Big family, little budget, any tips?

Question

We have 3 small children so our wedding is on a budget of $2000. We both have big families and many friends who will be hurt if we don't invite them. We don't care if we have a big wedding with all the trimmings and bells, but we need help on how to plan one for under $2000. We live in lancaster, pennsylvania if that helps anyone.

Answer 1

Hi, fellow Lancastrian !

You should have a small wedding at someone's home. Ask around---you may be surprised at the response to this from those you know who have a big house. Or check to see if your local church has a church hall that might be available for little or no charge. You might ask some neighbors or church members if they would be willing to take care of the food (preparing it, with you buying it) Or even check at Dutch Wonderland. A friend of mine loved Dutch Wonderland, & when I checked if it would be possible to have their wedding there, the owners were thrilled at the prospect & planned to have a lot of press there. (her fiance, unfortunately, nixed the deal).

Lancaster is a wonderful community, with many wonderful people who may just want to help you make this a day to remember!

Congratulations and good luck in your endeavors !

Answer 2

The most expensive part of a wedding is the food and drink at the reception.

By planning your ceremony and reception back-to-back at a non-meal time of day, you will not have to serve a meal. You can just serve finger foods, or just cake and punch, or just coffee and bagels, or just tea and cookies... in other words-- a snack, not a meal. Get creative.

But make sure you indicate on the invitation "Tea-and-cookies reception to follow" or whatever type you are having, so people know not to expect a meal.

Also, on that small of a budget you will either have to wear a dress you already own or maybe borrow something. Or, try buying a bridesmaid's gown in white or cream, to use as your dress.

Answer 3

Have the wedding in your backyard or someone you know that has a large backyard and hire a justice of the peace or a local preacher to do the ceremony. If it will be cold weather, you can look into renting a union hall for inside weddings. This way you can invite more people and not worry about excess costs. Don't do huge amounts of food. Finger sandwiches go a long way. Remember, the wedding is one day, the marriage is a lifetime! As long as neither of you care, go for it. My husband and I (both second marriages) had our wedding in our large backyard and in the fall and it was the most beautiful experience of my life. And my first wedding was a big church wedding! I much prefer the more personal wedding of my current marriage. We even did the decorations ourselves.

Answer 4

well you can do alot on 2,000.00 if you put your mind an energy into it. first is there a nature park a friend with a really nice yard? a flower garden keep in mind if you do something near a garden flower cost is down. you might have to pay a 2-3 hundred dollar fee to have it there go to a rental store to rent chairs for the service if you belong to a club or church they might let you borrow them for free or cheepter. you can pick up a dress at a bridal store second hand or have someone that is good at sewing make you a aforadable dress. Prom dresses are at alot of department stores like jc penny for 100.00 a pop Reception think a bbq or pasta dishes they are afordable an go along way do paper napkins an plates instead of a cake at a bakery look for some culinary school that might sell practice cakes cheep they might even make food too. or you can make cup cakes for everyone. possabilitys are endless. good luck an congradulations

Answer 5

It sounds like you already have most of the details figured out. You need to start interviewing photographers, caterers and florists. Start by making phone calls explaining generally what you have in mind and if the professional says it sounds like something they would be capable of/interested in doing then make an appointment to look at portfolios and discuss prices. Some professionals have specialties so you need to make sure they are a good fit for your event. It might seem a little tedious to interview many different people but you are "shopping" for the best person for each job. A tip: Since this will be a garden wedding you can inexpensively add flowers by going to a nursery and buying pots of flowering plants. You can even buy pretty pots to set them in to use as centerpieces. Christmas lights are very easy to buy on line for very little money. For a little more you might purchase some twinkle lights to mix in. I don't recommend using all twinkle lights because it can look very overwhelming (a bit like Vegas.)

Answer 6

have an outdoor wedding on lake erie(i live on the other side of that lake).With an outdoor wedding you dont have to pay for the church rental etc...also have the reception eithor out doors or at a family members house. As far as a dj goes i would suggest just paying anyone your close to a hundred dollars or 200 dollars to dj(make sure u can trust them though)...make up some cds using a cd burner...have all diff types of music and make abouit 2 dozen cds. As far as food goes have your family and you fiances family to make food(pastas,cabbage rolls, roast beef, potatoes,etc)...also providing your family can bake(unlike mine) have the family baker make your wedding cake. This should keep you on budget, if not i dont know what else to tell you... congrats and best of luck.ALSO have everyone in the wedding party buy thier own dress/suit.and if you dont mind renting a dress for you and a suit for your husband that can also save you a fair amout of money.

Answer 7

I was in the same situation and we planned the wedding to be at our home. We had our Church pastor give us our vows and we paid him for his services any amount is fine say $ 200.00 plus or minus. Everyone in the family brought food for the reception. My wife had a beutiful wedding gown bought at a thrft shop and i had a simple suit. Send invitations out even if you write them youself and invite all who want to attend. You will find you will have money left for a short but beautiful honeymoon. The very best to you both, happy holidays.

Answer 8

I would just get married at the court house. but if you don't want to do that, then list what is most important to you. and what both of you like.
If it's really about just the two of you, then do it how you want.
have it in someones back yard, bring your own beer style. I don't suppose that's very stylish.
I don't really know. I've always wished I would have had my wedding in the woods. you don't need any decorations out there. and it's beautiful. and peaceful. and i think you could get a real good feeling from that. so yeah, that s my suggestion. go out into the woods. be natural. feel the love.

Answer 9

First of all does anyone you know have a big house that you could have this event in or does anybody you know belong to a rotary club. once you have the place you can plan the wedding but you will need support, bride, groom and family. Dollar stores have lots of items and you can print your own invitations.

Answer 10

If you're going to have food, try not to have dinner, which is the most expensive. You might want to think of a dessert reception. Who doesn't like desserts?

Do whatever you can yourselves - do your own hair and makeup, if you're going to have favours (and you don't need to) make them...Try to pick things that are in season: foods, flowers etc. Work with what you've got! Borrow as much as you can. I'm borrowing my friend's veil and crinoline. I got my shoes at Payless...Congrats and good luck!