We've done it! We have booked our venue! June 8, 2013 is the date and with this part done I feel soooo relieved. We are booking the lodge (I refuse to call it a "shelter" any longer) and picnic area at Johnson Park in Grand Rapids. This way, we will have backup if we end up with more than 150 guests (that is the capacity for inside the lodge). Plus we can plan the ceremony near the picnic area because it is more shaded and flat.
We had previously looked at other county park lodges, but I was disappointed in the space and area of the park they were in. For example, the lodge at the park in Byron Center was nice, but had almost no yard, and no porch. The lodge at Johnson Park has a big wrap around porch and sits back in a quiet wooded corner of the park. The interior is very rustic, and has 20 large wooden picnic tables. There is a small kitchen with a fridge/freezer, stove, and sink.
Happy planning!
Miss Spaghetti
Monday, July 9, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Step by Step
If you haven't guessed by the name of my blogs, I am a bit of a budgeter. So then why, I ask you, is it so hard for me to focus on one of the most important essentials of wedding planning? THE BUDGET! I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I am so excited to get to the fun details, like decorations, flowers, etc. and see how good of deals I can get on them:)
However, I can't disagree with myself on that. Investigating the costs of things like that will actually help me to set a realistic budget. If I don't know how much a DJ costs, how can I budget for it, right? So, how important is the budget in your wedding planning? How quickly did you set one, and did you stick to it?
Happy planning!
Miss Spaghetti
However, I can't disagree with myself on that. Investigating the costs of things like that will actually help me to set a realistic budget. If I don't know how much a DJ costs, how can I budget for it, right? So, how important is the budget in your wedding planning? How quickly did you set one, and did you stick to it?
Happy planning!
Miss Spaghetti
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Venue Search Begins
Knowing that Mr. Spaghetti and I are not looking to have a traditional, big, expensive wedding and reception, that we would rather have an intimate, casual gathering, we are beginning our venue search. Neither of us are involved in any specific religion, and we want to have an outdoor ceremony. We had a few people suggest a few local parks, and after googling them repeatedly to find others who have had their weddings there, I think we've found a few good options!
The Kent County Parks here in Michigan each have an "enclosed shelter". Now, I hate how this sounds like a shed or somewhere you would go in case of a tornado. It truly is a bad name for them. They are actually large, rustic halls with full kitchen, restrooms, fireplaces, 3-sided porches, and room for dancing.
The best part---rental is under $500 for the whole day! And you have the freedom to choose a caterer, make your own food, bring your own alcohol, anything you want! Or you can just rent it for the 1st half or 2nd half of the day for under $300. Can't beat that!
The Kent County Parks here in Michigan each have an "enclosed shelter". Now, I hate how this sounds like a shed or somewhere you would go in case of a tornado. It truly is a bad name for them. They are actually large, rustic halls with full kitchen, restrooms, fireplaces, 3-sided porches, and room for dancing.
http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Parks/johnson.htm
The best part---rental is under $500 for the whole day! And you have the freedom to choose a caterer, make your own food, bring your own alcohol, anything you want! Or you can just rent it for the 1st half or 2nd half of the day for under $300. Can't beat that!
Monday, June 4, 2012
So many purples!
My girls and I took a trip out to Hobby Lobby, Michael's and Bed Bath & Beyond to check out silk flower options. Found the most realistic by far at BB&B! I saw so many purples and blues but not one was right...until I found these hydrangeas. I am thinking I'll add in sone of these whitish flowers as well, can't remember what they are :)
The hydrangeas are $9.99 regular price, and the white ones are $5.99. Pair that with a sale or use the 20% off coupon I so often get, and that's a beautiful and inexpensive bouquet!
The hydrangeas are $9.99 regular price, and the white ones are $5.99. Pair that with a sale or use the 20% off coupon I so often get, and that's a beautiful and inexpensive bouquet!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Wedding Colors!
I. Love. Purple. Period.
I have always known that I want to use a lilac/lavender/hydrangea color in our wedding. Recently my sister and I were at the mall and I saw a gift bag that was cream with purple and bright blue stripes. And I realized I could have my second favorite color (blue) incorporated too! So I've been looking around for inspiration for a purple & blue wedding. My search, of course, led me to Pinterest...
Here are a few things I found that really hit the spot:
Talk to you soon!
Miss Spaghetti
I have always known that I want to use a lilac/lavender/hydrangea color in our wedding. Recently my sister and I were at the mall and I saw a gift bag that was cream with purple and bright blue stripes. And I realized I could have my second favorite color (blue) incorporated too! So I've been looking around for inspiration for a purple & blue wedding. My search, of course, led me to Pinterest...
Here are a few things I found that really hit the spot:
Love the flowers in this one! Especially the top and bottom right.
I also love the flowers in the bottom left of this one, if I don't go with hydrangeas. The purple is a little darker than what I want though.
This cake is for me, all the way! But since I won't be spending my entire wedding budget on a cake, I'll have to learn how to do it on the cheap. Any ideas or suggestions welcome:)
How soon did you decide your wedding colors?
Talk to you soon!
Miss Spaghetti
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Changing our minds...
Isn't it amazing the process our minds go through when beginning to plan our weddings? I have always known I would be a frugal bride, but even my definition of frugal is more extreme than most who are on a budget. For this reason, Mr. Spaghetti and I are leaning towards a simple, park wedding and reception close to our home, rather than our beautiful and meaningful Mackinac Island nuptials. Even though I know I could plan it at $6,000 or less, I know that I could do it for $3,000 or less here in our home town. That is a lot of money. I keep thinking of all the things we could do with it rather than spending it on hotels, chair rentals, eating out, and all the other things that come with a destination wedding.
We will probably still go up to the island for our honeymoon, it is too meaningful to us to not have it incorporated somehow in our wedding. *Sigh* decisions, decisions...but in the end, I know that the most important thing to both of us is being married to each other, and celebrating with our family and friends. The island isn't going anywhere, right!
Talk to you soon,
Miss Spaghetti
We will probably still go up to the island for our honeymoon, it is too meaningful to us to not have it incorporated somehow in our wedding. *Sigh* decisions, decisions...but in the end, I know that the most important thing to both of us is being married to each other, and celebrating with our family and friends. The island isn't going anywhere, right!
Talk to you soon,
Miss Spaghetti
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Welcome!
To everyone who is an anxious and excited bride-to-be, or anyone helping plan a wedding for someone, welcome to my blog! I'm Miss Spaghetti, and I am the ultimate money-saver and do-it-yourself-er. I am engaged to the man of my dreams, we'll call him Mr. Spaghetti. He is supportive, positive, and everything I could ever want in a future husband.
We are just starting the planning process for our upcoming wedding. I'm super excited to get the ball rolling on our big day. And we aren't the only ones tying the knot in the near future...my sister, cousin, and fiance's dad are all getting married in the next 8 months! Needless to say it will be a busy year for us. But I can't complain, I am a planning freak, and will take on any part of planning anything for anyone. So this is actually my happy time!
A little about me...I am a graphic designer, who specializes in the design and printing of wedding invitations and accessories (a tad ironic?). What is even more so, is that Mr. Spaghetti is a printing press operator whom I met while he was printing one of my projects (wedding invitations of course!). So you could say it was meant to be, and we certainly feel that way.
Follow along with me as I share my wedding planning joys. I am bound and determined to plan a meaningful and fun wedding day with little stress and by spending the least amount possible.
Talk to you soon!
Miss Spaghetti
We are just starting the planning process for our upcoming wedding. I'm super excited to get the ball rolling on our big day. And we aren't the only ones tying the knot in the near future...my sister, cousin, and fiance's dad are all getting married in the next 8 months! Needless to say it will be a busy year for us. But I can't complain, I am a planning freak, and will take on any part of planning anything for anyone. So this is actually my happy time!
A little about me...I am a graphic designer, who specializes in the design and printing of wedding invitations and accessories (a tad ironic?). What is even more so, is that Mr. Spaghetti is a printing press operator whom I met while he was printing one of my projects (wedding invitations of course!). So you could say it was meant to be, and we certainly feel that way.
Follow along with me as I share my wedding planning joys. I am bound and determined to plan a meaningful and fun wedding day with little stress and by spending the least amount possible.
Talk to you soon!
Miss Spaghetti
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