Wedding Planning Tips

We are planning our wedding ourselves so we won’t have a wedding planner that will see to the timing, smooth transitioning of certain things, and some of the details the day of our wedding. I know this can be something that may benefit us with less stress should something arise and more precision of the details on our wedding day but I’m just wondering if it is ‘really’ worth the money?
I contacted a wedding company that does planning, decor and design and wedding day coordination and the package prices that I was emailed were pretty pricey. More than I am ever willing to spend, I’ll put it that way. I did ask if they can create a custom package based on the clients needs and they definitely can and will if need be. I still need to plan out our needs to see what our custom quote would be so I don’t know prices right now.
I was thinking of hiring my sisters friend to do be a wedding day coordinator for me – making sure the guys and girls are put together before the ceremony, the timing and music of the processional, reminding them to smile while walking, setting out favors and place cards, etc etc etc). I’m certain that she would do it for me and I really would only hire her for before and during the ceremony, because the reception really doesn’t have to be as coordinated and put together because I can give my venue and the Dj a timed schedule of events for the evening.
Is it worth it to hire a coordinator for the “day of” the wedding?
If you are married – what did you do? If you aren’t married yet – what will you do?
Thanks!

My soon to be sister-in-law planned a trip with her and her bridesmaids (which includes me) to go shopping for her wedding dress. I recently got a new car and offered to drive. The bridal store is in Omaha, about an hour away from our town. None of the other bridesmaids nor the bride offered to pay for gas. When I offered to drive my car, I didn’t mean that I would pay for all the gas too (I probably used about $40 in gas by the end of the trip.) This was 2 days ago, and now I am out of gas and broke from paying for a $300 bridesmaids dress for her wedding. Should I ask the bride and/or bridesmaids to pay back for their fair share of gas? And if so, how do I approach them to ask?

Seriously, I just wanted to get this off my chest.
As a pet owner, surely you realize that an animal will cost money, and will need a vet at some point? When you go out to buy a car, you check your finances to see if you can pay it. Then why not for a pet?
I can understand the economy is bad, and that you don’t want to give up your dog just because you lost your job half a year ago. But so many times have I read here that the animal is not even two months old, and yet; no money for the vet. Exactly how do those people think? Do they just assume the animal will never get sick? Am I just insane to think that maybe, you can think before you buy? Or that you can go without the usual treats this month and just deal with the additional cost?
And fine, in some cases I can believe that money is a real big issue. Everybody can hit a bad spot in life. But even then, there are options. There are always programs to look into, vets that allow payment plans, or human societies that give care to pets from people with a low income.
And if all that fails, why not admit you cannot care for the pet, and sign it over to people who can? There are rescue centers all over.
And don’t tell me it’s because they love their pet too much and don’t want to give it up. That is not love, that is being completely selfish.
And don’t even get me started on parents who allow their kids a pet, but then refuse to take it to the vet because it is ‘just a hamster’. To me that’s the worst of all, because your kid is not responsible for the pet, you are, but your kid is the one who gets to see their beloved pet die on them.
Pets are not commodities, there are not toys, they are living beings that we are responsible for. Not providing your pet with the proper care is animal cruelty, and is illegal. Yet so many people don’t seem to understand that.
Sorry, just really needed to get that off my chest. I just paid 400€ in vet bills this month, and I have another pet going into surgery tomorrow. We just had our car break down so we had to get a new one, we are paying out of our own pocket for the wedding coming up next month, all the other bills just had to come along this particular month, and I am currently cleaning out the freezer to avoid going grocery shopping until my paycheck comes in, because I am going to need the money tomorrow.
And then I see people going ‘meh, it’s just a rodent. It’s not like it’s something important’.
It just boils the blood.

No.
They receive money from their clients (aka, the people paying for the wedding)

im not paying for the ceremony location or open bar and a few other things

I’m giving my sister in law a wedding shower. She will be having several showers, but I want the one I give to be a “Money Tree” shower because they need money so that they can pay for expenses for the wedding, new home, etc.
How do I need to word the invitations for the shower and how do I make a money tree?

I am not too sure how the whole set up would work. Maybe just let everybody coming to the wedding know what the website is. We don’t have big place yet, so i don’t want to register at stores for furniture n such for the wedding shower. I am wondering if there’s a service online with a similar idea but where people can post money instead.
Thanks

This is a serious question. I don’t want any “you can’t”s. Please give me advice if you know of a good way. I’m trying to plan a wedding and attend college at the same time. The wedding dress I want to go with is $600, but with my upcoming paycheck and other income, I should be set for this coming semester’s tuition, except that I need to pay for the dress this week because my wedding is only a few months away and they need time to do alterations. So if I dip into my college money I need a way to get money back in a month’s time for tuition. Even if I can’t earn $600 in a month, is there anyway I can make a little bit of money?

Is saving money – or is not insulting family, attendants & guests more important?
Having these two upcoming weddings in the family has been a real eye-opener how things are done by some young couples now days.
The pattern seems to be that it is more important to save as much money on the wedding and reception as possible, even if it insults or disregards the guests and participants feelings, time and money they put personally into being in or at your wedding.
I keep hearing comments about rude or inconsiderate behavior on the bride and grooms part as “Oh, they are saving money by doing that.” That’s the new approach to doing weddings.
If you want a nice wedding, you can still have one without disregarding how your grand plans and desires will adversely affect your wedding guests, your family and the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Saving money should not be the most important goal. You may need to downsize your plans in order to not negatively affect others.
One example of this rude behavior is that instead of the bride and groom giving their attendants the customary types of gifts – as a sign of appreciation for the time, money and energy for being in your wedding – the bride and groom are going to give the attendants “straw hats”!? They say “It will be fun”!
Etiquette says this is not the time to give “gag” gifts to your attendants. They have given up their time, energy and money for dresses and tuxedos to be in your wedding! A thank you gift does not have to be expensive to say thank you in an appropriate way.
What’s the strangest thank you gift you have gotten, or what is the least considerate thing you have seen done in the name of “saving money”?

Ranned?