Hi everyone! I know I haven't been active like, at all, for a few months now - I am planning to ease myself back in here soon, once our old house sells and I can breathe a little more easily!

As you may or may not have seen in my comment from last night, B and I eloped on 4th of July. :) A lot of people around us have asked why we would go that route when we could easily throw a huge soiree with tons of guests.

First and foremost, that's not us. At all. We're both introverted people, and while we always end up with a new friend or four when we go out together, it's a lot nicer and preferable when it's just the two of us. Also, we have big families, and there would inevitably be some sort of petty grouching from at least one of them over not liking one thing or another.

Second, money. There are sensible things in the world to spend money on, and a one night party doesn't seem like one of them to us. Some weddings these days cost as much as a brand new car. We're also the kind of people who won't buy brand new cars, if that tells you anything.

Third, it's about us. That's it, just us. We have enough stuff, so gifts weren't important. Our focus was on each other.

So, here's a cost breakdown:

• Marriage license - $35
• Officiant - free! A friend of a friend lends his services wherever as he just enjoys marrying people. We did buy him a beer afterward though.
• Photographer - free! One of our witnesses, the husband of one of my great friends, is a hobbyist who does a great job and offered his services. We also bought him and my friend beers afterward.
• Location - free! We got married under the clock tower next to the river in our town. No reservation or fee required, and the backdrop was beautiful.
• Rings - $86 altogether. I have a plain white gold band that matches my engagement ring perfectly, and he got a tungsten band with an inlay that looks like meteorite.

As for what I wore:

• Dress $4.47 - A pretty white sundress that went down to my knees from the Old Navy clearance rack last year. I planned to wear it for paging for the DAR, but decided it was not appropriate for that.
• Navy cardigan - already in my closet.
• Red suede flats $13.99 - from Amazon.
• White headband $0.99 - from Amazon.
• Flowers - I made my own bouquet with $24 of red and blue fake calla lilies and ribbon I already had (2" white grosgrain and 1/2" red, white, and blue striped grosgrain)

All in all, $140.45 for everything (excluding the beers we bought, I didn't get to see the check so I can't weigh in there). Also, that evening we went to a baseball game with all-inclusive tickets for $28 a pop, so I guess you can include that. Then we came home and had a lovely evening together. :)

So, that's our wedding! I wouldn't have had it any other way (except maybe slightly less hot because it was HOT and my hair did not fare well!). Anyway, I'll be around here again more often!