Thoughts on "unconventional" wedding?
By cascogirl
@cascogirl (79)
Canada
January 28, 2007 4:07pm CST
Maybe not even necessarily inconventional, but a little different than traditional.
When we were married 4 years ago we decided to go to Las Vegas - we are from Canada, and we planned our wedding all online and there was no one with us, just the two of us.
Some of our family was upset and a little ticked that we didnt have a traditional wedding, but we had no interest at all and with us both having large families there was no way to possible keep it small without feelings getting hurt.
When we looked online there were so many ideas for wedding packages that it made it hard to choose. I was really stoked about the Austin Powers wedding, where the man even wears the powder blue tux and the woman weres the psychedelic dress. Gogo dancers were dancing on the sidelines and flashing strobe lights made for a funky disco feel. Okay - too over the top for my fiance, but what about the helicopter into the grand canyon wedding? Wow wouldnt that be quite an adventure to go along with exchanging vows!
We decided on Bonnie Springs Nevada, and old minig town converted to a tourist attraction. They had a charming old church with the Red Rock Canyon in the background. The morning of our wedding we went for a horseback ride in the mountain, breakfast and had our wedding at 12 noon. The photographer, videographer and minister were all included in the pay one price package and we were very happy with our pictures, video and the service was personalized and not preachy. For $1200 we paid once and had everything set up for us when we arrived. For flowers we just had a corsage and wristband, and my dress was nice but not flashy, and was a model from the year before so I was able to buy it for a discount - only $200.
Our families had a small surprise dinner recpetion for us when we came home at a local restaurant, and after we showed them all the pictures and told them how stress free - hassel free it was to have our wedding/honeymoon all together the way we wanted it they were happy for us and got over the fact that they were not there with us.
So, has anyone else bucked the trend and had a wedding the way they wanted it - even if some people thought it was odd, or unconventional? I would love to hear your wedding stories, or if you are planning a wedding what you would like to do.
Pictures of Bonnie Springs and the chapel we were married at as well as a price list can be found here:
www.bonniesprings.com
1 person likes this
4 responses
@apieceowrk (4)
• United States
14 Feb 07
I am trying to decide on wedding arrangements right now and am feeling what you were. Although, I don't want the traditional(my fiance are anything but!)I am scared to steer to far away from it. I don't want to regret anything. You only do this once, right? (or at least hope to) Your discussion offered me some relief in that what is traditional to some might not be to others. This is our choice, not the attendees.
2 people like this
@cascogirl (79)
• Canada
18 Feb 07
That is the biggest feeling I grappled with, feeling guilty because family wanted to bethere with us when we married. I talked to a freind recentley who got married while on a cruise and some of their close freinds and family came along. This is another option, but may not be feasible if some cannot afford to go they will feel left out.
Best Wishes with your plans!
@lisado (1227)
• United States
29 Jan 07
As long as you're happy, it shouldn't matter how you get married. It's your wedding and you should be able to decide how it's going to be. I am sure family was upset, but they'll get over it. I never understood paying $50,000 or more for a wedding, anyway. My dress was on sale, $550, and I still about had a heartattack! I didn't want to start out our lives in debt! :(
We planned ours long distance, with my inlaws doing most of the leg work. I picked the colors, the flower type and the dress, and my husband wore his dress Blues (he's active duty). It actually ended up being a double wedding with my sister. It was all last minute, especially adding my sister in to the wedding with her fiance. It was thrown together in less than a month. Since my MIL was a caterer and made wedding cakes as a means of employment (she had nearly stopped due to arthritis, but still did cakes and such for family) so adding an extra tier to the cake was no big deal. It was supposed to be in their backyard, but by adding my sister and her group to the wedding, we ended up renting a building in town.
I admit that, even though my inlaws handled most of the detail, there was still some stress of finding the right dress, decorating and so on. Weddings are stressful, and the bigger they end up being, the more stress. You should be allowed to enjoy your wedding. You don't have anything to prove to anyone else. Do whatever makes you happy.
That being said, I wouldn't want a Vegas wedding, but that's just me. I'm a home-body and prefer small and no glitz. Some people want them and that should be allowed. Whatever the couple wants should be what is important since it's their day. The family dinner, like you had, should be plenty. The actual wedding doesn't take long, considering all of the planning and money that go into them! Just take pictures. :)
2 people like this
@cascogirl (79)
• Canada
29 Jan 07
Exactly Lisa, whatever makes the couple happy. And the debt theme was big with me too. I said the exact same thing - What a way to start your life off, paying bills for a one day event that was more enjoyable for the guests than anyone else!
1 person likes this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
28 Jan 07
I like the idea of something different, I prefer romantic and I don't think traditional weddings are very romantic, my view is 2 people who are in love don't really need all that fairytale stuff, there is too much stress, interferance form parents and inlaws to be, I like the ide of eloping myself,.....
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I don't think that a conventional wedding is necesssary and can be way more expensive. Why spend all that money on something that isn't what YOU really want, just to please other people.
I think that the wedding you chose was in a beautiful location, and if that is where you chose, that is great. My nephew and his bride chose a ship for their wedding. Just the parents and grandparents were invited.
Some of the other relatives were a bit disappointed that they couldn't be at the wedding, but there was an informal reception held where everyone was welcome. The reception was a buffet/potluck so everyone brought in a dish to pass.
Everyone had a good time, and the expenses where cut way down.
I think that whatever makes you happy is the most important thing. Hopefully you only do it once, so why not have it the way you want it?
@cascogirl (79)
• Canada
18 Feb 07
Your nephews wedding sounded very nice! Was the ship docked in port or was it actually out in the water somewhere? And the potluck idea is very savvy! All the family favourites meals would be there, no one could complain they didnt like the food!
