21 June 2009

A family wedding

Good morning! This time next week it will all be over. Our wedding is next Saturday and we are calmly (I think) moving towards the big day. My special project will be finished tomorrow, we've ordered everything that needs to be ordered, the flowers will be picked up on Wednesday and the cold room and food on Thursday. On Friday we'll have a working bee, with people coming to help prepare and peel vegetables and make "things". Yes, it's all going to plan.

I've had a few people ask if we're stressed and I can truthfully say we aren't. We're working to a plan and doing a few things each day and, so far, nothing has gone wrong. My sister Tricia is here helping us and as we get closer to the big day, we are all looking forward to it very much.

I'll tell you more about it after the wedding but I can tell you this right now. I am very proud of Shane and Sarndra because even though they have friends who have had recent "big" weddings, they have kept to their budget, bought a few things each week as they were paid and they are on track for a beautiful wedding, surrounded by people who love them, that will be celebrated without a financial hangover. We only have a few important celebrations during our lives - new babies, weddings, graduations, I am thankful that this wedding has been handmade from scratch by our family and friends. This truly is a family wedding and it promises to be a beautiful one.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend. Take some time for yourself whenever you can to recharge your batteries for your work next week. I'll see you again tomorrow.
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35 comments

  1. It sounds as though everything is going really well there. Give my love to them and wish them all the luck in the world.

    Love and hugs to you and Hanno too !

    Babs

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  2. My husband and I had an intimate "handmade" wedding, though our friends all had large, flashy, hotel-reception affairs. I can't tell you how many of our guests who had been to these other kinds of weddings have come up to us in the past few years to tell us how much they enjoyed our wedding--even though we left out many of the things that most people think they like best about weddings (such as an open bar or a DJ).

    Best wishes to Shane and Sandra--and to you and all the worker bees who are helping make this such a special event.

    ~Bethany

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  3. Can't wait to see pictures! My husband and I did the same thing (paid as we went along) on our wedding and I have say... we still talk about it because that was our first big financial problem solving as a couple and we succeeded.

    If you get a chance, see my latest blog. It's uh... pretty dramatic and I'd love to hear your perspective. lol.

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  4. The loveliest wedding I have ever read about was of the friend of Laura from Little House on the Prairies fame (not sure which book). The only material things were loans or scrapings fom friends and family but it was the wedding and the presence of friends that made it such a special day for the couple. That is my ideal wedding.

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  5. We did a largely "homemade" wedding, also, tho the wedding was at a church & we rented an inexpensive hall for the reception. We didn't begin our marriage (almost 5 years now) with debt over us.

    My husband's cousins had parents who donated $20,000 toward their weddings & they spent much more than that for elaborate weddings, but i just couldn't see blowing $30,000 or more on a wedding, even if we had the money, which we did not.

    It is so much better this way, & precious memories of the day as well. Blessings on all your family.

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  6. I'm sure it will all go well. You'll all enjoy the day and it will be very special.
    All of these wedding preparations are (thankfully) far into the future for me. Still trying to get the oldest through year 12 with his sanity intact!

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  7. What a great way to start a married life not having a huge debt hanging over you. I went to a wedding recently where the bride had two wedding dresses one for church and one for the reception lol. In my opinion that's what weddings should be about love,family and friends not about how much money is being spent.

    Best wishes to Shane and Sandra on their wedding day.

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  8. Best wishes for a beautiful wedding! Hoping it is a lovely sunny day -- and you can post the sunshine to Sydney when you've finished with it.

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  9. have fun and congratulations to the happy couple.

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  10. Enjoy your family wedding next weekend! :) You have budgeted and planned, and thought things out with the bride and groom. A family affair to be remembered and treasured in the hearts of the newlyweds and guests for for years to come.

    We helped plan our oldest daughter's wedding in 2006. Although not at home, the twenty-five close family/friends invited all showed up. It was elegant, affordable, and the reception meal was held in a quiet little lakeside hamlet around Christmas time complete with snowy woods and Christmas trees... just so romantic. Give my best to your son and soon to be DIL.

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  11. The wedding sounds just lovely. My fiance and I are doing a similar thing. A simple morning beach wedding followed by champagne and cake in the park - we're asking people to bring their own picnic lunch!

    Then a party in the evening with close friends, where one of my cousins has volunteered to cook for us as a wedding present - we're having a big spit-roast and other goodies out on my parent's rural property. I can honestly say I am totally relaxed about it all, and I feel sorry for those who make their wedding a big hoo-ha! The marriage is the important part.. and the vows you make to each other. The rest is just frosting :)

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  12. Good morning Rhonda, what a lovely surprise to find your new post in my reader on a Sunday. In our small picture framing business we see a LOT of wedding photos. The simple weddings are few and far between but they shine like a beacon when their photos come in.

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  13. Homemade is always best, and that goes for weddings too! The best to you all, it is a wedding, but also a family is in the making.

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  14. Hello Rhonda, what an exciting and busy time for you all. Good luck with your final preparations this week and Best Wishes and Happy Days to Shane and Sarndra.
    I look forward to reading all about the wedding and seeing some of your wonderful photos when it is all over.
    Patricia

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  15. Blessings and joy to all of you!
    I hope you have many photos to share later.
    I just know this will be wonderful for all of you.

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  16. Hi Rhonda Jean :) I am so excited for you all! What a joy to celebrate together...

    I hope the week is a lovely one. And looking forward to reading all about the big day after things settle back down a bit. Love, Q

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  17. Hi Rhonda
    What a lovely happy time in your family's life - thank you for sharing. The simple, stress free wedding sounds really lovely. I think your blog readers will look forward to hearing more about it afterwards & maybe some pics ? Enjoy this lovely week & best wishes to the happy couple !
    Jeni

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  18. How wonderful to have a "homemade wedding". My husband of 13 yrs and I also had a very homemade wedding (my m-i-l made all the dresses and decorated the cake, flowers for the church, my mum made the cake and I did all the other decorations, made bridesmaid hats etc) in a beautiful old stone church where anyone who wanted to come could and then only had a very small reception in a restaurant overlooking the water with close family and friends. We paid for things as we went along and were not left with a debt to start our marriage. Our whole wedding cost us less than $3,000 and it was lovely to not have all the pressures some weddings have. All the best. Susieq.

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  19. What a wonderful wedding this will be. The ceremony marks the beginning of a life together. How wise to make this an occasion of family involvement and moderation. I always feel I am on a different wavelength to those who instead make the wedding ceremony an occasion for a crazy spending spree in an effort to living up to some kind of commercial ideal.
    Still waiting for our youngest son to pop the question but we have already conveyed our support if they want to keep things as simple as possible.
    May the sun shine on the happy couple - and their families - in all senses.
    Ramona K
    Sweden

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  20. That all sounds so nice. I hope everything goes according to plan as you move this week. I think the preparation for these lovely events is half the fun and its so nice that you have so many wanting to contribute and help.

    blessings Gail

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  21. Wow - is it just me or has that come around so quickly? You sound very organised. I hope the day is lovely (as I'm sure it will be) and wish the bride and groom all the best in their life together. :)

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  22. O how exciting!
    I think it's wonderful to be able to have your wedding this way!
    I'm looking forward to see some pictures of the wedding next week!

    big hug,
    Lilian

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  23. best wishes for a wonderful loving wedding.
    I first visited your blog when you mentioned the wedding announcement.

    time flies...
    Ribbon

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  24. I so agree that there is no need for a flamboyant wedding only to end up in debt. I don't think anything can beat the personal, handmade touches and a true sense of community during the preparations. Well wishes for next Saturday ~ :)

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  25. It sounds lovely(We also had a sweet and simple ceremony too:)!

    Congratulations to the happy couple:)

    Cherish the love!

    xoxoxoxo

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  26. It sounds like things are going great and you are having a fun time getting ready for the big day.

    I hope all goes well for Shane Shandra on Saturday!

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  27. Rhonda..I loved what you said about a 'working bee'..exactly what happened at our wedding. It saved a lot of money and it was a most wonderful time of fellowship.
    Praying for a wonderful wedding day! And it's a bonus to hear that it is stress-free!

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  28. What a beautiful sentiment - a family made wedding - I iwll pray that the universe brings you a gorgeous mid winter day, with loads of sunshine to compete with the smiles.

    Have a lovely week

    daisymum

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  29. I'm not much for weddings but I do attend them (mostly out of obligation). I have to say that last summer I attended a simple, smaller budget wedding. It was not as handmade as yours (I mean, you're Rhonda Jean after all) but I enjoyed it. They were considerate of the earth in their planning and the celebration completely lacked pretense. The wedding favor was a slice of homemade soap and the wedding party wore teva sandals which they would wear in their daily lives afterwards. So good to hear of your plans.

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  30. Best wishes for a beautiful day for all.

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  31. Cant wait to hear the details after the wedding...and maybe pictures?

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  32. Good luck on all of the last minute planning and preparation. Try to enjoy the great day and have fun. Take lots of pictures and make sure you share them with us on your blog. My best to Shane and Sarndra on their wonderful day.

    Pat

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  33. It sounds like you're going to have a lovely day, and congratulations!

    I'm very much hoping when I finally marry that I can plan a simple, lovely, family oriented day that is inexpensive. I believe in celebrations, but not in the incredible expense (and all the nasty things that go with it) that tends to go into weddings for the one day.

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  34. Sounds like a dream wedding to me. If I was doing it all again, I'd take exactly this path. I will just have to wait to see what sort of wedding my daughter wants, she's only 17 so I hope it won't be for a while yet.

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  35. How very wonderful! I can only imagine how beautiful and meaningful it will be for Shane and Sarndra, for all. What a gift of love to have it be so warmly intimate. May you have the loveliest of treasured memories, from the caring preparations right on through the joyous celebration. Thinking of you all and praying for you as you continue to get ready for the big day. Can't wait to see and hear all about it. Sending much love. Sharing in your joy. xo Jewels

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