It’s been just over 4 weeks now and I can finally do my ProBAM! It might be long with advice, budget breakdown, but most importantly PHOTOS!! So buckle up! (Or just scroll to the bottom for photos
We got engaged May 25, 2018, married May 11, 2019 in Wilmington DE and partied it up after in Swedesboro, NJ.
Guest count
Invited: 120
RSVPed Yes: 54
Attended: 50
This was totally expected and 100% okay. We initially said 60 guests was ideal. The only local folks were hubby’s immediate family. The closest guests beside them were still 2 hours away.
Highlights: -Rehearsal Dinner! My mother in law had it catered at their house and it was so fun to see everybody and just hang out for a bit.
-Getting ready was interesting, I was so calm people kept asking if I felt okay!
-While doing first look and wedding party photos, a bus drove by the park and honked before getting on his loud speaker and telling us congrats! There were also a couple of people on the park board that stopped by to ask if they could use our photos as part of their “Friends of Wilmington Parks” facebook or something…no idea what came of that!
-Our moms “surprised us” with a fun slideshow of photos of us as kids and a few of our more recent “selfies for science”. We knew there were doing it because they mentioned it when they met last summer and I had to forward photos of hubby to my mom so they could put the slideshow together. Still cute even though I knew it was coming!
-Our food was delicious, even better than our food tasting! I wanted seconds but I was so full I didn’t make it back up to the buffet.
-The speeches were wonderful. My brother in law (best man) gave a really nice one, my MOH’s was kind of awkward, my dad gave a really nice impromptu speech, and my brother gave one towards the end of the night.
-There was lots of dancing! We told the DJ no group dances. At all. Towards the end of the night, some of my aunts had asked the DJ and he said no, unless it’s okayed by me or hubby. They asked us, and we granted them ONE cha cha slide. Even my dad got out to dance to it. It ended up being fantastic!
-We closed out the night with having all the guests hold hands in a circle while we had one last dance. It was a really sweet moment!
Downfalls:
-My sister in law somehow slipped through the cracks and wasn’t on the schedule for hair. Luckily she has a pixie cut and we got it sorted out.
-Nobody brought the terrariums for the centerpieces to the hotel, so we had my BIL run back to the house (literally 2 miles away) and grab them.
-We had an audience for the first look. I had intended for it to be me and him only, but people caravanned on the way from the hotel to the church and followed us there and I didn’t stand my ground for that.
-The ceremony music got messed up some how? I don’t know. I couldn’t tell. They also forgot to turn on the AC in enough time for it to cool the chapel down so it was a little toasty.
-Some of the music we chose for things in the reception (grand entrance, anniversary dance, dedicated to moms song) didn’t get played or played in the wrong spot.
-My MOH was a total sourpuss about everything.
-We didn’t get some of the photos I had requested
-We had a koravai that was supposed to be displayed with the wedding cake that didn’t get put out until we asked where it was. But they were prompt and got it taken care of immediately.
Advice:
-STICK TO YOUR GUNS. If you don’t want something, make sure it isn’t done, and vice versa
-Spend the night beforehand alone if you can. My MOH was being a grump then because I tried to politely hint that I didn’t want to share the king size bed in the bridal suite with her (there was a pull out couch) and she was passive aggressive throwing stuff around making a big to do. *eyeroll*
-Put your trust into your vendors. They’re experienced and have probably done this enough to make good calls. Realize that once the day comes, you’ve done pretty much everything you can. But also remember it’s okay to ask to fix something if you see it’s wrong!
-HAVE FUN!
When we started planning, we set a budget of about $15,000. My budget spreadsheet says we came in around $13,500, but I don’t know how much the RD cost, or my mom’s welcome bags, and I’m sure I forgot to log some things, so I think realistically, we came in closer to that $15 if not a little over. Here’s the big stuff:
Budget breakdown
Stationary: $749
STD Magnets: $50 (Vistaprint)
Invitation Suite (50): $381 (Basic Invites)
Postage: $89
Wedding Programs: $40 (DIY/Canva)
Monogram Embosser: $45 (SayabellStamps, Etsy)
Acrylic Escort Cards: $66 (Basic Invite)
Thank You Cards: $78 (Basic Invite)
Attire: $1886*
Wedding gown: Stella York 6593 - $1375 (Brides by Young - Schaumburg, IL)
Dance shoes: Purple Satin & Sparkle - $69 (danceshoesonline.com)
Alterations: Bustle/press only - $250 (Aynur’s Alterations - Schaumburg, IL) Tuxes: Joseph Abboud Light Gray Satin Tuxedos, Apple tie - $192 (Men’s Wearhouse)
Bridesmaids Dresses: Koh Koh Cap short sleeve evening gown - $60 (Amazon)
*Does NOT include bridesmaid dresses or groomsmen tux rental costs
Hair & Makeup: $900
Daneene Jensen & Associates - Doylestown, PA
Flowers: $375
Sola wood floral arrangements from HeyBouquet (Etsy)
1-9” Bouquet
1-7” Bouquet*
2-6” Bouquets
6 Boutonnieres
2 Wrist Corsages
*Won in instagram contest
Photographer: $2103.75
Perfect Day Photography - Swedesboro NJ
All day package, unlimited photos, photo album and large print.
Ceremony: $150
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church - Wilmington, DE
Reception: $6000
Catering: $5050 (Holiday Inn Swedesboro, NJ)
Cake: Included in package Sweetsboro Pastry Shoppe (Swedesboro, NJ)
Florist: Included in package + $90 for upgrade (Petals & Paints, Swedesboro, NJ)
Day of Coordinator: $499 (Simple Meanings Entertainment LLC, Parsippany, NJ)
DJ: $599 (DJ Denz, Simple Meanings Entertainment, LLC, Parsippany, NJ)
Misc. Decoration: $614
Now what you've all been waiting for, the photos!
Detail shot
Invites
Dad's first look
He practiced this face for a while
My pretty ladies
His handsome fellas
The whole wedding party
Lovey Dovey faces
She told him to sniff my hair
Birds eye view of the ceremony
First Kiss!
also, can we talk about my MOH's face!? I think she was mad that H's aunt/godmother were both fixing my train.Post ceremony kiss
Hubby's Parents
My Parents
Escort Table
GIft/Card Table
Favors 
Guest Book
Cake!
Korovai
centerpieces
Sweetheart Table
First Dance - probably my fave picture!
Daddy Daughter Dance
Mother Son Dance
FIL during "Shout!"
