sami, creative director & brit, pastor
Sum-up of the wedding vibe: A Gay, Baja Mexican eclectic rainbow.
Planned budget: $8,000
Actual budget: $10,000
Number of guests: 250
LOCATION: Pasadena, California
Where we allocated the most funds:
Rentals. Because we got married in an ad agency and not at a wedding venue, we had to rent quite a bit. We also bought a dope neon sign that said, “Tequila Over Boys,” which cost more than our dresses combined. #worthit
Where we allocated the least funds:
We had friends bartend, set up, and clean up, and we also exchanged goods (my wife’s design skills) for discounts on flowers. We tried to barter as much as we could to keep our cost down. We also got married in a building that is not really a venue, so we got to bypass a lot of licensing issues.
What was totally worth it:
Everything. We would do it again in a heartbeat.
What was totally not worth it:
We hired a “friend” videographer, and he was supposed to film the ceremony and hand it over right after in full, no editing. He formatted the ceremony video and lost the whole thing. Nothing we could do, but it still was our only regret.
A few things that helped us along the way:
Our affirming and supportive family who gave time and funds toward our wedding. Our best friends who gave so much love, time, and support to make this dream day happen.
My best practical advice for my planning self:
Enjoy the process. It gets stressful and everyone has an opinion, but it is not something that you get to do everyday. Enjoy it!
Favorite thing about the wedding:
Brittany: Watching my wife dance her heart out with everyone that we love.
Sami: Saying “Always” to Brit then pouring tequila into our guests’ mouths instead of doing a money dance. And then leaving it all on the dance floor.
Something Else We’d Like to Share:
Love is love is love is love is love—thank you for sharing our special day and our INCREDIBLE friend and photographer Kenzie Kate’s work. Her spirit, way of seeing, and skill is unlike any other.
Credits
