My boyfriend and I have been together for about 8 years and we are planning to be together the rest of our lives. We want to have a vow exchange between the two of us and have a small get together after with family and some friends. We will do it legally later. Any suggestions on what we could do to make it intimate and meaningful, but keep it inexpensive? I don't want it to be tacky. Our funds are very low. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
By ann lehman
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Hit the thrift stores, and dollar stores, looking for silk flowers. Balloons are really in for decorations at all kinds of affairs. Candles aren't real expensive. Depending on the time of day you have the event, cake, coffee, tea, and punch would be appropriate.
Ann, My husband just retired after 30 years in ministry. This is your celebration and anything you choose to do and the way you do it need to be meaningful to the two of you. Many couples now have potluck meals following their ceremonies. Maybe a friend or relative could gift you with some flowers. Keep it simple but make it as meaningful as you can. Ask a friend who is good at photography to take pictures, then pay for the processing. Ask friends to bake sheet cakes to serve guests but get a small decorated cake for yourselves.
Our church wedding forty years ago only cost us only $150 and that included my bridal gown which was made by a seamstress friend as her gift to us, so weddings can be done very inexpensively. It's the memories that count as well as the beauty of your lives together afterward. I wish you two many years of happiness!
Get a few inexpensive journals and leave them around if you're going to have tables of some kind. It allows your friends and family to write something meaningful instead of just signing a guest book.
Good decorations are just plain candles on some thrift store or plastic crystal-looking plates. You could make it more fun by having outdoor games or charades. Potluck is definitely a good idea, I went to a friend's potluck wedding and the food was better than catering. Enjoy!
My brother and his wife did this at their wedding, and this was also done at a house blessing I attended. Find some pretty stones; if you can get them from a stream, fine, and smooth river rocks are great, as are polished stones. Give each guest a stone, asking them to breathe a prayer of support into the stone. Collect the stones, and keep them in a pretty (thrift store?) basket, near your door.
It all depends on what you want-food, alcohol, dancing? Cake and punch would be cheapest, or cake and champagne. Finger foods are fairly inexpensive, i.e. veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, stuffed mushroom or mini-quiches. Costco, Sam's and Smart and Final have lots o ready-to-go party foods.
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