Me and boyfriend want to get married but loans seem so expensive and what with bills and mortgage I don't know how we'd manage. Average weddings they say are around 17,000 now!!! Was wondering if we could have a lovely day for 10,000, I think this would be our max on a loan that we could afford, and does anyone know if we can cut any corners by doing anything ourselves. We both want a lovely day (don't we all) but its so expensive. We really want to get married! Everyone else seems able to do it, why can't we. Thank you. :-)
2006-10-12 23:21:19 · 37 answers · asked by Fudgecake 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
My husband & I got married in July 1999, ( turned out to be the hottest day of the year ) the whole event, including our Celtic gold rings cost less than £250.00. We met in mid January 1999 and we knew immediately that we would be together forever, our wedding day was the most perfect day of our lives. We had very little money, we married in a registry office, we had just 2 guests who treated us to a fantastic meal in an exclusive restaurant after the ceremony. I wore an amazing long, straight, very fitted gold dress with a black under petticoat, my husband wore a suit which he already owned, we had fabulous dark red rosebuds, after the meal, I changed into jeans and my husband into shorts, we borrowed a 2 man dome tent and went camping on the top of a mountain in South Wales, we could see the sea in the distance, we built a campfire and in the evening my husband cooked us a fabulous meal on it which we eat under a clear sky illuminated by a full moon. It was perfect in every way and if we were millionaires and doing it all again there isn't one thing about it that we would change, it was such a wonderful and intimate experience. I hope you manage to fulfil your dreams, marriage and happiness is really not about money.
2006-10-15 20:06:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's some pointers on keeping costs low! Just as an FYI, I paid a total of about $5000 for my wedding and had you been a guest, you would have thought I paid a fortune!
1. If you aren't on www.theknot.com yet, you need to be. The knotties there are SO helpful! Go register if you haven't already.
2. Choose three things that are most important to you and spend the most money on these elements of the wedding.
3. If you aren't already a member of ebay, register NOW! I bought my napkins (monogrammed) on there for $5 along with paper lanterns to hang all over and I also bought my favors there! They were ADORABLE!
4. This is the most important thing: STAY ORGANIZED and don't blow your budget by seeing something wonderful and buying it! If I had done that, I'd have paid a fortune and I always ended up with something even better!
5. If you have anyone in your family or friends that can contribute, use them! Do you have a photographer in the family? A baker? A seamstress (alterations are EXPENSIVE!) Take advantage of any and all help you can get.
6. Buy flowers in bulk, and then arrange them yourself. You'd be amazed at how easy it is. I had tulips and they were gorgeous! Total cost for flowers? $200
7. Give yourself time to plan this wedding. I had a year and needed every moment of it. I spent hours and hours a day on ebay and the knot finding ideas and bargains!
8. Don't buy an expensive guestbook! I made one by buying a scrapbook from Michael's, decorating the front and had a digital camera person that took pictures of everyone as they came in. In the end, I have a personal guestbook with everyone's photo along with the beautiful sentiments they wrote.
9. Don't try on wedding dresses you can't afford!
10. Serve a buffet style meal. Sit down dinners are expensive!
11. Relax and breathe. Wedding planning is not easy but do as much as you can yourself and it will be personalized and beautiful!
Believe me, I know!
CONGRATULATIONS and I hope these little tidbits help you out a little!
2006-10-13 04:55:52 · answer #2 · answered by martinaintexas 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, I will be giving MY opinion on this....and more than likely get reported for hurting someone's feelings...but remember everyone, this is MY opinion and am entitled to it.
With that said....Why not have a Courthouse Wedding with just you two/parents of both as Witnesses. Then have a Hall rented for a Party. You don't have to have all the crap that everyone does. If you are having it in a month where there is a major Holiday, have a Themed Party/Reception. Instead of having a full blown catered deal, have finger sandwiches and such like that. Or if you are having a small reception, have it where people bring food....like a pot luck....this is more for the family/close friends type of gathering.
You can still wear a Gown, but my guess is you are already living together *the norm these days*....you can have photos taken before the wedding somewhere. Then you will have those for looking back on. And if you are living together already, then you don't need all those gifts that are given....instead, have the guests donate to your favourite charity.
As for the money you have to spend, use part of it for the Party and the other towards your Honeymoone/Holiday.
2006-10-13 00:02:29 · answer #3 · answered by BITE ME 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My friends got married for way under £10,000 (I suspect more like £2000), but it does involve planning and networking. They made the wedding invitations themselves and made lavender bags (with local lavender) to give out as favours at the wedding. They used contacts at their local church (e.g. the woman who did the flowers got them a good price) and had the reception at my friend's old school (it was a nice looking school). They had a lunch with family members, and in the evening a reception for everyone else where they provided all the drinks (you could go on a day trip to France if you think you'll get through a lot) and had some cheese and biscuits and fruit instead of a proper (expensive) buffet. Finally, for the honeymoon they went to a cottage in the countryside (which some guests put money towards instead of buying stuff from the wedding list - if you have things like toasters anyway i'd definitely recommend this). It was a great time, alot more thought had clearly gone into making it a nice day for everyone than if they had had limitless money. Remember your guests will have a fabulous time without waiter service and elabourate table decorations, and have a wonderful day!
2006-10-12 23:43:29 · answer #4 · answered by Nikita21 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get those shopping shoes on girl, we got some shopping to do.
Honey, 10,000 is more than enough if you are wanting a big to do. 10,000 is too much if you are wanting a simple elegant wedding. First things first....what kind of a wedding do you?
small intimate...large cermoney and reception...a large cermoney and a party?
There are so many ways this can be done, and inexpensive. Your main 4 costs are: dress, food, place you are having it at, and the photographer. If you choose all these within reason, you got this wedding planned and you will have money left over. Having the wedding and reception in one place saves money, if you are a member of a church there is usually a little to no fee for members. If you aren't a member, then the cost varies, but never as much as a hall or room in a hotel. Parks have beautiful gazboos, some even have rooms you can rent for parties. Country clubs also.
Your dress can be beautiful without breaking the budget. David Bridal have lovely dress for sale during their $99 sales. Ebay has deals. I could have saved $500 on my daughter's dress, same dress, I found it just playing around after we had all ready order it. Shop around. There are website that have dresses that are grogeous.
Food if the budget allows you can have someone do the food if your quest list isn't too grand. Or, save the cash for yourselves and do something simple, sandwichs, meatballs, cocktails sausage, pasta salad, and have a buffet style. All of these you and friends can do, most a day ahead or crockpot them. No fuss, really easy on the funds.
Photographers are expensive! If you aren't fortunate enough to know one, then you are going to need to allow a big chunk for this service, unless pictures aren't that important to you. Check the local colleges to see about hiring a student, if you aren't picky. Some of them are better than a person who has there own shop. My daughter wanted pictures, and I wish I had spent more on this part of her wedding, but I was dealing with people I did not know, and her wedding was 5 hours away from me. I goofed on this.
Decorations and flowers, flowers with the hobby stores, and Walmart are now carrying beautiful and very nice flowers are no longer a horrible expense. If you want fresh flowers, go and get quotes from different florists. All the stores I mentioned have everything you need to make your own, so again save the money, and become a do it yourself.
Well, get yourself a notebook and grab your fiance and start out by making some decisions..what kind of a wedding would make your dreams come true...then start planning, remember to get those shopping shoes ready, because you are going to bargain hunt, even if you have extra money left over, spend it on yourselves...a romantic night in the bridal suite..I wish you well, and you can do this, I promise and have everything you could ever dream of, if you aren't afraid of some hard work....
God bless us all..............
2006-10-13 00:54:43 · answer #5 · answered by totallylost 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some may not like Martha Stewart, but she has great ideas about do it your self weddings. You need to cut down on your invitation list, even if some get offended, remember it is your day. If they care, they will understand. Make your own party favors and decorations. Have your wedding at lunch time, the prices of food are usually cheaper at that time. Dinner is more expensive. Even make it a lite meal, so you can spend more on the essentials. Call around and always compare prices. Everyone may be having extravagant weddings, but you don't want to pay a life time for one day. Use seasonal flowers, if you get the ones out of season they cost more. Does any of your friends or family have a big back yard that you can use or maybe pay less for? You can set up some tents and really make it beautiful. Make a budget and stick to it, no ifs ands or buts.
2006-10-12 23:59:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was in the same situation. My wedding is now one month away (woohoo!!). I knew I did not want to start out marriage with a new debt - that much money for ONE day!?!? My fiance still wanted a wedding though because he is an only child, so we are having a ceremony and dinner for about 70 people. Cut corners by renting a hall on a Sunday - much cheaper. Get crafty - made my own center pieces and they look very nice. PERFECT time of year to find a dress (last season -but really, who cares?). Search for sales. I found my invitations for only $5!!! And have received countless compliments on how classy they are!!!
It can be done, just be ready to work!
2006-10-12 23:37:27 · answer #7 · answered by heebegebeez 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all being in debt (especially debt accumulated to over the cost of the wedding) isn't necessarily the best way to sart married life.
Ways to save money include making things yourself (favours, invitations, decorations), doing your own make up and hair or getting a friend to do it, getting friends to help with anything else they are skilled/talented at (cars, photography, video, disco, food etc). Try entering some competitions for free stuff (may not work but worth a try!). Shop around for stuff using the internet, you may well be able to buy exactly the same thing abroad over the internet for less.
A big cost is going to be the reception venue so you may try to think of something a little different for this one that will also save money. For instance a picnic in the park, BBQ or hog roast might be interesting!
If you want tealights in little holders go to Ikea, they are SO much cheaper than the wedding shops and websites. Shop around for vases to use for floral displays at the reception.
Good luck with the wedding and your future marriage!
2006-10-12 23:39:48 · answer #8 · answered by ehc11 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is expensive, most of the cost is in renting a hall. They can actually charge anywhere from 25-50 dollars per plate. The best way to cut costs is to have the reception at someone's house with a big backyard. Rent tents. Get a caterer. Its only one day, there is no reason to take out a loan that you will pay off over the next 20 years. You would be better served by putting that money towards a house.
2006-10-12 23:26:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the others who have posted--a backyard reception is wonderful and cuts the costs of a reception hall. We actually didn't even have caterers. My family and his family prepped the food in advance (chicken kabobs, crab dip, meatballs, fruit and veggie trays) and rented a long grill. We had asked a few friends in advance to do the grilling on the day of the reception. We also found it cheaper to buy two lovely white tents (on sale at Sears and Target) than to rent the $2,000 tents from the rental places. Additionally, we grew all of our own flowers. You can find resources that give advice on what flowers are growing/blooming in different seasons. We ended up buying seeds for like 79 cents a pack, filling up the back yard with flowers, and asking a few friends to come over the day before the wedding and do the arranging. I wasn't involved in the arranging at all since that's not my thing, but I knew a few people who were good at it and didn't mind helping. It made for a beautiful day and saved a lot of money.
2006-10-13 00:18:13 · answer #10 · answered by Huong 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋