I loved reading about Tracey and Glenn’s Connecticut wedding. They pulled back from an original budget of $20,000 and instead created an intimate family and close friends wedding at a charming local inn. Their budget was $5000. And their wedding was warm, memorable and personal. How totally perfect.
Here’s what Tracey had to say:
“After booking a venue in Hartford Connecticut for 100 guests, and starting to plan our $20,000 wedding, we decided we just did not want to spend so much money on one day of our lives. So, we regrouped and refocused, and set our sights on a $5,000 budget instead.
We knew it was very important to have a special event, and we wanted it to feel warm and inviting, for all who attended. We wanted to feel like we were hosting in our own home. That’s when we cut the guest list down to just immediate family, and our two closest friends and their families. A guest list of 32 was perfect!
We chose a Thursday night in January, at Wake Robin Inn in Lakeville, Connecticut.
The Inn had no other events, or even guest reservations for that matter, at that time, so they were happy to have our business and worked with us on the price per head as well as the costs for each room.
Because we booked all of the guests rooms, the Inn did not charge us extra to reserve the common areas, therefore we had our ceremony in their front room in front of the fireplace, then dinner in the back dining room.
Music and dancing was in the living room and of course the Irish pub was open all night just for us.
We were able to pay for all of our guests to stay overnight and have breakfast the next day, because we felt it was important that no one had to endure extra costs to attend our wedding. Of course, all of this ended up costing slightly more per head then our originally planned wedding, however with much fewer guests we were able to do so much more for everyone and really make it special!
My mother and stepfather did all of the flower arrangements, centerpieces and decorations with flowers we purchased from a wholesale warehouse in Connecticut, and tulle from an online warehouse. We chose a cheesecake from Stockbridges in Derby, CT and they decorated it very nicely, we then drove it up to the Inn ourselves, so that saved major dollars.
We hired a jazz band recommended by the Inn, and because our wedding was on a Thursday night they were able to work with us on price as well, being that we did not take up one of their better paying weekend nights.
We chose a local photographer who agreed to give us digital proofs and not print paper proofs. And again, being on a Thursday made it easier for her to work on pricing, plus she lived right around the corner from the Inn so her travel time was mininal.
Lastly I saw my dress in a boutique for $1,400 and then ended up purchasing it at RK Bridal online and paid only $700! I used a local tailor for slight alterations and I paid $60 for my shoes from Zappos.
So, not only did we save money, we were able to make the experience as special for our guests as we were for ourselves, and that was very important to us.”
