Help on a wedding. Only serious answers please.?

Question

I am having a wedding on a very small budget. We don't need to register. We have everything. Well, maybe some new bedding. Other than that nothing. What can I do about that? Also, we are having a garden wedding. Any ideas on a reception? Does there have to be a rehersal dinner? And who pays? Any serious advice would be helpful.

Answer 1

Congratulations! First if you don't want to register for gifts, that is fine - maybe you can ask your guests to donate to you and your fiance's favorite charity enlude of buying gifts. Since you are having a garden wedding, your costs on decor have been cut down dramatically - just use your beautiful surroundings! Keep things simple - allow nature to provide the beauty. Maybe use colorful linens, and use silver pails ( u can get them cheap at Wal mart) and fill those with flowers for your centerpieces. Maybe tie a ribbon (the thick kind) with a plaid colorful design (colors to match ur wedding colors) around the pails especially if you can't afford colored linens and have to opt for only white. You could also just do a simple floating candle( and or a floating flower) arrangement for a centerpiece as well. Since you will be dining outdoors keep the food simple and light .
A rehearsal dinner is also not required, but is basically just a nice get together for everyone in the wedding party ( everyone may not know eachother) and immediate family, to get to know one another and privatly celebrate with you and your fiance. It also is a time for you to give them their gifts. Typically the groom ( or grooms family) pays for the rehearsal dinner. If money is an issue - just ask everyone to 'pitch in'.
Hope all works out for the best:)

Answer 2

My wedding was very small. We only had about 40 people there in a little country church. And in the whole affair my husband and I learned that your wedding is what you make it.

So, let's get to it. The gifts: If you don't register anywhere, people will mostly give you gift certificates, which is FANTASTIC because then you can get the weird odds and ends that you need. No one wants to buy someone a whisk for their wedding gift, so gift certificates are just better all the way around. Those who don't give you gift certificates will give very thoughtful gifts. My favorite is one of our wedding invitations framed and trimmed in blue ribbon. It's beautiful, and so thoughtful.

Garden weddings are beautiful, especially since half the decorating is already done for you (with a little help from Nature). If you do a reception, just set up tables outside. Set them up under a tent just in case it rains. Serve whatever you want. Make it a cookout if you're really on a budget, or get someone to cater. Both can be absolutely charming at a wedding.

The rehearsal dinner? You really don't need one, unless you're having a really traditional wedding. We didn't have one, and no one seemed to be offended at all. If it's really a big deal to the family, then let those nay-sayers pay for it. I think it's usually tradition that the bride's family pays for the wedding, and the groom's pays for the rehearsal dinner. If your folks get the wedding bill, then his folks should cough up, too.

Answer 3

Well, since you have quite a few questions :o) I guess I’ll just go in order. First, about registering – you can register for giftcards at a place you shop at often, like Target. Depending on where you register, you can also register for non-home things, like camping gear or you can just register for “upgrades” if some of your stuff is getting rundown. You can also set up a honeymoon registry, where people pay for parts of your honeymoon, like a dinner out or money towards a certain activity or just towards your trip in general. Check out http://www.honeyluna.com or http://www.thehoneymoon.com or http://www.thebigday.com or http://www.distinctivehoneymoons.com ; you can also just search the Internet, because there are a lot of companies that provide something like this. The Knot allows you to “Create-A-Gift” where guests purchase American Express gift cheques towards whatever you want – just adding to your savings, a down payment, whatever. You could also spread the word that you'd like money donated to a specific charity (this should be done in shower invites and/or through word of mouth - not on your wedding invitations - this goes for any registry info). As far as your reception, I'm assuming it’s in the garden – it should be beautiful! You won’t need much in the way of decorations, because the site should be decoration enough. Have some simple floral centerpieces, make sure you enclose candles if you use them (so the wind doesn’t blow them out), and have fresh, light food – I don’t know whether you’re having a whole meal or what, but you could make anything work. You don’t have to have a rehearsal dinner, but it’s traditional to have one. You need to have a rehearsal so everyone knows what they’re doing the day of the wedding, and usually everyone gets together for dinner afterwards to spend time together and relax before the wedding. It’s also when a lot of people give out attendant’s gifts. The groom’s parents usually host the rehearsal dinner, but sometimes the bride and groom pay for it. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, it can be tacos or pizza at a local place, or a big, multiple-course dinner if the hosts can afford it. It’s entirely up to you. Well, I should probably wrap this up, so good luck, hope this helps, and congratulations!

Answer 4

My husband and I had the best day of our lives at our wedding and it was all done for about $2000 dollars.
We were lucky enough to know the right people too though. You may be surprised about things if you just ask around. We lived in and got married in Colorado.
In some states just about anyone can become an officiant so check around for some one who could do it for free. My husbands boss (and close friend) married us. His wife was a photographer and another friend was an ametuer photographer so we got great pictures for cheap! I bought a lovely silk gown for $75 and had a florist make a flora crown with ribbons for my hair. I carried a single flower and we had no wedding attendants just family and friends (about 15 people) join us in a beautiful national forest. After the ceremony we walked back to our cabin on a campground that we had reserved campsites at for anyone who wanted to stay over night and party. The campground had a deck with a grill and chairs and tables and they let us use it and cook and play music. We had good food, cake and ice cream, and champagne. It was the most unbelievably perfect day in June. And I wouldn't change a thing about it. It's not how much you spend, it's who you spend it with. Oh, and we registered at Target for just a few things. Mostly people gave us a little money or something they just thought we'd like. Or, you could always elope!
Best Wishes!

Answer 5

There is some good info in "who pays for what" wedding etiquette here----> http://www.ourmarriage.com/html/who_pays_for_what.html

Usually, there is a rehearsal dinner. First you have the rehearsal at the church or facility with the people who are in your wedding party (not all the guests though) and than afterwards, there's a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant of your choice. Be sure to make reservations though so they can save your tables.

For couples who already have everything they need, you can ask for cash and gift cards. You can always use the gift cards so you can buy whatever you want/need. Like everyone shops at Target,Walmart and you can eat out at Olive Garden whenever you don't feel like cooking. Say something like in your wedding invitation "Monetary Gifts and Gift Cards from Olive Garden, Target, and Walmart are mostly appreciated by the couple". And of course, you might also receive gifts you don't like. If you receive gifts you don't like you can sell them in consignment shops and/or eBay for the extra cash :)

Answer 6

Register somewhere and choose only bedding and bedding accessories.

Put some tables up and have the reception in the garden as well.

Usually it is the groom's family that pays for the rehearsal dinner. Nowadays I have seen people doing pot luck meals and themed bbq parties instead of going to a restaurant.

Just plan ahead and maybe you and your fiance be in charge of meats. You can do something as simple as hamburger and hotdogs and have guests bring sides and drinks.

Answer 7

dont reg. and ask for guests to donate to the honeymoon or a charity of your choice even. as far as the wedding check local gardens in town. for the reception since it is going to be small make it more of a tea party and serve small items such as cookies and things along those lines. i don't believe you have to have a rehearsal dinner but if it is a small wedding maybe a small gathering like a bbq or something would be nice? rehearsal dinners are usually paid for by the grooms parent. hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 8

The night before put a Rib Eye roast in an electric roaster to slow cook, and in the morning slow baked chicken breasts in mushroon gravy. Steam veggies and ask someone to pitch in some mashed potatoes and gravy. Add some rolls and bag'o salad, the meal is done. Now hire a couple of teens from your local high school or church, to stand behind the buffet table, serve then help pick up after the meal is done. Give them $20-$30 each. I fed 125 ppl for about $300 doing it this way. There's my idea for your reception. (Smart & Final has better prices and items than Costco or Sam's Club - They serve the food service industry, whereas the others serve the consumer)

Answer 9

I would have the reception in the garden as well. I think it would be very beautiful and elegant.

Personally, since my in-laws volunteered to pay for the reception dinner, my mom is handling the rehearsal dinner. However, since we have so much decorating to do and can only have access to the hall the night before, we're going unconventional with a pizza decorating party.. All of our bridal party loves the idea :)

No matter what you do, your wedding will be perfect and exceptional. :)

Answer 10

You really don't have to have a rehearsal dinner just the rehearsal so everyone knows what they have to do. Traditionally the grooms family pays for the rehearsal dinner. Just ask guest to give you guys money for your honeymoon or something like that. i know that some people give money trees to the couple for there present. As for your reception try doing it outside to go with your garden wedding a tent, few tables, food and some music would be nice.