Wedding plans

[riverfever]

We looked at a few ranches to rent for the ceremony but a lot of them have a minimum number of days to rent (like 4) and we simply can't do it. We have a friend back home that we are going to ask to perform the ceremony. We'll write the vows and he'll do it. We think that will be really fun...he's a character and one of my most reliable friends. We already checked and that's cool to do in CO. I have anther buddy back home that hopefully will play acoustic guitar or banjo as well. We thought it would be cool to have cazoos for everyone so that they could perform "Here comes the bride". We definitely want this to take place outside. My dog will be bringing us the rings.
Heathers dad said he would help but we don't know what help means. Whats more...Heather has to take a class this summer that's going to cost us a grand and I am going to start my Masters. We talked about having it outside (not at a ranch) in a place where all the guests could get to. I guess that would look more like a massive camping trip. The problem is that the Parks don't allow booze and music. We're running into snafus with the liquor and the feeding. We were thinking it would be cool to do a big ass BBQ. Does anyone have any thoughts? I've never done this before but I don't want it to be chintsy. I also don't want it to be hoity toity. The last wedding I went to had food that was just too damn fancy and there were lots of rules for the night. I want this to be a really fun, somewhat different wedding.

-river

 

[5-90]

Got a buddy with a lot of property? Ask him - maybe contribute to his beer fund.

Since that puts you on private property, that would remove most of the restrictions you'd get in a park or on "hired" property. Just make sure there's room for everyone who's snockered to flop for the night, and you're probably good.

Be creative on some of these problems, and you'll find solutions easily, I think. Ten years ago, we managed to put on a decent wedding (for about 100 people) and a fortnight in Hawai'i for about five grand, and all present had a good time. It takes some digging, but it should be worth it when it's all done.

 

[WB9YZU]

First:
Congratulations on your decission to make the rest of your life misserable :laugh:

Second:
Weddings are what you make them. I have seen everything from a fancy put on banquet to a simple get together. My first wedding was a simple "Justice of the Peace" affair with the relatives gathered at my Inlaws for some simple food. Infact it was BYOB for those who wanted to partake because the Inlaws were AA members. Cost? Under $500.

Second was fancy and cost over $7K when all was said and done. It seemed like the whole darn town of 1,500 was invited, or showed up.

The major wedding costs are:
Clothes
Hall
Catering
Honeymoon

You do not have to "skimp" to save on these items. Your thoughts of holding the affair outside in a scenic area is a great idea, as is the BBQ.
You could also "save" by buying a nice suit, which you will likely use again, and your Fiance, a nice dress, then skipping the whole "wedding party all looks alike" bit.
The Honeymoon also does not have to be fancy, just get away from reality for a while. Perhaps a nice Jeep Safari

Third:
It's your wedding, not the Inlaws or your Parents. You have the say.

Hope it works out nice!

 

[5-90]

The major wedding costs are:
Clothes
Hall
Catering
Honeymoon
You could also "save" by buying a nice suit, which you will likely use again, and your Fiance, a nice dress, then skipping the whole "wedding party all looks alike" bit.

Third:
It's your wedding, not the Inlaws or your Parents. You have the say.

Hope it works out nice!

Agree on both of these! I don't have a fancy tux - and the only reason I own one in the first place is because I had four weddings and a black tie to go to the year before, and it was cheaper to buy than rent. I could have worn my suit, I'm sure (I have exactly one of those as well...) but I had the option. I just wore it again this past November - my kid sister got married, and I got to give the bride away. Way cool.

My wife made her own dress - she wanted to.

As Ron so aptly pointed out, it's your wedding, so you can do what you damn well please. Most traditions are pretty well shot up anyhow - there are only a few left that are common (and no-one knows where they came from anymore. For instance, why does the bride usually stand to the groom's left? It has nothing to do with "places of honour" - it's also got to do with the "does anyone object" question.)

I won't go so far as to say you have all the say tho - part of the reason for a wedding is so you can start out with her being happy (so you can figure out how to replicate those effects later, I think.) I could have cared less about ceremony, but her first wedding was a JoP thing, and she wanted to have a bigger affair this time. Me: "Fine, just tell me what I need to do and when I need to do it, and it will get done."

However, this is your affair (the two of you,) and marriage is finding that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life... I won't say that being married has made me miserable - I've been many things, but none of them were "miserable" or "bored." Like anything else, it's what you make of it.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Chris,

My folks have a killer little cabin in Estes Park right on the Thompson river that is perfect for honeymooners. If you think you'd like to look into it, let me know.... I can swing you a brutha deal. :thumbup:

There's a few places up there that rent homes for vacationers and some are on huge lots, acreages. Might look into something like that where there'd be a house to help prep for the wedding, nice land for the ceremony and hold the reception in the house afterward.

I can ask my dad tomorrow for the agency info that has all the details for those kinds of places.

 

[planefixer]

Consider me on "stand-by" if you need any help/chores/tasks done for your wedding.I'll help however I can.

 

[riverfever]

It's all pretty damn stressful. We might just have to go with the following summer and start saving so we can have at it the ranch we've been looking into. It's a very convenient drive for our relatives flying into DIA. They can rent a car and get to it. If we had it up in the mountains like a camp out, we'd have some that couldn't make it up there or are too elderly to camp out. We really wanted there to be cabins. Between this and my Masters classes...I doubt anything will be happening to my Jeep. Oddly enough...I'm actually OK with it.

The food is also going to be more expensive than we thought. Anyone know of a caterer that does good BBQ? I thought it would be sweet to have a big fat pig roast. :loveu:

 

[Fergie]

Try some state parks in your area.

Friends of ours were married for all of $60.

 

[footdale]

It's all pretty damn stressful. We might just have to go with the following summer and start saving so we can have at it the ranch we've been looking into. It's a very convenient drive for our relatives flying into DIA. They can rent a car and get to it. If we had it up in the mountains like a camp out, we'd have some that couldn't make it up there or are too elderly to camp out. We really wanted there to be cabins. Between this and my Masters classes...I doubt anything will be happening to my Jeep. Oddly enough...I'm actually OK with it.

The food is also going to be more expensive than we thought. Anyone know of a caterer that does good BBQ? I thought it would be sweet to have a big fat pig roast. :loveu:

We looked at a lot of places up in the mountains but ended up booking a place local because we didn't want to deal with the logistics of getting all the family (a lot of them not so young) up into the hills. The potential for altitude sickness made us a little weary as well.

So what area will the ceremony take place? You'll want to limit the amount of travel time for the caterer. I know of a couple places up here in Boulder and Wrongmont, but that is a little far away from your hood.