How do I plan for a cheap, but non-shabby wedding all in one month?

Question

Well, here is the deal, my boyfriend just aked me to marry him and we are alittle short on cash. We have a chapel and a reception area, enough for 50 people and nothing else. All I need to know is what about the dress, rings, etc.

Answer 1

It may seem hard, but its not impossible. First thing to do is get out the guest list and invites. then plan the food, events at the reception, and anything else.

cheaper ideas:
potluck reception (or buffett)- have it during the day though- preferably after lunch, that way you can serve finger foods.
go to cosco or sams club for decorations, go to a pawn shop for a ring (sounds cruddy but you can always upgrade to something better when money isnt tight), dont buy a wedding dress- make it a casual wedding and wear something like a pan suit.
dont fill up the hall with flowers and dont have a huge bridal party

congrats!- hope that helped!

Answer 2

Question: what's the rush for getting married? You have your whole life to be married. What's wrong with waiting a little longer?

You'll have to get the dress from a consignment shop. There's too little time to have one ordered and altered. I just ordered my dress and it will take about 8 weeks to get here. Stay away from David's Bridal. Worst. Place. Ever. You can get a better quality of dress from a consignment shop for less.

You can get the rings from any jewelry store. We got ours in a matter of an afternoon.

Vendors--get your own flowers on sale from Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Ask a friend to be a photographer; don't use those disposable cameras at the tables. You'll get a horrible good picture turn out. Have a BBQ and ask everyone to bring a side dish.

Make your own cake or get one from Target or Walmart or even your grocery store. Mix your own CD and play it at the ceremony and reception. Make your own invitations. Easy to do, cheap on the money.

Have it at a park--have a volleyball going at some point.

Skip the garter and the booze.

You're going to have to really put your butts into action!

Answer 3

It doesn't take long to get the rings. I'd suggest getting thin gold bands, no diamonds and no engagement ring, if cash is really tight. Or, if you must have an egagement ring, consider CZ. Really, no one can tell so long as you don't get a huge, obviously fake one.

Try David's Bridal $99 sale. If they aren't having one, then still go to David's Bridal. If your dress is simple, they are much cheaper than other places. Or, go to a boutque and try to buy off the rack.

For flowers, consider the grocery store or making fake bouquets. Many grocery stores also make great cakes. I found eBay to be a great place to get my veil, candle holders, etc. But watch out for their shipping methods to make sure it will arrive in time.

I made my own bookmarks for my wedding and printed them at Officemax. It cost about $13 for 150. I also did this with my programs. I have all of the computer files if you would like them.

Consider enlisting a friend for videography/photography. Or, see if there are any photography students who will do it for a low cost in exchange for building up their portfolio.

Have your groom purchase a nice black suit. It might be a tad more expensive than renting a tux, but it will last him longer. Try to limit your bridal party to just a best man and a maid of honor, and just tell them to wear something nice.

Best of luck!

Answer 4

You'll need an off-the-rack dress-- ask at David's Bridal (normally not my favorite place to recommend, but if you're in a jiffy they may be able to help you), or even consider going to an upscale department store like Neiman Marcus that has a formal department and they can find you a suitable dress good enough to be a bridal gown.

Go to local jewelry stores to find rings that would be available right away. But please research "conflict diamonds" before heading to the jewelry store.

Many restaurants and even some fancier grocery stores will do "drop off catering" when they deliver the trays of food and you serveit yourself at your reception location.

For the specifics, we can't really help you on here because you need to talke to local vendors and this is an international question board.

Answer 5

Ok, depending on your budget it can be done. My husband and I had a very nice wedding and it cost us a total of 750.00. Since you already have the chapel and reception place that cuts that out. As for the rings we Bought them from Kay Jewelers and made payments on them, I got the dress from a second hand store and paid $98.00 for it. The veil I made myself, which is pretty easy to do if you know someone who is handy with sewing, the flowers I also did myself, we bought silk flowers from wal-mart and I put together all the arrangements and bouquets, the food for the reception we had our immediate family help out on. The most expensive thing was the DJ for the reception which cost 285.00.

Answer 6

If you must have a bridal gown go to David's bridal or a consignment store to buy it.
As for rings you can either just buy cheap bands at Walmart or you could ask you parents if you can use the rings that they were married in.

When I got married my parents gave me and my husband their first set of wedding rings that they were married in...they had bought expensive matching wedding bands on their 25th anniversary.

Answer 7

I planned a beautiful, low cost wedding in five weeks.

Dress - White formal $180.00

Bridesmaids dresses - Had them wear pretty formal dresses they already owned. No one matched.

Flowers - Roses from Costco. We made the corsages the night before.

Pictures - Had friends take photos. Black and whites a must as well as color.

I say splurge on the honeymoon if you have any cash at all!

Answer 8

I GOT MARRIED AT MY PARENTS HOUSE......MY MOMS WEDDING DRESS I WORE! MY HUSBAND GOT ME CHEAP RING NO PROBLEM..actually cheap ring is good it doesn't get caught on anything....YOU CAN ALWAYS NAG TO BUY ANOTHER RING!

MY MOM WAS VERY HAPPY SHE WANTED ME TO WEAR HER PRETTY WHITE WEDDING GOWN..WE ARE THE SAME SIZE!

I AM SATISFIED WITH MY SHABBY WEDDING! I BEEN MARRIED FOR 15 YEARS.

MY BUDGET $100.00

I ONLY INVITED 20 people....! I WASN'T GOING TO INVITE ANYBODY BUT MY MOM INVITED THEM ALL!

I AM GALD I AM NOT IN DEBT HAVING A BIG HUGE WEDDING!

CONGRATS!

Answer 9

whats you're budget first of all? maybe you could cut it and just invite close family and friends.so that you will have enough for you're dress and the other stuff you need to get still. good luck