I have seen pictures from Flint looking that bleak and it also reminds me of a couple of hours on a misty fall day in Centralia, PA, the same feeling of abandonment.

How wonderful when the couple's personalities dictate the wedding and not some disembodied wedding guru! Sounds like it was a blast...relaxed....and no one took "rules" too seriously. I've done many weddings, and I shuddered when I had one of 'those' brides who just HAD to have everything matchy-matchy, detailed and done 'right'. I'm reminded of the movie, "Betsy's Wedding", where her Mother says that the other parents' would plan a wedding with no personality...that they didn't even know their ethnic roots! haha! Runny mashed potatoes when what you really want is a smorgasbord! I enjoyed reading your post! ;-D

So in a nutshell, a frugal wedding can be done if you have the cooperation of family and friends and organization on your part. A trick I learned from an event planner--Visualize exactly what you want it to look like and then work backwards to make it happen. borrow as much as you can. Need a fridge in the barn? borrow one. Some people have extras in their garages and don't know what to do with them. A stove to warm things up? borrow. People love to help. Remember to show your appreciation. A mention at the reception or a written thank you. Put the whole thing on paper, from when you arrive at the farm to the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception. all the activities, all the cooking times, when this happens, when that happens. It will give you an idea of what you need, when and where. Invitations--colored paper and envelopes, save the date postcards, card stock, get four out of each piece, thank you's from walmart--or make them yourself, more heartfelt. Clothing--clearance racks, used or borrowed. For the guys, kahki pants and nice shirts and ties that match. (JC Penney) Forget the Tux or suit. Decor--flowers from fields in your area, twigs, grasses and grocery store florists. Make it yourself, many books out there on how to do it. This might even be an idea for your boquets and boutteniers...forget the tulle or use very little. Ribbon is big now. Twinkle lights, fairy lights--I just bought 20 boxes of white Christmas lights for .60$ each after the holidays. Reception--biggest expense. Everything make ahead. Pork loin, Chicken Breasts, a Turkey. Everything paper or plastic, good quality. Make your cake or grocery bakery. rent tables, chairs and tablecloths, you can use the chairs for the ceremony too. Boxed White Zin wine (it's what restaurants use?!, you can cover the boxes with pretty paper), beer kegs, appetizers, chips and dip from Sams or Costco. bottled water and pop. Don't forget cleanup. Maybe the Dad's can bartend? I'd find a couple to "host" the cocktail hour just to make sure things get done (music, food, make sure people are taken care of) and go like you want them to go. Remember, you will be taking pictures and the Mom's will be getting dinner out and the Dad's will be bartending, maybe....get everybody in place before the event, don't wait till the last minute. Always have a plan B for most everything. Have a little money to spend? have a square dance caller and the square dance club out to your place for entertainment and for fun. What would be more appropriate for a farm wedding? OK, these are just ideas, they can't all be solid gold. Make sure you have enough lighting in the barn and around the yard. Can you use square haybales for seating somehow outside the barn? or even inside. Not everyone is going to want to stay indoors if it's nice outside. Music--recorded ahead of time in the order you want it played. Your fiance may like to do this but find someone who can press play and pause for you and doesn't mind doing it all night long, make sure he or she gets a break once in a while during the evening. If you can't afford an MC, maybe you have an outgoing friend who wouldn't mind getting up and announcing activities for you. Don't depend on things flowing smoothly by themselves, have someone in place to help it along. And just a side note--I gradated from college three yrs ago and have yet to pay on my loans due to deferments. They will work with you for a long time.

Annie, you are such a great person. You are always there when someone needs you and you do beautiful things with cakes. I just love this one. Yes, you could do cakes for a side business, but you do so much already. The young couple had their wish come true and will have such wonderful memories. When Darrell finally out and out proposed, a different story, I knew we had to have our wedding at my mom and dad's house. My dad had never seen any of his children get married. My first marriage took place in Tokyo, but the others were local. I decided if we couldn't get Mohammed to the mountain, we'd get the mountain to him. We were married in their living room in front of their white fireplace by candlelight. Mom and I used to do wedding cakes, so she made ours, the punch, etc. I made my sister's and my peasant style gowns from material I had had kept when I closed my fabric shop in Virginia. At the last minute I got my sister and I each a rose with baby's breathe. All under $100. It's lasted almost 43 years so I guess it was a good one. I hope this young couple is as fortunate. Oh, and when we made wedding cakes, one couple didn't tell us the wedding was actually taking place in her parents' back yard. Hot June day. We tried to tell her the four tier cake would melt, but she didn't care. Sometimes they aren't so picky.