Julia B asked:


It seems many people here are looking for the “cheapest”, “least expensive” or “lowest cost” way to do things. What happened to hosting an event based on the comfort of the guests?! Has quality gone down the drain? Doesn’t anyone look for really delicious meals, good chefs, excellent photographers and fabulous venues anymore? It seems many people have lost the art of hosting an event. Hostesses should be concerned with giving their guests the *best* of everything, not the *cheapest* of everything. Although more expensive is not always better, often the “cheapest” or “least expensive” is not enjoyable or of good quality. Why not search for the best quality you can afford? Or cut the guest list? You should stay within your means while providing a quality event, otherwise you are simply wasting your money. Is there anyone out there planning a wedding without a bottom line, who is actually concerned with the flavor and preparation of the meals and the comfort of the guests and the abundance of everything and creating an elegant atmosphere? Or are we all so engrossed in throwing a large showy party that we put things like quality aside for the sake of saving a few pennies?

Not judging or trying to start conflict, just wondering where and when this shift from quality to quantity took place.
To the person who said we are not being forced to pay for our own wedding, that’s correct, we are CHOOSING to pay for our own wedding, not being forced. We are footing our own bill.
Dimitria, I am engaged, thanks for asking! We are having our wedding in our church, many generations of my family have been married there, that is very exciting! We are having the reception at the family home about a half an hour away. It seems pretty typical to me, a morning wedding, h’or d’ouvres and cocktails, sit down five course luncheon menu, dancing the afternoon away and then a large homestyle family dinner for anyone who stays around into the evening.