Any tips for planning a very simple wedding?

Question

I'm terrified of having to make lots of decisions.
A wedding planner would be great but I don't have money for that.

Answer 1

Just stick to the basics...you need:

Wedding attire (and it can be simple)
A location & officiant to perform the wedding
A marriage license
Invitations (they can be simple, justpretty paper or cards that you can print onto)
Flowers (you can make them yourself with silk flowers and floral tape)-
A bouquet for you
A boutineer for him
Bouquets and boutineers for the wedding party
Photography (you can just have a friend or relative snap shots)
Rice or bubbles (I am sure you know what they are for and they are cheap)

And if you want an inexpensive reception, you can just do a champagne toast with some fruit at a friend or family members house. The trick is to plan the wedding and reception not to coorespond with a meal...so 9AM, 1PM or 8PM.

Good luck...I had a lovely wedding for about $1500 and that included our honeymoon. If you need ideas email me @ [e-mail]. Congrats!

Answer 2

Have the wedding and reception in a place that is easily accessible to either you or the person you're marrying. Having a spring or early summer wedding makes things a hundred times easier because you can do the whole thing outside and not have to worry about finding a place big enough to hold several people. Skip the formalities of bridesmaids, best men, etc. If you want to decorate, just pick out colors and designs you like. It is your wedding, after all ... no one else's opinion matters! But if you want my honest opinion ... being terrified of making lots of decisions doesn't sound like a great way to go into a marriage. The hard decisions don't end with the wedding. They are only getting started.

Answer 3

Well you can go the library and get a wedding planner do it your self. Or a bridal magazine usually has tips on planning a wedding. Do you have a bossy older aunt or cousin in your family? every family has one. if you have a good relationship with her you can sit down and talk to her and she will probably be glad to offer her services. you just gotta know when to tell her to stop. also go to wedding sites on the internet and you can probably print out some timetables like you should send out invitations at least 2 months in advance or maybe at the least a month. you know the ettiquette things you need to know to do it right. email me and i will research some stuff for you. like you can save money by making your own favors, etc. or you can get married certain times of the week and it will be cheaper. i know there is a court house in our state that has a little gazebo outside that is all pretty and white that they marry people at. maybe they have one in your town too. like if you found somewhere in a state park that you could do for free, just reserve the space you know. well i wish you good luck in your planning and peace

Answer 4

Use a place that does a lot of weddings, they will have people on staff to help you choose a menu and a list of florists and bakers they use. They may have a preference for photographers and djs to if you want one.
Or, have a JP wedding and ask nearest kin to dinner at a nice restaurant, put disposable cameras on the table and collect them after for pictures.
Don't go for "something different" thats where the trouble comes in, go for the standard whatever in your area and know that the wedding will only last one day and your marriage should last forever.

Answer 5

You could scope out some inexpensive small halls for a small reception (like a fire house hall or church hall). You two could discuss who you would like to stand with you (best man, maid/matron of honor, groomsmen and bridesmaids) and discuss colors for the bridal part and whose church to be married in. You two could pick a date and time and you could schedule the church privately and ask that they not tell anyone yet as you've not announced it. Easy "finger foods" would be fruit and vegetable trays with those little hot dogs already in a bun and chicken fingers or nuggets and potatoe salad, pasta salad, chips & dips, and some beverages. And you could be tasting cakes at local bakeries to decide where to order your cake for the reception. and you can be checking out invitations at the local printers. Then when the announcement is made just make sure you explain to everyone that you will be keeping it small (and set a number up front - this is something you could be thinking about for the next couple of months - small as is 20 or less or 50 or less or 100 or less - (each person's small is a little different). Good luck to you and God Bless your marriage.

Answer 6

K.I.S.S. Keep it short and simple. Downplay on the details, splurge on the important ones. Don't overdo everything. Your guests will not remember each and every detail. To help you coordinate your wedding on the day itself, involve friends and family members. And don't worry, glitches do happen in special occasions as weddings but believe me, they are the ones that make them more memorable :) have a fun wedding!

Answer 7

instead of renting out a reception hall, whoever in your family has the best place for entertaining could throw a dinner party afterwards, and get the food catered by your favorite restaurant so you don't have to worry about cooking.

How many ppl you having, like under 50?

You could tell your bridesmaids to just wear their favorite dress and not go out and buy one in a particular style and color, or you could skip having bridesmaids and all that formal stuff at all.

Answer 8

weddings are HUGE in NY, $50,000 is very common, we took our wedding money, and put a down payment on a house, we then had the wedding catered at the house, full bar, D.J. etc. It was a smart move, I don't do many smart moves, so I figured I'd pass this along.

Answer 9

I work with weddings at a 4 star hotel and really truly best advice is good music and lots of alcohol

Answer 10

just keep things simple by keeping the wedding very casual. Uhm, leaf through good house keeping magazines and what not and find simple ideas of things to make as center pieces and what not.