Not Being Able to Have Dream Wedding

My dream wedding is simply marrying my best friend and favorite person. I would be just as happy going to the courts and getting married by a judge.
Keep in mind who you're marrying. Enjoy being engaged, and why you are engaged to your FH. I'm a true believer of everything happens for a reason. We've had a couple venues fall thru too, but what doors did open for us has made us just as happy. Everything will work out for you 😊

For the longest time, I wanted to elope and get married on a glacier in New Zealand with six of our closest friends. It fit my lifestyle perfectly. Every ex-boyfriend I had loved the idea BUT FH. Ice Age was the one that wanted the big wedding in Washington DC (where we live) surrounded by all his friends and family

(cont)...so I agreed on the condition that we do a vow renewal with six of our closest friends and family on a glacier in New Zealand in 20 years, when we are pushing 60. He agreed with his own condition... Gandalf must officiate. What is marriage but compromises.

Venue has really been the big thing, it's so expensive and although I love what we chose, if I had a bigger budget I would have chosen something better. Same with flowers I decided on artificial for the centerpieces so I could save there. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, I knew I would have to compromise on certain things.

I found a venue in Atlanta a few years ago that was everything I had imagined for my wedding. Once I got engaged, I contacted them to find out about their pricing. Turns out, I would have to spend my entire wedding budget plus some just to cover the venue. I was crushed for a while but eventually found another venue that closer to where I live, in budget, and equally as elegant. It was a tough pill to swallow after I had daydreamed about that first venue for so long but I'm still really happy with the venue I picked.

I understand! I think my expectations would require a budget of $80,000 haha but I'm still very blessed to have the budget I do and plan with that. It's been super helpful just ignoring things I've dreamed of and looking up more affordable ideas (regular tables with linens rather than long, wooden farmhouse tables). Planning has still been super fun!

Dream weddings don't exist. Look inside yourselves at what's most important. Obviously you'll find it's about the commitment you and your fh are showing to all the people that will be there. What's next? Is it the place? The food? The music and dancing? Pick one and focus on that. Everything else will fall into place. You can't have perfect on a budget, but you sure can throw one hell of a party that your guests will love.

I completely understand. For me it was a forested venue, I wanted to have people dining in between the trees. While that is 100% doable in the area around me the site fees alone were 3-4x those of slightly simpler outdoor venues. So we went with a simpler venue. I still think about how I can make it feel foresty or if I really want to but in the end it is just a location and the actual act of us getting married will already be special enough. Just try not to get too emotionally invested along the way until you have a signed contract in your hands.