#314: parks.

orcutt ranch

there's something sweet, innocent, and beautiful about open parks. i've looked at countless 'real weddings' held in parks and know that exquisite affairs are more than possible in (what is quite often) such an affordable space.

but would it be possible for a 125-person guest list? and would our guests who are in their 50's and 60's be comfortable? and what would be our rain contingency plan? and where would everyone dance? and what about the sound system? what about privacy? what about lighting? what about all the permits? what about serving alcohol?

the fiance and i have talked about researching parks for our reception and ultimately decided against it. we are not confident we could pull it off in the way we'd like.

we agreed that at the end of the day, the budget is important...but so is entertaining and the comfort of our guests.

not to mention our sanity. i'll be the first to admit that coordinating from WAY scratch...would be a daunting task for someone like me.

#313: a $2,000 backyard.

getting charged a site fee is quite the norm these days. problem is...with a $10,000 budget, spending 20% on just renting ground space seems like...not a waste (especially for a yard like this one!)...but kind of like...reaching beyond my means. kind of like...knowing i want to spend $300 on a wedding dress but trying on the $5,000 ones. just cuz.

i mean, should i even be entertaining something like this? say for $2,000 (FLAT, no additional fees or taxes) i can rent that backyard.

i'd still have to stretch my wallet on:
tables/chairs
linens
food
drinks
staff
equipment
shuttle (parking isn't ideal so i'd have to shuttle the guests from somewhere)

given my goal here, what do you think i should do? keep the dream alive? or squash the inevitable early on?

#312: i love you babe but...

...thanks to catching 'pride and prejudice' on the telly, i hope to dream of mr. darcy tonight. lawd!

#311: $110/hour site fee.

i think i could spruce this up a bit with the right lighting and decorations. all DIY of course.

i'm picturing...long tables...and _________...

EDIT: the venue is prince erik hall in arcadia. the food is catered by santa anita gardens and everything from tables to linens must be rented.

#310: channel your chennergy.

chennergy weddings

reader latoya emailed me about her photographer whose portfolio not only brought a tear to mine eyes but who also offers up to 3 pro bono sessions per year to deserving brides. i know i've blogged about photogs who offer free sessions...

...but...this is different.

it's less of a competition (which tends to spotlight the photographer) and more of a real and heartfelt offer to provide brides with quality photography that would otherwise be unavailable to them. i think it's brilliant...particularly for those who are or who know someone especially deserving of something like this. spread the word. or apply.

RENTweddings- $0
We realize that not everyone can afford high-end wedding photography but that doesn't mean that people shouldn't deserve it. We remember what it was like not being able to afford rent, and making just enough to get by. If this is you, conventional wisdom would inform you not to get married until you were financially stable. Well, if you happen to be among the group of lovebirds that can't wait for conventional wisdom to get with it then we're here to help you. Getting married on a very tight budget or none at all? Chennergy Weddings allows for up to 3 pro bono weddings a year. Basically, we shoot for free, no premiums are charged, and you get all the images we take on a DVD. We also offer a majorly discounted pricelist for you guys too with all proceeds going to charity. If you would like to book a RENT wedding just shoot us an email with "RENTwedding" in the subject line. Remember this is only limited to 3x a year and is very competitive so be ready to give proof and explanation for why you'd like for us to photograph your wedding.

{thanks latoya...}

#309: TAGGED! get to know the future mister.

got tagged by kate who is now also miss pomegranate over at wedding bee {congrats!}.

so i have to tell you five "fun" facts about the future mister. i say "fun" because depending on who's reading this, it could be "fun"...or "embarrassing".


photo by...me. that's the future mister stirring his biscotti.

1) he organizes my clothes because he can't stand that i don't care to organize them.
1.5) he folds his socks a certain way.
2) he wears flip flops that are a size too big for him. i'm not sure why but i think he inherited them from a friend and just hasn't bothered to get his own.
3) his favorite movies are 'jerry mcguire' and 'it's a wonderful life'. we like to sometimes point and look at each other sideways and pretend to have tears of love in our eyes the way cuba and tom do at the end of the movie.
4) he used to eat whatever was cheapest and most convenient (like homemade broccoli, egg, and siracha omelettes)...aka he was good at saving money. until he met me.
5) his REI black down vest had a little bit of feather sticking out; i pulled at it and made it even worse. now everyone notices it and asks if they could just fix it for him. he says no. (does this count as a fun fact?)

i tag...amber.

#308: shot down.

i emailed www.bebworld.com:

Guest Count: 125ish
Budget: weekend rental up to $2k

Details: I'm looking to rent a home for the weekend and also to hold a wedding reception in the backyard for 100 to 125 people. So far, I like Venice Beach CA Penthouse #0093 and Studio City CA House #0084.

I'm open to your suggestions as well. Thank you.

and promptly got schooled:

We have nothing at your budget for 125 guest for a weekend and I really do not know who would. good luck on your search. Maybe try a hotel or a park.

#93 roof top penthouse in venice.
125 guest per day for $14,500 per day
stays for 3 night min. for $4,500

update: thanks for the support, ladies. i thought their response was...honest. actually, it's pretty much almost exactly what i expected...but i will admit that i did also hold onto a little bit of hope that maybe they'd come back with a 'it's your lucky day!'.

after some consideration, and especially after that telling response, i'm coming to terms with the fact that unless the fiance and i up our budget, we will not be able to 'rent' a backyard. at least, not in the capacity i want.

so...i'm just going to stop leaning on that idea. the end. no more time will be wasted on these searches. the past week has been endless searching for houses...and now i can spend my time searching for venues that are more likely to work within our budget.

the upside: i do have ONE relative who has a potential backyard where we could maybe pull it off but even if it turns out his place can't accommodate...well, then that's that. meh. on to plan B.

lesson learned here: when you're on a budget, it pays to be flexible. i suppose that also includes ideas.