The best way to save on a wedding?

Question

What are the best ways to save money on a wedding. My fiance and I don't have a ton of cash, but we'd still like to have a nice wedding. Any ideas?

Answer 1

to save money on a huge wedding cake - I had a small three tiered cake made for the pictures and then had a sheet cake to feed my guests. I also asked a young friend of mine with a good camera to take the wedding photos (I paid for the film and gave him $60). I also made my own wedding dress and wedding favors - those were Hershey's kisses and hugs wrapped in leftover wedding dress fabric cut in circles with pinking shears and tied with a satin ribbon. I attached a paper with our names and the wedding date in calligraphy to them. We bought good card stock and had my husband's dad make the wedding invites on his computer. And for the reception, it was just cake and punch and opening gifts. I couldn't afford to have meals or a band. It was a terrific party though!

Answer 2

First of all, what do you mean "don't have a ton of cash." That can mean $1000 or some people and $15,000 to others. That can make a huge difference when planning.

One thing to keep in mind is that at-home weddings are not cheaper than facility ones. That's what my parents thought so they convinced me to have the reception at my gram's house. Turns out that after all of the rentals it costs the same, or more.

Here are some basic $ saving tips.

- Borrow a wedding dress, or buy a white prom dress (look exactly the same as some informal wedding gowns).
- Make your invites on the computer. My friend did this and you could barely tell the difference between professional ones.
- Get flowers from proflowers.com (they do weddings for about $500) or another online discount florist.
- Do not allow single people to bring dates.
- Get a Bose SoundDock and play all of the reception music from your iPod.
- Ask your friends/family to do wedding pictures.
- Have your ceremony in a public place (park, beach) so you don't have to pay fees.
- Have a talented friend do your hair/nails/makeup.
- Have a cash bar.
- Have the ceremony at 1 and the reception from 2 - 5. Serve heavy appetisers instead of a meal.

Sometimes destination hotels (Caribbean, etc.) will give the couple a free wedding if 30 guests are guarenteed and stay at the hotel. They figure the money they spend on your ceremony and reception is worth the income from more guests. This will cost your guests more though, so they might get mad.

Answer 3

Keep the guests to a minimum, make the food yourself with the help of some family and friends. This way you can serve all your favorites and there will be something everyone will like. Buy a dress from the discount rack at the bridal store. I found a great dress for half the price because that dress wasnt being made anymore. Get a cake made at a regular bakery and dont go for the huge layered style. we got a nice, rectangle cake decorated for a wedding for like $25. You can make your florwers or buy then, but if you do buy them, only spend the big money on yours and the wedding party. Then just buy a bunce of flowers and put them together to decorate yourself. If you give favours, make them yourself. Do like little bags with m&m's or candies to match you colour theme. Have an outdoor wedding when the weather is nice. You can rent a huge tent in case of rain and everything can be set up under it. The outdoors kind of decorated itself. Juts dont skimp on the booze and try for an open bar. Nothing is worse then a cash bar. People would rather eat homemade food and get no favours and have an open bar. My husband and I did all this stuff and our wedding was at most like $3000 and we were only 19 and 21 when we got married just over a year ago. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

It is possible to have a beautiful wedding on little money - trust me from personal experience! Some ideas to keep in mind....
dress/attire - You do not have to spend thousands of dollars on a dress you will only wear a few hours. When looking at bridal gowns, ask to only see the ones that are clearanced, reduced, or being discontinued. Mine was being discontinued and I paid half of what it cost! Buy cheap, comfortable shoes. Even bridesmaids can buy nice-looking dresses that are not bridal gowns. Mine got their dresses at J.C. Penny's for only $40!
food - Purchase only one cake. We did not have a groom's cake and people did not mind. We had one simple, yet beautiful, cake. Ask a friend to make a cake for you if budget is tight. By only offering cake and a beverage (no other food items), you can greatly reduce your food purchase without extra snacks involved or a groom's cake.
Flowers - We had artificial flowers at our wedding and noone could tell a difference. We went to an upscale grocery store in another city for my rose bouquet (bridal). Some places even have a can you can spray that smells like flowers if you insist on having a floral smell...but, flowers can be VERY costly.
Decorations - Rent the cheapest ones and use things you already have.
As far as party favors go, some choose to do this, but we didn't because of the expense. We used bubbles as our going-away. Cheap, inexpensive, and there were many in a package! Hope this helps. I am proof that you CAN have a beautiful wedding with little expense! I wish you the best!

Answer 5

1st thing is to make a budget. Realize that about 50% will be for food. Get your dress on sale(hello David's Bridal). Print your own invitations. Have a florist do the basics. You can make your own candle-scape centerpieces for about 1/2 the cost of the florists. Have your wedding on a Sunday. A lot of vendors will give discounts for this. A DJ will run about $950. Have your baker make a simple white stacked cake. Then you or your maids or your wedding coordinator can decorate it themselves w/ flowers.
Favors: do candy favors. they are less expensive and ppl like them better than little trinkets they will probably throw away.
Ask questions. When you meet w/ a vendor- let them know you are on a budget. If they can't help you, they can probably reccomend a vendor that can.
Good Luck!

Answer 6

Do as much as you can on your own. Like food, invitations, driving, etc. Enlist your friends and family. Stick to a budget. Ask yourself do I really need this (like an expensive dress) or can I find something cheaper that is just as nice. Shop around and compare prices. If all else falls and you are really strapped for cash. Get married at a Justice of the Peace and spend some money on a reception.

Answer 7

between the most acceptable procedures to maintain money on a wedding ceremony is to devise an off season wedding ceremony. many times, in conserving with the position you stay, November by March is considered off season so that you're prepared to employ a venue for decrease than in the course of the spring or summer season. decrease out booze on the marriage or merely provide beer and wine. Use candles, mirrors, leaves, or greenery on your centerpieces really than plants. it truly is going to avert a impressive form of money. Make a itemizing of issues that are really significant to you and issues which at the instantaneous are not. undergo in concepts, photos will stay with you continually so that you want a competent photographer, yet maximum individuals received't undergo in concepts what your cake tasted like or what centerpieces you had. reliable success!

Answer 8

We had an outdoor wedding in our backyard. I used artificial flowers to make baskets, table decorations and the boutineers/ corsages for the groomsmen and parents. We had a buffet of salads and finger foods that made up a meal but were alot less expensive, and bought the gown off ebay, and it turned out fabulous. Make it YOUR OWN and it will be a memory you'll never forget and neither will your guests!!

Answer 9

Since food and drinks are the biggest part of your budget you can save there by making your own food. Or have someone in your family do it. And stick to a budget!!

Answer 10

Elope