All That Money for One Day?!?

So recently my boyfriend and I have talked about getting married and all that fun stuff.  Well, after we talked about it, me being the planner that I am, I started looking into a venue, a photographer, the dress, the cake, the flowers and all the other goods that anyone would need for a wedding.  I am a one of those girls who has had my wedding picked out and planned for as long as I can remember, but I can honestly say I never knew how expensive it was to get married. 

First we have to pick somewhere to get married.  I narrowed it down to two places but neither one is cheap.  I was raised in the church so I want somewhere that will reflect that.  Integrity Hills has the cross in the window frame but Stonegate Glass Chapel is just absolutely gorgeous.  As well as picking a place, we have to find a photographer that will be there with us.  I’m from Lebanon, he is from Neosho, and the venues we’re looking at are in Branson so if we are going to pick someone we know to take pictures they are going to have to travel as well. 

Then there is the dress.  My mom and I LOVE watching “Say Yes to the Dress” and we watch it all the time.  It wouldn’t surprise me if every girl’s dream was to get a dress from Kleinfeld’s Bridal in Manhattan, but I have to live in reality.  I cannot spend a minimum of $2000 like the dresses at Kleinfeld’s.  I couldn’t imagine spending that much on my dress alone.  It’s unreal for a girl from little Lebanon, MO to first be able to travel to New York, then to pay for the dress.  So for a dress, it looks like my choices are David’s Bridal, Norman’s or ETC Bridal in Lebanon.

And then there’s the cake.  My ideal cake would be four boxes alternating on top of each other.  The bottom layer would be marble.  The third layer would be white.  The second layer would be chocolate.  And the top layer to be red velvet.  I’m not sure what I want for the decorations or even the colors.  I’m stuck between something black and red or black and pink.

But then for my flowers, if I get my absolute favorite flowers, I have to go with black and pink.  I told my mom want kind of flowers I wanted and she looked at me like I was crazy.  Ever since our first date, my boyfriend randomly buys me flowers, just because.  I think every time but once he has gotten me pink Stargazer Lilies and if they aren’t that, they are pink roses.  Those have really just become our flowers and it’s kind of hard to imagine getting married without them.

I know, these aren’t all the expenses that are needed for a wedding. I’m also missing tuxedos, bridesmaid dresses, the rings, food, and a whole lot more.  But it’s just scary to think about all of the things that really go into a wedding.   As a little girl, I never thought it would be that hard to plan a wedding but now that the time is closer, these are all things I have to start thinking about.