I am getting married July next year, I am 24y/o I have never been married and am overwhelmed with trying to figure everything out and plan, I dont even know where to start or what to do, it cant be a big wedding. I dont have alot of money, can anyone help me on some ideas on where to start planning and some ideas for the wedding???
2006-09-30 16:49:18 · 17 answers · asked by Dalmatian 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
My folks know about me getting married but they can only do so much being 6000 miles away
2006-09-30 17:00:19 · update #1
I AM the wife to be!!!!!
2006-09-30 17:01:00 · update #2
I want a real wedding I am not getting married to just get married I dont care if we are together for 10 more years before we get married a courthouse marriage is out of the question I am not doing it to just to get "papers" I want the real thing no matter how long it takes. There are some very good answers thank you!!
2006-09-30 17:08:53 · update #3
don't stress!!! that is a huge mistake!
i'm 24, got married at 21...me and my mom planned and did everything ourselves. it is not that hard i promise.
you can do finger foods instead of hiring a caterer (saves more money than you'd imagine)
check stores such as dillards, jc penny, macy's, etc. for your accessories and even the bride's maid's dresses. you never know what you might run up on....especially around prom time when all the formal stuff is in season.
check out a local arts and crafts store (or even wal-mart) for flowers you can use, invitations you can print yourself, your unity candle (if you are going to have one), ring barer pillow, flower girl's basket, etc. if you can get those things somewhere like that it will save a bundle.
anything you can make yourself, do it! and don't be shy to ask your bride's maids to help you...that's what they are for!
no matter what anyone tells you, do NOT take out a loan for your wedding! the last thing you want to do is start off your marriage in debt! trust me, i know from experience!
if i can think of anything else, i will add later...
hope this was some help
2006-09-30 16:58:09 · answer #1 · answered by sunshine 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well first you need a pastor, priest or a judge. Find one first that believes what you believe on marriage, and is free on the day you want to get married. Next, find a location. Does it matter to you where you wed? If not, if you chose a pastor or priest, ask about using the church that they are with. If you chose to go this route, and would like some decorations, but can't afford any, ask the pastor or preist if their is anyone in their church that you could talk to about decorations. Some churchs keep the decorations from weddings, and use them over again when the need arises. They also might have decorations from other events that would help you out. Also, if you chose to go with a church, sometimes the members of the church would love to help out in having a potluck style reception after the wedding. If you want flowers, get in touch with local flourist shops to see who can give you the best deals. You'll need to get a dress, your bridesmaids will need dresses, your groom will need a suit, and so will your ushers. You should have a small present for each person in your wedding party. You also need to get a marriage license. I wish you all the best as you take this next step in your life. :) If you want to have party favors, try to find someone that can help you make them cheap. It's also best to make your invitations and thank you cards by yourself/with friends so that you can cut down on the costs that way too. When planning your honeymoon, see if any of your friends, or peoplet hey know might have a little cottage somewhere that you could use for free, or for very little cost. When you're planning your wedding, people will like to know what you need and what you could use, it might be good to find an online registering service so that people can pick from a list of things they can get you, this helps them in finding a gift you can really use, and it helps you as you set up your first place to live together. Good luck! :)
2006-09-30 23:57:04 · answer #2 · answered by Kendra 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should probably start out with the basics for your wedding and then move onto your reception. Dress, bouquet, shoes, jewelry. His tux. Pick out your maid of honor/best man and the rest of the people you want in your wedding. And of course your guest list. Get all of the part of who's doing what figured out so you know who can or can't make
it to the wedding.
Rehearsal Dinner
gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen. flower girl/ringer bearer optional and others helping in wedding.
Invitations and guestlist
Maid of honor/Best man
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen
Minister (usually give a donation)
Flower girl/ring bearer
Guestbook attendant
Greeters to hand out cerimony programs (maybe just 2-4)
People to seat your guests and light candles in aisles (if you have candles down the aisle or not) (4-6)
Someone to sing a wedding song (unless you have it on a cd)
Picture slide show of you and your fiancee (either before the wedding or at the beginning of the reception)
A music cd of two or three songs to play with slide show or just as guests are being seated
People that will clean up after the wedding cermony (flowers petals, runner, candles, etc.)
Bubbles after the wedding (unless you don't want anything at the end)
Photographer
Reception:
Catering or potluck
music
maid of honor/best man speech
father and bride/groom and mom dance
bride and groom dance
dollar dance
flower toss/garterbelt toss
cutting cake
Decide on one or two colors that you want in your wedding and reception. This will help you pick your bride's maid dresses and groomsmen tux. You can also have a theme if you want for the reception if you want more than just a color. Jungle, ocean, tropical, spanish, but it would probably cost more money. And decide if you want your flowers to match your color or not. Decide if you want a runner at the wedding. That's about all I can think of right now. Hope it helps!
2006-10-01 01:05:41 · answer #3 · answered by Mel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honey listen you don't have to spend a whole lot of money in your wedding. I was married 9 yrs ago. And I only spent 2500.00 and I had a wedding and it was nice. Where that exspensive stuff come in at is having food catered and the flowers. Honey I went and brought plastic flowers for my bride maid to carry. And I borrowed someone I know foodstamp card to by all my food that I want to serve. It's your wedding and it only gets exspensive as you let it. Dont' stress your self out about it. And I know it can be stressful cause it can. Let me know how everything works out. I wish you luck if you need some more advice just hit me up.
2006-10-01 00:22:16 · answer #4 · answered by tessie35 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go and invest in a good wedding planner book. They also make a book about a million ways to cut cost but I can't thing of the name of it. Figure out your basics. Who is going to be in your wedding, color(s), dress, tuxs, then find out where you want to have it, where it be an outside wedding, church wedding, etc. Open up the phone books under banquet halls and start calling or looking online. If it's a summer wedding you may want to have a Friday night wedding, there cheaper and becoming more popular. That should at least be a start for you.
2006-10-01 00:12:01 · answer #5 · answered by gmom19 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GET HELP !! ....you can't do it alone. What does ur partner want to do? It CAN be a simple, inexpensive ceremony, but you both have to agree on some stuff. Like not inviting every aunt, uncle or cousin and their friend....or picking a venue (be it small church or outdoor location)....or do you postpone the honeymoon til you have more cash ....or how much can you save by then, if maybe you should postpone the wedding until you can finance it better? Ask a friend (or parent) for some advice and help
2006-09-30 23:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by LoneWolf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, my wife and i got married in August 2001, we sent out invitations 1 year before we got married, we worked on 1 thing at a time, we wrote down everything we wanted on a list, rang around and priced them, then 1 by 1 we paid each one off, eg, we found the suits we wanted, I put a $50 deposit on them and each fortnight I would drop $50 in until the amount was paid off, we did the same for the band and the cake and the dress's. My parents and family paid for the drinks and her family paid for the food. share the costs, start now.
Paul
2006-09-30 23:57:54 · answer #7 · answered by desertma88 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
july next year huh? u gotta lotta time then? havent asked ur folks? ive been married once, planning another one in november, civilly this time. if your overwhelmed, you should think about doing a civil one, then having your real ceremony once your more financially prepared. the important thing is gettin married, not necessarily where you do it. you can try
www.theknot.com
prolly ur best place to start. good luck
2006-09-30 23:53:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you might want a loan.
ok as an expert on being at some pretty dull wedddings, lets try to avoid that.
know any musicians? or a band? get a band involved instead of blowing money on a DJ.
FOod? homeade is awesome. Foods that i can't understand is pointless. make it traditional and make it something u enjoy. like if you love pasta, make some homeade spaghetti and get your friends to help.
Please please please . do not make the actual "WEDDING" long. it sucks sitting there for an hour listening on two crying people basically saying I LOVE YOU back and forth.
dress? that cant come cheap unless you make it yourself or know a person that makes dresses. its your wedding, and you only get married once (hopefully)
good luck!
2006-09-30 23:52:59 · answer #9 · answered by Love is Patient, Love is Kind ♥ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
talk to your wife-to-be. you two can decide on how big or small you want the wedding to be, based on your income. married life is funny, you learn as you go. good luck and congrats
2006-09-30 23:54:25 · answer #10 · answered by goldie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋