Recently Engaged and need some Wedding Help

Happy to help

I am a photographer. I have been doing beach weddings in South Walton since the early 90s! Maybe you could give me a call to discuss your plans. I am easiest to reach at night after 7:00 or so. Truly, no obligation at all. My opinions are free for the asking. Amy @ Avalon Photography 850-835-5225 www.avalon-photo.com

If your budget is tight try carrilon beach instead of rosemary

2 more questions.

Is it better to rent a photographer by the hour and then have all the pictures on a CD?

Is it better to use the Cater for all the tents, tables and everything else other than just food?

Thanks.

if you're going to be your own wedding planner, it may be cheaper to get everything on your own. But it's your wedding, do you really want to be doing all that stuff in addition to all the other responsibilities that are coming your way?

We will be needing a wedding planner b/c we live out of town and do not want to be dealing with all of the different vendors the day of the wedding.

I used to think that a beach wedding would be a relatively inexpensive option. But I've heard otherwise. For example, one of my doctors in Atlanta who has one of the most successful OB/GYN practices in Atlanta decided that a beach wedding down here was too expensive.

Good luck, tchuck. If you find a reasonably priced way to do it, please let me know. We're not too far from a wedding in our family. ;-)

I so agree

I am finding out helping my daughter plan a wedding that so many of the places charge an arm and a leg just for the venue, not including food and liquor. Most places I am finding are charging close to 5,000 just for set up of tables, some wedding planning and the venue. I can afford it, just not sure it's worth it for one day. Our daughter agrees with me! I guess I'm getting old, but $10,000 for a one day event is crazy!

1) Get all deposits/contracts in writing and give them the ol' legal eagle eye - there have been some threads about people not being able to get their $ back due to a change or because of a verbal agreement, even with months of notice.

2) Make sure that your wedding/reception music more than complies with any noise ordinance. We have been having issues w/ cranky neighbors (who just need to eat more prunes IMO) calling the po-po at other 30-A locations.

3) It is more hot, breezy, and humid here than you realize. Plan all clothing, hairdos, make-up, and tailoring accordingly. An ice pack wrapped in a towel is a must have pre-ceremony and so are those little blotting papers and a handkerchief wrapped around your bouquet (for sweaty hands). Not eating or drinking enough water can also cause trouble.

4) The words Rosemary and wedding will both add $ to your costs, so prioritize and decide what is important to YOU. This day is about you and your spouse so decide what is special to you and what you want to spend money on - noone comes to a wedding for the food, flowers on the beach don't last long, noone knows if you got your dress on sale, and your mothers/in-laws have decades more of input. If you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing noone and getting very frustrated.

5) You are the person getting married, not the group's dietician, babysitter, travel agent, fashion designer, or fairy godmother. It is your wedding and your decisions. People can have input, but it is YOUR WEDDING, so Aunt Tilly can arrange her own ride from the airport and call for more towels, the bridesmaids will wear what YOU say and do their hair how YOU say and like it, the vows/ceremony will be what you want - even if Great Uncle Humbert has always wanted to officiate and the demon twins want to be flower girls and Gina has a friend who does great things w/ fake flowers......

6) The things you do that reflect your personality are what people remember - not the chef flown in from NY to make the fruit shaped sorbets (which were basically popsicles) or that unique idea from Martha or the bridal mag - that every bride then does that season. :roll:

7) Assume everything will go wrong and plan accordingly - then you will have fewer surprises on the big day. Have a bad weather plan, travel plans w/ wiggle room & insurance, a dress/undergarments that are adjustable and comfortable, a reception w/ a HC stall (even then going to the bathroom is hilarious) and a friend/relative you trust (who is not a memeber of the wedding party) taking care of details in addition to your wedding planner so you don't have to.

8) Take breaks from the chaos/stress. Have times when you do NOT talk about the wedding for 24 hours, and also schedule massages or similar relaxation time. The planning can consume you until you are so sick and stressed you wonder why you wanted to get married and you cannot say something w/o using the W word - even if you were a perfectly normal low-maintence girl beforehand.

9) Have the bachelor/bachelorette weekends several weeks removed from the wedding and ban cell phones.

10) Have a great time! It's your wedding day and no matter what happens, you will still have a great day and all of the little things you went crazy about beforehand you won't even notice during the wedding/reception.

Great advice, you two.

Even if money were no object (which is not our situation), daughter and I would just be too stressed over the possibility of bad weather.

1) Get all deposits/contracts in writing and give them the ol' legal eagle eye - there have been some threads about people not being able to get their $ back due to a change or because of a verbal agreement, even with months of notice.

2) Make sure that your wedding/reception music more than complies with any noise ordinance. We have been having issues w/ cranky neighbors (who just need to eat more prunes IMO) calling the po-po at other 30-A locations.

3) It is more hot, breezy, and humid here than you realize. Plan all clothing, hairdos, make-up, and tailoring accordingly. An ice pack wrapped in a towel is a must have pre-ceremony and so are those little blotting papers and a handkerchief wrapped around your bouquet (for sweaty hands). Not eating or drinking enough water can also cause trouble.

4) The words Rosemary and wedding will both add $ to your costs, so prioritize and decide what is important to YOU. This day is about you and your spouse so decide what is special to you and what you want to spend money on - noone comes to a wedding for the food, flowers on the beach don't last long, noone knows if you got your dress on sale, and your mothers/in-laws have decades more of input. If you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing noone and getting very frustrated.

5) You are the person getting married, not the group's dietician, babysitter, travel agent, fashion designer, or fairy godmother. It is your wedding and your decisions. People can have input, but it is YOUR WEDDING, so Aunt Tilly can arrange her own ride from the airport and call for more towels, the bridesmaids will wear what YOU say and do their hair how YOU say and like it, the vows/ceremony will be what you want - even if Great Uncle Humbert has always wanted to officiate and the demon twins want to be flower girls and Gina has a friend who does great things w/ fake flowers......

6) The things you do that reflect your personality are what people remember - not the chef flown in from NY to make the fruit shaped sorbets (which were basically popsicles) or that unique idea from Martha or the bridal mag - that every bride then does that season. :roll:

7) Assume everything will go wrong and plan accordingly - then you will have fewer surprises on the big day. Have a bad weather plan, travel plans w/ wiggle room & insurance, a dress/undergarments that are adjustable and comfortable, a reception w/ a HC stall (even then going to the bathroom is hilarious) and a friend/relative you trust (who is not a memeber of the wedding party) taking care of details in addition to your wedding planner so you don't have to.

8) Take breaks from the chaos/stress. Have times when you do NOT talk about the wedding for 24 hours, and also schedule massages or similar relaxation time. The planning can consume you until you are so sick and stressed you wonder why you wanted to get married and you cannot say something w/o using the W word - even if you were a perfectly normal low-maintence girl beforehand.

9) Have the bachelor/bachelorette weekends several weeks removed from the wedding and ban cell phones.

10) Have a great time! It's your wedding day and no matter what happens, you will still have a great day and all of the little things you went crazy about beforehand you won't even notice during the wedding/reception.

I vote SB44 as a wedding planner. THis sounds like a good job for you!

I vote SB44 as a wedding planner. THis sounds like a good job for you!

No, I don't have the patience for all the fru-fru stuff.

I have been a bridal assertiveness coach, voluntary scapegoat, all 'round crisis control, and bride's biatch many a time though! :roll:

One word is sounding good..

ELOPE!!! I think a down payment on a house sounds better than expensive wedding!!

I vote SB44 as a wedding planner. THis sounds like a good job for you!

Always the planner never the bride.

Seriously though, the comment of $10,000 for a day is actually incredibly cheap for this area. 6 and 7 digit price tags are not uncommon. My favorite line I ever used on a bride was at a wedding we were doing and we were cutting the magnets off the shower curtains to use as runners as a last minute change. She entered the room and was aghast that we were using shower curtains. I simply said, "Look it's all chicken wire and duct tape. It only has to last today and look good in the photos that you'll have forever." She calmed down considerably. I can also add that the more you scrimp and try to save money the more WILL go wrong. That same wedding was at the end of August (an Indian word meaning daily thunderstorm). The bride was advised months in advance to get a tent to cover the reception area (a gulf front lawn) in case of rain. She wanted to save money and didn't do it. Forecast for her special day, rain, and lots of it. Since it was last minute the tent wasn't too big. She lucked out and it only rained for a minute, but it could have been a disaster. One of your best expenses can be a good wedding planner (whipping boy).

Good Luck

Before we all get negative and funny......Good luck to Tchuck and may their wedding be the happiest day of their life.

Carillon Beach assigns a wedding planner when you book the venue. Vickie Valpone is the wedding coordinator for Carillon Beach and she is fabulous. She also owns Bella Bridesmaid in Carillon Beach. She has been in the wedding business on this coast for about eight years. I'm sure if you give her a call or visit she would be glad to give you some input. Here is her store number 850-236-8626 www.bellabridesmaid.com

When it is sarafunn's turn for a wedding here, I am going to hire scootyb, swgb and jdarg.

Done.

When it is sarafunn's turn for a wedding here, I am going to hire scootyb, swgb and jdarg.

Done.

If you could get them all to agree on a plan, the wedding would be phenomenal!

Barring that, to the OP -- I attended a wonderful wedding in Carillon in May. It was a simple beach ceremony with a small, low-key reception on the lawn with a DJ, a dance floor, a tent and some food. I doubt it was cheap but it was understated and I'm sure much less expensive than Rosemary. I do know the bride and groom were on a budget. Good luck and hope it all goes well!

When it is sarafunn's turn for a wedding here, I am going to hire scootyb, swgb and jdarg.

Done.

That would be one safe, practical, and well-stocked wedding!

When it is sarafunn's turn for a wedding here, I am going to hire scootyb, swgb and jdarg.

Done.

That would be one safe, practical, and well-stocked wedding!

Well we know who to hire as the bartender and what to stock. Do we really need anything else?

If you could get them all to agree on a plan, the wedding would be phenomenal!

Barring that, to the OP -- I attended a wonderful wedding in Carillon in May. It was a simple beach ceremony with a small, low-key reception on the lawn with a DJ, a dance floor, a tent and some food. I doubt it was cheap but it was understated and I'm sure much less expensive than Rosemary. I do know the bride and groom were on a budget. Good luck and hope it all goes well!

That would be one safe, practical, and well-stocked wedding!

Well we know who to hire as the bartender and what to stock. Do we really need anything else?

...okay, add one more jsut for funn...PUNZY!

...okay, add one more jsut for funn...PUNZY!

Oh thank god, that takes care of the rest of the wedding. :funn:

My plan for daughter was marriage at First Methodist, do a "second line" with a NOLA brass band to the house (a mile away to our 1830's reproduction Louisiana plantation house designed by the renowned Samuel Wilson Jr. of Koch & Wilson in NOLA), and throw the reception at the house with some big tents. Music would be strings at the wedding (we have that covered), and whatever fun music she wants to do at the reception.

But now she is talking Atlanta. We're paying. That should carry some weight, right? And her maternal grandparents had their honeymoon in NOLA, her father and I met at Tulane, and she was conceived during the NOLA World's Fair in 1984 after I was told at Duke University that it was impossible for me to get pregnant. That should carry some weight, too.

On the other hand, I will fold and do whatever she wants. I her so much.

My plan for daughter was marriage at First Methodist, do a "second line" with a NOLA brass band to the house (a mile away to our 1830's reproduction Louisiana plantation house designed by the renowned Samuel Wilson Jr. of Koch & Wilson in NOLA), and throw the reception at the house with some big tents. Music would be strings at the wedding (we have that covered), and whatever fun music she wants to do at the reception.

But now she is talking Atlanta. We're paying. That should carry some weight, right? And her maternal grandparents had their honeymoon in NOLA, her father and I met at Tulane, and she was conceived during the NOLA World's Fair in 1984 after I was told at Duke University that it was impossible for me to get pregnant. That should carry some weight, too.

On the other hand, I will fold and do whatever she wants. I her so much.

BR, you're a good mama.

1) Get all deposits/contracts in writing and give them the ol' legal eagle eye - there have been some threads about people not being able to get their $ back due to a change or because of a verbal agreement, even with months of notice.

2) Make sure that your wedding/reception music more than complies with any noise ordinance. We have been having issues w/ cranky neighbors (who just need to eat more prunes IMO) calling the po-po at other 30-A locations.

3) It is more hot, breezy, and humid here than you realize. Plan all clothing, hairdos, make-up, and tailoring accordingly. An ice pack wrapped in a towel is a must have pre-ceremony and so are those little blotting papers and a handkerchief wrapped around your bouquet (for sweaty hands). Not eating or drinking enough water can also cause trouble.

4) The words Rosemary and wedding will both add $ to your costs, so prioritize and decide what is important to YOU. This day is about you and your spouse so decide what is special to you and what you want to spend money on - noone comes to a wedding for the food, flowers on the beach don't last long, noone knows if you got your dress on sale, and your mothers/in-laws have decades more of input. If you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing noone and getting very frustrated.

5) You are the person getting married, not the group's dietician, babysitter, travel agent, fashion designer, or fairy godmother. It is your wedding and your decisions. People can have input, but it is YOUR WEDDING, so Aunt Tilly can arrange her own ride from the airport and call for more towels, the bridesmaids will wear what YOU say and do their hair how YOU say and like it, the vows/ceremony will be what you want - even if Great Uncle Humbert has always wanted to officiate and the demon twins want to be flower girls and Gina has a friend who does great things w/ fake flowers......

6) The things you do that reflect your personality are what people remember - not the chef flown in from NY to make the fruit shaped sorbets (which were basically popsicles) or that unique idea from Martha or the bridal mag - that every bride then does that season. :roll:

7) Assume everything will go wrong and plan accordingly - then you will have fewer surprises on the big day. Have a bad weather plan, travel plans w/ wiggle room & insurance, a dress/undergarments that are adjustable and comfortable, a reception w/ a HC stall (even then going to the bathroom is hilarious) and a friend/relative you trust (who is not a memeber of the wedding party) taking care of details in addition to your wedding planner so you don't have to.

8) Take breaks from the chaos/stress. Have times when you do NOT talk about the wedding for 24 hours, and also schedule massages or similar relaxation time. The planning can consume you until you are so sick and stressed you wonder why you wanted to get married and you cannot say something w/o using the W word - even if you were a perfectly normal low-maintence girl beforehand.

9) Have the bachelor/bachelorette weekends several weeks removed from the wedding and ban cell phones.

10) Have a great time! It's your wedding day and no matter what happens, you will still have a great day and all of the little things you went crazy about beforehand you won't even notice during the wedding/reception.

SB, my niece-in-law (is there such a thing?) is getting married in May in the UGA Chapel with reception on Herty field in Athens this May. Her Aunt, (my sweet sister-in-law) is helping her. Unfortunately, the words "its her wedding" keep having to be said. I think I'll foward your advice to both of them if you don't mind.

1) Get all deposits/contracts in writing and give them the ol' legal eagle eye - there have been some threads about people not being able to get their $ back due to a change or because of a verbal agreement, even with months of notice.

2) Make sure that your wedding/reception music more than complies with any noise ordinance. We have been having issues w/ cranky neighbors (who just need to eat more prunes IMO) calling the po-po at other 30-A locations.

3) It is more hot, breezy, and humid here than you realize. Plan all clothing, hairdos, make-up, and tailoring accordingly. An ice pack wrapped in a towel is a must have pre-ceremony and so are those little blotting papers and a handkerchief wrapped around your bouquet (for sweaty hands). Not eating or drinking enough water can also cause trouble.

4) The words Rosemary and wedding will both add $ to your costs, so prioritize and decide what is important to YOU. This day is about you and your spouse so decide what is special to you and what you want to spend money on - noone comes to a wedding for the food, flowers on the beach don't last long, noone knows if you got your dress on sale, and your mothers/in-laws have decades more of input. If you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing noone and getting very frustrated.

5) You are the person getting married, not the group's dietician, babysitter, travel agent, fashion designer, or fairy godmother. It is your wedding and your decisions. People can have input, but it is YOUR WEDDING, so Aunt Tilly can arrange her own ride from the airport and call for more towels, the bridesmaids will wear what YOU say and do their hair how YOU say and like it, the vows/ceremony will be what you want - even if Great Uncle Humbert has always wanted to officiate and the demon twins want to be flower girls and Gina has a friend who does great things w/ fake flowers......

6) The things you do that reflect your personality are what people remember - not the chef flown in from NY to make the fruit shaped sorbets (which were basically popsicles) or that unique idea from Martha or the bridal mag - that every bride then does that season. :roll:

7) Assume everything will go wrong and plan accordingly - then you will have fewer surprises on the big day. Have a bad weather plan, travel plans w/ wiggle room & insurance, a dress/undergarments that are adjustable and comfortable, a reception w/ a HC stall (even then going to the bathroom is hilarious) and a friend/relative you trust (who is not a memeber of the wedding party) taking care of details in addition to your wedding planner so you don't have to.

8) Take breaks from the chaos/stress. Have times when you do NOT talk about the wedding for 24 hours, and also schedule massages or similar relaxation time. The planning can consume you until you are so sick and stressed you wonder why you wanted to get married and you cannot say something w/o using the W word - even if you were a perfectly normal low-maintence girl beforehand.

9) Have the bachelor/bachelorette weekends several weeks removed from the wedding and ban cell phones.

10) Have a great time! It's your wedding day and no matter what happens, you will still have a great day and all of the little things you went crazy about beforehand you won't even notice during the wedding/reception.

SB, my neice-in-law is getting married in the UGA chapel with reception outdoors at Herty Field in May. My sweet sister-in-law (her aunt) is helping her. The words "it's her wedding" keep having to be said. I think I will forward to your very excellent advice to both of them.