Ok, I'm working on a budget. I already found someone related to make my dress and cake. But, I'm not sure how much actually weddings cost. My sister & mom both got married in Vegas. I want a small wedding at a church. I live in the Inland Empire of California. I don't want to spend thousands of dollars if I don't have to. So, do you think its possible? Or is it probably going to cost more? I was thinking of using my own digital camera for pictures and not having it professially catered. So, what exactlly would we be paying for and do you think I'll probably spend more than $1000. Well, not me, but us. PLEASE NO NEGATIVE ANSWERS!!
2006-09-23 20:16:55 · 31 answers · asked by Mz Bree 5 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Congratulations! You are getting married, and you have the right idea...getting married doesn't have to mean going broke. $1,000 for a wedding and you all ready have the dress and cake...sweetie, definetly a can do!
Are you a member of a church? Some church only allow members to marry there. If you aren't a member then you are going to have to call or visit the church you would like to be married in. The church usually charges a miniual fee to cover the lights and clean up. So, you and your fiancee should take a tour of your local churchs, and find the perfect one for wedding.
Reception-if you don't want to spend a fortune have the reception at the church. Serve finger foods, sandwichs, chicken wings with sauces, meatballs, cocktail sausages, cheese trays, vegetable trays. The meatballs and sausages can go in the crockpot so they are a very easy and inexpensive. Sandwichs can be done the day before and put in the icebox-cover them up and lightly damp a papertowel before wrapping them to help keep them fresh.
If you don't want the reception at the church or if you want to serve drinks...then look for a resturant that has a package deal or a hall or a hotel where you can rent it for a couple of hours and bring the food yourself. Maybe a friend has a lovely backyard that you can hold it at. No cost there.
Flowers is a big budget buster-unless you do them yourself. Most hobby stores and Walmart carry some beautiful flowers. I was fortunate to have a Trees and Trims close by for my daughter's wedding. She made her own flowers and the girl's to carry. Get to know the hobby stores because you are going to be there alot. Walmart's wedding supplies are getting bigger and better everyday. Plus, the Dollar Trees and Dollar World's are getting more and more wedding things..so please check them out.
We spent a lot of money on a photographer and do you know who's pictures were the best. My cousins who used her digital camera, make sure and buy a memory disc. Buy a couple of throw away cameras and give them to your guests, they take awesome pictures too! You can do this and have the most beautiful wedding ever without putting yourself in debt. It means so hard work and planning but it's not only possible it's a fact. I have helped do a many of wedding, and I wished we had a $1,000. Have the most special of wedding days, and many many years of happiness.....
God bless us all................
2006-09-24 03:24:45 · answer #1 · answered by totallylost 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure, you can get married for less than that, even.
If your ceremony and reception are at a non-meal time of day, it is perfectly legit to have a non-meal reception. Just serve cake and punch, and maybe add on a little bit of finger food if budget allows, like a fruit and cheese platter from an upscale grocery store (arrange your order beforehand of course). Your invitations should mention "light refreshment" or "cake and punch reception" so people understand not to expect a meal.
Get some nice stationery on sale and hand-write all your invitations (DO NOT PRINT OUT ON COMPUTER-- the handwriting, personal touch is what makes it OK).
Make sure someone talented is in charge of the photography, not just anyone. It will make a big difference.
Have a backyard reception (call it a Garden Reception) and have a friend DJ or use an Ipod.
Don't use disposables, though, because that will cross the line from "simple and elegant" to "junky and cheap"-- you can get secondhand punchbowls and cups from the Goodwill (yes I'm serious) and cheap dishes from Ikea or Big Lots or someplace simillar-- they will be even cheaper than renting dishes and glassware from a catering company, and you can use and then wash them and sell them secondhand to another bride.
If you box the cake slices for people to take home as favors, you won't even have to get cheap Ikea silverware because guests will only need their fingers, little plates, and punch cups to get through the reception.
Rent tables and chairs from a local church hall or community center. Make sure there are enough seats for everyone.
2006-09-24 12:33:18 · answer #2 · answered by Etiquette Gal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey. a wedding is suppose to be something you remember for a life time and something your guests will remember. you do not want to be so cheap to the point that it is tackey. so you do not want a vegas wedding that is fine...... ask a friend to take the pictures, have another friend video tape it. now days around this area in Minnesota. wedding cakes are not the in thing. baking home made cookies is the new relm here. so for go the cake and make home maid cookies. you could have the church wedding, hold the reception in the church basement. this way you can have friends serve the meal for you. you could help friends prepare the meal. have sandwiches, chips, a cold salad, coffee and punch and the cookies. have only one brides mate. when at a church you do not have to serve liquor. later on that night, go to bar that is having music or a dj, know a head of time so you can tell guests. them tell you are having an informal get together at such and such a place. if you could find someone who plays the piano, they could play in the church basement while you eat. something soft like lorrie lane. or love songs. just the piano not signing. you can print up the wedding booklets on your own computer. you could also make your own wedding invitations with the right software. the m ore people you have the more it will cost. when you say small, how small are you talking... if you were to have 100 guest. you could do the small wedding. but if you have to book a dance hall and reception meal then you will not be able to have a wedding, sorry. churchs usually let you the church basement for free.
2006-09-23 20:26:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best way to save money on a wedding is to keep the guest list short. I think you can have a lovely wedding for $1000 if you don't plan on having a lot of people. You can save money by buying your flowers and making the centerpieces or bouquets. Borrowing a friend's car instead of renting a limo. Having a brunch or lunch instead of a dinner. Have the wedding during the week or a Friday night, rather than the weekend. Don't serve alcohol or serve just wine, beer, punch, and soft drinks. Get lots and lots of help so you won't be inundated with stuff and stressed on your wedding day.
2006-09-23 20:22:04 · answer #4 · answered by Born2Soon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, I'd like to say "you rock, girl!" Spending a lot of money on the wedding is stupid. Sure it's an important day, but it's just one day of your life.
Other expences that you're looking at is food for guests and fee for the room where you're going to hav eyour reception. If you can get a room for free, than $1000 for food is actually a good money if you have like no more than 60 guests for a sit-down dinner. Church might allow you to use their dining hall, but they often have strict no alcohol policy.
Flowers is another expence. Shop around - you can find a good deal.
If you're hiring any host or MC or someone who'll take care of music and speeches, then that's another few hundred dollrs, See is a friend or a relative can do it for you.
2006-09-23 20:32:39 · answer #5 · answered by Snowflake 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Possibly you could spend $1000. Are your relative making your gown and cake for free? If so that's great and that will save a lot of money. You will then have to purchase decorations, food, plates, utensils, cups, napkins etc which can add up. While everyone is at the ceremony, how are you planning to keep the food warm? Since you are planning on doing everything yourself you maybe fine then again all of these things can add up. Congratulations and good luck.
2006-09-24 07:05:26 · answer #6 · answered by Who me? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you can manage a small church wedding. Use local flowers from a friend's or relative's garden. Have only 2 attendents/ have a pot luck supper in the church hall. Serve only punch and cofee no liquor and dont have dancing as a band is too expensive.
Budget : church fee and minister fee and organist if there is one.
flowers and ribbon for bride's boquet and maid of honor and the Mother's.
Camera dscs
material for the dress :your shoes and veil
use the cars you have a put a big white bow on them
one nite in a hotel and breakfast the next morning
wedding rings
You can do it
2006-09-23 20:28:05 · answer #7 · answered by nora7142@verizon.net 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! I think it is possible. I spent a total of $100 on my wedding. Granted, I eloped before my hubby got deployed, but my close family and friends were all there, and I didn't see the need for anything too extravagant. You can always cut corners. You can have someone ordained and marry you at a nice picnic sort of place and have family-cooked food. Depending on what you want exactly you shouldn't really go over $1000 if you go small. Good luck!
2006-09-23 20:25:16 · answer #8 · answered by mrsisaac1214 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Difficult, but not impossible. I made my own invitations and only invited close family. I had my wedding outside on my parent's land two days after Christmas (it was snowing and we did it under a giant glacial boulder in the middle of a Hemlock forest in Pennsylvania, so it was beautiful), so everyone who was coming was already there and didn't have to make a special trip and I didn't have to pay for facilities. It was cold outside and my grandfather gave the ceremony, so it was quick and everyone stood up, so didn't have to rent seats. I did my own make up and my cousin did my hair. We made our own decorations, and my aunts and cousins helped put the favors together. My parents bought the ingredients for our family's favorite traditional meal, and my mom's siblings did the cooking. We made the cake ourselves, using wood dowels so the layers wouldn't fall in, and my sister decorated it with bits of ribbon and plastic flowers my grandmother brought from her crafts supplies, so it looked pretty professional. We used a small ceramic figurine of two angles holding a tiny snow globe as the cake topper. Everyone brought cameras, and afterward, we got double prints -- one for me and one for the camera's owner, then we scanned the best ones into the computer to send out to everyone else. In the end, all I really spent money on was the stock for the invitation, my dress and accessories, supplies for the favors, the flowers and film. Everything else was a group effort. My cousin got married a year later and threw a big production in the summer, renting a popular spot and sparing no expense, but everyone, even his parents, said later that mine was much better and more unique. Too bad I wound up getting divorced.
2006-09-23 20:45:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is possible! But it requires a lot of work.
If you attend a church; ask to use the church hall for your reception, it should be free. If it does not have one, ask if they know of one you can use for "FREE"! If not, have your reception
In a home.
Have family and friends help make the food; finger sandwiches, rolled cold-cuts and cut cheese, mini sausages, meatballs, etc..
If you have a Costco card you can buy most or all of the food there; they have a variety of heat and serve foods, they prepare food trays also. Go to Costco and ask for prices on their food trays!!! They also have soda's and chips at great prices.
Now go out and start asking questions and taking "Notes"!
Good Luck
Remember that it does not have to be too elaborate, just memorable!
2006-09-23 20:52:09 · answer #10 · answered by SAM 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋