Photo via www.gettyimages.com
As most reading this blog know, in real life I am a coordinator of sorts. I work freelance in temporary offices that coordinate the making of movies. And no I’m not talking about the movies you’ve never heard of that go straight to DVD or Netflix or that make the rounds at film festivals. I’m talking about big movies with actors you know that you see in the theaters. Yes, it sounds cool, but no, it’s not as glamorous as you would think.
As a result, I am very conscience of money, as most movies are. While it seems like movies make a lot of money, they take a lot of money to make as well, and it is all budgeted to the penny down to every last paperclip that we purchase. Being very conscience of money, often results in asking a lot of questions. How much does this cost? How long are your rentals? If I only use it for half a day will you prorate? Is there a delivery/pick up fee? Can I pick it up myself? Is it cheaper for me to purchase this than to rent it for 3 months? Etc. Etc. These are the big questions I’m faced with every day, so it’s natural that I would apply them to the planning of my wedding.
So when I ask a question like, can we have a served meal instead of a buffet? Is it cheaper to rent a mic and a few speakers than to have the DJ provide an extra one for the ceremony? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to make and print our own Save the Dates than order them? Etc. I don’t expect to be met by blank stares and befuddled responses. Doesn’t anybody ask these questions?
Recently a friend who works with me in the business began the process of purchasing a home. She is a first time buyer and because it’s natural for us to ask questions, she does. Her realtor is thrown by all the questions. And she is thrown by his reactions. Why is it that when we are about to spend a significant amount of money on something (wedding, house) people do not understand why we have so many questions? Does the general population usually make large purchases without asking a thing save for, “Where do I sign?” I just don’t get it.
So, here’s some more questions: do you ask the questions? Or do you sign and hope for the best? Have you had a similar experience you’d like to share?
I'm Jess, I'm 26, and I live in Los Angeles with my fiancé and our floppy basset
hound. Join me as I plan a super low key, small budget wedding from
approximately 3,000 miles away. You can contact me at jess(dot)bicoastalbride(at)gmail(dot)com.
Yay for asking questions! I ask a ton of questions, all the time. I cannot for the life of me sign now and ask questions later. And I find that a lot of people are dumbfounded by this. When I purchased my dress, I asked a million questions about fabrics, shades of white, and which parts of the dresses could be altered for a reasonable price. The bridal salon owner seemed shocked, and it seemed as though she just expected me to spend the money and ask these questions later, or never ask them a lot. When I ask how much things cost, I’ve had family and friends say things along the line of “oh, don’t worry about the cost, it’s something you need so I’m sure it’ll work out” and I find myself thinking, uh… well, no, if this is going to cost a thousand dollars more than our budget, things won’t work out okay. I need specifics, and that seems to confuse or surprise people. I think a lot of people aren’t used to the amount of frugality I put into every wedding decision. Honestly, I’m surprised people are so surprised, but I’ve learned to just accept it and continue asking my questions. But not all of our experiences have been like that, before we booked our photographer, I asked her a thousand questions in about 10 e-mails that went back and forth for over a week. Thankfully, she wasn’t phased by this in the least, which I love. In the end, I’m sure it’ll be worth it to ask those questions, because as shocked as people are, if it means the wedding is on budget, I’ll walk right past their jaws that are stuck to the floor without flinching.