I tried to push the beach resort idea, sounds perfect to me. Or someplace in France, yeah. Kiddo not falling for it. But she has not asked for money and probably remembers, from years of casual discussions, that not much will be coming. I’m the one who joked, they could put tents in the backyard and porta-potties inn the driveway. As if. The yard is really too small.
Our wedding reception was under a tent in the yard. (Which was several acres.) But we didn’t have port-a-potties. (Yuck)
I had never heard of favors at the time, or I might have made some. When I had my chocolate business, I made favors that I can assure you were not thrown out! Personalized seed packets or bubbles or whatever may not be kept, but few people turn up their noses at a quality truffle. 
On the other hand, I definitely have to agree that favors should probably be one of the first things cut from a tight budget.
Um, you might want to make that “our.” And that is where many of the complications set in. B-)
Haha, got that point loud and clear.
The “my” was a figure of speech and was a proxy to express the notion that is about the people who are getting married. To be clear, I fully expect to foot the bill without parental contributions. I would sing a different tune if I were expecting to be a “guest” at the event paid by the bride’s parents. I also think that having a major disagreement with your spouse about the wedding format does not bode well for the future!
I consider the wedding as an extension of a party or a trip … for which I do not consult extended family.
“I was thinking about the dessert centerpiece thing. A cupcake tower adorned with ribbons and flowers would be pretty.”
It can be done!! Big kiddo and her friends baked the cupcake wedding cake from scratch. Little kiddo made a topper for the “cake” by painting 2 Ikea stick figures as the bride and groom (complete with their labcoats and other lab paraphernalia). The tower was made out of boxes draped in obligatory Husky colored fabric and decorated with summer flowers (edible, of course). Many guests took photos of the unusual yet lovely looking cake. 
Adding cupcake centerpieces to this would have been awesome.
Congrats to the parents of the future brides and grooms!
Just because you are paying for it does not mean that you should take a hard line and ignore the feelings and traditions of either family. Diplomacy and consideration should be exerted on all sides.
Oh, rest assured that I will rely on plenty of consideration and diplomacy in sharing the decisions of the … bride and groom. ;))
You are incorrigible.
I hate to tell you xiggi, but your future fiancé will make all the decisions about the wedding and you get to pay for it with a smile. Of course I’m teasing you here. 
Is there a potential bride in the picture, Xiggi? How exciting!
Yes, and I am not naive enough to believe I won’t be massively overruled by the ladies. As ya’ll point out. This said, all the close loved ones are mostly on the same page on the location and size.
Congrats xiggi; wishing you a wonderful marriage.
Congrats to you @xiggi!
So, as I wrote earlier in this thread, I am going to follow it because my younger daughter recently got engaged. Well, lo and behold, I learned tonight that my older daughter got engaged this weekend in Paris! Now, I have two weddings!! Happy times.
And yes, as someone else mentioned, I’m still paying off college and grad school loans for them. Ka ching. But joyous news!
Congrats, soozie!
Congrats, @xiggy!
“I consider the wedding as an extension of a party or a trip”
My husband and I got married 2 weeks before embarking on a 4-month trip to Asia. All our money and attention was focused on the trip; the wedding was just a nice kick-off. We didn’t see the need for invitations (“Can’t we CALL people up?”) or a meal (“it will be right after Thanksgiving, everyone will be FULL anyway”) or presents (“We’ll just have to pay to store them.”)
Our exasperated mothers took over and arranged everything - it was a mellow, small, simple wedding and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Well, except for the presents part. When we finally got back to the States and had our first dinner party as a married couple, our guests asked, “what should we bring?” Uhm… we told them, plates, forks and knives!
Congrats to xiggi and Soozie’s D!
Congrats to all!
Congrats to all! If I stay at CC long enough maybe there will be xiggi jr who will post how to study for the latest SAT.
Congrats to all. Have fun planning your special events.