Im getting married on November 25,2006. I need ideas on a Nice but cheap wedding and reception. My budget is around $4k. I need help.
2006-07-12 06:44:47 · 24 answers · asked by crystal d 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Entertaining
vegas! i did..
2006-07-12 06:48:08 · answer #1 · answered by gilbert g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
much as I hate to say it, getting married at an outside location (beach,mountain top,park) is cheaper than at church. Unfortunately,unless you have a small country church or chapel, even the cost of the ceremony can add up. The only problem with outside could be rain.Also, keep it small. Immediate family,CLOSEST relatives and friends. Also,have a 2 o'clock in the afternoon or 11A.M.wedding and put on the invitations(that could be informal and done by you to save$) Afternoon tea or light lunch will be served. This way,people will eat something first and not expect a big dinner. Do you or any relatives or very good friends have a big home or yord where you could have the reception? A caterer for sandwiches,salads and cheeses will be much less expensive than a dinner and dancing at a country club or hotel. How about a good friend being a disc jockey for you. You could pay him/her a small amount and that could be their gift to you. Do you have a friend who could make the cake for you? That,too could be their gift to you. In one area, I would NOT count on a friend and that is with the photography. You'd be so disappointed if a friend did a poor job on your pictures. Some photographers will charge less if you are happy to have only candid shots instead of formal,posed pictures. Do ask all who come to please bring their cameras and make sure you have them share them with you later. Another hint, keep the flowers simple. Choose seasonal flowers because they are much less expensive. You could carry one single flower. Most important....Have fun and Be happy and remember $$$ does not make the marriage ,it is the love and the commitment. Good luck :-)
2006-07-12 14:23:59 · answer #2 · answered by Sunshine 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to find a church hall for rent, they usually rent cheap. Do you know someone who can take pictures? With all the technology today if you find someone who is good at taking pictures and who won't mind being given that duty, you can end up with top notch photos that you can have enlarged or what not as you can afford to do.
Do you know anyone good with food? If so create a menu with them and have them in charge of the food.
Find a home bake
My husband and I did both of these things 22 years ago and it was awesome. We still have people comment on our reception. You don't have to go all out and play the "have to impress everyone" card.
Do you know someone with some computer savvy? Create your own invitation on the computer.
I ordered my dress from the JCPenny catalog. LOL
If you must have a dance, find a friend or relative who can man the music for you. You can burn CD's. We just had everyone that wanted to continue to party after the reception come to my parents and we had a keg and hung on the patio and had a great time and we had over 100 people at the wedding.
I think you'll find that $4000 will go a very long way.
2006-07-12 13:58:47 · answer #3 · answered by BlueSea 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Out doors is hard in most places in November. But it is not impossible.
My budget is half that! We are having it in our barn, making all our own food, invitations, decorations, flowers. Many supplies (including flowers) are being purchased from Costco. The only issue for us is the photographer. But we don't want formal poses. We're still deciding on what we will do with that, it may push our burget up $500 or $1000 dollars.
The more you do yourself, the nicer it will be. I went to a friends wedding a few years ago, who did a $2500 wedding, in a tent in the back yard, and it was one of the best I've ever been to. Their were so many special touches...
2006-07-14 13:27:53 · answer #4 · answered by heather k 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many ways of saving. Go to a wholesale florist and buy flowers direct from growers. Print your own invitations and maybe set up a website to do RSVP's rather than sending a pre-paid postage envelope for RSVP's. Don't do Save the Date cards. Make your own centerpieces and bouquets. Also go to a craft store and get your own decorations and party favors. Plus a big way to save money yet still have a beautiful reception is to make it a buffet or lunch as opposed to a sit down dinner. It's amazing how much extra it is per person/per plate. Bring one cake for the cake cutting ceremony and a sheet cake for the guests. (they will never know the difference) Also choose a non traditional day to get married. Fridays and Sundays are FAR CHEAPER than Saturdays.
The one thing to not skimp on is the photographer. These are the pictures that you will have for a lifetime to remember this amazing day. Trust me.
Good luck and Congratulations!
2006-07-12 14:07:04 · answer #5 · answered by sandeez88 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We had our reception at an American Legion Post (which is like a VFW) and I didn't have an open bar. We bought a half keg of beer and 3 boxes of wine (classy! :-), and decided that if anyone wanted liqour they could buy it. It was beautiful and the food was delicious, and it came in at $2300.
Instead of a limo, we borrowed some of the nicer cars in the family and I had my 4 brothers "chauffer" us to the reception with one wedding couple in each car.
You can print your own invitations. Office stores sell the software and stationary.
Instead of buying the decorative floral arrangements from the florist, get nice bouquets from a large grocery store and just get your carry bouquets and boutineers from the florist.
David's Bridal has nice wedding gowns for like $200.
Do you know anyone who can make the wedding cake for you as a wedding gift? My Mom made ours.
Hope some of this helps!
2006-07-12 16:08:22 · answer #6 · answered by Nitris 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Use a pizza place as the caterer. This works well for an informal backyard type of wedding where guests are in shorts. The food is good and will run you about $3-4 per person.
2006-07-12 17:37:59 · answer #7 · answered by Erika M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suppose it depends on what city and state you live in and if you're a member of a church. our church holds weddings for free but it is customary to donate some money to the church and we hold a lot of receptions in the cafeteria. my family loves to do a bring a meat and pass around dish and the couple getting married brings the dessert and drinks. a nice place you can go to for decorations is http://www.myweddingfavors.com and believe it or not but the dollar general. they've got some nice things you'll find on line or in catalogs. we also buy the disposable cameras and put a couple at each table and then develope them ourselves when we're back from our honeymoon. did you think of maybe taking out a small loan?
2006-07-12 14:09:00 · answer #8 · answered by pohter1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get married in the courthouse and have a nice reception at a friends or relatives house that can accomidate the number of people you want to invite. Maybe even check out the local ELKS club or some other club in your area.
2006-07-12 13:51:24 · answer #9 · answered by Tamara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vegas is a good one, or just go the the courthouse and get married. Just get your direct family and best friends and do something nice at the house. I don't see the point in having a HUGE wedding. I rather spend money on a house, than a wedding.
2006-07-12 13:50:02 · answer #10 · answered by Mac 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well i planned my wedding in a week and i went sort of low budget i only spent around $6,000 Try and find a place that you doint have to pay for, try to get people to bering stuff, also just get nice things but at a great price I mean it is that easy,
2006-07-12 13:49:02 · answer #11 · answered by Pobedy S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋