Here is an overall recap:
We got engaged just a few weeks shy of 1 year out from the wedding. So we started by creating a plan (budget, savings and payment plan, and craft/diy execution plan). We stuck to it. At times it felt overwhelming but I'm glad we did it that way, because the last month leading up to the wedding was just fun.
Location: Nashville TN (100 oaks area) "THE BEDFORD"
Invited 212 / 170 attended
Overall cost $35k (to us) + $10500 gifted from family
Venue $6500
Furniture rental $1800
Linens (purchased with black friday deal, coupon codes, and credits from Linentablecloth. Com) $45!!!
Photography (purchased with black Friday deal, coupon codes, and picked from list of photographers finding one I knew locally rated very high) - George street photos $2800
Wedding dress (the white room) with alterations $1900
Shoes/hair/makeup/accessories/ rehearsal dinner / after party dress $250
Makeup for bridesmaids- chipped in $100 toward their total
Floral (gifted from my parents) $4000
Rehearsal dinner/ cocktail party (gifted from in laws) $6500
Decor (DIY: pray painted bottles, votives&candles, table runners made from book pages and black and white photos, cork art, the signature picture, arbor, welcome bar made from barrel....etc) only spent $100
Catering (ALL ORGANIC and sourced from local female owned farm, prepared by ROCK star Mama Blanche) $5500 + $200 service staff + $800 tip
Barstaff - TOP NOTCH (if you guys live in Nashville you have to use these guys. Showed up early stayed late to break down, pre batched signature cocktails... best duo FRED&SHEA - $700 + booze and swag tip
Day of coordinator- Laurel Annie $750
Liquor/wine/beer - sourced for free (in the booze biz)
Photo booth - nashville smile bar (deeply discounted friend/family rate) $75
DJ /MC/ acustic set up/ lighting - hightone entertainment (discounts for using preferred vendor) $1350 + $150 tip (he was AMAZING)
grooms suit - mens warehouse $600
Gifts for wedding party / family and wedding favors $1000
Invitations, STD, and printables - $700
Plates / utensils / cups / koozies /napkins (discount codes and black frisay deals ) Totally promotional and amazon - $700
Rings - etsy and kay jewelers $400 total for both
Wedding night hotel $300
Cake- sweet Ability INCREDIBLE local maker $900
Honeymoon to st lucia $7000
Uhaul to transport $250
Limo $250
Late night pizza delivery $200
Some things I am glad we did :
DIY (affordable, bonding, creative, and made the day super unique)
Signature cocktails and open bar set up - a MUST
Did things our way - no kids, my brother walked me down the aisle, our close friend officiating, another friend singing acustic, fun music, food setup non traditional, I had guys stand up on my side, non religious... we designed the day to celebrate who we are as a couple and all of the people we love - didn't get hung up on traditions.
Pizza!!!! Late night pizza was clutch!
Most importantly couples counseling. This is everything.
Things I wish we had done differently :
Hired support staff for closing down the evening.
Honeymooned for only 5 days rather than a whole week... we are TIRED. And could have saved some more $.
Stood our ground more with some pushy family dynamics.
Argued less during planning... specifically about money. Unfortunately nashville is super expensive now. And we are blessed beyond measure being able to afford to execute a wedding like we did.
Things we opted out of :
Videography. We did this primarily to save $ but in actuality we wrote our vows together and recited the exact same ones to each other. We can frame those. And I started a google share photo album, and 2 Facebook albums - which got a ton of people to share their media, which is fine for us.
Clean up staff. We regret that one lol. Think about this one. You don't want your friends and family stopping their good times to help clean up. Should have hired a couple people to come in and clean up and allowed them more time for fun.
My favorite part of the day was seeing everyone having a great time. Hearing people say it's the best wedding they've been to, and seeing them being themselves and enjoying it.
My favorite part of the day with my husband was a moment we had in the bridal suite after the ceremony. Where we both just cried tears of joy and didn't say anything just kissed each other and quietly enjoyed our moment! The secret sweetheart table we snuck off to to eat for 20 mins during cocktails was awesome too. Super romantic and special.
Some stressful stuff (all menial). Coordinator over expressed that she could execute the whole thing on her own... and after telling everyone who originally offered to help that she wouldn't need help... we all assumed she could. But it is a HUGE venue and there was so much to be done... friends and family had to help out more than anticipated. I know they said they enjoyed helping... but... I could tell it stressed some folks out. And then there was My random drunk cousin drinking the expensive booze, getting way too drunk, making inappropriate comments to friends, ughhh. And lastly, coordinating the uhaul unload the day after. Pretty much just chaos with all of us pushing through the post drinking struggles.
Overall I am pretty proud. The vision came together with a ton of help from our friends and family. We feel super supported. And definitely feel like we threw the best wedding we could for our favorite people to attend! At no point during the wedding did I get stressed out, feel anxious, or lose the happy high of the day. I felt Beautiful and loved and on top of the world.
Here are some photos of the day
