having a low cost wedding?

Question

how can i have a low cost wedding? but i still want it to be great!!
i plan to have it in june or september. not sure yet.
i would like for it to be oustide too!

Answer 1

I just answered your other question about going barefooted. To keep the cost down on your wedding- start bargain shopping now. Having an outside wedding and reception is one perfect way to do this. Have the whole thing at one place. At a friend's house or at a park that doesn't cost anything is ideal.

Your biggest cost are these: dress, photographer, food, and location. If you can cut the location out you got this whipped.
Keep your eyes opened for wedding dress sales. Sign up for newsletter for sales from different companies. Sign up with David's Bridal and the stores will let you know ahead of time when they are having a clearance sale.

Food, if you want something other than cake, keep it simple. Fingerfoods. sandwichs, meatballs, sausages, cheese trays, relish trays, vegetables trays...all of these can be made ahead of time. A lot of couples are having a pot luck dinner, where all the family and friends bring a dish. The bride provide the drinks and the breads.

Photographers are expensive unless you are lucky and have a family member or a friend who can handle this for you. If not, check with the local colleges. You can get a student to do it for next to nothing.

Flowers are a big expense if you are decorating the inside of a church or a hall, luckily you are marrying outside, so you don't have to worry about that. The bouquets can be made by you. Hunt the hobby stores and Walmart. You will need to become familar with these stores. The dollar tree or dollar world have started carrying odds and ends for weddings. I got the pews bows there, 2 in a package. We placed them on the chairs just for a extra pretty.

Honey, it's more than possible to have a beautiful wedding without breaking the bank. Borrow, hunt, and be willing to work for it and you can have the most awesome wedding. My friend's wedding cost us $400 total. That's everything, and if we had to pay for everything, it would be well over $2,000. But we borrow, made, searched, and cooked.

So, put those bargain hunter shoes on, and get started. Get you a notebook and write down your ideas, and make them come true. You can do it...promise!

God bless us all.............

Answer 2

My husband and I shelled out to have the wedding at a place we loved in Grass Valley. The reception was at a local hall. Those things we couldn't really negotiate on.

We asked a cousin to take pictures. He just gave us the film and we developed it. He is not a professional! But we couldn't afford a professional photographer. Asked another friend to video tape.

We bought a bunch of stuff at costco and had a big salad bar and rolls. His mom and aunt made meat and cheese platters. A couple of friends brought different pasta salads, etc. We hired a dj and had a ball.

I asked two acquaintences if they could be there to refill things and do the clean up. I told them they could have the rental hall deposit when we got it back.

By luck, we had a friend with a limo who drove the wedding party to the wedding and reception. Very nice. Free.

Same friend has parents who had a horse drawn carraige and they let us use that for free too.
How sweet was that? They arranged for the driver and everything. Very nice. That was to take us from the wedding locale to the reception. It was so neat.

There are a lot of ways to take short cuts. We didn't have a cent after the wedding.

I would say just include family and friends in the planning. People love to help!

Answer 3

The cost of a ceremony in a church is based on "are you a member of that church?" If you are not a member of a church then your chances of getting married in that church are "slim to none." If you are a member of a church then your cost could range from FREE to $800. What's the difference? There are many churches who do not charge anything for the use of the building or the services of the minister if you are a member of that church BUT there are also churches who ask for "a donation" and they will tell you what they expect ($$$) as "a donation." I know of one Bride who was told the expected "donation" was $1000 (the priest's services, the electric, the heat, the janitorial services, etc). Small buffet . . there are a hundred definitions of a "small buffet." Small amount of people? Small amount of food? Small amount of time? A buffet could range in price from about $18 per person to $40 per person DEPENDING on the food being served, the beverages being served, and if they are alcoholic beverages or sodas, and the number of people required to prepare the food and serve the food. And who is providing the wedding cake? The cost of the wedding cake could be a separate fee. You will also be expected to pay a 18-20% gratuity (tip) on the total amount of the buffet bill. Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant

Answer 4

Check out AC Moore or Michael's which are pretty cheap and make decorations and favors yourself (you can get ideas from the staff or online). My best friend did this and everyone said that it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to. As for food, try a buffet style. It would be cheaper and everyone could get what they wanted. Also try a couple of kegs of decent beer that most people would agree on and maybe one or two types of cheap mixed drinks (vodka would go with anything, sprite cranberry juice etc). Remember, it's your wedding and it should be done to please you, not anyone else (okay, except maybe the groom :) )! Good luck and congrats!

Answer 5

If you invite people that are close to you, they will understand your circustances and that you can't afford a large expensive wedding.
Since you'll be having it outside and in the summer, make it a casual bbq/potluck.
Have one of your friends go to Universal Life Church online and become an instant minister, thus avoiding the cost of hiring one. Have the wedding/reception outdoors at a family or friends house for free, or go to a public park.
Wear your mom's wedding gown, and someday you can pass it down to your daughter.
Start growing flowers now for your bouquet.

Answer 6

DH and I were married September 2005. Total cost was around $2,000, minus rings. Most of our wedding items were purchased on Ebay, including my dress which was brand new and only cost $36. Also, DIY is a great way to save money. I made all of our bouquets and bouts. myself with materials purchased at Walmart.

For food, if you are willing, you can have family prepare and bring your food. Options are endless when you do your own meal. Check with your hall to make sure they allow you to bring in your own food, some don't.

Drinks, we only paid for beer. If guests wanted soda or mixed drinks, they paid for thier own.

Music, if you know someone that can set it up, bring your own music. I've seen ppl use ipods and simular set ups for thier reception music.

GL!!

Answer 7

LOTS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO. MAKE YOUR OWN FLOWERS, OR HAVE SOMEONE HELP YOU. FIND A PERSON THAT DOES CAKES, CHEAPER THAN THE BAKERY, IT COULD ALSO BE A WEDDING GIFT TO YOU, ADS FOR USED DRESSES, SHOES DON'T HAVE TO MATCH, OR BRIDAL STORES AND LOOK ON THEIR MARKED DOWN RACKS, HAVE EVERYONE SING A SONG TOGETHER FOR THE BOTH OF YOU, DON'T HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE TO SING. FAMILIES CAN GET TOGETHER AND DO THE FOOD, BUFFET STYLE, POTATO SALAD, CHIPS, CHEESE AND MEAT TRAY, GET FRIED CHICKEN FROM THE FOOD STORE, NO LIQUOR, JUST TEA OR COFFEE OR SODA. YOUR RESPONSIBLE IF SOMEONE DRINKS AND HAS AN ACCIDENT. JUST HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Answer 8

well my cousin is getting married in a month and for her dress and the brides maid dresses-they are being made by my grandma and she is putting the flowers all together you can get them at some store that sells crafts. Her mom is making the cake. No wedding has to be fancy! hopes this helps

Answer 9

My wedding was $150. It was outdoors at a Drive-Thru in Las Vegas (The Little White Chapel).

Answer 10

I read a blog to help me get idea's about lower a wedding cost they have many idea's http://wedding-oregon.com/c/lowering-weddings-costs-wedding-oregon-com/