I'm getting married and I'm looking for info on saving money on the wedding expenses, any suggestions ?

Question

I'm getting married for the second time, but I never had a real wedding before , so I want the whole fairytale wedding to happen. But of course my fiancee and I are not rich so we need to cut corners without being cheap. I want it to still be elegant and fun, but not leave us in debt for the rest of our lives. I'd could use some advice on this, maybe some websites or ideas.

Answer 1

Shop around for everything, the gown, the flowers, all of it. Off season prices are out there now, so take advantage.
Flowers: choose less expensive ones.For instance, Less roses, more mums. Consider a informal spray, rather than a arangement. Fall colors are beautiful in photos, and less expensive. Keep the size of the bouquets down, the bigger, the more expensive. Shop at the neighborhood florists first, leave the big expensive places until last, you might never have to go there. The ones who do the most advertizing are generally the most expensive. Consider renting large potted plants to fill in the spaces around the alter at the church or venue. Cheaper than flowers, and it looks elegant. Florist usually has a choice of kinds.
Consider having the ceremony in a church, rather than at a hall. Cheaper, most churches charge only a modest clean-up fee, if anything at all, if you belong to that church.
Keep the size of the wedding party down, less people to buy flowers for and feed. Keep the guest list down too. Same result.
Do your homework. Check out different kinds of venues. Compare renting a hall, and hiring a caterer separately, as opposed to a venue that does both. Some clubs and organizations have beautiful halls, but sometimes, you have to belong there, or know someone who will be at the wedding, who is a member.And beware, sometimes the rules are very strict, especially about cleaning up and damages.
Check you local paper for the dress, in the want ads. Often I see the following type of ad: wedding dress, never worn, size 12. Will sell cheap. It couldn't hurt to call, or see it. Check out sales at local and chain stores, often there is a suitable dress, for less. Having a name brtand dress is nice, but it does not guarantee that you will look good in it, and most people do not know Vera Wang from JC Penney when they see it.
Caterers. Check them all out, see what they can do for you. There are some that do the delivery and set-up, then leave. An opportunity for you to add cheaper food from someplace else.
Others set it up and serve it. Forget the sit-down dinner, it is too expensive. Buffet is cheaper.Find out how the caterer charges, some charge per plate used, so warn guests not to take a second plate, but most charge per the dish, based on how many people you say you will invite.
A Dj is cheaper than a band, candles at the reception table are cheaper than flowers, be wise about gift bags for guests, , shop for bargains, or pick something less expensive. Do the burning of the CD, or the labels for the Hershey bars yourself, or with a friend you is good at computors.
Try ordering a smaller cake, and order sheet cakes to go with it, cheaper, and just as pretty. Skip the dessert buffet, the cake is dessert. Put the money into a really good main course.
Booze. Bartenders cost money. Check out a cash bar, a free open bar, consider picking some champagine or wine, and have some soft drinks, instead.. It depends on the guests, if they are the kind that expect an open bar, you are stuck.
Shop around for invitations, the plain formal ones can be beautiful, you can save big bucks by not choosing the ones with ribbons and weeds attatched. They can double the price.
What do guests notice and remember at the wedding? Your dress, does it fit, do you look beatiful in it. The food, is there plenty, and is it well prepared and delicious. And is the church and hall decorated pretty.
Oh, and the church. Most churches have or can recommend a church organist, ours did double duty at weddings and funerals, as well as playing for services. She was cheap, and very good.
And forget putting a camera at every place at the reception. People do not take good pictures, they waste it taking pictures of garbage cans and up ladies skirts. My friend did the camera thing at her daughter's wedding, and her very young guests put their buddy in a garbage can, and took pictures, of him in, and not in, the garbage. There's 7 or 8 bucks saved, per guest. Have the photographer take a few candid shots, he will do a better job.
Good luck!

Answer 2

First Give yourself enough time. You can pull a wedding off in a few weeks, but you're going to pay a lot.

Planning: What do you want, everything, glasses, silverware, food, flowers, dress, rings, Limo, Gifts, Center pieces, etc. Don't leave anything out no matter how small. The more information you have the less last minute stuff you'll have to buy.

GET HELP other from people you know, future mom in law, your mom, friends, can help with the list. They can also steer you away from problems.

Now make a list of EVERYTHING you need to buy, rent or borrow or make. Take the list with you everywhere. You'll never know when you might find a sale that has something you need. For example when I got married, we bought all our crystal for the head table during a Christmas sale. We were at outlet store and found a set of gold plated silverware, setting for 8, the box was damaged, didn't care about the box.

Also if you have a Michael's near by stop in they have a section for wedding as do most big art type stores.

Lastly something WILL go wrong don't worry about it. There's nothing you can do about it, deal with the problem the best you can and remember that no matter what at the end of the day you will be married.

Good Luck, Live Long, Enjoy Life. Have a Great Wedding and Marriage.

Answer 3

Plan on having your wedding outdoors instead of paying a fee to a church, chapel, or whatever. Garden weddings are beautiful during 3 seasons out of 4, and can save you lots. I performed a ceremony for a couple last year in a public rose garden... the coolest thing happened. There was a benefit walk scheduled to come through the park at the same time (no one in the wedding party realized this). The walkers were led by a marching band and their route took them just around the other side of the pond from the wedding party. We were in the middle of the ceremony and the music was getting so loud I was practically shouting questions at the bride and groom. Then the members of the band saw the wedding party. They and all the walkers behind them stopped and watched the completion of the wedding ceremony in total silence from across the pond. When the bride and groom kissed, about 400 walkers and marching band members shouted and applauded. The band then serenaded the bride and groom as they left the rose garden. It was an experience no one will ever forget; not the bride and groom, their guests, the members of the band, the benefit walkers, or this minister. And it would never have happened inside four walls. P.S. -- You can't make this stuff up.

Answer 4

There's some good information on the sites below.

The dress is one thing where you CAN save a lot of money if you want. First off, is there one already in the family that will fit? ASK in charity/second-hand/resale shops (many will only display the dresses in the spring but will be glad to help throughout the year), it will take some looking but the cost will be an order or two of magnitude less. Unless you absolutely need a cream puff dress, look for other sources. There are plenty of gorgeous things out there without the once-in-a-lifetime mark-up. Like closeout sales on designer dresses.

Same for the bridesmaid(s). (Keep the number down.) Themed but not-identical can look even better than all the same.

Or go for something different. I know of two different couples who had medieval-themed weddings. The clothing costs were less than traditional formal, even with custom sewing and velvets.

Elegant means quality over quantity. Keep that in mind throughout.

Congrats and good luck.

Answer 5

Keeping it small really is the best. My wife and I got married at a beautiful botanical garden in Miami. Also see a planner. Just scouting out someone who could help gave us ideas which we didn't have to pay for. Catering is always nice but sometimes a pot luck (where everyone brings a dish) works out better. The ladies I found like to show off their dishes. Just remember it's not the wedding day that should really matter, it's your marriage.

Answer 6

knowing what I do about planning weddings you should have your florist,caterer,your event site,and wedding colors picked out no less than one year before.And when you talk to these people find out what all their company offers,most of them give good deals for example:if you need table and chairs for reception,you may get a great dicount on the linens for those tables and chairs.
If the florist has the tables and chairs then you may get a discount on your flowers and if they are doing flowers for church and reception hall there again may be another discount.If you plan far enough ahead then the business you plan to use can plan ahead as well which will cut your cost.
Example #2:I ran my floral and balloon business with wedding accomidations.When I did my consults I had a fee for my time.If the family decided to use my company then I applied that fee to their bill,first payment was already made $25.00.If they were planning for one year out that meant I had 1 year to find the best deal on things in the colors they chose (the less I had to pay the less I had to charge them,the more likely they were to choose another one of my services).If they needed tables & chairs for reception hall and I could get in touch with the managers there and make plans to deliver my chairs and tables a day ahead of time that meant that one employee and myself could go drop off the tables and chairs and get them set up the day before.If I had to get permission to enter the day of the wedding then I'd have to put 6 employees in there to get the job done on time,which meant the bride had to pay 6 employees instead of 2.Major difference for the budget.I'm sure you see what I'm getting at.PLAN AHEAD at least 12 months.It will save you alot and if you happen to book a company that provides several services for your needs then that cuts downs your list of phone numbers you have to keep up with on YOUR BIG DAY.
Good Luck to you You Deserve A Beautiful Wedding

Answer 7

Don't invite too many people...The smaller, the better and cheaper. For the flowers go for artifical they are cheaper overall in cost if you plan on having someone do the flowers. Or you could do what I did I got really cheap cake platers for tables and bought a cake for each table. That way each table has its own cake for dessert and therefore the wedding cake doesn't have to be huge and grand. Its just for you and your hubby. Also only do champage only for the head table not for everyone. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

there are lots of ways to save money - but mainly it's down to you to decide what you want to splash out on (eg a dress) and what's not so important (eg the favours).
Enlist the help of any friends/family that can do specific things eg a granny who bakes - get her to make the cake
a friend who can do calligraphy - enlist help with invitations, name tags.
don't skimp on your dress or photographs tho - as those will always be on display.
check out websites with good forums where you can get ides from other brides to be.

Answer 9

Congratulations! Do some research online & you'll be able to find something within your budget :) I've a great dj & photographer for my upcoming wedding this december. If you like to findout more, email me :)

Answer 10

If you are going to have bridesmaids... have them rent their dresses. Due to the fact that they will probably only wear that dress one time, and this could cost about twenty dollars. I would also suggest have disposable cameras at the reception, so the photographer do not have to do so much work. Instead of a DJ, have an Ipod play your favorite tunes and hook it up to a stereo, and if you have any bakers in the family ask them to bake your weeding cake. HOPE THIS HELPED