Daddy May I???

Did you know that NC ranks number 10 out of 51 states for the highest unemployment rates? NC has definately fell on hard times during this recession. While you may have a dream wedding in mind, daddies little girl may not have the heart asking (Daddy may I... take what's left of your retirement even though you just got laid off work?)

Here are some ways to cut corners and still have a beautiful wedding:

-Skip the fancy invitations (Invites can cost anywhere from 1.50 to 9 dollars each) This is alot to come out of your wedding budget for something that most people will just throw away. Walmart, Target and stores like AC Moore have beautiful invites for a fraction of the price. Take them to a printer like office depot and there you have it!

-Instead of asking your family and friends to reply by mail; ask them to reply by e-mail or phone. Now... don't ask your 86 year old grandmother to do that, but people you know have access to the internet won't mind.

-Use florals that are in season and for heavens sake...Stay away from Valentines day and Mothers day. You're sure to spend more on those days.

Spring Flowers:

Apple or Cherry Blossums
Anemone-Blue, Red, Pink, White (Jan-May and Aug-Dec)
Bells of Ireland-Green (January-October)
Boronia-Pink (April-May)
Casa Blanca Lily-White (January-October)
Daffodil-Yellow (January-Early May)
Delphinium-White & Blue (April- October)
Dogwoods
Forsythia
Hyacinth-Purple, Pink or White
Iris
Larkspur
Lilies
Lilacs-Violet or White
Narcissus-White
Pansies
Peonies-Pink or White (Late Spring – Early Summer)
Ranunculus-White, Pink, Red, Orange and Yellow (February-May)
Star Gazer Lily-Pink and White (January-October)
Sweetpea-White, Pink, Red/Coral, and Lavender/Purple (December-May)
Tulip-Many colors (December-April)
Waxflower-Pink/Purple and White

Summer Flowers:

Alstromeria- Orange, Pink, Yellow, Cream, other colors
Aster-Pink, Purple
Bells of Ireland-Green (January-October)
Calla Lilies-White and other colors
Chrysanthemum-White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, other colors
Dahlias-Many colors
Daisies
Delphinium
English Lavender-Purple
Forget-me-not-Blue
Freesia-White, Yellow, Pink, Blue, Purple
Geraniums
Gerbera Daisy-Pink, Yellow, Orange, Red, White
Hydrangea-White, Blue, Purple, Pink
Iris-Purple, Blue, White
Jacobs Ladder
Larkspur-White, Purple, Blue, Pink
Liatris-Pinkish Purple
Lily, Asiatic-White, Pink, Yellow, Orange
Lily, oriental-White, Pink
Lisianthus-Purple, White, Pink
Monte Casino Asters-White, Purple
Queen Anne's Lace-White
Roses-Red, Pink, White, Other Colors
Snapdragons-Pink, Yellow, Orange, White, Other Colors
Solidaster-Yellow
Statice-Purple
Stephanotis-White
Stock-White, Other Colors
Sunflowers-Yellow
Tuberose-White
Yarrow-White, Pink, Yellow
Zinnia-Red, Orange, Pink

Autumn Flowers:

Aster-White, Pink
Chrysanthemum-White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Other Colors
Gerber Daisies
Dahlia-Many Colors
Marigold -Yellow, Orange, Red
Roses-Many Colors
Statice-Purple
Sunflowers
Zinnia-Red, Orange, Pink
Dried Leaves

Winter Flowers:

Amaryllis-Red, White
Anemone-Blue, Red, Pink (Jan-May and Aug-Dec.)
Bells of Ireland-Green (January-October)
Camellias-White, Pink
Casa Blanca Lily-White (January-October)
Cosmos-Pink, White, Brown, Other Colors
Daffodil-Yellow (January-Early May)
Forget-me-nots-Blue
Holly-Green with Red Berries
Jasmine-White
Narcissus-White, Yellow
Orchids
Poinsettias-Red, White
Ranunculus-White, Pink, Red, Orange and Yellow (February-May)
Star Gazer Lily-Pink and White (January-October)
Star of Bethlehem-White
Sweetpea-White, Pink, Red/Coral, and Lavender/Purple (December-May)
Tulip-Many colors (December-April)
Waxflower-Pink, White

-Stay away from High Season. The majority of wedding take place from May to October so if you can plan your wedding in the Off months you'll be better off. Also, the highest fees are going to be for a Saturday night; consider Sunday brunch or a Friday night.

-NO OPEN BAR....It doesn't matter if you think beer and wine open bar will be cheap....IT WON'T..People will understand and won't mind paying for their own alcohol....after all, we aren't have a college throw back of the Kappa Alpha- Phi Mu Mixer.

(FYI....Think $10 a person, 100 people for 4 hrs=$4,000) This is a cheap estimate!!!!

Remember, you're daddies little girl and he wants to give you everything in the world but in these times he may just not be able.