i need sugestions for a wedding in dec of this year on a budget of 300 dollars?

Question

i am 26 a size 6 dress we want a small family wedding that we can afford. I have the rings and that is about it i would really appriciate any ideas

Answer 1

Have the ceremony and reception at either your house, or a close family member's house. That way you don't have to pay site fees.
Have a friend or family member take the pictures.
You cook the food and cake, in whatever you feel comfortable serving. Try ham or turkey if you are doing a meal, it's cheap and easy. Also look into offering finger foods instead of a big meal. It would have to be an afternoon wedding for this, but the food budget would be low. A cake and champagne reception is also acceptable for afternoon weddings.
Your fiance can wear a suit or dress pants that he already has, and you can buy a nice white (or whatever color you want) dress at a local store for under $100. It doesn't have to be a wedding gown to be pretty. If you have one in your area, there are stores that allow women to rent formal attire. You could get the dress you wanted for about the same cost as renting a tux, and the one in my area does the alterations for free since they don't cut the fabric. They can let out or take in seams without damaging the dress to be worn again.
Then buy silk or other artificial flowers to save on flower costs. If you can, arrange them yourself. If you kow someone that's espically good at crafts, ask them for help. Just get a bouquet and boutonniere instead of decorations.
Go to a discount store like Wal-Mart or Target for some cheap wedding decorations, like crepe paper, balloons, streamers, etc...
For invitations, you can print your own using whatever word processing program you already have. There are free images you can download if you want to jazz up the cards.

Anything you can do or make yoursef will save you money. If you aren't a great cook, or if you aren't good at crafts, ask around to see if there are people you are close to that would be willing to help. If you opt for a potluck dinner, or some other type where the guests contribute, remember to inculde it on an insert in the invitaion and ask that they bring food, drink, etc... in lieu of gifts.

Answer 2

First off, don't listen to people who say it's impossible to have a wedding on your budget. You may need to be creative and thrifty and shop around a bit, but you can absolutely do it.

To begin with though, decide what's important to you. Is it important that you have a dinner/evening party? If not, you could go with a morning wedding and brunch afterwards, or not include a meal at all - maybe just afternoon appetizers. Is a white "wedding" dress an important part for you? If not, you can look at some of the holiday dresses/suits that will be on sale soon. You should be able to find something in white, but if you're happy getting married in another color, go for that instead. (Rules about what you "should" do for a wedding are made to be broken - as long as you're happy with your choices, that's ALL that matters.)

Since it's near the holiday season, you could also ask family to contribute towards specific elements (flowers, cake, etc. - anything that's important to you) in lieu of Christmas gifts. (Assuming you celebrate Christmas, of course.) And talk to family and friends that have recently gotten married - someone may have a dress, veil, etc. that you could borrow.

I also recently read somewhere that you should avoid buying anything that is called "bridal" - you can usually buy exactly the same thing for much less elsewhere.

Good luck, and congratulations!

Answer 3

You could get married on $300 but you couldn't really have a wedding. If that is really all that you can put into it, you need to keep it really really simple. You would probably have to do it in a registry office as even celebrants and churches cost money (eg the suggested 'donation' to the church can itself be a few hunder dollars). Only very close family and possibly some very close friends. You're not going to be able to afford a wedding dress on that budget (even alterations alone can cost a few hundred dollars withour even thinking about the cost of the dress) so you would need to just buy a dress from a shop. You should go with something simple and classic like a white slip dress. You could buy a few flowers from a local florist for a bouquet. If you plan to have a celebration after, you probably need to make everyone pay for themselves and hence you need to keep it to people who you are close enough to comfortably ask to them to fork out their own money. You're going to really be pushing it on $300 ... eg I had a pretty simple wedding but that budget would not have even paid for my thank you cards.

Answer 4

Attire:
Buy a nice Winter White dress or suit from your local department store. Groom can wear a nice suit or slacks/shirt/tie that he already owns.

Location:
Have it a you parents house (if they have a fireplace) so much the better. Have the ceremony performed in front of a roaring fire. See if one of your friends/family has any interest in becoming an ordained minister (can do it online for cheap) and have them perform the ceremony.

Decoration:
Use existing holiday decorations to decorate with, add some potted bare branches from maybe a crepe myrtle tree and wrap them in the miniature white lights.

Reception:
if your guests want alchohol I would suggest a BYOB reception with you supplying the foods. Other than that, just go with a nice seasonal punch. You can make many of the dishes ahead and freeze them to be thawed out and reheated on the day of the wedding. Another option for a meal is a Turkey dinner with all the trimmings (most of which can be made ahead and frozen) reasonably inexpensive that time of year.

AttendantsL:
Forgo attendants, and just have one each of the parents to sign your marriage license.

Wedding Cake:
Use a sheet cake from a local grocery store bakery instead of the high dollar wedding cake.

Wedding Momento:
If you want to supply your guest with wedding favors, buy some inexpensive chocolate molds for a craft store (bells, doves, etc.) and make molded chocolates Easy and inexpensive if you use Chocolate Almond Bark.

Unity Candle:
forego the unity candle, it isn't required.

Floral:
Use seasonal greenery mixed with a few flowers as your bouquet and floral decoration as most of the floral expense comes from the actual flowers not the greenery. Check with Sam's Club and Costco, both sell flowers in bulk for really reasonable prices.

Answer 5

You will have to increase your budget- even if it was by 200 dollars. You have to get the license which can run anywhere from 60- 100 bucks (depending on location and rules). Food may run you abuot 100 dollars even if you choose to have an intimate dinner at home unless it will be under 10 people. then you can get away with buying food in bulk. Music- you can play cds on a stereo. Skip the formal gown and go with something more casual but elegent, maybe a gown from Deb (store)? That might be around 60 dollars or less) or you can wear a nice pant suit.
Do your own hair, limit guests, have it at someones home. Flowers can be bought that day from the florist for cheap if it is what is in season (some florists go to the market and can negotiate flowers if you have no real color/type preference.)

If all else fails you can do what we are doing: (im getting married in march and just NOW started to save and plan)

- i picked up a part time job on the weekends and am putting all that money aside for the wedding. My fiance is a mechinic and has been fising cars on the side
- we quit going out to eat- no extravagent purchases between now and then
- we are NOT using credit cards (no need to go into debt for this)
- we have traded services for things (my best friend is a baker who is making my cake for free, she just wants to add a picture of it to her portfolio since she is going to be starting a wedding cake service. My friend is a DJ- he just wants a reference from me)
- I have decided to LIMIT the amount of flowers. I dont need 60,000$ worth of anything that will die in a few days. That is unrealistic. We are going with a lot of single stem flowers.
- if all else fails, see can you take a small loan from your bank. Most allow you 1 year to pay back.
- alcohol- i say buy a few small bottles or dont have any- just serve punch.
- food you can also have appetizers.
Good luck!!

Answer 6

You can get a dress at your local good-will store or advertise in a local news paper for a used wedding dress and the amount you are willing to spend! (Example Add: Looking for wedding dress, size 6, for Dec. wedding not wanting to spend over $100.00) Add you phone # and your cell# or where you can be reached the calls will come shortly after the add! That will leave the remaining $200.00, Get a justice of the peace to come to Families home where you can decorate how you see fit or appropriate for this affair! (Have family members to help) You dont need a caterer if you can get family and friends to each bring a dish or two a peice! If serving beverages, make it a free for all and also write on invitations something like: PLEASE BRING A COVERED DISH AND YOUR OWN DRINKS! This really has became quite traditional to do this type of thing! Who knows, you may even be able to save fifty dollars or so for the honey-moon! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 7

I think that having a small family wedding, needs to get cut down even smaller if you want to stay within your budget. You can rent a dress or borrow one from a friend. You can do the decorations yourself as well as the flowers (if you start now on the decorations, you can buy each paycheck 1 item for the wedding). I would suggest going to the courthouse for a wedding will be your best option, then take your small family out to dinner for a reception/party.

Answer 8

Don't listen to anyone who says it can't be done. I've been a bride 3 times and each wedding cost me less than $300, the cheapest was probably closer to $10.

The first time was outdoors in a public park with a friend officiating (not legal, but that's the way we wanted it). I wore a dress I already had, he wore a dress shirt and slacks. We had my mother drape me in the veil she wore at her wedding as part of the ceremony and a friend's mother donated a silk bouquet.

The reception was at our house and my family made snacks and a cake. Very simple, but fun.

Second wedding (the legal one) was at my grandmother's house. Our minister was a family friend who was visiting the area anyway and agreed to perform the ceremony for free. My parents brought flowers, including a small wreath for my headpiece. I bought a simple ivory dress on sale for maybe $60. My sister's boyfriend took pictures (all of them terrible...).

The reception was at my grandmother's church, hosted by the church women for a small fee ($50?). It was a simple meal, but the food was secondary to the company anyway.

Third wedding was thrown for us by friends. They supplied the cake and the minister, we showed up with the license and witnesses. Found another ivory dress on sale and spent $20 on matching silver rings.

Anyone who thinks that wedding have to be expensive and lavish affairs is wrong. You can't host a catered sit down meal for 300 guests on $300, but you can host a simple gathering for 25-30 and sometimes, that's all you need.

Decide what you absolutely MUST have and start there. Ask for help instead of wedding gifts and allow those who offer to help to have some say in how things are done. If you're a control freak, you might want to just elope...

Good Luck!!

Answer 9

Keep in mind that in the face of love anything is possible. consider your options. Are you a member of a church where you can use the church for free? Do you or does anyone in your family have a home that is large enough for all of your guests? I think your largest expense will be your venue. You can borrow a dress or purchase one at a thrift store or ebay (or any second hand dress). Consider having a family member or members prepare the food (or simply serve cake and punch- and koolaid is cheap). If the laides offer help, put them to work. I did and they loved it. Do your own hair, make-up and nails. The groom can wear a suit instead of renting a tux, use your own car, ship the wedding favors, or make programs yourself that they can take with them. Have a friend or family member make your cake/s. You could purchase a small cake decorating kit at walmart, or even just one decorating tip and use a ziploc bag and have a small simple cake.

Answer 10

$300 tight budget...but absolutely do able....Christmas is a perfect time to do a wedding. I always wanted a Christmas wedding with the gold and silver, red, and greens...white...just beautiful. Do the cermoney where you won't have to pay anything out of pocket. Do it at your home church or at someone's home. Pay off the Christmas theme. Use ponsettas, borrow decorations from family and friends.

Your wedding cake can be purchase from Walmart, order a plain cake and decorate it yourself with flowers. I am fortunate to have 2 decorators in my family. Do you have one? Or a friend of a friend...Call in some favors.

Wedding punch use gingerale and whitegrape juice. You can use the offbrands, and you can place a few grapes in the punch bowl. It's very good and it's clear, and decious to boot.

The dollar store that sell everything for a $1 are wonderful bargain bins for weddings. They are now carrying more and more items for weddings. They have pretty napkins and plates, and of course theres Walmart, and party supply stores.

Your dress, time to put your shopping shoes on and go bargain hunting. You may have to do several shopping trips. Ebay has some good deals too. You may want to look at Chadwicks on line. You have a bargain shopping world waiting for you on line.

If you plan on having food ask friends and family to make a few sandwichs, or a tray. Vegetable tray, cheese tray, keep things simple, or if you have a lot of help and people offering to help, go for it.

I did my friends wedding for under $400 in April. We had to rent chairs, I think that was the only thing we paid full price for. We borrowed and all of us pitched in and cook, and it was beautiful.
We spent most of our budget on flowers, but we still them. As matter of fact, I used some of them for my own daughter's wedding in May. We used silk flowers, so a many of bride can use them.

Do the Christmas theme, you can have gold and silver ribbon to accent everything. Where you have the wedding and reception, put up several Christmas trees(borrow) and just have a winter wonderland. Cut out snowflakes from a glistening material and use a decoration too. The bridesmaid flowers can bought at Walmart, and you can make them, also your bouquet. You can do this, it's work...but it can be done..imagination and good friends...

Please have the most special wedding day, and maybe all your anniversaires be the same filled with love and romance.