Megan, communications/marketing & Andy, ski design engineer
Sum-up of the wedding vibe: A weekend-long outdoor celebration in the Cascades.
Planned budget: $20,000
Actual budget: $24,000
Number of guests: 130
Where we allocated the most funds:
The biggest expense was the venue , which housed all of the wedding events and most of our guests all weekend long. It was a tough check to write, but totally worth it to have the venue all to ourselves for the full weekend and having all of our friends and family nearby.
Where we allocated the least funds:
Believe it or not, the flowers! My mom and aunt are both incredibly talented florists. As our wedding present, my mom paid for the flowers, and she, my aunt, and an army of family and friends totally transformed the venue—and me—with these beautiful creations. It was truly so much more beautiful than I ever could have imagined.
A few things that helped us along the way:
Not having a wedding party cut down on a lot of logistics, and not getting too fancy when it came to food and beverages. We were originally planning on a PNW-themed salmon dinner, but ended up serving delicious/casual tacos instead. It was half the cost, everyone loved it, and it filled our guests’ bellies before the party began. For booze, we bought three kegs from the local brewery, served nicer wine at dinner and for the toast, and then switched to cheaper wine as the dancing got started. We realized that most people won’t remember what you serve them—they will only remember if you run out.
My best practical advice for my planning self:
Prioritize a few things you really want during your day and then let the other pieces fall into place. If you’re flexible on how the little details will look, tap your friends and family—sure, there is a chance it could turn out different than you originally pictured, but in my case, our day was a million times more gorgeous and special than I ever would have thought possible.
Favorite thing about the wedding:
That so many friends and family helped create different aspects of the wedding: my mom and aunt did the flowers, Andy’s dad married us, my dear friend made the graphics of the invitation and glasses based off my favorite artist, and my best friend created my necklaces.
The Info:
Photography: Atlas Photo Co | Venue: Tierra Retreat Center | Location: Leavenworth, Washington | Megan’s Dress: J. Crew | Engagement Ring: Custom from Suzanne Kalan
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