Totally different wedding than i imagined

I feel you! I wanted either a destination wedding..ir a courthouse wedding. Instead, I’m going all out & we’re invited over 140 guests LOL like you, I changed plans for various reasons..My grandparents are older & I w/ one passing I wanted the last 2 to attend (unfortunately another is gone) so it’s important to me do it in my home state now for the convenience. I also imagined a fitted dress & got the opposite. I’d say the weird part for me is just adjusting to the fact that I decided to go all out & I’m still not used to the attention. I think as time gets closer those feelings you’re having now won’t matter. I’m sure it’s going to be a beautiful day for you!!

Its funny because i always thought my feelings about my wedding would change the more weddings i attend... and they really havent i am having the wedding i wanted when i was 15 lol! 50 ppl backyard wedding, simple simple simple! Tea length dress, updo, perfect man! Friends and family! And i am so excitd!

Yes. When I was younger I always thought Vegas Weddings were tacky and horrible, that only people who just met or are eloping get married in Vegas. I also imagined having a huge wedding and it being like a Disney fairytale.

When I started planning, the only thing I knew for sure was it would be in Vegas. It's our favorite city and they make it so easy to plan a wedding on a budget. It's not an elopement, but it's a microwedding.

Your wedding sounds lovely and sometimes the realities and changes of adulthood changes your dream (such as having so many people you couldn't imagine excluding).

View Quoted Comment OMG yeah I didn’t even mention the dress, my only criteria was that I did NOT want strapless, and I ended up falling in love with a strapless dress 😂 And same for me with the grandparents thing... that’s another reason I wanted to stay in state, since my grandpa is really old and doesn’t feel up to traveling too far.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy with the wedding I am having, it just feels weird that it’s so different from what I’ve always imagined. I never thought I’d be one of those people who strayed so much from my original “dream wedding”

Are there any ways to try and coordinate little things you planned from your dream wedding into your actual one? To make it feel like you're still getting part of what you've dreamed of for so long?

View Quoted Comment Yeah I feel like that last sentence you said really summarizes it! I’m sure your wedding will be lovely as well

View Quoted Comment Kind of, one thing is the theme color being turquoise which is what I always wanted. Then I was also thinking of having beach-themed centerpieces but I’m thinking that may be tacky since it’s not at the beach lol.

One thing we are planning to do is go to Hawaii for our 1 year wedding anniversary to renew our vows on the beach that we used to imagine we’d get married on

When I got engaged I wanted to do a fall themed wedding. Well, on my date last year it was in the 90s outside lol I couldn’t imagine giving people hot chocolate and cinder when it’s that hot out. So we changed our theme. We’re getting married lake front so it will be nautical but not beachy, it’s more woodsy 🤷🏻‍♀️

We originally planned on an inexpensive brunch wedding but now we are going all out with an evening wedding, 85 guests and fancy food stations.

Yes, same thing for me. I wanted a destination wedding on the beach all the way up until we put down the deposit on our venue. My grandparents are the reason we decided not to do destination as well. As soon as I settled with the fact that we will have a local wedding, I still pictured a smaller 80 guest wedding...we're inviting 150 lol Also the dress, I always pictured a huge princess ballgown and ended up with a fitted dress. The wedding will be sooo different than I always pictured but I'm sure it'll still be amazing.

YES!!! I am experiencing the same THING!! I wanted to get married at city hall or in Reno and reception or no reception, didn't matter. But some how it went from Reno or city hall with a few close friends and family to our backyard, with 100 people on the guest list. And me freaking out because I'm new to the area and know no vendors nor the first thing about planning a wedding, lol. Its crazy...but like you said, many more family and friends to be present and make the day that much more special....I hope, lol.

View Quoted Comment I’m sure it will be lovely. I just think it’s funny how what we think we want changes so much when the time comes to actually get it lol

View Quoted Comment Allie....oh to have a simple backyard wedding. I thought that's what I was going to have but, it's a tad more involved than that.

I'm in the same boat. I always thought we'd do something much larger. But we decided that it's a lot of money that we could invest in something much better than a party.

When we first started planning we were going to do a brunch wedding in a botanical garden or butterfly conservatory with lots of light colors and soft romantic decor. Once we started looking into it though we realized it wasn't practical for a few reasons and switched up our plans. We are now doing an evening reception on a rooftop patio of a local hotel with darker colors (Navy, Aubergine, and Silver) and a celestial theme. Not what I envisioned at first but, I'm definitely excited for it and love the choices we've made.

We did stick to a few fundamentals though which were non-negotiable like an intimate guest list (less than 30 people), an outdoor ceremony, and having both ceremony and reception all on site.

View Quoted Comment Charrell, I did the same thing with my dress. I said I wasn't going traditional because im not going to keep the dress I have boys and yada yada yada....started trying on dresses and there went that theory, lol. Not only is it a traditional dress, it was also more than I wanted to spend. But, in the end, it will all be worth it to see the look on my FHs face.

OMG big time!!
My vision was a small (small for my and FH's list is about 100), laidback wedding. Something with simple, elegant decor, fairy lights... maybe under a giant tent venue?
Here I am now- about 230 invited guests, venue is an ornate ballroom style, decor isn't at all what I originally envisioned, and even my dress is the total opposite of what I thought I would wear (I of course LOVE my dress though!).

View Quoted Comment I spent more than planned as well lol & yes! It will all be worth it at the end of the day!

View Quoted Comment Lol that’s so funny that we end up loving the one thing we swear we don’t want! & yes it is but when the day actually comes it’s going to be just as much as the “dream” you envisioned & you’ll be proud bc your grandpa got to be there with you! 😊

Not exactly for me, but I always thought I would do a small destination wedding and use the extra money for a great honeymoon. But after going to so many of my friends' weddings over the past few years, I realized how much I wanted a big celebration with all our friends and family. Especially after meeting FH, I couldn't imagine doing a small wedding, we're both insanely excited for the big party and to have everyone together.