I'm tired of all the wedding planning? Will you please help me?

Question

Not another website to help me. please. an actual person. I do not belong to a church. I dont have a preacher. I know I have to go to the courthouse to first get the permissions.. I need help finding a place to get married in the Phoenix and surrounding area for as cheap as possible. There will be about 10 guest coming to the wedding. I need a place to have a reception. I need a cake, and catering. I also need to find a nice hotel for me and my new husband to have our honey moon in.

Answer 1

If you can't afford a wedding planner then you are going to have to do some work. People pay thousands of dollars for some wedding planners - no one is going to want to take on all the responsibility of planning a wedding for free. Open up your yellow pages and make some calls. Honestly, you only have 10 guests - you can get a justice of the peace and go to a restaurant afterwards for your reception. Stop being so lazy!  

Answer 2

it sounds like you haven't done much searching to start with.

as far as not belonging to a church you can find someone to come out and marry you at a local park or a back yard ... These people are called officiant's or Justice of the peace.  ( that might help on making your union a little more romantic. as well you can have the reception in the park as well some parks have gazebos... or near a nice lake

or even make it a fun camping weekend.  maybe find a place that has little cabins or something.

10 people is hardly anything. , I don't know why you would want to cater such a small event  ask someone at the wedding prior to , cook up some BBQ and get a keg of beer. and some soda  and just make it  into a big picnic everyone will be more than helpful to bring a dish to pass. ...  bring a boom box have someone play music for the ceremony and the reception .. ... it will save you a bunch of money

as far as cake Walmart and your local grocery store have them in the books they keep at their counters  you can get a three tier cake at walmart for about 120-150  that is a bunch of cake by the way.  to save more i would buy two cake toppers one to freeze and one to cut and then serve sheet cake to the guest.  As well the deli can make up plates of snawiches and meatballs and other sorts of trays just ask.

I had the big over the top plantation wedding with all the bells and whistles , if i had to do it over .... it would be much much differant... it would be so low key it wouldn't even be funny  

Answer 3

do you know someone with a nice back yard. why do you need catering with only 10 people?? you can call pretty much any restaurant and have them make up something for enough people you have. any type of food works, mexican, italian. what about a park near by. you may need permission though. if its going to be small i wouldnt worry too much about all the details, sounds like its just family and friends, they are there for you both. any hotel would work. i live in calif so i dont know about arizona, but find one with a hot tub or jacuzzi tub we had that. it was nice. go to san diego. i dont know how long you have, but just being away for awhile is nice. good luck  

Answer 4

Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Sorry that you are so stressed!  For your small, intimate wedding it shouldn't really be that hard.

I don't know the Phoenix area personally, but here is what I would suggest:

~ First, decide on a date.

~ Second, decide on a venue.  Since you are only have 10 guests.....you have LOTS of options!!  

**Do you have a family member who would host this at their home?  Your parents?  Your fiance's parents?

**Since you live in Arizona where the weather is fairly nice, you could look at having it at a park or a garden.  

**Look at Bed and Breakfast Inns.  Many will provide this service and can also provide a reception.  Here is a link with those that offer this service in Arizona:

http://www.bbonline.com/weddings.html#Ar...

**Another option is to have your ceremony and reception in a private room of a restaurant.  Many couples do this.

SO....you have LOTS of options.  If you are not having your ceremony in a church, then I would definitely advise you to have your ceremony AND reception in the same location....whether that is someone's home or backyard, a park, a garden, a Bed and Breakfast, or a restaurant.

~ Yes, you need to purchase a marriage license.  Go to this site to see what is required:

http://www.weddingvendors.com/marriage-l...

~ You don't need a minister or preacher to perform the ceremony.  A judge or justice of the peace will come to YOUR site to perform the ceremony (for a fee, of course!)  Call the courthouse to secure a judge or justice of the peace and ask them what their fee is.  Or, go to this site to look up non-denominational ministers and wedding officiants:

http://www.gatheringguide.com/event_dire...

~ So.....

*set the date

*secure a venue

*secure a person to perform the ceremony

*decide what you want for a reception.  This will depend on where you have it.  If you are having it at a restaurant, then meet with the manager to discuss options.  If you are having it at someone's home/backyard....you can make your own food.  If you are having it at a Bed and Breakfast...speak with them.

*I don't know if you want to send invitations with such a small guest list.  But if you do...then make them yourself from some cardstock and your printer!

*get someone (family?) to take photos

*get a small cake at a bakery

*get a small bouquet for you and a boutonniere for your groom from a florist.

*if you want to give out favors...then decide on those.

*book a nice room in a hotel for you and your groom.  Again, I don't know the area, but I know there must be lots of nice hotels....especially over in Scottsdale.

You are DONE!  

Answer 5

hire a wedding planner if you do not want to do the work.

you just want someone to plan your wedding with out paying. YOUR LAZY! look at the not will give you a list of vendors in your area then you need to call and check prices or do you want all of us at answers to do that for you?

Answer 6

Have you considered a bed and breakfast inn . . . for both wedding and honeymoon?

http://www.creeksideinn.net/

http://www.glendalegaslightinn.com/

And here is a wedding chapel.

http://www.phoenixweddingchapel.com/

Look for officiants here

http://phoenix.1weddingsource.com/offici...

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

How about the Scottsdale Marriott Suites Old Town?  Hotels are great for weddings.  They are used to having functions and probably have local vendors to recommend to you for flowers, photographer, music, etc.  After the wedding, you can just stay there.  A lot of hotels throw in the honeymoon night for the couple for free.  Can't hurt to ask.  I was married in a hotel and they did the flowers on the tables, the food, the cake, open bar, a honeymoon suite, 5 guest rooms to give away to anyone we wanted etc.  All I had to do was the invitations, my flowers, my dress, tuxedos, photographer & DJ.

You & your future husband need to go to the local town court to get your marriage license.  You can ask them for information on local judges who could perform the ceremony.  Then just contact the judges, find out if they are available on your date etc.

Here's the info:

REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN ARIZONA are available at the offices listed below. Please contact one of these offices for license fees and business hours. Hopefully one is very near you.

Buckeye

100 N. Apache #C Ph# 623.386.4289

8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday (Best to avoid Wednesday's & Thursday's)

Chandler

55 N. Arizona Place #203 Ph# 480.782.2180

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Gila Bend

209 E. Pima Ph# 602.506.1589

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday

East Mesa

4811 E. Julep #128 Ph# 480.985.0188

8 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Monday & Friday Only

Maryvale

4622 W. Indian School #10 Ph# 623.245.0432

8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Northeast Phoenix

10255 N. 32nd St. Ph # 602.506.3731

8 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Monday - Friday

South Phoenix

217 E. Olympic Drive Ph# 602.243.0318

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Tolleson

9550 W. Van Buren Ph# 623.936.1449

8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday

Wickenburg

155 N.Tegner, Suite D Ph# 602.506.1554

8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday

COST

$50.00 (sub. to change) Cash is accepted at all locations, some locations accept checks with proper identification-check the office near you for specifics.

AGE

16-17 years old need a notarized parental consent form signed by your parents. Your parents may accompany you and present proper identification and may sign the parental consent form in front of the clerk issuing the license. 15 years or younger need a notarized parental consent form mentioned above, as well as a court order.

REQUIREMENTS

Both the Bride and Groom must be present to apply. No blood test or physical examinations are required.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

You may obtain a marriage license in any county in Arizona, as long as your wedding will take place in Arizona. There is no waiting period, you may marry immediately upon the issuance. The license expires one year from the date of issuance.

Answer 8

I can help you figure out some things, send me an email.

For starters, an entire list of pretty cheap (and pretty) wedding locations:

http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/weddings.html

Examples of a couple of officiants in your area

http://www.firstofficiant.com

http://www.revgeorgeherzog.com/bio.html

Answer 9

I did weddings when I lived in Yuma (I grew up there), so I know a little about Phoenix.  What part of Phoenix are you looking at?  Also, feel free to email me with questions or if you want to 'chat'.

As far as a place, with 10 people, can you do it at the courthouse? There are some great restaurants in the Phx metro area that may be able to have a small room where (I think place like Black Angus may do it) you can do it all at once.  

As far as a hotel, it really depends on your budget - I'd choose somewhere nice like maybe one of the Scottsdale resorts.

Answer 10

Since you're only having 10 or so wedding guests, would it be possible to have a "backyard wedding"? If not, look into local parks and hotels. The city may allow you to get married in a city/public park for free or a small fee and most hotels have banquet halls or areas where you'd be able to have a reception. I wouldn't look into having separate ceremony and reception sites (too expensive, and not enough guests).

I'm not from your part of the country, so I really can't help with local suggestions, just general ones.

If you're really, really, on a tight budget you can get "married" at the court house by the probate judge, and then just invite people to a reception at a local restaurant (private room/lounge, etc) or another local venue of your choosing or revert to the "back yard" idea.

After you get a marriage license (from probate court) all you need is someone to officiate the wedding. You can ask the probate office if they know any non-denominational officials in the area that you can contact or look up non-denominational churches in your area and make contact with them. A minister or wedding official will likely charge you a small fee for their service.

Since you're not having too many guests, again, catering might not be necessary, if you can get some of your family/friends to make dishes for the reception. The biggest issue is looking to your friends and family to see what they know and encouraging them to help you find things in your budget and getting them to give suggestions.  

Answer 11

It sounds like you are trying to do things inexpensively.  With a small party (under 20) you can get married in a park without a permit.  You may have onlookers but if you don't mind being in public it could be really nice.  If you go the park route you can have a picnic reception.  Super simple and fairly cheap, just take the stuff to set up a make your own sandwich buffet on a picnic table and a couple cases of soda for your guests.  If you throw out several blankets for people to sit on it will be very hospitable and low-key fun.  Plus if there are kids there may be a playground to keep them occupied.  You can pick up a standard wedding cake at any grocery store bakery for far less than a wedding cake specialty shop.  Grocery store bakeries actually do a pretty high volume of wedding cakes and have the ability to make some really great cakes for much less.  If you are a AAA member you can go to a AAA travel agent and they will help you find a great hotel at a discount.  If you aren't then you can go to the manager of the hotel you are interested in staying in and tell the manager you need a great room for next to no money and that you would be willing to write some excellent hotel reviews on websites like yahoo travel if he/she gives you a seriously discounted rate.  By seriously discounted ask him/her to give you 50% off then slowly down from there.  They are always authorized to give at least 25% off so don't let him/her give you less than that.

Answer 12

It's not about the two points, it's about the fact that there are plenty of us brides out here dealing with the same frustrations of planning, yet you expect someone to do all the work for you, without paying them! It's ludicrous!

Answer 13

well, im not from there so it doesnt make sence that i am answering this question, but its fun, so... the perfect place would be some park. its free there. or in the dessert during the sunset with tiki lights all around. also, the hotel doesnt matter. you could get the cheapest thing and still have fun. its all about you two that night. but a suite would help. and room service. you dont need catering for 10 guests. just lay some stuff (on a fold out table) out for the ten people. any bakery would do for a cake. you could even get an icecream cake from dairy queen or an ice cream store. as for music, just find a friend to dj with a couple speakers a cheap party light at wal-mart and his mp3 player. most phones play music. a back yard would be good too, if you have a big one or know some one that does. anyway i hope i helped. any more q's just message me.