Wedding of the Week: Sarah from Egg Town

Hello, lovelies!  This week's feature is Sarah from Egg Town and her husband Dave AKA the most picture-perfect couple ever.  These two are adorable and I hope you enjoy their wedding details & pictures as much as I have!

Sarah and Dave were married on 04.28.12 in Bountiful, UT.

Where was your reception held?
A friend's home in Bountiful, UT.

What were the things you spent the most money on for your wedding?

My dress was definitely the most expensive, which I found at Bridal Image.  Second, would definitely be our photographer {although, this is the one thing you should spend the most money on}, we used my friend who I grew up with; Aimee Barker.  And last but not least, flowers.  I had the hardest time finding the flowers I wanted.  By the time we found the perfect ones, there was a week left until our wedding day.  We ended up going through Willow & Wildflowers.

Who were some of your favorite vendors? 
We did most things on our own. Our cake was designed by Dave and I, and was made by his sister. We catered our own food, with lots of help from family & friends. We were able to get a deal for Dave's tux at my uncle's tuxedo shop and all my bridesmaids got their outfits from American Eagle & Maurices, and were definitely able to wear them again and again.  Our ceremony and reception was held at a friend's home in Bountiful, UT.  Our invitations were probably the only things we didn't do... and we absolutely loved them.  We created them and had them printed from Tuellers Press.

How were you able to cut costs during your wedding planning?

Dave and I got engaged and then a month later we were married. So we certainly didn't have very much time to get all these expensive and extravagant things.  Which was totally a-OK with the both of us. We are both very laid back and wanted a simple wedding to begin with. However, with certain family struggles going on at the time we didn't have a huge budget so we made use with what we could get and it turned out even more than we imagined.

Did you end up over or under budget for your wedding?

Under, for sure!!!

What is your best advice for those planning a wedding?

Try not to stress!! Of course you want everything to turn out perfect, but stressing only makes things worse.  Also, do what you want. It's your wedding! We had a lot of problems with a lot of people telling us how we could and couldn't do things. And definitely enjoy planning what will be the best day of your life!

How cute are they? That picture in the bath tub is my absolute favorite. Picture perfect couple!  Thanks to Sarah and Dave for letting me feature you today!  Be sure to check out their blog here... It's the cutest!  If you have any more questions about the wedding, you can contact Sarah at sarahmeggett at gmail dot com.

Wedding of the Week: Janae from Discovering Janae

This week's feature is Janae from the blog Discovering Janae and her cute husband, Jared.  They actually met on a blind date and she waited for him for two years while he served a mission for the LDS church!  It's safe to say that this wedding was a long time coming!  They are such a perfect couple and I am excited that you all get a chance to get to know more about their wedding!

Janae and Jared were married on 09.02.11 in the Draper, UT LDS Temple.

Where was your reception held?
A local LDS church.

What were the things you spent the most money on for your wedding?

My dress.

How were you able to cut costs during your wedding planning?

We made most of my decorations or went to thrift stores and then tweaked stuff by painting them.  We also went out and picked flowers that morning from wild fields.

Did you end up over or under budget for your wedding?

Under

What is your best advice for those planning a wedding?

Remember that it is your wedding day! I have talked to many other brides and they always talk about how stressed they are with all that they have to pay for and getting everything to look perfect that I feel they forget about the actual wedding and what a huge commitment they are making with their future spouse.  We all want to have the dream wedding and can if we keep our minds focused on WHY we are getting married and not just the how.

I loved this wedding! My favorite part is how they picked their own flowers from wild fields the morning of their wedding. What a sweet idea! Thanks, Janae, to Veronica for letting me feature you today! Be sure to check out her blog here... I highly recommend it!  If you have any more questions about the wedding, you can contact Janae at janaecnorman at gmail dot com.

Vendor Spotlight: The Utah House

A few weeks ago, I was researching affordable and beautiful venues to feature, and was getting very discouraged because it seemed like almost every venue cost more than my entire wedding. Right when I thought all hope was lost, I stumbled across The Utah House, located in Kaysville, UT.  I was amazed with how gorgeous it was, so I decided to get in contact with Jayne, the coordinator for the Utah House, and she was kind enough to send me some pictures of their venue and answer a few questions about the services they offer.  This venue is not only a great place for a wedding reception, but it is affordable enough to rent out for any type of event.  If you live in the Utah area, be sure to check it out!

What is the Utah House?

I like to remind prospective brides that the Utah House was not designed as a reception venue.  The main goal of the Utah House is to demonstrate, educate, and empower the public about new ways of constructing homes and landscapes that promote the sustainable use of resources, energy efficiency, water conservation, healthy indoor environments, and universal design.  Soon after the Utah House was built it was quickly realized that it was also a beautiful venue for other events.  The water wise landscape and beautiful facility offer a great backdrop for weddings, parties, and other small gatherings.

How many weddings/events do you host a day?

The Utah House can accommodate one wedding per day, and the USU Botanical Center can accomodate 2 weddings per day.

What is the maximum number of guests you can accomodate?

The Utah House can accommodate 200 guests at a given time.

What is the site fee & what does it include?  

The site fee is $400 Monday through Thursday and $500 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  It includes the entire house (with the exception of the office space) and landscape, 40 chairs, and several tables sized 36" X 60" and 18" X 60".  We have cabana style tables (29" square) and a sound system available for rent.

Do you have space for the bride to get ready?

The Utah House has a large master bedroom with a beautiful master bath.  These spaces are ideal for bridal preparations.

Is there a time limit on how long a party can be at your venue? 

The rental time period is for 6 hours, this includes set up and tear down/clean up.  If more time is needed, clients can purchase extra time for the rate of $50 per hour.

Can brides use their own vendors, or do you work with a certain set?

At the moment there are no restrictions on using outside vendors.

Do you have event planners on staff?

No, but staff is available to answer any questions and to work with brides and planners to make their event successful.  A staff person will be available during the rental period to offer support.

Are brides allowed to bring in their own decorations?

Yes, brides are welcome to bring in their own decorations.  We do have a few restrictions. (Jayne has provided me with a list of these restrictions. Pleas contact me if you are interested in learning more.)

What advice would you give to brides who are searching for a venue for their ceremony/reception?

The advice I would give to brides is to come and visit the site before making any decisions.  many of their questions and concerns can be answered simply by stopping by and touring the facility.

Note: The Utah House is part of the USU Botanical Center, which is home to 3 different venues that can be rented for events: The Wetland Discovery Point, The Rasmussen Teaching Garden, and The Garden Pavilion.  You may see all these venues here and keep your eyes open for individual features on them on B&B in the future.

Feel free to contact me at budgetweddingsandevents@gmail.com with any questions or for more information regarding this venue!

Wedding of the Week: Amy from Harris, Inc.

Hello, hello.  Our wedding of the week feature for today is Amy from the blog Harris, Inc. Amy and I have been blog friends for about a year now, and I'm a little obsessed with her love story.  She waited two years for her boyfriend (now husband) to serve a mission for the LDS church before they could get married.  That's two years with their only communication being letters!  Talk about dedication.  You can just see the love radiating between them in all these pictures.  I hope you enjoy learning a little more about her wedding as much as I have!

Amy and Matt were married on 8.31.12 in the Salt Lake City, UT LDS Temple.

Where was your reception held?

In a backyard in Orem, UT.

What were the things you spent the most money on for your wedding?

The food was probably the most expensive thing.  Because both the husband and I are local, we had so many guests.

Who were some of your favorite vendors? 

• We had a dating story + wedding video done by Tyler at Dreamhill Productions.  It was amazing, we watch it all the time and he captured everything I wanted to remember.  The best part was that he was half the price of the videographer I was originally going to use, and did a better job :)<br>
• Rachel at Weddings For Less, Inc. did all my tables and centerpieces.  It was great because she didn't have exactly what I wanted in her showroom, so she custom made a backdrop for me and ordered the colors that I wanted.  She was so easy and reasonable to work with.

How were you able to cut costs during your wedding planning?

We were able to cut costs by using the resources around us.  Rather than use a reception center, I wanted an outdoor, less is more setting for my reception.  My boss has a beautiful backyard and let us use it for FREE.  I am lucky enough to have a best friend that does photography (Photography by Tregani) and she did our bridals and engagements for free as a gift.  

Did you end up over or under budget for your wedding?

Under

What is your best advice for those planning a wedding?

My advice is to use the resources you have.  When people say they are willing to help with whatever you need, let them!!! It will take away so much of the stress if you are able to delegate and not do everything yourself.  Also, decide in the beginning what is most important to you (dress, photographer, cake, decorations, etc.) and take care of that FIRST. After that, everything will fall into place.  Most of all, have fun and enjoy the moment.  You only get to do this once, so make it a good memorable experience.  For me, planning the wedding was hardly stressful and I enjoyed every minute of it!! Good luck :)

Thanks to Amy for letting me feature your amazing wedding!  How cute is that last picture? I love it.  If you have any more questions about her wedding, you can contact Amy at amylynn188 at gmail dot com.

Wedding of the Week: Amanda from We and Serendipity

Can you believe March is already halfway over? I am dying with how fast time is passing, but I sure am loving the warmer weather we're having here!  So, on this lovely spring morning, I want to introduce you to Amanda from the blog We & Serendipity! She has graciously agreed to be our wedding feature this week and I couldn't be more excited (Plus, have you seen her wedding checklist post from last week? Brilliance.)  I have gotten to know Amanda through blogging and, let me just say, she is seriously the sweetest, most honest girl out there and everyone should be her friend.  You are going to love her! So, without further adieu, here's my favorite girl talking about the most gorgeous wedding ever.

Amanda & Trevor were married on 2.11.12 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Where was your reception held?

Our reception was at a greenhouse, because of the winter, in Sandy, Utah called Le Jardin. It was absolutely beautiful! 

What were the things you spent the most money on for your wedding?
Photography (which I recommend) done by Sara Boulter, my dress (designed by me & made by Penelope's in SLC), and the catering done by Lori Tolbert in Utah. We also got a fabulous lady to do our cake for cheaper than anywhere else.  It was a place in the Salt Lake Valley called Heritage Cakes.  We brought in a picture, tasted the amazing cake, and picked within an hour. The cake was exactly how we wanted it & extremely delicious!  

How were you able to cut costs during your wedding planning?

To cut costs, we didn't hire a wedding planner or a videographer. We also shopped around on best prices for everything. Now that there's Pinterest, that was my wedding planner! So it was awesome. We did our own music. I searched and searched for playlists, downloaded some music, and put it on a CD for the dances.   I also made my own video for guests to view (on windows movie maker)  while waiting in line at the reception. 

Did you end up over or under budget for your wedding?

We stayed under the budget! Wahoo! 

What is your best advice for those planning a wedding?

My best advice is to find everything yourself and to shop around. Look on Pinterest, get ideas, ask friends and family for referrals, don't take what you find immediately. 

Also, bridesmaid dress & catering were the hardest thing for me! Our bridesmaid dresses were from Mikarose & I actually don't recommend them. 

Our wedding was perfect & there are so many details I could talk about forever! If you have any questions on any sort of anything, please contact me at wenserendipity@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing you stop by at my blog! 

Okay, she's great, right?  You definitely won't regret going over to her blog & snooping around.  I would even dare say that you will become totally addicted, in a very good way.  Thanks for stopping by, Amanda!

Wedding of the Week: Samantha from Designer in Teal

Hello lovely readers! This week's featured wedding is Samantha from the blog Designer in Teal.  I've gotten to know Samantha a little better these past few months through blogging, and she is seriously the best... and talk about a picture perfect couple!  Enjoy her wedding + some great advice.

Samantha and Tim were married on 6.9.12 in the Gladys, VA.

Where were your ceremony & reception held?

My husband's parents' farm in Gladys, VA.

What were the things you spent the most money on for your wedding?

The dress and the food. The food was so worth it! Every one was raving over it!

Who were some of your favorite vendors? 

Billies Cakes and Catering did our cake, David's Bridal for my dress, and two Etsy shops: It's My Day and Blue Envelope.

How were you able to cut costs during your wedding planning?

I did most of the decorations myself. We didn't have to pay for the site since it was family owned :)

Did you end up over or under budget for your wedding?

Under!

What is your best advice for those planning a wedding?
CONGRATS! You are getting married soon! My advice to you would be to relax and take it all in.  The whole process goes by very quickly and it can get stressful.  Do one thing at a time and ask your friends and family for help.  Don't try and do it all by yourself!  They will want to make things easier for you.  Use a wedding planner or a wedding stie to help you budget and keep contact info together.  If you get stressed, take a second and remember the whole reason for doing it all is you are going to marry the love of your life!

If you want to see more of my wedding, check it out on my blog!

Thanks so much to Samantha for stopping by today!  Do you love her bridesmaids outfits as much as I do? And of course, her dress is gorgeous.  If you have any more questions about her wedding, you can contact Samantha at samantha.n.shipley at gmail dot com.

Wedding of the Week: Torrie from Autodidactic Ambitions

Happy Monday! This week's wedding is Torrie from the blog Autodidactic Ambitions.  She is the cutest ever, and has an equally cute husband.  I am excited to share more about their special day with you!

 Torrie and Matt were married on 5.7.11 in the Bountiful LDS Temple.

Where was your reception held?

Our reception was just at an LDS church building in Bountiful, Utah.

What were the things you spent the most money on for your wedding?
We had Leatherby's come and cater since that's where we got engaged, and our bridal/groomal photography session by BP Photography.

How were you able to cut costs during your wedding planning?

I rented my wedding dress from Gowns by Pamela, and we cut some of the photography costs by having a friend (Chelsee Hannah Photography) do our engagements and wedding day photography.  We also picked what was more important to us (food & flowers) and less important (having a live band, wedding favors, etc.)

Did you end up over or under budget for your wedding?

Right on target :)

What is your best advice for those planning a wedding?

One of the pieces of advice that I would stress the most is to make sure you get a good photographer for your wedding--the only things you will have forever are the photos, so make sure you find a good one (or two.)  However, that said, the photographer I originally wanted charged $4,000 to do the whole thing, and we definitely didn't have even close to that much to spend on photography.  What I ended up deciding was to pay a season professional (BP Photography, in our case) to do a bridal/groomal session, and had a photographer friend (of Chelsee Hanna Photography) and her friend (of Valor Photography) do the pictures on my actual wedding day.  Since photographers usually charge way more for an actual wedding day than for a bridal/groomal session, we were guaranteed to get some great pictures before the Big Day while still saving lots of money.  Plus, we got photos of several different styles, which I really liked.

The other piece of advice that I would give is to cut corners on things that don't matter as much to you (in our case, those were things like the venue, bridal accessories, and the menswear) and use more of your budget for the things that do matter to you AND that will save you some stress (for us, that meant having someone cater and hiring a relatively inexpensive decorator.)  For me, wedding planning was more stressful that anything, so whenever I could take some of the weight off myself, I usually did.

Thanks to Torrie for letting me feature you today and for all the amazing wedding advice!  If you have any more questions about her wedding, you can check out her "Wedding Wednesday" series, or email her at torrief @ hotmail . com.