Make your wedding what YOU want it to be- not what tradition or others think it should be. I come from a family of 8 kids, and all my siblings had big fancy schmancy weddings. I hated the idea of doing what everyone else did (and I despise traditions like tossing the bouquet and garter, or doing cheesy lame dances at the reception).

Our wedding was very simple and very small. Only family and a few close friends (I think we had about 60 people there). We had it at a beautiful old local historical building on a Sunday afternoon. My DH and I each had one attendant. My sister (who's not a professional cake maker) made the cake. It was 3 tier, but it was soooo easy to make- and it looked very pretty. My friend did artificial flower arrangements for my bouquet, men's flowers, and the flowers for decorations (we spent less than $100 on flowers). I bought all the table decorations at Party Galaxy (you know, the party favor stores) and did them all myself. We did hire a DJ/photograher (same guy for both- although we picked out and brought all our own music- but he was an idiot/jerk and none of the pictures turned out- all the rolls were mysteriously "ruined"). The only pictures that I have are the ones my family and friends took (disposable cameras and family with digitals are the way to go). The food was trays of party food from the local grocery store, and odds and ends that family cooked up.

It was a great wedding, and we had a blast (and I think we spent a total of $1200 for the wedding- dress, tuxes, food and all- of course that was 10 years ago). Our honeymoon cost more than the wedding.

Do it your way, how you want! Have it as simple as you feel comfortable with. It's your day, and no matter what the setting is, the occasion of your marriage will be far more remembered than what food was there, what music played or what color the tablecloths were.

I like the idea of a CZ for your "diamond." No worries about where it came from. And no one will know the difference....

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