"You can live in any city, New Orleans is the only city that lives in you"

So we just got back on Tuesday from our 6 day vacation to Nola.  It was wonderful!  Boston got to meet his aunts and other relatives, we got to catch up with and have fun with our friends, and we did a bit of wedding planning.  Boston went on his first plane ride and did really well!  Plus i won $1500 worth of Laser Hair Removal at the wedding expo. haha
The generosity of people down there is so humbling.  My friend (and sorority big sis) Jordana let us stay in her house the entire time.  We felt very at home and had lots of comfort and space!  Flip's sister, Nina, gave us her car for the whole trip.  She doesn't even live in New Orleans but came in, took off work for the whole week, and just gave us her car.... as well as a carseat, packnplay and four suitcases full of clothes for Boston!!!  Oh yeah, and she bought us two meals!  My old manager and her husband bought us dinner and drinks, Flip's old coworker and his wife bought us dinner, and while at Cafe Amelie the owner gave us a free meal.  I know it sounds like we probably didn't spend a dime, but trust me, we did!  Still, these people are so amazing, I can never explain them how thankful and lucky we feel.
The day before we left I found and bought (well, mom did) by wedding dress!  We went to Des Moines to look at Schaffers with Hayley and were able to buy the sample to get a discount... it is amazing and I can't wait to get it altered and wear it for the wedding!
We decided to plan our wedding for October 22, 2011 at the Omni Royal Orleans in the French Quarter.  We will have the ceremony and reception on the Garden Terrace.  There is an indoor part for the reception, but we use the terrace also.  It is beautiful and really fits the theme we are going for... Funky Vintage New Orleans.  We want to have the rehearsal dinner at K Paul but haven't finalized those plans.
Despite loving the venue and the fact that going back made us realize just how perfect getting married in Nola is for us.... we started to have some worries about money.  We really don't have any savings to help out at all.   So we came up with a plan to elope and save my parents some money.  We didn't really feel comfortable asking for that money from them when we couldn't contribute anything. When we talked to my parents about it, however, they said they really want us to have the wedding we dream of, and it will make them happy to help us do that.  So... we are going ahead with the original wedding plan and are going to keep costs as low as we can.  We are making our own invites, save the dates, and probably programs.  I hope there are other ways we can cut costs too.