Eloping

Can you cut the guest list down or did you already send STDs? Bridesmaids should be able to do their hair however they want. If you’re requiring a certain look, you need to be paying for it. As far as their dresses, did you consult them on budget before choosing a dress?

No we didn’t do STD’s. Just paper invites that haven’t gone to anyone besides close family/friends as of now. They are cool with it the only bridesmaid that has a problem with it is my sister and I’m already paying for their makeup. I couldn’t afford to do everything or trust me I would to save me the trouble. Honestly we may not even be able to pay for their makeup in that case though I’ll just bring my favorite makeup and we can do that on each other. Dresses they paid for themselves however they are cheap. We’re only 25$ a piece. And again sister is really the only one that gave me issues with that. MOH sort of did because I really wanted long dresses however she fell in love with the short so we went with them especially due to their prices.
& yes. A lot of consultation, texts, calls, about prices, places, times...the whole enchilada. 😂 plenty of time ahead as well because I picked my BMs right when I got engaged as well as researched and picked the vendors, salon, dress color then dresses pretty much a year out till the wedding. It’s just frustrating.

Yeah I’m not a last minute bride. 🤣 I stress on making 100 percent sure nothing is last minute. I simply can’t due to my job. I also love control and am wanting to save money. So for things to be going how they are is not fun.

PS also I know a few people have mentioned it on here like you have too that the bride should pay for at least hair. If not also dress, makeup, shoes etc. However again we’re broke 😂 and paying for everything ourselves and this is seriously the first time I’ve heard of all of this stuff when I started planning my own wedding. Every wedding I’ve ever been in as a BM I had to pay for everything out of my own pocket.

This is my second time to the alter, and I learned a lot the first time around.

If your bridal party is giving you issues, maybe cut down to a smaller bridal party? We are literally having a maid of honor and a best man for our wedding party. It eliminates a lot of the stress. I'm letting her pick her own dress as long as it fits the look of the wedding and pick her own hair style - since there's only her to worry about, it's been smooth sailing.

I also agree with cutting the guest list down if you can. We discussed eloping this time, since I've already done the big 250+ guest wedding, but my FH is an only child and it's important to him and his parents to have a celebration together as one big family, so we compromised and are doing a smaller wedding (more like 50 guests).

My future MIL says weddings are a time for family, and I have to say after all of our discussions about whether to elope or have a wedding, I agree. The more I thought about my family not being there, it started to break my heart. So I basically just invited my family and the few friends that pretty much are family to the wedding. Bonus: having a smaller guest list means we can have a nicer meal catered because there are fewer people to feed!

I just went to city hall for my first marriage and I kind of missed the whole party thing. We did not have the means to do it back then and there was a lot of family drama, but this time around, I want something more to celebrate!

Elopement these days can mean more than just you two! You can still have a handful of people there! I think that you should do what makes you happy! You want to enjoy this day!!

Maybe you should go out to lunch with your bridesmaids and try to get on the same page as them. You could talk in person and come to some decisions together. That way there is no room for confusion. It will be clear instead of misconstrued and not knowing what someone meant via text.

It doesn't matter who pays for what as long as everyone is in agreement. It sounds like y'all should do your own hair and makeup because of budget.

Your guest list.... Yikes! Cut, cut cut! You will save so much money.

What me and FH are doing is we got a Domestic Partnership a month after the engagement and we are getting married in city hall in June. Only our MOH and Best Man will be there (to sign as witnesses) and then we are having a small group of very close friends go out for dinner with us that night. The big ceremony we are having in 2025 is going to be a vow renewal, but for 98% of our guests and our families it's the actual wedding. It gives us time to save money and plan things to perfection (Im a huge perfectionist as well) and it eliminates so much stress, because we will already be married. At the end of the day, the huge wedding ceremony is for everyone else, not us.

We had a traditional wedding and we talked about eloping MANY times when things got stressful. I do not regret my wedding day one bit. It was incredible. But, I also could have eloped or done a super small family with immediate family only or something and I would have been just as happy. If the stress and the chaos is overwhelming, eloping might be more for you. Either way, your wedding will be amazing!

I haven’t gotten married yet, but yes, I’m a little bummed that my FH doesn’t want to elope. I would much rather that instead of a wedding. Less stress, less money, pure happiness = priceless.

I am going through this as of right now...we booked..put up deposits...& recently this past weekend we decided to do a small elopement in Branson, Missouri...we get to keep our date...everyone involved gets a mini vaca... & for the fraction of the price we would've paid...honestly from attending past weddings I feel like this will be as nice & rustic as the expensive close to home chapel...plus everyone really close & important will still be attending

I was really only into eloping the first 6 weeks of wedding planning. It was stressful. Once we've gotten past that, we're good to go.
See if you can cut that guest list down. I've definitely cut a few people here and there just because they aren't super important. I say this as someone who has a 250 limit, and 175-200 of those are close family.