planning a wedding--need lots of help!!!!?

Question

I am starting the process of planning my wedding and I really need help. I need to keep a rather inexpensive budget on this but make it look as though it wasnt completely cheap. its going to be out side near a lake. please help I need some ideas-our main color will be blue.

Answer 1

I agree with the other folks, especially the one who said don't go through a florist. You can get HUGE bouquets of white roses from Sam's Club (sounds cheesy, but go with me here for a second), I'm talking 2 dozen roses, for 20 bucks. Flowers are SUCH an unnecessary place to spend money when they can be had so cheaply. Also, think about what flowers are going to be the most and least expensive. Roses are pretty inexpensive, but calla lilies, which a SO popular right now, can cost a bundle -- a dozen red callas (from a florist, of course) set a bride friend of mine back $200!! Crazy!

Also, ebay is your best friend. I just found a bridesmaid's dress for my future sis-in-law's wedding for $25 !! I'm talking gowns, runners, tulle for decorating, candles, the whole shebang, for a fraction of the price, and nobody will ever know. Same with your local classified ads. Just be careful, and don't trust anything but your own eyes.

The other big expense is photographers -- I've seen people spend thousands from their otherwise tiny budgets for a few snapshots. Give me a break. Investigate local universities with art programs to find students who will photograph your big day for less (just be sure to look at their previous work). Also, look at the fine print -- if their contract says you have to cover all their travel expenses (without itemizing for hotel room, etc.), you could get soaked. If you get a local person, you won't have to pay for plane tickets or hotel rooms. A friend of mine got jacked on the price of her photographer -- plane ticket, hotel, food, rental car AND gas in addition to his other fees.

Invites can also be absurdly expensive. Don't be ashamed of the print-your-own kind (CHEAP!!), or think outside the box! Go to a local print shop, and ask them to give you a quote on party invitations (whatever you do, don't mention the word "wedding," or the price will double) for however many people you want to invite. You can design something creative and interesting -- I had 200 invites made for my parents' 25th anniversary and it only set me back a little over a hundred bucks. Not bad!

DO NOT sign up for the convenience "extras." Buy the alcohol yourself, then hire a bartender (or better yet, have a single, pre-mixable signature drink for the whole party to cut down on the cost of alcohol). Buy the food yourself, then hire a caterer. Rent a car from the airport you're going to fly out of -- you might be able to get a good weekend deal!

The rule about the invitations applies to everything. Don't mention the word "wedding"!! As soon as caterers, event hall managers, photographers, DJs, bartenders, etc., hear the W-word, they start seeing dollar signs and hearing cash registers clanging. People in love are too often suckers.

Congratulations, and good luck on being frugal! Remember that the marriage is more important than the wedding.

Answer 2

close your eyes and spend 10 minutes trying to picture what you want your wedding to look like. Focus on the details, what makes it special, what is the feeling you want your guests to experience? What are they seeing, hearing and feeling?

Go through the ceremony and reception the same way. Now write it down. Use bullet points when possible, for example:

Guest arrive and they see:
white chairs
small spray of flowers in the aisle seat of each row
aisle runner already placed down the aisle
rose petals cover the aisle runner
the end of the aisle is roped off with tulle and ribbons (guests will seat from the side and not enter the aisle)
in the front is an arbor that is decorated with flowers
guests hear music that is being played by a string quartet
the music is upbeat classical selections


etc. etc.....you create your vision. Then you get down to reality, how can you afford to do this type of thing on a budget? Be creative, think outside the box. For example, chairs can be rented from churches or Lion's clubs or VFW halls. Don't just head to the nearby rental place.

Music can be provided by local colleges for a very reasonable fee. Call the music departments and get their ideas.

rose petals on the aisle can be silk and NO ONE will know the difference, check ebay.

Print your own invitations.

Understated elegance is better than overdone.

Consider carrying a simple bunch of hand tied roses rather than paying big bucks for a bridal arrangement.

If you have a good friend who is great with details or event planning, take her to lunch and enlist her help. Someone needs to be directing things on that special day and it can't be you.

lastly, YOU make the decisions and only invite a very few people to the process. Make this day all about your vision and no one elses.

PS. I am an event planner, I hope this helped.

Answer 3

Here is the perfect idea for flowers this is what I did
DON'T DO THROUGH A FLORIST
I bought all of my flowers at my local grocery store Price Chopper. The only downfall to doing that they can't guarentee a specific color (most can't) but that month you should be looking to see what they are frequently getting in. Talk to the florist and show her what you are looking for and see if she can order extras of certian things. I know I used alot of fillers make sure they will be in stock such as greens and babys breath then you wouldn't need to use as many roses or whatever you are using
We saved alot of money doing this
for $400 we made
6 large bouqets for tables
20 candle table arrangments with flowers
boutineers and crosoges
7 bridesmaids bouquets large
my bouqet huge
They looked really nice
for tips on how everything was arranged feel free to email me
[e-mail]
also for your invitations buy them at walmart or the craft store and do them yourself on the computer you will save alot of money

and flowers for the outdoor ceromony

Answer 4

Can you get more specific about what sorts of ideas you're looking for - decorations, dresses, menus??
Try Top Wedding Questions: http://topweddingquestions.com/forum/Money_Saving_Wedding_Ideas_C7/Planning_a_Wedding_on_a_Budget_F23/ or Top Wedding Sites, Planning a Wedding on a Budget, which has some wedding coupons and an article on how to save money on your wedding: http://www.topweddingsites.com/coupons/index.html

Answer 5

Diane Warner's book, 'How to have a big wedding on a small budget'. See if you can get your hands on one from your library; and any other book you might find there on planning.

Decide your "must-haves" and work from there. Set yourself a budget, stick to it & stay organized. The average wedding goes about 15% over budget .

Answer 6

Go to fairplaymusicalgifts.com Go to samples and download “Song for The Parents of The Bride” Great song for good old sentimental fathers

Answer 7

well is it outside during the fall because fall leaves and pine cones make make really nice decorations and you can get them outside...Hello there free. Little hot glue little imagination and if that doesnt work get ideas from martha stewert wedding website and the knot lots of stuff there.

Answer 8

Go to http://www.weddingchannel.com or http://www.theknot.com to get some ideas and talk to other brides on the chat boards. They can def help you!

Answer 9

I'm a wedding planner and i'd love to help you... mail me on this [e-mail]

Answer 10

email me with details