…wedding details…

I had one of those moments this weekend when you feel like there's absolutely no way in the world you'll stretch the money far enough. For the first time, I was really taken back at the difference between what we'd budgeted and we'd been asked to pay. I cried. I find that this wedding thing is hard to navigate sometimes. The media is completely saturated with giant, lavish, EXPENSIVE wedding images, and one can very quickly start to get discouraged as what once seemed like a very generous amount of money begins to feel smaller and smaller. Even so, DG and I are extremely blessed to be as fortunate as we are. There are countless couples who would kill to have the kind of budget we have established. I certainly don't ever want to lose sight of that. But I still catch myself going back and forth. On the one hand, I want this day to be everything we've dreamed about. We're only doing this once and we want to do it right. But at the same time, when I look at a $9,000 wedding budget and feel like it's not enough, there is a problem I need to address within myself. It's not that we couldn't come up with a way to pay for more. We could. But at what point do you draw the line? For us, it's been drawn…and we will simply rely on our resources and creativity and the generosity of our talented friends and family to fill in the gap. Our wedding day will surely be the best and most exciting day of my life thus far, but in the end, it is only one day. And what matters is that at the end of that blessed day, DG and I walk into the ever after united as one. All the money in the world can't produce that sort of satisfaction.

Ok, enough seriousness!

Here's the good stuff:
In the midst of a crazy weekend, DG and I spent most of our Saturday browsing the Flea Market at the TN State Fairgrounds. With eyes open for wedding décor ideas and such, we found and purchased our first major thematic detail. To continue our lock and key theme, each of our escort cards going into the reception will be attached to one of these little gems….

And I think I may use this tiny padlock on my bouquet...

Oh, and I had to showcase this key, with the face, who is my favorite…

We spent a total of $80 on this assortment of antique keys. Considering that most of them started at $4 each and we purchased something like 120 of them, I'd call that a steal! It is a bit of a splurge for me, but this is one detail that every guest will see and touch and hold. Thank you, flea market! Can't wait to go back for more treasures in November!