In 6 weeks I am getting married, exactly 6 weeks today. It feels thrilling. I am so happy that some of the most important parts are set. We have tested our super yummy menu (my mouth just watered thinking about it), everything is set for our beach party the day before the wedding, we have booked an amazing photographer, my dress is picked out and waiting for me in Spain, we have chosen the most beautiful location to get married and both my little man and hubby to be have their clothes set. But planning is far frome done.
Today someone asked me if wedding planning is hektic. My reply is both yes and no. At the moment my biggest stress is pulling the budget back together and that I am still missing a few RSVPs. Getting married in a far off destination makes everything a little harder. We are not getting married at a resort or someplace where they host weddings on a regular bases, we are getting married in an amazing villa that we have rented for the week (did I mention that it is breathtaking?). This makes everything even just a little bit more difficult. We need chairs, we need candles, we need lights... actually we need everything. Now some of this is included in the catering cost but most of it is not. This is where my stress begins. It is so hard to know if the prices I get quoted are correct or if I am getting ripped off. I know that when you mention "wedding" prices have a tendency to double and to top it all off I don't speak Spanish so I cannot google to compare. Oh and I hate getting ripped off.
At the moment my budget is way off and I am determined not to go over budget so now my biggest stress is how to pull it back. And when I say I am over budget I am not talking a few hundred bucks I am talking a few thousand. Chopping some of that out is easy but then there is all the stuff that I really think will add that extra something special. At the same time I feel that if you can't eat it, drink it or bring it home with you it might be a waste of money? Our wedding is about the love between Jesper and I. Not about things.
The location we have chosen is so special in its self that most of that extra stuff might not be so special? At the moment I am trying to get creative, stripping it back. Trying to cut cost without cutting out magic. And as I am getting creative I might also have to change my color pallet and change up the design in my graphics. And even if changing a concept that I have had in place for months (maybe even years) just weeks before our wedding feels kind of crazy,it also feels amazing since I am able to shave 1000's off and at the moment looks like I will be able to meet my budget. And the best part is I am not subtracting any magic. All the magic is between my future husband and myself. Being able to spend a week with our friends and family on a beautiful island and celebrate love.
The saga is to be continued....
All of the amazing photographs in this post are by one of my all time favorite wedding photographers Jonas Petterson. He catches moments in a way that just blows me away. All of the above weddings are beautiful head over to look: photos 1,2-4, 5-6,7,8.
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Exciting times for both of us! My wedding is in about 3 weeks and we're flying off to Finland for it. Although we're keeping the wedding small and modest, there are surprisingly many costs involved. I would love to have Jonas photographing my wedding (our second wedding!) here in Sydney, but I'm not sure he'd fit our budget! His photos are absolutely gorgeous though.
Posted by: Maria | May 17, 2012 at 12:25 AM
Maria! That is soooon! We are keeping our wedding small as well at about 40 guests. And I agree with you. surprisingly many costs, even if they are small a lot of them, they ad up. I just cant justify many of them. And I agree, I would not mind having Jonas shoot my wedding. He just has that something extra special. I am super happy with my photographer... she has that something extra as well. good luck with the last bits before your big day. By the way how was the Greta dress? xx- Joanna
Posted by: by JOS | May 17, 2012 at 08:56 AM
Best of luck with you and your budget - I know that it will still be magical, no matter how much you end up spending (or not spending!)
Posted by: rooth | May 17, 2012 at 03:21 PM
Absolutely amazing work!
Good luck with the budget. I can imagine that it's hard... the last day you want to make compromises on. At the same time, you've hit the nail on the head... the magic is all those love of those people gathering and of the two of you. Hang in there!
Posted by: Jane Flanagan | May 18, 2012 at 01:33 AM
Love the photos, they are amazing. The first one looks like a painting. As for putting the budget together, I understand how hard it is but if anyone will be able to pull off a beautiful wedding it is you!
Posted by: marg | May 18, 2012 at 11:18 AM