Wedding Splurges That Were Worth It

We asked our Erie Times-News readers to tell us about their wedding day splurges and why they felt they were worth it. We received the following note from Michael and Erin McKinney who were married on July 24 of this year.

"My parents truly gave Mike and I our dream wedding. They splurged on quite a few things such as the reception, flowers, and limo, but they also were lucky to have the baker, photographer, and DJ as personal friends.  The greatest memory I'll always treasure happened at our rehearsal dinner.  It was held at my parents home and at the end of the evening my dad gave a tear jerking speech about losing his baby girl, he then surprised us all with a fireworks show he put on himself. He said he had to send his baby girl off in style!"  §

Your wedding is a celebration of your love and the start of a new life, so you may as well do it right! If you budget allows for a few splurges, here are a few suggestions:

• Ice sculpture
• Horse-drawn buggy or limo
• Calligrapher (to address invitations)
• Cloth napkins and colored table linens
• Fireworks after the reception
• Extra long honeymoon
• Floral centerpieces for each table
• A pre-wedding "spa day"
• Manicured nails/professionally done hairdo
• Rent potted plants for reception hall
• A white cape (for winter or fall weddings)
• "Top Shelf" bar
• Babysitter/entertainment for children at reception
• Cookie tray/appetizers