My honey and I plan on getting married some time next year. We don't want to spend a whole bundle of money. He would like a church ceremony (thats not really the costly thing), We would like a decent reception (Sunday afternoon around Lunch time) but everywhere I have looked so far is going to cost a fortune. I was wondering if anyone can give me any ideas that will help save money, but will be beautiful and fun for not only us but for everyone else as well. I would be expecting around 50 to 60 people to attend (mostly my family). Thanks.
2007-01-03 05:02:32 · 27 answers · asked by Easter Bunny 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I have posted this before, I am looking for more ideas...thanks!! :)
2007-01-03 05:03:08 · update #1
Local park. Family home. Local Church. Write your own vows. Include everyone from the two families to write something and share it for you at the ceremony, it will be nice to include everyone and then it will be special. Make a homemade gift for each person attending. Keep it simple and only invite friends and family that you have constant contact with. For photos buy disposable cameras and place one on each table and then you will get great personal photos from each guest taking them. Some of you and the groom and some of the guests. Have bird seed or soap bubbles for the ceremony instead of throwing rice. Bird seed will bring birds or soap bubbles are fun without a mess. If the ceremony was in a local park it would be nice to have bird seed if at a church consider the soap bubbles. Use fresh flowers from families gardens to save flower expenses. Consider having a potluck meal, where each family member brings a dish to pass for the reception. For gifts to keep it simple, consider a money tree where guets place mony on the tree, setting at the bridal table in place of the bother of gifts. Have someone play musci like a DJ and have a bridal dance where each guest pays the bride 10 dollars to dance with you and this money is used to cover the expenses from the wedding/reception. Have a traditional wedding of something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. You can even borrow a dress, say your Moms or Mother inlaws etc. Have a theme wedding. Like "Celebrate Life" Have photos of your good times and family member memories on each table instead of paying for decorations.
2007-01-03 05:19:25 · answer #1 · answered by Shayna 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well as far as the church u can do that part with just the closest members of the family and save the money for the reception.You could also make it a theme that can be a country theme so there isn't the expense of the wedding dress and it's fun memorable.You could ask for your families help n make it pot luck so everyone pitches in.I would do the marriage part at somewhere just to be married and make the ceremony the most special with everyone.Hire a karaoke person cuz that involves everyone to entertain n have a paybar where u charge 2 bucks a drink.Make your food 2 main dishes and orderves and ask someone to make the cake as a gift.There r so many ways to have a great wedding with the help of friends and family.Out of all 60 there should be 1 who can bake really good and make a cake.There could be 1 who knows someone who does kareoke.There is such thing as renting a wedding dress or looking in a used or buy n sell paper.You will need to do a bit more work but it's worth it.If everyone helps then u would have more then enough to hire a couple waitresses and someone to bartend etc.Well congrats and good luck in the new year.
2007-01-03 05:40:27 · answer #2 · answered by too4barbie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Schedule the wedding for Friday afternoon or Saturday afternoon. Hold the reception in the middle of the afternoon when most restaurants are between the lunch crowd and the dinner folks.
Hold the reception at a BBQ place. If you can find someone to cater the food event, try that out.
There's a mismatch here. Fifty people is neither small nor intimate. I would not be surprised that you are receiving cost estimates $1000+ for 50 people ($20 each).
Small, intimate is 15-20 people; NOT 50-60. If you just MUST invite Aunt Minnie and her 5 children, start the reception budget at $2000 and see what you can do without.
2007-01-03 05:13:37 · answer #3 · answered by Thomas K 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The biggest money saver I found was buying a white prom dress instead of a wedding dress. Deb has beautiful dresses and you can't tell the difference. Use your computer to make your own invitations. Buy fake flowers and make your own bouquet with them. You can just have one maid of honor and one best man, that's really all you need. Ask her to get her own dress, or you can just get her a prom gown in the color you like. Get a friend or family member to do your hair. You should practice different styles before the actual day to find out what you like. For your reception just have cake. Walmart have the cheapest actual wedding cakes I've seen. The were still over one hundred dollars. You can just get a large sheet cake and a small round cake to save for your anniversary cake. Have a family find a nice punch recipe. You don't have to hire a dj. You don't even have to have music and dancing if you don't want. Writing your own vows can be the thing that makes your wedding special, not all the expensive things you buy. Congrats and Goodluck!
2007-01-03 05:24:46 · answer #4 · answered by Autumn 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The least expensive way to get married and still have a party for your family is to get married outside. Find a park, recreation area or other such place and contact the people or organization who own or manage it. Find out if you can reserve a shelter (in case it rains) in the park to have the ceremony under. Another option is to get married at your parents'(or some other family member's) home. I went to a wedding a few years ago where they got married in the lawn of her parent's home. It was a really nice wedding. The family members made the snacks and cake for the reception. I bet the only costs to the actual couple were the dresses, suits and the pastor who did the ceremony.
2007-01-03 05:10:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
My husband and I had a small wedding at a chapel, and the next day we had a very large reception at an area park, we rented a pavilion, decorated it with our wedding colors, and had a BBQ, it was great because there was a playground right beside it for the kids to go and play,the picnic tables were already provided, all we had to do was decorate and make the food. BBQ was great because there would be burgers, hot dogs for the kids, ribs and steaks chicken, roasted veggies, and loaves of french bread. We also had chips, dips, veggie trays, fruit trays, and coolers full of soda and other beverages- i would recommend angel punch- it's SO wonderful and makes a great nonalcoholic alternative to champagne.
Ingredients:
2 quarts of Grape Juice (White)
1 quart of Tea (Green)
1 pint of Lemon Juice
8 oz. Sugar Syrup
2 bottles of Club Soda (Chilled)
Instructions:
Stir well all the ingredients -except soda- and chill. Pour in a punch bowl over a large block of ice and add the soda. Serve in punch cups with a slice of lemon!
I hope you have a beautiful wedding and reception!!
2007-01-03 05:19:23 · answer #6 · answered by LeAnn W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you have any relatives or close family friends with a very nice backyard that you can use? You could have the reception there and avoid paying for a reception hall. You could then spend a little extra money on hiring a good caterer for the event. In addition, you could decorate the space by getting supplies from craft stores and making DOY centerpieces, chair covers, favors, etc. If you start early, you will have enough time to play around with the decoration part. Good Luck.
2007-01-03 05:09:25 · answer #7 · answered by Answer Girl 2007 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends on where you are. Can you do it outdoors? Usually you can rent a public space from the city by paying a fee. Or you can do it in a park for no fee (just have someone make sure to rope off the space to avoid others from encroaching).
Picnic-chic was very hip last summer. You can do this w/ red and white picnic cloths. String twinkle lights. Lots of candles in jars- some hangin in trees from rafia. Low key centerpieces of a simple flower (rinuculus are perfect in white and red).
Food really ends up being a large chunk of the budget. For 60ppl you can expect to pay $30 per head to have a decent meal catered. This will cost you around $2,000 and more if you need servers and to rent china etc. If you can have family help make food. Or opt to have only some items catered and some home-made. It will take more time and effort, but it will cost less. Your choice.
Good luck with everything! :D
2007-01-03 05:15:46 · answer #8 · answered by bellytail 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Try a public park with a building. You can make something rather cheap for lunch. I went to a wedding where the reception was at the American Legion. They served spaghetti and barbecued sausages. You could have what you wanted. The bridesmaids held a "dance with the bride for $5.00" and earned over $500.00 for the couple to spend as they wanted to. Everyone, even women spent the 5.oo to help out with wedding and honeymoon costs. Hope this helps.
2007-01-03 05:12:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
being on a budget can make planning a wedding difficult esp. with the economy. my mom and her boyfriend recently got engaged and they have been having the same problem as far as money goes. my mom isn't a big flashy person she doesn't like the big over the top weddings, she just wants something romantic and meaningful. they have decided to get married in Tennessee. They have some amazing attractions in Tennessee such as there large log cabins with incredible views. They've decided to rent a log cabin for a couple of days that can sleep up to 16 people comfortably but she knows that if needed she can fit about 20- 25 people in the cabin. it comes with a giant pool hottub a bar and tv's in every room it also has a nice loft where all the kids will be sleeping. then after there wedding is over with ofcourse theyll go to there honeymoon. the wedding is going to be during sunset with a candle lit ceremony. when they go on there honeymoon all the guests will be left in the cabin but we will be visting the amusement park "dollywood" and exploring. its really a great set up. she also thought at one point having her wedding at a great island in Georgia called jekyll island and that way her guests could explore the island and the great beaches. you might want to consider having your wedding at some place with alot of tourist attractions like vegas or the beach, or near an amusement park etc. so the guests will have plenty of fun and exciting things to do after the wedding:)
2016-05-22 23:02:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋