive and you really just need one good one so we have been talking about buying a nice camera and handing it to my brother Jens and just having him take as many photos as possible during the ceremony.

Comments

[sterlingphoenix.livejournal.com]

I can set you up with a probably-fairly-cheap-but-really-good-photographer.

[shewenttoitaly.livejournal.com]

When my cousin got married a few months ago, that's sort of what they did. She & her now-hubby had been wanting a D-SLR for a while and so instead of hiring a photographer, they purchased a camera and my sister volunteered her boyfriend to be the photographer. It seemed to work out pretty well!

[purplesquirrel.livejournal.com]

Don't make your brother work during your wedding. Let him enjoy the festivities. I'd be happy to shoot your wedding for you in exchange for a couple burritos.

[scentedwoods.livejournal.com]

Take this offer! Your brother should be able to play that night.

The pictures will be so much more fun than you think, especially if you get the reception more than the formal portaits. You'll never be able to see and talk to all 200 people all night long -- the pictures will your sneak peek into everyone else's enjoyment of your wedding.

[sithlet.livejournal.com]

Nag your parents. Make SURE they don't have any other friends or relatives they want to invite. Ours were still trying to add people in the weeks before the wedding. We ended up letting them, but under the condition of "It's your money."

If there's one thing I've heard from everyone, though, DON'T skimp on the photography. You'll want good pictures.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am going to keep 20 adding 20 to my mental total until the final counts are in because I just know they will add more. At least my parents, Zach's parents will have to have people come from Billings.

It is just that photographers are so expensive and I can do most of the post processing myself. I have a while to think about it, so we will see what happens. This wedding is already costing more than I want it to.

[a-jaclyn.livejournal.com]

Save on everything else, but splurge on the cake.

Celebration Generation (Marie Porter) is fabulous.
http://celebrationgeneration.com/lesstraditional.html

[dorei.livejournal.com]

get disposable cameras to put on every table and then have them leave them behind. You'll have a boatload of candids from your guests, and it'll be super cheap. Get them done at a place that can make them digital and you can have your album online.

[bubblemonkey.livejournal.com]

I don't regret spending money on a photographer. Most photographers want to spend ALLLLLL day with you, getting shots of you getting dressed and stuff like that. I didn't want that though since it was such a small wedding and we hired someone for 3 hours (much cheaper). We got a proof album and a high-res disc with rights to print as we like, which was awesome. I wouldn't have trusted anyone in our families to take pictures half as nice as what our photographer shot! ;)

[melissa-maples.livejournal.com]

Um, I don't know how this would work, or even if you'd want it to, but if we (you and me and your fiancé) can figure out a way to get me out there, I'll shoot your wedding for free. No joke.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

Seriously, that would be the best thing ever. You are already on the guest list so you can get an invitation but I wasn't expecting you to come. (Seriously, it is winter in the midwest, when was the last time you saw 8 inches of snow because that is what we got last night.)

Anyways, let me think about it. :)

[melissa-maples.livejournal.com]

Psh, please, you are talking to the queen of the snow bunnies. I've done an Ottawa winter or three, you can't scare me.

Basically all I would need once I get there is a sofa to crash on, someplace to spend Christmas so that I'm not that sad person at Cracker Barrel, and an outlet to charge my camera battery.

Yeah, you think about it, because I'm serious. :-)

[heathrow.livejournal.com]

I really think photos are worth it, but I wouldn't saddle a family member with the job. Let them enjoy the wedding.

[pork_chop]

also, in addition to the offers of free photography on your list, don't forget that you know at least three friends who love their dslrs too much (me, jason, and ryan). even if we don't shoot "formal" photos, you'll at least have a lot for remembering and sharing. :)

p.s. i sort of love taking candid photography of people i don't know.