Wondering how to plan a wedding on a budget without looking like a wedding on a budget? Today’s bride has some stellar tips for you! Ian + Candis’ winter wedding at Eleven Oaks Ranch in Oklahoma is every bit the beautiful celebration, full of deep color and heartfelt moments. The details are sweet and the style is classic romance—you’d never know I + C planned the day on a budget. So we has to ask…what were their top tips? And here’s what Candis had to say:
- DIY: Do as many things as you can by yourself. I know that sounds like a huge task but you can make it fun! I was planning a wedding, taking classes, and working full time & still found ways to invite friends over for an evening to work on wedding tasks and make a girls night out of it!
- Figure out your needs and your wants. First, set aside money for things that are absolute necessities. Then, use money you have left over or what you’re able to get together for the remaining things that are more of a want but not necessarily a need.
- Don’t get caught up in small details. It’s easy to get lost in everything going on and start thinking you HAVE to do all of these small details that add up to big costs. People loved to tell me what I HAD to have. The truth is, it’s your wedding. If you can’t afford a DJ, make some playlists and have fun with it! If you don’t want to wear shoes, don’t! (Speaking from experience) It’s your day, treat it as such.
- Food: I know it’s pretty common to have meals catered for a wedding but I just didn’t have the funds. Instead, we had multiple options that were individually SUPER cheap such as, s’mores, mini apple pies, 3 types of holiday popcorn, hot chocolate & coffee. They were all a super hit! All of the food together totaled about $190. Rather than serving a meal, consider doing a multitude of more affordable snacks.
Such practical tips, right?? Now—let’s see how it all worked out for I + C, thanks to photos by Susan Alyse Photography!
*This moment!*
Candis wore a wedding dress made by a private label and purchased from Chantilly Couture in Oklahoma City. As for shoes? She’s not a fan! So, she was barefoot the entire day—she even braved it outside in the cold!
The colors in Candis’ bouquet by Cain Designs are so rich! For a meaningful detail, the lace wrap was cut from her mothers wedding dress. LOVE that.
Try to hold back the tears for this story: The note here was written by Candis when she was 10 years old and it’s a check list of all the things she wanted her one-day husband to be. Guess who fit the bill perfectly!? After the sun set that night and all the portraits were taken, the couple sat inside by the fireplace and exchanged gifts. This is where she gave Ian her list from when she was 10. He never even knew about it!!
YAY!
Are you loving bridesmaids in burgundy as much as us?!
Carousel
Carousel
Right after our ceremony, we walked straight down the aisle and out the front doors of the venue. We planned this with the photographer for a few quick night pictures alone with sparklers! As we were waiting on her to finish shooting the bridal party walking down the aisle, we had a few sweet moments alone together right after we had been pronounced Mr. & Mrs. It was so peaceful and having that time alone brought us back to the center of what that day was all about: our love for one another. I think it was so important to have that 5 minutes to be together and take in the moment before we started pictures and talking to relatives and all of the other events that happen after a ceremony.
So cute!
Don’t get lost. There’s no doubt about it, a wedding day can easily be the most stressful day you’ll ever have. But it doesn’t have to be. If I could give one tip to a future bride, it would be to not get caught up in the small things. Keep in mind the reason for the wedding. Don’t loose sight of what really matters in all of planning and preparing that goes on. If you say “I do” at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. Everything else is irrelevant. Remember to have so much fun! If something you’re planning/trying to do just isn’t working out and it’s stealing your joy, maybe it’s time to rethink it or come up with another option.
Such a romantic winter moment with this sweet couple! Thanks to Ian + Candis for sharing their day!
photography: Susan Alyse Photography // venue name: Eleven Oaks Ranch, Luther, Oklahoma, USA // florals: Cain Designs // wedding dress: Chantilly Couture // videography: Reagan Lynn Films
I loved It.
Great Colours.
Thanks for Sharing.
bridesmaids wear burgundy color dresses for a winter wedding party is really a good idea. Think about how beautiful, white wedding dresses, the withered leaves and the snow if lucky, so amazing!
Shang ~ happyinvitation.com ~