Wedding details (Money Stresses)

I think I’m going to actually do the whole wedding at the zoo, they have an outdoor area for rental and then I can do the reception at their boat house. I’m doing this the weekend after Labor Day so the animals won’t be available, but I am going to ask as its only the weekend after if we can get them left available.

I’m still trying to determain the formality level. Do I want to say black tie optional (which is recommended for an evening wedding and reception), or simply go casual. I don’t want to go completely casual nor do I want to be completely formal. So the black tie optional implies suits and ties and skirts for guests while the wedding party will be in tuxedos.

I’m anxious about pictures. I really don’t want to have to do them, mostly because I can’t stand the way I look in them. I don’t like my smile or the way my eyes crinch up. I know most brides look fabulous on their wedding days but I’m really freaked that no matter what I do with my hair and makeup I just will look.. well lame.

Ok, so I definately want to do my reception at the zoo, only thing is the packet they sent out says $1000 more than the web site did. Which means that nearly half my budget is going to the reception location period. Which might not be so bad as when I put together a budget for me and Justin and what months we can save away and what months we won’t be able to I’ve figured $11,000. This is way high and does include what we want for our honeymoon. If we can actually manage to save half of this we’ll be good for our wedding at least. I might reconsider Sandles for our honeymoon, and maybe do it for our 1st aniversary. I’m always worried about putting off such an extravagent honeymoon as people I’ve heard say if they put it off they never got around to it. I do really hope that once we get into full swing at work I work 10 or 11 months out of the year instead of 6-9. My savings budget really does include 9 months of work seasons for me. I also figure that since I’m no longer in a production position at work that I’ll be more likely to work over time, as the job doesn’t seem to be as tense as the others I’ve worked for the IRS. I figure $75 a week for an extra hour each day is pretty damn good to go towards savings. I’m going to try to help Justin get the car paid off sooner as well so that we can have that extra $200 a month go into savings. Currently the car payment is $278 a month and ends next august. If I can get the payment paid off sooner that might help as well, I might put half my refund (which I don’t think will include EIC this year) towards paying off the car. We’ll have to see.

I’m vexed. The cost seems its going to come out way more than I anticipated. But if I can manage to save $6000 for the wedding and my dad can put in $5000 the extra money I save can go for the honeymoon. I’ve never been able to save more than $1000 and I’m really stressed about how much I’ll manage to save for the wedding. Super stressed out.

I look forward to working over time, this season, I really think I’m really going to need the money badly. Thankfully the savings account is a savings account with a faily good interest rate (i got a touch higher since I have it auto put $50 into the wedding account from my savings account on the 10th of each month.)

Saving money stresses me out.. LOL.