I have gotten some “Ask Tinka” emails about throwing a wedding as little as $1000 so I decided to respond with an idea I have.  Afterall, everyone deserves to celebrate their wedding– even those who don’t have $15,000 to spend!

If I were getting married with a small budget and wanted to have a simple wedding day with only close family and friends, this is what I would do: I would have the wedding and reception at my home or the home of a close relative or friend. It’s cozy and best of all, FREE! I would wear a simple white sundress and have my groom wear something casual like khakis and a white shirt. Then, instead of a traditional buffet or sit-down dinner, I’d serve coffee, hot chocolate, and cake! Get your favorite songs together to play on your stereo and have a designated area for dancing. Keep the reception short– about an hour or two and maybe serve wine and beer.

That sounds just delightful to me

1. Gratuity! Gratuity is usually added to the final bill for your caterer. However, it is also polite to tip waiters/waitresses, bartenders, church musicians, and any others who you think deserve it.
2. Taxes! Don’t forget to include taxes in your budget for the dress and tux, flowers, food, and beverages. You may think you are paying $20 per person and end up paying over $25!
3. Overtime! Many wedding vendors such as photographers and DJs charge overtime fees. You never know until the day of your wedding how long you are going to need them so make sure to work this out BEFORE your big day!
4. Food for your wedding vendors! Don’t forget to feed your wedding vendors! Your photographer, videographer, DJ, etc. will probably be at your wedding for more than 6 hours. Unless you want them to leave to get dinner, make sure you have a meal for each of them.
5. Postage! Some invitations can cost up to $2 for postage. If you are sending out 100 invitations, that adds up to $200. Make sure to leave some room in your budget for stamps.

Leave a comment, and let us know.

BM= bridesmaid or best man
MOH= maid/matron of honor
GM= groomsmen
FH= future husband
FW= future wife
FG= flower girl
RB= ring bearer
MOB= mother of the bride
MOG= mother of the groom
FOB= father of the bride
FOG= father of the groom

Any others?

Dear Heather,
I am always all for doing whatever is going to make you and your fiance happy on your wedding day. However, you should always show your guests respect. In other words, do what makes you happy without horribly offending your family. I would suggest completely eliminating liquor. You can serve champagne with the toasts and then maybe offer beer and wine. Also offer cider or something similar to those who do not wish to drink. This way, those who want to drink will (in moderation) and those that are against drinking don’t have to.

Budget: $10,000
Ceremony venue: $300
Reception venue: $800
Officiant: $100
Florist: $700
Caterer/Food: $1500
DJ: $800
Wedding dress & alterations: $700
Suit/Tux: 150
Bride & Groom Accessories: $400
Cake: $200
Photographer: $1000
Videographer: $600
Invitations/Announcements: $300
Favors: $150
Hair, Make-up, etc: $100
Transporation: $200
Rings: $800
Wedding party gifts: $200
Marriage license (depends on state): about $50
Alcohol: $500
Other costs (decorations, ceremony accessories, etc): $450

To learn more about the different styles of wedding dresses, read our article: Learn About Wedding Dress Styles

If you are shopping for a wedding dress but don’t know what style you want yet, let this article educate you!

A-Line: An a-line wedding dress has a snug bodice. The skirt flows down to create the shape of an “A.” I would say that this is probably the most popular style. Modern brides often wear a strapless a-line dress.

Ball Gown: A ball gown, like an a-line dress, is snug on the upper body. The skirt of the dress is full all the way to the floor. If you want a fairytale wedding dress, try this style with off-the-shoulder sleeves.

Column: The column silhouette is a narrow shape from top to bottom. It is a form-fitting dress that is best for thin figures. This is probably the most casual style but you can dress it up by having a separate bodice and skirt.

Empire: The empire style features a high waist line just below the chest. The skirt flows loosely to the floor. This is a classic style that looks good on most figures. (FYI: This dress is perfect for brides-to-be that are also expecting!)

Mermaid: The bodice of the mermaid dress is very form-fitting all the way down past the hips and thighs. Around the knee or calf area, the dress flares out. This dress shows the curves of your body so it looks best on an hourglass figure.

If you are not sure which style would flatter your figure, take our quiz!

Are you and your fiance planning on writing your own wedding vows? Are you totally lost? Read below to find out how to write memorable vows for your special day!

It may sound cheesy, but you need to speak from the heart. Ask yourself the following questions, and let your heart do the talking.
- What did you think of your fiance when you first met?
- What made you make the decision to get married to him/her?
- What makes him/her desirable to you?
- What are some of your best memories together?
- What makes you sure that you can spend the rest of your life with him/her?
- What do you see for yourselves in the future?
- What promises can you make to him/her?

Let those questions and the emotions that they stir up guide your writing. And keep in mind the following things:

Don’t be generic; be SPECIFIC! The worst thing that you can do for your vows is say things like “your love is magical” or “you had me at hello” the whole time. Talk about things that are specific to your relationship. Make it as personal as you can.

Keep it short and sweet. There might be a million things you want to say to your future spouse, but the altar is no place to ramble. Say the things that you feel are most important.

Don’t be afraid to show your sensitive side. This is no time to hold back your emotions! Say how you feel and again, speak from your heart.

Today, it is more common to use a small alter to hold the sand containers so that the couples is left with a keepsake. You can purchase sand in various colors (to match your wedding color scheme, for example) along with two smaller glass containers for the bride and groom and one larger glass container representing your marriage, relationship and new life.

The sand ceremony can also be away to involve other family members. If you have children, your children may also participate by pouring some sand into the container as well. Parents of the bride and groom may also be involved.

Personalize Your Sand Ceremony Set

The vases for your wedding sand ceremony can be purchased at craft stores, or for a more meaningful approach, consider purchasing special sand ceremony sets. Such sets can be monogrammed with initials or the date of the wedding.

Sample Unity Sand Ceremony

After the minister reads the statement below, the bride and groom pour the two containers of sand into the third container simultaneously.

“(Bride) and (Groom), today you join your once separate lives together. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent your past, your history and your life before today. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.”

So many “something blues” in this winter wedding theme!

COLORS: Wintery blues and silver. Let the winter season be your guide in choosing the right blues and silver.
  

FLOWERS: Hydrangeas in white & various shades of blue. Your bouquet can include white and light blue flowers while your bridesmaids’ bouquets incorporate darker blue flowers.

ATTIRE: A shiny, satin gown with light blue trim or a light blue sash and long, satin gloves. Dress up your groom’s traditional tux with a light blue tie and vest. Have your bridesmaids all wear various shades of frosty blues. A super cute idea would be for you and your bridesmaids to all have small fur coats to sport around after the ceremony.

LOCATION: A cabin, church, or antebellum home. You definitely want to have an indoor ceremony & reception for this theme. Even if the weather in your state in bearable, you want your guests to feel cozy. Have a fire going during the reception if possible.

CAKE: White cake with light blue accents. Adding snowflakes would be a nice touch.

MENU: Warm, holiday foods. Have a soup bar instead of salad bar. Serve honey-baked ham, roasted potatoes, and a vegetable medley with warm dinner rolls. As a special treat, offer hot cocoa with dessert.

OTHER IDEAS: AmericanBridal.com has clear jewels to spread on the table that resemble icicles. They also have frosty blue-colored candle wedding favors that would be perfect for this theme.

Short wedding dresses! A BIG 2009 trend is having a short wedding dress and short bridesmaids’ dresses. So don’t be afraid to show a little leg! Styles include above and below-the-knee dresses.

Trendy hairdos! If you want to wear your hair down, try big, dramatic curls or flowing waves. If you’d rather wear your hair up, try a messy bun. Let us know if you are wearing your hair up or down in our January 2009 poll.

Jewel tones! Your wedding colors are emerald green, sapphire blue, amethyst purple, turquoise, or topaz yellow… These are beautiful colors to accent your gown. And your bridesmaids will look lovely with silky jewel-toned dresses.

Gray is in! 2008 brought you the chocolate brown color with blues and pinks. While those colors are still in, a trendy idea for 2009 is replacing the chocolate color with a slate gray color. This matches your jewel tones beautifully.

Natural decor! Incorporate fruits such as green apples, grapes, or strawberries to put a modern twist on your wedding decor. Or add stones or sand to the bottom of your vases to add an earty feel.

Nature-inspired invitations! Going along with the natural theme, simple designs with leaves and flowers will be big this wedding season. White invitations with one accent color such as blue or purple are especially popular.

Dramatic accents! Big, dramatic statements like large bows on your dress or different-sized vases as your centerpiece add a modern flare to your decorations.

Recession-friendly ideas! 2009 is not going to be most people’s best year financially so we predict that there will be some money-friendly wedding trends coming…

• Wedding websites where people can RSVP online: Most brides aren’t going to want to spring for the extra postage of an RSVP card. Try this idea instead.
• Centerpieces doubling as wedding favors: Think candles or plants! See, you can be trendy and money-conscious!
• Smaller wedding cakes: A lot of brides are ordering smaller wedding cakes and serving other types of dessert or another cake to their guests.

Let us know how your 2009 wedding goes! Send us your wedding story at weddings@somethingbluebook.com!

Wedding season is coming soon! Do you have your something blue? Here are some “hot items” we found at  AmericanBridal.com.

Blue Keri Earrings: If you want a subtle but fashionable “something blue,” these charming earrings are a great choice!

Blue Leilani Pearl Necklace: Pearls are in! And if you are looking for something more fashion-forward than ivory, your “something blue” can be this trendy necklace.

Personalized Canvas Handbag 3 in 1: If you need something blue but would rather not be wearing it, this adorable handbag has your name on it– literally. Best part? It converts into different colors and styles so you will use it way after you say “I do.”

Spa Comforts Herbal Hugs Kit: Perfect for the pampered bride! If you are in need of some pre-wedding relaxation, this kit will definitely do the trick!

Bridal Shower Guest Book: This cute keepsake will stay with you forever. Have all your bridal shower guests leave their messages in style!