Super small and cheap wedding

Wow, JillR, that's amazing!!

LOL...yeah, right...I have a huge monetary stake in a random, 17 person wedding in a banquet room of a restaurant in some obscure city that's probably thousands of miles from me. That bridal bouquet, centerpiece, corsage, bout, and cake decor will garner me a whopping $350 (if the bride wants pricey stems). Oops, deduct some of my profit because I'm going to have to hand deliver those living pieces at their prime...gas, tolls, lodging. Damn, I'd do better if I managed to win a manager's position at my local McDonalds.

Mrs. Johnson intends to be a vendor. She intends to open an event rental business with all of the stuff she purchases for her 90 guest, backyard, self-catered, May wedding celebration (she's already married). Using her own logic, she'll have to exclude herself from future discussions initiated on the bridal forum because she'll be one of those with a monetary stake in the wedding game. Tsk tsk.

Actually, Mrs. Johnson, who likes to accuse pros of "being wet behind the ears" has no idea of what an uphill climb she has with her business plan. May all of the stuff she "squired" (her word, from another post -- not mine) -- and intends to rent out for profit to other brides when all of her guests are done using them -- be lining up around the corner to rent her goods. I can already predict how this venture will go. Unless you're a big fish offering one hell of a selection of each item you intend to rent (as in, eight shades of charger plates, 30 shades of linens, several styles of chairs, etc.)....ehh, forget it. Unless you're in the industry, there is no way to know what it's like to deal with each unique woman planning her wedding. But hey, if all of these brides want to DIY (which means they probably won't be interested in renting used charger plates or linens), they must have the same taste, right?

I have a super low budget too! I live in Florida, so we are having a ceremony and reception on the beach. I rented a large pavilion that holds 100 people for $200. Bob Evans is catering for $600 for 60 people (10-15 are kids). My MOH is building an arch as a wedding gift for me. My aunt is doing my bouquet. And decorations, are mostly coming from Ikea, and eBay. Hope this helps! Oh and my Wedding dress, is straight from China for $150 custom made, I found one place with great reviews if you send them your measurements!