I trying to plan a small wedding on a budget and I need some ideas for saving money?

Question

My fiance is being deployed in January and we are trying to plan a small wedding before he leaves. Our family has been very helpful in sharing some of the costs. We have a reception hall set but we were wondering on what to serve our guest, we were thinking of having a buffet with all sorts of different foods but we are stuck as to what to have. Any money saving ideas would help!!! Thanks :)

Answer 1

Wait till he returns, and save up money while he is gone! Why get married just before he leaves for a year or more? That makes no sense! Don't rush into it just because he is getting deployed.

Answer 2

I hope you are doing pre-marital counciling, because you will have a hard first year.

If he is going somewhere other then Iraq, be sure you have webcams. My sister is using these with her husband in Korea and they talk almost every day, often for over an hour, and they keep it on most of the time, so they can see each other and when she comes in, if he's up she'l say "Hi Honey, I love you!"

It has really helped...

For food, you may consider a buffet, where you ask people to bring what their "speciality" is. Make sure you asign dishes, but, for example, if Aunt Martha makes your favriote pasta salad, ask her to make it for you as part of her gift.

Anouther idea would be a desert only reception.

And pasta is typically your least expensive food item. Consider not having a bar aviliable, if your fiance's family was going to cover that explain that you decided to do only beer and wine (or no alchol at all), and maybe they could donate some of the diffrence to fund the food... You never know if you don't try...

Also, remember no one really likes wedding cake. It's just for show. You could have a small cake made (maybe by a relative) and then serve sheet cake. We are serving pie for our wedding instead of cake...

Good luck!

Answer 3

Keep your guest list small. Get family and friends to help you with everything. You can make a lot of things that will save you money. Don't go overboard on flowers, find them cheap at a flea market or do something different for centerpieces (like floating candles). And you could even put together your own bouquets for cheaper. For pictures, a good idea that I've seen on here is to take the bridal party to Glamour Shots before the ceremony, it's a lot cheaper. And then just have someone take pics of the ceremony and the reception with a good digital camera. You could also get a friend to videotape it and make that their gift to you. For food, go with a buffet. This will be your most costly thing. Get some quotes from caterers, tell them your budget and they'll tell you what foods they can serve for that price. If it's still out of your price change, get party platters from restaurants. You could do stuff like wings, eggrolls, chicken fingers, ribs, mashed potatoes, salad, or even Italian. They'll supply you with huge servings of whatever food you want. You would still want to hire some servers to clean up and set up the food. You don't want to worry about that on the big day. And if you're serving alcohol, get a bartender. Letting guests serve themselves can cause a big mess. Buy your alcohol and sodas when they're on sale. Get your cake from Publix, they're reasonable and it's good. Good luck!

Answer 4

Go to the library and get some wedding books. There are countless ways to have a fabulous wedding on a small budget.

Family could supply the food buffet or pot luck style. You might want to have a cake & punch/champagne reception, instead. Or even a brunch should you have an early wedding.

You & the groom-to-be decide what's most important to you. who you want to share in this happy occassion and go from there.

Good luck & Congratulations!

Answer 5

Small reception withjust family and close friends.
Justice of the peace wedding instead of church. You can do the church thing later.
Skip the wedding favours.
Have just a toast with sparkling wine and serve light refreshments instead of booze.
Get married early in te morning and then serve BRUNCH instead od f lunch. Or do a mid-afternoon wedding so you can hors d'oerves instead of dinner.

Answer 6

First if all congraulations! I am planning one too si I recomment getting each guess to bring a dish based on your theme or cultural. Decorations get great and cheap decorations at the dollar tree such as Artificial flowers or you can go to Walmart or Kmart buy lots of things the day before decorate and then return to the store the nest day in the same packaging with the reciept. I hope this helps you. ;0)

Answer 7

It is possible to have a budget and keep it. I am also getting married in May. Our date is May 26, 2007. We are on a budget too. So far I have gotten everything on discount.

1.) Go to Davids Bridal for you dress- They have dresses $99 sale. Plus they have veils on clearence too!

2.) Go to Micheals and AC Moore- Almost every week they have a coupon use it and buy the stuff you need with the coupon. I have gotten boutners for the groomsman for less then $1.50 already made. I also got a blusher veil for less than $5.00 with this coupon. Also look for special coupons for them because sometimes they offer 50 to 75% off coupons and get your big ticket items then. I got my unity candle set regularly $43.00 for like $20.

3.) Check with Walmart. I got my invitations, thankyou notes, reply cards, seals, and all in one big set for like $20. In a set of 40. Of course I have to print them. But I am gonna go to a print shop.

4.) Check with Goodwell and thirft stores. I have gotten my flower girls basket for like 69 cent. It was homemade. You will never know what will turn up there. You might find a wedding dress there.

5.) Go to Target. I got my flower girls pedels there from the dollar rack on clearence. They had everything for a 25 cent. Plus I got a card mail box for the present table.

6.) Go to the dollar store. They have some cheap stuff there to decorate and plus you will never know what you will find there.

7.) Ask to borrow things from people. Like family things that was used in their weddings. A family Bible, Mothers veil, etc.

8.) Have it in someones house and have a cookout afterwards instead of big reception in a baquet hall or resturant.

9.) Call around to hotels and halls and see if they offer discounts to weddings if you book the reception and out of town guests at the same place. The place I am having mine at is offering $250 off. The cost of the hall off. So we just have to pay for the food. Since we have so many rooms booked. Plus this helps out of town guests get around.

10.) Do not have a open bar at the reception. Only do a champagne toast. Alcohol is a big portion of hte reception budget. (Some have a cash bar. If you have it at a resturant or a hall make your guest pay if they want it and you are not responsible. And make sure it is not in the reception room.)

11.) Another tip I give everyone is make a wedding email account. Because once you get into everything. Everything is going to be asking for a email address and it is easier to keep track of wedding planning and personal life. Plus you can rule out annoying emails after the wedding. You can delete the account.


I hope this helps. Go to WeddingChannel.com
this site is wonderful! They have everything. It is my personal assisant. Plus you will not have to buy a wedding planner book. This one is online and you just print it out. It also has a guest tracker. You type in your guest list and it keeps track of them. If they reply. What are they coming too and so forth. Count down to the wedding and tips. You will love this site. I will be surprised if you already do npt know this site. Plus you can make a personal online wedding announcement. Checklists and more!

Answer 8

D.I.Y. projects help save. Go for simple but elegant on the reception. And go for a small guest list, that is a sure way to save money.