Would this be tacky?

[Bamagirl]

To send out wedding announcements that state we are not having a ceremony and not to send gifts, just wanted to announce our wedding?
Finances and lack of overtime, etc is going to prevent any wedding that we wanted. We are going to be lucky if we can even pay bills. We were planning a beach wedding but I just honestly dont know what to do. I have never been in this situation before. When we got engaged I was so excited and wanted to plan a wedding and was going to work overtime to pay for one but now, as of this morning, i can no longer work overtime and to boot, they aren't paying me for the 30 hours i put in.
Have any of you ladies ever had a courthouse wedding? How did it make you feel? It wasn't what I wanted, I mean i will only be married once. if it didn't work i can definately say I would never do it again. Why am I being so silly about this?

[lisaann]

When we got engaged I was so excited and wanted to plan a wedding and was going to work overtime to pay for one but now, as of this morning, i can no longer work overtime and to boot, they aren't paying me for the 30 hours i put in.

I think first thing I would do is contact a lawyer about the money owed to you. :hug Often all you need is a threatening letter to an employer to get them to toe the line and understand that they cant use you.

I think a sunset beach wedding would be beautiful! And cheap. :nod:thumb

I know my cousin got married in Hawaii and no one from the family was there so she just sent out announcements that had a nice picture of them on their wedding day. I thought it was very tasteful.

[Ladybug]

There's no reason you have to have a courthouse wedding, if you want to be married by a minister. You could invite a few friends over for a picnic and just 'happen' to have the minister there, get hitched and go on about your business. ;) Or check out wedding chapels in your area. There's one here that'll do a ceremony for $75. Not big (just the 2 witnesses) but it'll be more special than a courthouse wedding. The main thing is the joining of your lives, not how big a production you make it. :)

As for sending a wedding announcement, it's done all the time. :nod

[Bamagirl]

LOL - I work for an attorney :)
I am a paralegal - its the attys that decided it was approved by the big head honcho so they aren't going to pay. Yet my atty told me to work it. I took this job instead of the other because I was gauranteed overtime. Maybe they didn't specify pay for it :)

I just dont see being able to afford to drive there, by rings, etc and be able to do it. Thats why i said a courthouse wedding, then I tip the judge for his services and there is no other expense except $50 for the license (99 in Florida) and the rings should we have to have them. That way a courthouse wedding would costs us around $75.00; no dress, no bouquet, I wouldn't need any of that. I don't know......it is too much stress. Especially when I thought I would have the wedding I wanted and be able to pay for it since my dad is in jail and he can't!

[wife]

my cousin sent out invites after the wedding. Basically saying "We got married!!" a few friends threw them a big party after...

[Ladybug]

You'll probably have some people who will tell you 'you'll regret it later', but I bet if they were honest, they regret all the money and the stress they had in planning a big wedding. :heh Do it the way that makes YOU happy; you can always plan a big blowout for a vow renewal on your anniversay one year. Trust me, it's not as uncommon as you think. :hug

[Theresa]

Yep, I agree. Get married by a minister, whether it actually be in a church, chapel, or the great outdoors. When you send announcements, it is NOT telling people you expect a gift, so you do not have to mention it. Just send them out - if you happen to receive any gifts, it's because the senders wanted to give one.

I understand the expense of receptions, and I am not saying you have to have one, but you can get creative, if you really want to do something (even if it's just close family and friends). BBQ's (in your backyard or at a park), an afternoon tea, dessert and coffee/tea - these are just three examples of inexpensive ways to celebrating with others.

Good luck!!

[markofthebest]

There are plenty of parks where you could have a small ceremony. A sheet cake can feed about 50 people for around $40 and get 2 liter sodas or homemade ice tea. Have some chips and pretzels for a savory side to the cake. Have a friend video tape and another photograph. Have a short ceremony under the trees so you don't need chairs and then have your cake at picnic tables. God created Nature makes a beautiful backdrop for a wedding.

[Cindy S.]

My first marriage was in a church.

My current marriage was in the courthouse and we went camping.

I like the 2nd one best. No case of the nerves, etc.

Why don't you get married in the courthouse and have very close friends join you for dinner afterward???

[lisa]

There's nothing tacky about sending out announcements that you have gotten married. I've had friends go to Hawaii and get married, come back and send out the message of what they did. :lol2

But I do like the idea of just gathering somewhere to get married. (Be careful about city parks though. Sometimes you do have to get a permit to gather for a ceremony, etc.) When we got married, we had a potluck reception in my church fellowship hall. It was a blast! :lol2