Feburary,17,2007 wedding tight budget! Any suggestion?

Answer 1

Elope! ......seriously

Answer 2

Exactly how tight a budget are you expecting to work around? And how large or involved do you want your wedding to be?

First of all, find a venue quickly, because your wedding is so close. Do you have a close family member or friend who had a relatively large house or large yard to host the wedding in? (If the weather is February is warm where you are...) If not, start scouting locations for your ceremony. If you can have the ceremony and reception in the same location, do so! Guests can be seated at tables while the vows are exchanged.

Watching budget on other matters is a little easier. Buying a dress off the rack instead of ordering it saves alot of money. Buy or check out bridal magazines from your library and research some of the tips they give. Homemade place settings, guest favours, invitations, etc.

Don't go over-board on flowers and decorations. Research which flowers are cheaper in winter, and easier to get fresher. If you are having a reception, check on how much a buffet would cost versus a pre-arranged, served meal. If it's a small, close wedding, encourage family to help with a potluck. If you have a friend who is great at baking, see if they are willing to give a hand with the cake!

Answer 3

Assuming you are on the TIGHTEST of tight budgets...

Change your wedding day to a Friday or Sunday. Venues can be almost half the price on these days, as well as vendors such as florists, DJ, etc.

Keep the guest list SHORT. Just family and VERY GOOD friends. No co-workers, etc. The larger the guest list, the more expensive the affair.

Avoid the smaller bridal boutiques for your dress. David's Bridal is your best bet.

Costco has nice wedding floral arrangements that are affordable.

An afternoon wedding and/or reception is best... you can get away without paying for the bar, dinner, etc and just do light appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages in the afternoon.

Keep things simple, like invitations, etc. Simple can be very elegant.

Answer 4

well there are couple of things that could save you money, not really sure what you have planned but you could make your own invites, placecards holders, print your own thank you cards. Consider renting a dress or getting a gently used dress or purchase from a sample sale. Using silk flowers instead of real and making your own arrangments (you can rent a how to video from the library) Balloons are an inexpensive way to decorate as well as candles. Consider a non-meal reception you could try a late night tea/dessert reception just move the wedding to later on in the day. A friend can photograph/videotape or may a college student a nominal fee. You can hire someone outside of the wedding party to drive a van or get a couple of people to drive a couple of cars instead of getting a limo. You could also pay someone a nominal fee to play pre-made cd's and MC instead of a DJ and you can rent a fog/bubble machine to add ambiance to your first dance. Another option is do your own make-up and nails it can save on the cost of a professional. Hope that helps!!

Answer 5

I'm getting married in Feb. 07, too, and I am also on a tight budget.

I bought beautiful invitations at Target that you print at home. I'm going to add a bow to them to dress them up a bit.

Have a friend take engagements photos on a digital camera and make save-the-dates at home.

Also, we are having the wedding in a backyard garden, which means we don't have to go all out on floral decorations.

I bought my gown on ebay for $700 less than in the store, and everything else I'm just doing little by little.

Craigslist.org has also been a great way to pick up odds and ends.

The only thing I have been unable to avoid paying a lot for is the caterer, but that is because I personally want to have a meal served. But appetizers are a lovely way to avoid a high cost.

Good luck and congrats!

Answer 6

buy a white dress at a department store (there's always a sale!) and have a tailor add some lace, beads, etc. to add a little flair. Or just go with plain and simple.

Use green plants, or fishbowls filled with apples (or goldfish if you want to be a little funky) instead of flowers. tealights add flair to the tables and are super cheap.

post a flyer at a local college/art school for a photographer. That way, all of your friends get to enjoy the party and you get better pics that if you had one of them do it anyways.

you don't need a video - pictures and stories will be fine for your grandkids.

skip the expensive wedding cake. get white cupcakes instead.

Answer 7

all of the ideas offered by azura are good ones! if you wanted a meal, ask relatives or good friends who coook to each bring something they are really good at making. if you wanted real flowers, go flower picking in someone's garden (someone you know obviously) or in a meadow. and try looking at prom dresses for a wedding dress. there are some really pretty ones out there, or you could make one or have a firend who can sew make it for you. (this would save a TON of money sinece at most it will be 20-30$ for fabric if you buy it on sale) consider having your ceremony or reception at a place where you are friends with the owner, they may give you a discount! good luck!!! oh, and the dollar store is a really good place to find fancy looking tablecloths and napkins for cheap!

Answer 8

I got married in Las Vegas, had 25 people attend and paid under $3000 for it all, including flowers, dress, flights etc.
You can always do a nice wedding at the county court house and just have a nice dinner out after with those who matter.
Seriously, it doesn't have to be "formal" to be beautiful

Answer 9

Forgo the meal and alcohol. Those cost the most for a reception.
You can get your flowers at Costco if you know someone in your family (or friend) who can make arrangements. This can be their wedding gift if they like (or you can pay them) Either way, it's no where near as expensive as paying for a florist.

Check out your local community center.. some places are actually quite pretty and can usually be rented out for really cheap. My hometown had one that could be rented for $300 on Saturdays and was free every other day of the week!!(no Sundays, though)

Ideas for a feb wedding that are cheap. I got married in Jan.
We had a 'winter wedding' theme. I collected bare tree branches and painted them white. Then I set them in old buckets with cement so they looked like trees growing out of pots. Cover the bottoms with cotton or toile to lok like snow and run white christmas lights in the branches. Voila! Winter forest that can line an aisle, or make for pretty reception decor.
(Come after christmas - lights will be cheap, be on the lookout for wintery type stuff now and wait for them to go on sale)
We had white candles surrounded by evergreens on the tables for centerpieces.
My bridesmaids carried fur muffs instead of flowers. (we found them at a local clothing shop)

At the reception and ceremony you really only need enough flowers to make pretty pictures. So one or two arrangements at the alter and then something around the cake (though, if you want you can have the bridesmaids place their bouquets around the cake to save on flowers- they won't be needing them then anyway) Pick flowers that are in season. Going with tropical flowers in Feb wouldn't be cost efficient. Evergreens, holly and winter roses would be better.
I had my wedding for $3500 total. (including my dress) I bought my dress from a friend who ended up eloping. It had never been worn and I got it for $100.
You may be able to find a dress for cheap at a second hand store, or go to a discount bridal store (not Davids' they are evil :) Before I bought the friend's dress I was eyeing one for $350 at a Bridal store in town. (I'm in Memphis)
There are loads of ways to cut costs.

Answer 10

Go to fairplaymusicalgifts.com go to their samples page download Song for The Parents of the Bride for free, it will make a good mushy sappy sentimental gift for the brides parents

Answer 11

See if you can get your hands on a copy of Diane Warner's book, "A big wedding on a small budget". You can save PLENTY!