ShaniFaye

so I was reading Nikki's journal this morning and I thought with the e-ring discussion going on this might kinda go along with it.

For those of you engaged and planning a wedding, or have had a wedding...how did you/are you dealing with the wedding party's expenses?

I know for us when we asked people to participate we outlined exactly what we wanted people to wear, IE...its a renn themed wedding so it needed to be something along those lines for the girls (their choice of dress) and all the guys were to wear leather pants and swordsman shirts and boots of some sort (their choosing). For the girls I showed them many places they could buy inexpensive dresses and we found the shirts for the guys for 40 dollars. When we asked each person we told them upfront...we are paying for this wedding ourselves...we cannot afford to buy your clothes for you...this is what we want you to have...do you want to do it? Giving them a full "out" if they could not afford it. We knew all but one of the guys had leather pants (or pleather...we didnt insist on "leather" we just wanted the look), and Dave loaned him a pair of his to wear so he didnt have to buy any, anyway so the only expense they had was the 40 dollar shirt.

We wanted the best man in a kilt and we did take care of that expense for him so all he had was the shirt to purchase....but he also wants boots like Dave is gonna wear and is more than willing to buy them...cause it wont be a "one time wearing" them kind of situation.

We've only had one person back out....my sisters hubby...cause they were really offended we werent buying the 40 dollar shirt for him, not that it cost too much....that we expected him to purchase it himself. Oh well I told them, not a problem you do not have to be in the wedding party at all...and he was replaced by the person that we had really wanted in the first place.

We do have one other expense that they are responsible for...the hotel room the night before the wedding. We have asked, not demanded, that if at all possible they stay with us at a hotel near the church since the rehearsal and dinner are going to run quite late and we all have to be back at the church by 12 the next day, and its quite a drive from where most of them live (remember this is Atlanta, so while 40 miles might not sound that long...driving on certain parts of 285 can take 45 minutes to go 5 or 6 miles depending on if they are doing construction or not). I blocked enuff rooms to get a 20 dollar discount per room so the room cost is 59 dollars.

Most are staying...we have one or two that really cant afford it, and did I get huffy? nope....I compeletely understand, if I had the money I'd pay for it for them but I cant....thats why Im not INSISTING that they do it, it was a convenience I tried to provide.

So what did you girls do for the people in your wedding?

or...if you were IN a wedding, how were you treated?

(Nikki, I hope you dont mind me jacking your journal entry lol, but the idea was too good to pass up)

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I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!