Dear Darby,
With gay marriage passing in Illinois, my boyfriend and I just got engaged. I want to have a fabulous wedding but am not sure where to start. Any tips for a young couple without a lot of financial resources?
Got the ring
Dear Got the Ring,
Congratulations! I'm happy to share some tips on planning your wedding.
First, you decide when, where, what and who. elect a date, venue, theme, guest list and the magic number. That magic dollar number will be your guide but not the rule. Without knowing what your budget is I will share some ideas with you.
Make a list of family and friends who you are going to invite. Circle the names who would love to involved to assist you in the planning and celebration. Delegate tasks.
Select a date and time of year. Weekdays are cheaper and more available for churches and restaurants. Some of your best tools are discount fabric, crafts, ad grocery stores. Martha Stewart Wedding website is a place to start for techniques, tools, guidelines, and planning. Don't groan at it until you check it out!
As for a venue, check your park districts for permits, your friend's best patio and backyard, or a restaurant that has a back room to perform your ceremony. Delegate, delegate, delegate to friends and family. Everyone will love to help you and you won't be overwhelmed! But delegate carefully!
As for music and photos, you select your own and ask one of your best friend who is a great photographer to get those magic moments! Oh, don't forget your license.
Good luck, I'm so happy for you!
Yours,
Darling Darby
PS: Check out this great marriage resource on ChicagoPride.com: How do I get an upgrade, and other marriage questions
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