Reviewing some 'traditions'
I'm getting a bit scared about our budget, and I've always been the sort that likes to keep complications down (not to mention unnecessary money spent, wasteful paper usage, etc...). So I'm reviewing some of the things that are often done at weddings to see whether I really want/need them, and thought I'd solicit some comments. :-) For example:
Save the Dates - we're doing these by email/phone. I really feel weird even sending paper invites, but I will keep to that much tradition, anyway. I can't remember the last time I mailed something I could *possibly* email...
Favours - most weddings I've been to, the favours are some knick knack I've never kept. I really dislike things that just sit on a shelf or in a drawer. I know they're considered thank yous, but there are so many other ways we say thank you, like actually saying thank you, or the meal/beverages/party, follow up cards, etc... I'm really not feeling the need for favours. Definitely if we go with them I'd like them to be something useful, but everyone finds different things useful so that's kind of tricky.
Place name cards - I'm thinking that we could just have a sign as people come in, and/or each table's name designator (whether a name or just a number) could have a list of people as well. I really don't care which seat at a given table people sit in...
Programs - Thoughts on the necessity of these? I'm not sold. I'd rather just have something in the ceremony about who these people are and why they're special to us... (Note - this is not a religious ceremony, or anything where people have to read/sing along or anything.)
80-piece invites - It seems like a lot of wedding invites have a *lot* of different pieces. I'd like to minimize this as much as possible.
Any other thoughts along these lines, budget brides/grooms? Alternately, any arguments as to why I'm completely off-base on any of the above ("that's how it's done" or "to do otherwise is tacky" will not be considered valid arguments...*g*) Thanks!
Save the Dates - we're doing these by email/phone. I really feel weird even sending paper invites, but I will keep to that much tradition, anyway. I can't remember the last time I mailed something I could *possibly* email...
Favours - most weddings I've been to, the favours are some knick knack I've never kept. I really dislike things that just sit on a shelf or in a drawer. I know they're considered thank yous, but there are so many other ways we say thank you, like actually saying thank you, or the meal/beverages/party, follow up cards, etc... I'm really not feeling the need for favours. Definitely if we go with them I'd like them to be something useful, but everyone finds different things useful so that's kind of tricky.
Place name cards - I'm thinking that we could just have a sign as people come in, and/or each table's name designator (whether a name or just a number) could have a list of people as well. I really don't care which seat at a given table people sit in...
Programs - Thoughts on the necessity of these? I'm not sold. I'd rather just have something in the ceremony about who these people are and why they're special to us... (Note - this is not a religious ceremony, or anything where people have to read/sing along or anything.)
80-piece invites - It seems like a lot of wedding invites have a *lot* of different pieces. I'd like to minimize this as much as possible.
Any other thoughts along these lines, budget brides/grooms? Alternately, any arguments as to why I'm completely off-base on any of the above ("that's how it's done" or "to do otherwise is tacky" will not be considered valid arguments...*g*) Thanks!