So I returned married! My Husband and I wanted to get married where my family is, at first because its been years since I had everyone together and then later it was also appealing because of cost (have you SEEN how much they want you to spend in the UK on a wedding Geez!) We decided on small so we could focus a bit more on making it fancy than trying to accommodate for many people and then trying to pay for something that well... we be paying off for years.
There was a fair bit of stress, I mean it is a wedding and planning with half the invites going overseas is tricky too (not everyone understands the process of RVSPing by mail). It all fell into place, we did our fair bit of sacrificing for a nice wedding by limited our trips to see one another (going four months without him was tough, seeing we have been spoiled in visiting one another often the last two years) but we needed to save money and also gave him a chance to stay all 90 days around the wedding. Some of this family couldn't make it because of the distance however I shared in much of the excitement of our friends/family who could make it as they made big plans to "tour America" (only a few got lost renting cars).
Few things I cut out cost/stress/panic was not having a bridal party.... with my husband in London and only every few months I needed to focus most my wedding plans with him, organizing him was enough work. The time we were together was a mix of spending those special moments together BUT also extreme wedding planning. No offense to my lovely female friends but I couldn't keep my sanity with organizing their puffy teal dresses too (hehe bridesmaids gowns are sooo...). So I cut some time by inviting my friends as a black dress/tie event. Got some nice flowers for them to pin on and it was more relaxed then a bridal party plus they bought a dress that they were comfortable in. All worked out. We did keep the English tradition of ushers and the best man, and the thing about Ushers they actually do something at the wedding
We were also married on a Sunday which completely cut the cost in half, same with talking our photographer/hair/makeup down in price to. Budgeting is key and it took a bit out of us seeing we felt so emotional the whole wedding planning process (9 months of planning) but my Husband was so supportive. Deciding to take the time and plan the wedding we wanted outweighed it all though and looking back I wouldn't change it for the world.
Below is my wedding slideshow if you like to have a peek. I send many hugs to Brides and Grooms out there planning an international wedding!
Click on the Colleen and Richie Box for the slideshow
http://www.klosephotography.com/wordpress/colleen-and-richie-09-27-09/
