Doing it on our own (mostly)

We don't have a wedding planner.
We don't have a sponsor.
We don't even have Martha Stewart or The Knot.

Martha "freaking perfect" Stewart

We're going at it alone.

With the average national cost of a wedding totaling $26,000, I was scared. BIG TIME SCARED.  And what's even more scary? The average New York wedding is nearly double that at $50,000.  Those numbers are terrifying, especially to an already struggling self-proclaimed shopaholic.  EEK!

How I'm feeling.

We sat down and talked moneys.  Yes, I call it moneys to make it a bit less intimidating.  We figured out a budget, and a high number we knew we absolutely couldn't cross.  All seems well right?  Sort of.  We are both bad savers.  I like Saks Fifth Avenue and he likes Apple products.  However, we knew we would have to sacrifice.  Here's our (hopefully) helpful guidelines to budgeting (especially in New York):

1. Don't mention a wedding to vendors.  Do this and the charge will go up at least 30%.  It's New York and it's someone out there will be willing to pay the price.

2. Be flexible. If you are dead set on a Sunday wedding at 2 PM and the vendors know this, you're going to be taken advantage of.  Look at weeknight, Friday, or Saturday dates.  Trust me, they are a ton cheaper.

3. Look at penthouse and lofts.  Although you may not think of this first off as a wedding spot, you'll be happy you did.  Most are unfurnished or lightly furnished, which gives you ultimate flexibility in decorating.  It's also perfect if you like more of a minimalist or utilitarian look.

4. Be rich and/or have awesome parents.  Ok, so you can't really control this, but it's a huge plus.  First off, moms want to help.  It's like their ultimate calling to do wedding planning.  They eat it up, believe me.  Tell them everything you need to do or need to buy. Wa Bam! It gets done and it's freaking awesome!

5. DIY. Do it yourself.  This isn't just for crafts anymore.  We are making our STDs (save the dates), invitations, guest sign-in (not a book), and decorations.  If you're a control freak, like me, making it yourself is heaven.  You save moneys and you get it done the way you want (pending that it turns out alright).

A big thank you to my mom (for monetary and kick-ass emotional support), my grandma (for dress talk and wisdom), and my aunt (for a little bit of everything).