My Big Fat Greek Wedding part II: My Kid Sister’s Tiny Budget Greek Wedding

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Get Me To The Church On Time - Athens-Style
A couple on their way to a wedding in Athens. Courtesy of Flickr

As we hear all over the news, things are a little precarious in Greece at the moment.  So what does that have to do with us in the United States?  And why should it matter to brides planning a wedding?

As a drive down any formerly bustling Main Street will tell you, things are precarious for a great many people and businesses here too.  But for engaged folks, the desire to have a beautiful wedding lives on.  And while our celebrities mindlessly plan expensive celebrations that set the ‘ dream wedding ‘ bar abnormally high, couples create  detailed wedding budget spreadsheets to see if they can afford to have a wedding at all.

Here’s our message to any brides worried about the high costs of a wedding. More often than not, (and for sure in our case) vendors want to help you have your celebration.  We believe in weddings, and beauty and love, or we wouldn’t be involved in this crazy/wonderful business.  And without you – wedding vendors would, in fact, be out of business.  So bring us your budget; big, small or anywhere in between and we’ll let you know what your best bet is – even if we end up referring you on to a colleague.

I read this review recently of a stationery store that sneered at a young woman, assuming she wasn’t their type of client.  As I wrote a few weeks ago, we can’t assume anything – vendors about brides or vice versa – if we’re going to celebrate together. So, to quote Kool and the Gang, Celebrate, Come on!

-Dinah

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And in ring three, the triumphant return of Kim Kardashian to the Media Circus!

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I was saddened (although not surprised, see my prior blog on ‘Setting Yourself Up To Fail’) by the news of Kim Kardshian’s latest circus act – a divorce, mere weeks after the airing of her two part “fairy tale wedding” tv special. Why did she bother? Figuring in sponsorships, TV exposure, and a free exotic honeymoon, getting married was a good career move. Kris, bless his heart, was just a convenient warm body with the right anatomy.

Although those in the shallow end of the emotional pool may not understand, having a big fat wedding, Armenian or otherwise, for the wrong reasons is a serious no-no. Examine your motives.

  • Wanting a wedding is not reason enough to get married. The dress goes in a box, the cake is eaten, the birdseed goes, well, to the birds. It’s a beautiful day that only holds meaning if you mean it. If you want to play dress up, find somewhere to relive your days as Prom Queen, and hold out for true love.
  • “All my friends are doing it” doesn’t fly either. Keeping Up With The…Joneses is exhausting, and pointless, no matter how badly you want the Cuisinart, and how sick you are of being single. Being miserable and legally stuck is far worse.
  • No old maid nonsense. With scientific advances, and the thousands of children in this country needing adoptive homes, don’t think you’re up against a wall. This isn’t 1959. No one’s going to shun you.
  • Most importantly, don’t settle for what brilliant essayist Cynthia Heimel would call “lukewarm love.” If you’re walking down the aisle with someone, you should know with all your heart and with all your soul that this is The One. Not The One Who Can Get You The Best TV Deal.

The institution of marriage will survive the disrespect that reality TV heaps on it: from murderous millionaires, to bratty aspiring Bradys, to this kapitalist kalamity. Our poor blindsided NBA prince, however, may take a while to realize Keeping Away From rather than Keeping Up With the Kardashians is the best way to go.

Everything You Need To Know about Planning Your Wedding, You Learned at Costco

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Entrance of a typical Costco warehouse club.
Wedding Planning Lessons - In Bulk!

Wedding planning tips can be found everywhere – including our favorite Bulk Shopping paradise.

  • Going to Costco at the right time of day can make all the difference in the world.  We all prefer fully stocked shelves and manageable aisles free of screaming tots. Wedding planning lesson – schedule carefully.  Whether you’re deciding when to visit a bridal salon, or what month to get married, timing is everything.
  • Costco is a minefield of budget busting items.  You go in for soup chickens, and come out with a SodaStream machine, 3 new sweaters and a Burt’s Bees gift pak.  The solution (and wedding planning tip) is to have a plan.  Shop with a list, and a clear idea of what you’re looking for. Oh – and don’t go anywhere hungry.  Bad decisions come on empty stomachs.
  • Just because it’s at Costco, doesn’t mean it’s a good deal.  Oh yes – there are plenty of bargains, but you have to watch the numbers.  The same goes for wedding “bargains.”  Is that discounted dress worth it if the alterations cost more? Is the open bar package cheaper because it’s bottom shelf liquor?  Make sure you’re getting what you pay for, even at a discount.

Keep your eyes open for a deal, but don’t just pile everything in your cart.  And it never hurts to bring your own bags.

 

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