Olivia Palermo’s recent wedding nuptials got me thinking about my own. The web is abuzz with her non-traditional wedding dress reports and quite frankly, I’m more than impressed. I mean how often do you see a bride wear shorts on her wedding day? From her relaxed pony to her deep blue Manolos, Olivia killed it with an unconventional but chic look.
It actually got me thinking about my own wedding. The past week or so has a bit of a headache when it comes to wedding planning. To put it simply, I feel lost. And broke. On a consultation call with a potential wedding planner, she asked me what my budget was. When I told her she replied with, “Unfortunately, that’s not enough for a DC wedding.” I wasn’t aware “DC weddings” had a minimum cost. I get it, nothing is cheap these days. But I thought with my ceremony and affordable wedding reception venue option that I would be able to pull off a DC wedding within my budget. The real kicker is that she still had the nerve to send me a proposal for her ridiculously expensive services.
And then of course there’s the dress. Post-vacation, I’ll be ready to continue the search for my wedding dress but after seeing Olivia pull off this gorgeous three-piece Carolina Herrera, I’m inspired to do something different. I know everyone says it’s once in a lifetime occasion but it’s one day. My dear friend, Cap Hill Style, recommended Tradesy, which buys and sells gently used wedding attire and accessories. I could find the dress of my dreams on there for a lot less money. Even though Olivia Palermo is ridiculously wealthy, her non-traditional wedding dress restored my faith that I can still have the wedding I want (though I’m sure she paid a lot for those shorts). So thank you, Olivia, for renewing my inspiration to prove to anyone that tries to tell me, “I can’t,” when I certainly can.
Photo credit: Johannes Huebl via OliviaPalermo.com
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As someone who had a DC wedding, and had a vendor (photographer) straight out tell me to my face I couldn’t make it happen, I want to tell you YOU CAN DO IT! Three years later, I am amazed sometimes that we pulled it off. If you want tips, tricks or advice, I’d love to share!
Thank you! I don’t understand why vendors feel the need to say things like that. I never asked for her opinion. lol
And I’d appreciate any advice you have! I may email you
As a fellow DC bride, I completely understand where you are coming from! My fiance and I have been floored by the costs that vendors say are “standard” in the area.
However, with a longer engagement, we have had the chance to research and spend time discovering amazing vendors who want to make our day special within our means. Feel free to email me if you want some of their names!
Such an inspiring and positive post, kara — I know you’ll have a gorgeous wedding no matter the circumstances!
That’s so silly! You totally can pull it off it’s all about the way you go about it! You can do anything you set your mind to!
http://www.fashionbombblog.com
After it is all said and done, it is about what makes YOU happy, not everyone else. My wife and I just got married June 13th, and at first the planning seemed to be about what made everyone else happy or comfortable or what they wanted to see. In the end, I knew what I wanted, and I was willing to dig in and made it happen the way I wanted it. LOL Which meant that in the end, we had the most amazing, beautiful, romantic wedding just about the two of us, and I couldn’t have been happier. I spent only what I was willing to spend, because years from now I want to be smiling at the memory, not grimacing while I still write the checks to cover the debt. It is a day all about you and your wedding, never lose sight of what you want.
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A Practical Wedding sounds like it would be a perfect resource for you.
When I was looking for wedding planners about two years ago (almost) in DC, I ran into the same issue, and was really offended. Not everyone told me I didn’t have enough to spend to achieve a “standard” wedding, but enough did that I was really caught off guard. One planner also told me I was too late to start planning a wedding, when I was trying to begin the planning process 14 months in advance.
This market is getting really competitive, but you’re right — there are so, so many ways to cut costs. And I think the best thing to do is talk to brides that had to be cost-conscious in this city to learn tricks and tips. It’s completely, totally and beautifully doable. There are a few priority areas, but half the things that wedding planners factor into budgets are completely unnecessary.
If you ever want to talk further, I am happy to chat. Wishing you the best of luck!