April 9, 2022. Sunny and 75 degrees in Covington, LA! It was the perfect day for a wedding. We had a backyard wedding, and truthfully, I hate to call it a backyard wedding because that doesn't do it justice. We had 92 guests, and we were wed by a family friend. The ceremony was my favorite part! It was so intimate. Liam, my son, was brought up during the ceremony to accept Tyler as his best friend, his bonus dad. It is something I will never forget! We exchanged vows in front of our closest family & friends. It was so incredibly special! Shout out to Brittany Alvarez @loveinminddesigns for making our big day stress free and absolutely perfect!
After the ceremony concluded, guests made their way to the reception. We had a happy hour for our guests, southern hors d'oeuvres, and Frank Sinatra playing over the speakers. We needed to pass the time while we took photos! Shout out to Harper Mumford with @mumfordandsisterphotography Finally, my hot husband and I took our seats at the head table and dinner was served. Speeches took place, we laughed, we cried, we toasted to forever and danced the night away! We had a 6 tiered king cake, a death by chocolate groom's cake, and per my Mama's request, a donut bar. The night concluded around midnight and we made our way back to the Southern Hotel in our 1959 Rolls Royce! It was magical!
April 10, 2022. We are lying in bed, soaking up newlywed bliss, I'm wondering where my phone is, who grabbed my shoes, 927 bobby pins still in tact, part of my weave is on the floor, and my feet still hurt from dancing. It was the perfect night! Truly, it was! But sevvveral 10-thousand doll hairs worth? YIKES!
I am so grateful, my husband and I both are, that we are fortunate enough, SO incredibly blessed, to have a family that paid for it, however. We did have the choice to receive a nest egg or have a wedding, and let's be honest, I needed my moment to shine! I have waited and prayed to find the man of my dreams for so long, and I wanted to celebrate that with our loved ones, especially Liam! So, I chose wedding, BUT hindsight we would have eloped. No question! We would have taken the money, saved the family drama and still lived happily ever after.. and been wealthier!
Brittany, my amazing friend and wedding planner, warned me that weddings make people weird, family & friends that weren't invited feel entitled and are highly offended that they didn't make the cut, people will ask if they can bring their best friend, cat and boss, guests will complain about airline ticket costs to get to the wedding (No one cares! Either come and keep your opinions to yourself or don't come and still keep your opinions to yourself), and people will have something to say about EVERYTHING! And everything that Brittany said would happen, did! And to be honest, I was shocked... and annoyed.
Am I saying that the wedding wasn't worth the money? No. Would I have cut a few more people? Absolutely. Could we have done without the Prosecco trailer? Probably not. Six tiered king cake? Yes. Would I still have a wedding or take the money knowing what I know now? Yes, I would still have the wedding. The ceremony was one of the most perfect, precious moments of my life. It was a moment right up there with hearing my child's cry when it pierced through the world for the first time! It's something I want to relive, for sure. But I would have been more cost conscious, for sure!
There was nothing more precious than sharing our wedding day with Liam, our closest friends, our parents & grandparents! To share a first look with my Daddy, and to get ready with my Mama on the day of was priceless! It was perfect, but I certainly want to give you something to think about... Whether you elope, spend under $500 and get married on the side of the road, or go all out and spend 6-figures. It's YOUR day! It is about you (the bride), and your choice is valid!
If I could do it again I would either make it twice as small or just elope! And by twice as small, I mean immediate family, best friend, done. 12 people max.
Have you had a wedding? Was it big or small? Did you have family drama? Are you debating on getting married or eloping? Are you getting married for the second or third time? Are you doing anything differently? Give me the full scoop! I would love to know your thoughts!
xx, R.
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