Planning a Wedding?

Question

Me and my husband got married this march at the justice of the peace, so i wanted to on your one year anniversay i would like to renew our wedding vows. But the problem is we are tight with money and i have no idea on how to plan for a wedding, So i need help on how to start planning for it.

Answer 1

This is going to be a long one, so I hope you have time to read it!! The Dollar Tree. I know you're thinking "Oh my goodness, how tacky is that?!!!" Let me explain. The Dollar Tree where I live has wine glasses with engravings. They look beautiful. I bought 20 of these to use for my center-pieces. I also bought 10 purple candles and 10 green candles from the Dollar Tree, as these where my colors. I put the candles in the glasses, and there were my center-pieces. I got SO many compliments. I also bought favor boxes from the Dollar Tree. I got a heart shaped stamp and stamped the boxes. Then I wrote our names and the date we got married. I bought candy wrapped in our colors to put in the boxes. For a photographer, I used my cousins brother-in-law. I got over 300 pictures and a scrap-book and a CD with all my pictures. I also had a roll of black-and-whites. Use a family member or friend that takes really good pictures. They will feel honored to do something for your ceremony. Use fake flowers and arrange them yourself. Or, if you or a family member have any rose bushes in bloom, use those. Try cooking the meal yourself. If you're going to do finger-foods, do pigs-in-a-blanket, sandwiches cut into quarters, simple things like that. As for the cake, see if someone in your family can bake and decorate the cake for you. Or, go to Wal-Mart. I got my cake there, it was $110, fed like 120, not including the top layer. Everyone commented on how beautiful make cake was. Your biggest resource will be your family. Most of them shouldn't charge you, they will be happy to just be a part of your special day. You can use white Christmas lights to decorate. They look beautiful and elegant. Use your mother and fathers cake cutter and server, if they still have theirs. Plan to do this all how you want. My ceremony was really simple. It took less than 10 minutes. We didn't have any songs played during the ceremony, we just played them all at the reception. We didn't use any extra flowers for decoration, because, in my opinion, the focus should be on the bride and groom. My wedding was simple and elegant and reflected me and my husband. That should be your main goal: to have your wedding and ceremony reflect you and your husband. That's all I can think of right now. I hope you have a beautiful ceremony and enjoy yourself.

Answer 2

Pick a date. If your anniversary falls on the middle of the week, see if you want to ddo it the weekend before of after.

Book the church, or you might miss your preferred date.

Make a guests list. Since this is a second wedding for the both of you, you might want to stick to just family and close friends. Make it small with the people that you really care about and not make it about putting a show and give free boooze to people that you hardly know.

Pick your bridal party, maid of honor and groomsmen. Pick flower girl and ring bearer. You may choose to have none of the above if you prefer.

Set a budget. After you know how much you are willing to spend or able to afford, you can choose what type of reception you would like.

Choose a theme. You can go creative and do things your self to make it stand out. Or you can go with classic decorations if you have no time for anything else.

Start buying stff now! If you have a theme, then you can go on after season sales and pick stuff that would work for centerpices, favours, decorations etc.

If you are planning on a reception, then you might want to start looking for a wedding venue now, they book a year in advance, so if you have your mind set on a special place.... reserve the date now!

If you are on a budget, then you can have your reception at a club/church/organization you belong to reception hall. It won't cost you a penny.

Get a photografer! You can ask a frioend relative to do this for you but professional photography is an investment that you won;t regret.

PS/ On a second wedding is really it poor taste to ask for gifts. Gifts should not be expected as many of the folks probally already gave you one on your first wedding.

Good luck

Answer 3

First things first! Decide on a date! Once you have a date down, then you can start calling churches, reception sites...cateres, musicians...etc...because you'll have a date to see if they are available on.

My seccond suggestion is ...don't get married during the wedding season May-October. If you marry in an off-season month you can get great wedding discounts! I got $100 discount from my D.J. and another 15% off my photographer because during the off season there are less weddings going on so vendors will give discounts to keep their schedules full.

My third suggestion is...if you can get married in your local church or somebody's house (like you parent's home if that's special to you) you'll save a lot of money. A lot of churches out there as well as special ceremony places will charge you an arm and a leg just to get married there. Plus...you have the miniter's fees...etc. My friend got married at her aunt's beautiful victorian home in California and then she had the reception at a nearby restaurant. The local church was going to charge her $500.00 for her to use it for the ceremony.

Now...it's totally ok not to have a formal sit down dinner for your reception. My husband and I got married at 1 p.m. and we served afternoon tea instead. It started at 2 and ended at around 6 p.m. We served lots of finger foods, fruit, pastries, different teas, coffees (we had a coffee bar), juices.. and we even had a wedding cake. Because it was early in the afternoon we only served champagne for the toast besides the tea and coffee. This saved us SO MUCH money on the food and drinks. I can honestly say a few thousand dollars. It's amazing how expensive the catering food can be.

Give yourself plenty of time to decide what you want and don't want. Shop around, ask for prices...write it all down...sleep on it...and then make a decision. I changed my mind several times about certain things such as colors...reception sites...

Search online for better rates and referrals. I found the lady that did my wedding cake through a referral wedding guide from California. She was very affordable and her cake was delicious!

It's your day and you have to make sure it's perfect for you.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 4

I agree set a budget, you can pull off a great event without spending too much money. Look to friends and family who have resources that you can use at no cost. For example if you know someone who recently got married ask to borrow decorations from them. Also do-it-yourself projects have saved me tons of money.
Think of having your day at free of charge location such as a public park or community center. Instead of serving a full a meal, make it an afternoon affair and just have cake and punch. Ask a friend to make the cake or cupcakes.

This web site has great low cost ideas
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/04/04mar22d.cfm

Answer 5

You could find a museum or place that has a nice backyard that has a low cost ($100 or so) and have a wedding there. Get in contact with a chuch or business that has chairs available and go to a local store and decorate. Use your resources. Use family member's things if need be. Good luck.

Answer 6

First you have to start off with the budget you would like to work with. Are you looking to have a big party, or a small party with a renewal of vows? You have to get those questions down first before you can actually start planning it.

Answer 7

Do it at a local family member or friend's house. Go to the dollar store (im not even kidding) and get cute decorations, candles and holders etc...use an outdoor area such as the back yard...set up little tables...and it dosent HAVE to be by law...I think this is a cute idea.
good luck and best wishes :)

Answer 8

will i am kind of in the same problem. what we are doing for wedding is doing it out side at a beautiful park its got a bridged over the water. it will only cost may be 15 dollars to but flowers on it. then we are evening having our diner out side at the park i dint know about you but i am a country girl so we are going to barbecue from the diner but that's us that's all i can tell you