This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.
It’s hard to believe, but next year will mark me and hubby’s 20 year anniversary. I know!!! That’s unreal! We’ve been married since 2005, so it will be our 10 year wedding anniversary, but actually 20 years together. We met in college when I was 17 and he was 18. It’s kind of a long story on how we met, but in a nutshell, there was a lot universal shifting so that we’d cross paths. And finally, a wrong call from his friend to my dorm room ended up on my voice mail (total accident!) which resulted in 20 years and 3 handsome boys!
The other day we were watching TV and someone on the screen mentioned marrying their husband for a second time. Hubby laughed and shouted, “What?! Who would want to do this a second time??!!” Funny, baby….Funny….
But it got me thinking, what if we did this a second time? Where could we do it? And most importantly, how could we do on a DIY budget!!
Our first “wedding” was in a sexy court house, with just his mom and our friend, Chris. HA! I think after 20 years, however, and 3 kids, we should honor your marriage and really celebrate a milestone that so many people aren’t reach nowadays, right??
And if you’re gettting married for the first time, my advice would be to make it inexpensive and special. Here are a few places to consider for your wedding!
Best Places for an Affordable Wedding
Choosing a wedding venue that falls within your budget but gives you what you want for your special day can be a tricky decision. Some couples choose to get married in a meaningful location, like where they first met, while others need a large location that can hold all their friends and family. If you’re trying to come up with some good wedding venue options besides a traditional church wedding, here are some ideas.
1. Your Own Backyard
More and more couples are choosing to host weddings in their own family’s home or yard. It’s more personal! And a lot cheaper than renting a place. If you’re having a small, intimate affair, you can probably squeeze all your guests in comfortably. I’ve got a good sized backyard and could probably hold everyone I know (which, by the way, is NOT a lot of people, LOL). You can even contact places like Softwoods pergola builders to have a pergola built in your backyard. Imagine the wedding pictures you can take there! Isn’t this gorgeous?!
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2. A National Park
If you want an outdoor wedding but don’t have the resources to host it yourself, look into a national park. Some parks do charge for entrance and parking, so plan accordingly, but you can often find a breathtaking location to exchange your wedding vows, not to mention photo locations. There is a great place here in the Washington DC area called Great Falls. The falls are amazing!! Lots of people get married here. How perfect would this be?
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3. A Castle
This may sound like an out-of-reach dream for a fairy tale wedding, but if you have a local castle nearby, they are often much less expensive to rent than you would think. With a little research, you just may find that your Prince Charming and Cinderella ceremony is well within your budget. Here in Maryland there is a place called The Castle of Maryvale, and it looks amazing. I’ve never pegged myself as a chick that would get married in a castle, but man…I guess I can’t knock it until I tried it!
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4. A Library
When two quiet bookworms get married, what place could mark the occasion better than a local library? Most libraries have reception halls or banquet rooms you can rent, so your guests don’t have to sit among the books. It’s a great option for couples who want to tailor their ceremony to expressing who they are as a pair. But honestly, this is my least favorite option, because I always think of my library as being a dingy kind of place. But hey–if you’ve got an awesome library with a nice reception hall, consider it!
5. Near the Water
Beach weddings are popular and inexpensive, but you could also consider getting married on a dock, if you don’t have a beach nearby. With the bride, groom, and officiant standing out near the edge of the dock and the guests seated safely on dry land, everybody can have a great view of the ceremony. Oh, and don’t forget the sunset!! Wouldn’t that be amazing??
This photo of Red Umbrella Inn is courtesy of TripAdvisor
6. A Bed and Breakfast
Hotel weddings are fairly common, but for a smaller group or a destination wedding, consider contacting a local bed and breakfast instead. It allows for a more intimate setting and can often be a cheaper alternative to a hotel stay for your guests. There are some nice bed and breakfasts in Annapolis, Maryland, which is only 1 hour from me!
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If You Wanna Travel
Well, according to Papa Google, here are the top wedding destinations that people searched for most in 2013.
After choosing a location to get married, there are lots of ideas for really cool, inexpensive DIY for all the details. Here are some of my favorites from Pinterest!
Gorgeous centerpieces!! I’m pretty certain you could get all this stuff from the dollar store, right?
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Isn’t this absolutely cool?? A chalkboard sign with the bride and groom’s name and wedding date. You should see the whole blog post. This looks like such a fun wedding!
And of course you know I love thrift stores. This person on Pinterest had a great idea about taking thrift store frames and painting them for a pop of color at tables. Love that!
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And my favorite…..these beautiful bouquets made from jewelry!! How cool is that?!? Looks like these are made a woman on Etsy. Lovely!!
Now if only I can convince hubby of having our own wedding….regardless of whether it’s a second time around ;).
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