My fiance and I are starting too plan our wedding?

Question

We don't have much money to spend. Does anyone have any suggestions on renting a banquet hall or if hotel would be better. I can use any tips or any good websites on planning a wedding. Or any ideas about planning a wedding on a budget. I would really appreciate it.

Answer 1

Let me first say congratulations.... Second, let me say you should try searching yahoo answers for previously answered questions similar to yours... now last, here is a bit of advice.

1. Think VFW or American Legion to hold your event. They are usually cheaper and have great food, plus many refund your rental fees if you give enough notice.

2. Look outside of your community for locations if you are in a big city- usually in smaller areas, things are cheaper.

3. Opt for earlier in the day wedding/receptions. You will save tons on alcohol costs if you have a brunch or lunch instead of dinner. Food is also cheaper.

4. http://www.theknot.com

5. When you find a caterer/hall, bargain with the people. Make sure they will give you childrens pricing on food plates for children. Too many people try and charge you adult prices for the little ones who come and that simply isnt right.

6. Try and have the wedding in a place already naturally beautiful, liek in a park near a waterfall or a flower garden. Very beautiful surroundings.

7. Use seal and send invites- they hold everything for about a third of the price. http://www.sealandsend.net has great ones and they send you samples.

8. Make your own centerpieces.

9. Shop after holidays for decorations for your wedding.

10. Pay everything off slowly. Such as pay a certain amount of the wedding off per month. My fiance and I will have everything paid off BEFORE the wedding so we have more time to worry about the actual wedding itself, not what is still owed. MAny places dont mind being paid off prior, and will sometimes even give you a discount

11. gather all the DJ's email address and email them all at once. Let them know what you want, how much you have to spend and that you welcome all quotes. Dont use the first person who gives you a nice low estimate. Bottom line is they need your business, not vice versa.

oh geez- i can go on and on- for more, just email me!

Good luck!

Answer 2

Congrats! If you have a specific day in mind and it is a Saturday I would recommend booking the hall right away. My fiance and I said we wanted to get married on 07-07-07 for years. Most halls were booked by last May. (We ended up with 7-21-07). So if you have a special day, it wouldn't hurt to put a deposit down. Then again, if it's a small wedding or on a Friday or Sunday, you have a lot of time! If you're excited and you just can't wait, you can get started on the guest list and general ideas. I use the Knot website for my planning- they have helpful checklists and budget trackers.

Answer 3

If you're the member of a church, you could get married there and have the reception in the church fellowship hall. If not, then check out banquet halls, hotels with banquet rooms, or even community centers and/or a college. Sometimes colleges will allow you to rent one of there banquet rooms. Receptions can be a buffet with a dj or band and a huge cake, or... a cake for just the two of you and sheet cake served to the guest, this is usually cheaper. A band is more expensive than a DJ, a DJ is more expensive than burning a CD with all your favorite songs and playing it over a sound system. A seated dinner is more expensive. A brunch reception is much cheaper than a dinner reception because of the cost of meat. Or , you could have your family cook. Decorations don't have to be expensive either. You can rent some things at local wedding shops and party warehouses. Catch those 99 dollar sales at Davids bridals too.

Answer 4

If there are not going to be a lot of people there why dont you consider using your house or one of your friends or family's house. That could be there wedding gift to you is for you to be able to have it at there house. Also, try making a lot of things for the ceremony yourself, you can put together the bouquets and flower arrangements also do the invitations yourself, things like that. Also, start planning what all you want and look for the items when they come on sale. As far as a photographer goes, talk to one or two of your friends about taking the pictures, you can always take them to a photo center and getting various sizes. These are a lot of things you can save money on.

Answer 5

Try this: http://www.ezweddingplanner.com I thought it was the greatest when I was planning my wedding.

We rented out a hall in a county park that was very rustic and pretty (little decorating required) and it also has a beautiful playground right outside, which cut down on the munchkins running around in the hall. I had my goddaughter's older sisters out at the playground "babysitting."

Our major expense was the food, but that was because all of our cheep ideas got shot down by our parents. Since my dad offered to foot the food bill though, I guess I can't complain too much. (but I missed the look on his face when the caterers presented him with the bill. I hear it was pretty funny)

Answer 6

look into community halls sometimes you can get a great deal if you have it on a Friday. Do an afternoon wedding and you will be able to serve just Hors D' ouevres. Ask as many family members for help most well be very happy to help (making cake,flowers,even DJ) Congrats and good luck.

Answer 7

if you live in an area check with places that might have wedding packages. Hubby and I happen to live near pigeon forge so we was able to have our wedding and reception and honeymoon for all under 1,000 bucks. we wanted a small wedding so that helped keep it small. Make a guest list look it over and over and over. I do say diffently grandparents, mom and dads and step parents if it applies, sibs and stepsibs, i really don't suggest inviting the people who hadn't heard from in the past 6-12 months. Check with local resturants they might have something that would hold a lot of people like a private room with a dancing area for the party. Do check with hotels, try to avoid bookin with them during peak season. Call and ask around about prices and then if you find a place that you really like try to bargine with them some will let you some wont budge...You can do the invinations yourself or take them to somewhere like office max or something like that if you do prof. printing then once again try to play the lets make a deal game worse they can do is say no....For table decerations check out bridal books for the ideas and then go to local stores or the internet and get the stuff to make them yourself. If you decide to go somewhere where you are goin to be having a bar I suggest paying a friend to do the bar *If they would rather do that don't make them feel like they have to.* Check I know this sounds cheesy but if you have a dollar tree near you check on some of their items that they have for weddings. I've found some really cheesy things there but I've also found some really good deals. I've found a set of toasting glasses for the groom and bride, the cake cutting stuff, the wedding bells and things like that and walked out for under 30 bucks and had about 10-12 bags full of wedding supplies to make gifts for the table and to help decreate. I also suggest making your own silk flower arrangement for you and your bridesmaids. Oh check with local vol. fire depts. or with your local college and see if they might have space that you could rent yes you'll have to decreate but it's an idea. GL If i knew what area you was in i might be able to come up with more ideas.

Answer 8

My sister is planning a wedding and I got the impression that banquet halls are less expensive than hotels. I know a few friends who got married at a park that had a banquet hall facility. They had to be out perhaps earlier than some places, and the amount of alcohol allowed on premises was small...but if you are really looking to save money, that might be the way to go.

Answer 9

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. And even bigger congratulations to both of you for having the wisdom to start your married life responsibly. So many people these days think they have to spend lavishly for one big party -- then they start their married life deeply in debt because of it.

As for your question: There are all kinds of places that have meeting halls. When my husband and I got married we were Farm Bureau members and we were able to use their hall for free. Some banks have meeting rooms that are available to the public. I think most Granges rent out their halls. Contact your local Chamber(s) of Commerce and see if they have a list of meeting facilities available. If you're getting married in a church, most churches have meeting halls where you could have the reception.

Talk to your friends. There are probably several who would love to help with preparing food for the reception. You may even have a friend who knows how to do wedding cakes (we did). Undoubtedly there is someone who could do a music CD for you to play during the reception. There are all kinds of things friends can help with -- flowers, decorating, searching for things on sale that you know you're going to want / need.

Answer 10

I had a small inexpensive wedding. I had my wedding in a close friends backyard. I went to Michael's and I saw these flower arrangements on display that I loved and they let me borrow them. I just had to sign them out and bring them back the next week. We got an arch for us to stand under. I rented chairs. Food wise...I had the reception in my friends basement and I bought some table cloths and made the tables look good. I made finger foods and set those out on some silver. I think food wise I spent the most on the cake. It just basically depends on the number of guests you have. Good Luck and I hope everything goes well for you.