I'm having reservations about having the big wedding, advice on other options?

My wedding will be in a year and although everyone says they are fine to pay for it, I am getting very uncomfortable with spending $25-30,000 dollars on a beach wedding in L.A.





I hate hotels. My mom's house is kinda an option. I have a huge family and a lot of people who are important to me.





What are some good options for a more reasonably priced wedding day, in L.A.?





Thanks!I'm having reservations about having the big wedding, advice on other options?
I am glad you are having second thoughts about spending big money. Good for you. It is ridiculous that couples are pressured into big weddings that are expensive, stressful and are over in a flash. The money spent could be put to better use in setting up your new life together - or as a little cushion in the bank for emergencies, babies! Things like that!





My own wedding was originally going to be bigger than the one we eventually ended up with. We simply limited the wedding reception to family and invited only our closest friends to the night party. The hotel we hired was ok - nothing flash, the DJ was a friend of a friend and did a cheap rate. The photographer was my best mate (although he is one of the best and most accomplished photographers in Britain! - that was lucky!) Another friend (an editor for the BBC - that was lucky too!) did the video. That was there present to us, so we also avoided getting yet another bloody toaster! The wifes sister did all the flowers and we avoided fancy wedding gowns and expensive suits- just looked smart.





If you think about it there are all sorts of ways of saving money and reducing stress. With the money we saved we had a great honeymoon in California/ San Fransisco which I will never forget.





Hope you have a lovely day. Good luck.I'm having reservations about having the big wedding, advice on other options?
MY husband and I had a late morning wedding and an early afternoon reception. The food was the same as an evening reception (no appertizers) but cheaper because they could still rent out the evening.We didn't have dancing but had live music to dine by.I bought all the dresses from a bridal outlet store.I picked my dress out of a bridal magazine and they ordered and did the alterations.I ordered my invites by mail (I ordered samples through a bridal magazine).We didn't spend alot of money but it was the best wedding day,I don't regret a minute.I've been to big expensive weddings where there was no money left for a honeymoon.Really think about what's important to you and go with it,it's your day. Have Fun!
Do what you are comfortable with, it is your day, do it in a way that is pleasing to you and your husband to be.
You can save LOTS of money on your reception if you did the wedding and reception at your mom's house and did an appetizer finger food reception.





best wishes! Good luck!
number 1) wedding is (supposedly) a once in the lifetime thing. so, its okay to spend like 30,000 dollars at one go.





number 2) the wedding should be all about you and your fiance. it is not about your parents, even though they are important to you. HAVE YOUR DREAM WEDDING!





have a small garden ceremony is your mum's house...or book a public park to have a ceremony, it will be beautiful when all the flowers are in full bloom...:)





oh yeah...congratulations!!
Elope, get married by the J.P. save the money for a house, and honeymoon.
Try to have it on a Sunday and if you can have it at your mom's house why not do that. Have a simple ceremony and a big party to celebrate.
What you want is okay - whatever you decide to do.





Because my husband and I have huge families that we are very close to, and it would have been a very expensive wedding - we decided to just go on a vacation and be married while we were away, quietly on our own.





You know what? It was the perfect thing - no one - NO ONE ever gave us grief about our decision, in fact, we were stunned by the support of our families and friends - they didn't want to shell out for a big show either!





Now, we have a home that a large wedding would have made impossible for us to afford for years, and memories of a wedding ceremony that was intimate and romantic. And even more to the point; it was about being joined in Marriage - not about the wedding.
Good for you for remembering what's really important. Most of my friends that kept their weddings small can remember everything about it, who was there, what the food was like, the look in their husband's eyes, etc. The ones with the big weddings barely rememer anything. I'm getting married in 9 months and have have found that those big hotels and everything just aren't worth the money. I'm going for a small, old white church with a reception in their courtyard that's covered in roses. To me, that is more beautiful and intimate than any Hilton facility.