Kim & Justin: A Beautiful Budget!

Kim & Justin: A Beautiful Budget!
by Patti from With Love
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Kim and Justin’s wedding day had so many considerations… a Jewish groom, a Catholic bride, two ceremonies, a reception in a barn, a color pallet of baby blue, pink and red, and a tight budget of $19,000… and it was beautiful!

If anybody says beauty on a budget is impossible when it comes to weddings, keep reading! Sticking to this budget with a guest list of 140, a full sit down dinner, open bar and all the usual perks did prove to be difficult at times but a few major factors let them come in at budget:

1. Use your resources! The bride’s sister, a graphic designer, designed the invitations and stationery. The bouquets were done by the bridesmaids, and put into vases filled with red decorative marbles at the reception to be used as centerpieces. The DJ was a friend of a friend, and gave a discount.

Chances are every bride and groom knows somebody that knows somebody who knows a wedding professional that can cut a deal or add some perks to the package.

2. They hired a planner. It may not seem to make any sense that hiring a planner helps your budget, but a good planner knows how to keep you on that budget and how to get the most bang for your buck!

3. DIY! Do-it-yourself projects can save a ton of cash, but be sure you have the skills and time to make it look good! To save money, Kim and a friend designed and sewed their wedding chuppah and also grew the flower planters they used to hold the posts of the chuppah. Be creative and do what you can yourself, then hire a professional for the rest!

The first ceremony of the day was at St. Edna Catholic Church in Arlington Heights. The church was full of beautiful seasonal greenery; so additional floral was kept to a minimum. The pew cones that lined the aisles were filled with clusters of red sweetheart roses, which were used later to decorate posts of the chuppah.

Between the Catholic and Jewish ceremonies Kim, Justin and the entire wedding party curbed their hunger at the local Portillos. Most couples have a few hours between ceremony and reception that they use to take pictures. Formal pictures are best done in a timeless setting – like the church, a park, etc – but don’t be afraid to stray from the norm and do something fun and funky to commemorate your day!

The Jewish ceremony was in the courtyard at the Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake, where the reception was held. Guests stayed in the courtyard for the cocktail hour and were escorted upstairs to the barn for the reception festivities.

The décor and ambiance of the day was designed around the unique background created by the barn. The huge windows served as mirrors the reflected hundreds of twinkling candles and Chinese lanterns. The linens were done in red, with pink and blue touches throughout the flowers and candles. The silo served as the bar and the hayloft was reserved for all of the bride and groom’s friends!

The day could not have been more beautiful, sunny and warm, with a smiling bride and groom celebrating with family and friends. A striking full moon and a room full of merry guests danced the night away until the very last note played!