Ask Liz: Wedding Cancellations and FMILs (Los Angeles Wedding Planner)

My advice column on The Broke-Ass Bride is up.

Dear Liz, 

Yesterday, I sort of had a wedding freak out. There’s no way we’re going to be able to afford our wedding next April, even with all of the major stuff being gifted to us. The venue, including the ceremony and dinner,  is going to be $12,000, which was already a fair chunk of our budget, and we just can’t do it!  Should we change to something  a little less formal? Maybe a little chapel ceremony and a backyard party?  We’re having between 150-200 guests, and we aren’t sure if we have anyone willing to let us throw a party at their house with quite that many guests. My aunt might let us, but we always have our parties at her house. I don’t want to ask too much from her.

I’m pretty sure we won’t be able to get our deposit back ($2200), so should we should cut our losses now than get in more debt trying to pay for the venue? But I should be able to find someplace that’s way less expensive, where I can bring in everything, right? My Mom and Aunt are already paying for and providing our flowers and other decorations. 

Signed,
Budget Back Out

Dear Liz, 


My fiancé’s mother  and I aren’t getting along so well – she hasn’t had anything to do with the wedding planning at all , and when we first got engaged, she said that she wouldn’t be able to afford to help us, financially. We completely understood and never pressured her. But then she goes and buys a brand new car, new furniture, and she went on vacation with her boyfriend, who she’s only been with a few months. And then, with the wedding two months out, she tells us that she wants to play violin during the ceremony. We already have musicians, and  I don’t want her to be a part of the ceremony because of how she’s acted through our engagement. And she really only communicates with my fiancé, but not me. She and I have always gotten along pretty well, but once we got engaged, she wanted little to do with me. What gives?


Signed, 


MIL Miffed 

Weddings, man. Find out what I told them to do and add your own voice to the conversation.

See you at the end of the aisle,

Liz Coopersmith
Silver Charm Events
www.silvercharmevents.com
323-592-9318
liz@silvercharmevents.com