Save money on a wedding?

Question

Does anyone have any tips on how to save money on a wedding? any DIY idea's or things people don't normally think of?

Answer 1

The standard ideas:
DIY invitations (anchorpaper.com has the cheapest I've found)
DIY centerpieces - I used the dollar store floral section and made some great arrangements for less than $2 each
Only serve cake and something to drink
Don't hire a band or dj
Get married any day besides Saturday

Here are some other things I've learned, that may not be so well known:
1. Generally, if you stay away from the "big names" and wedding businesses, you'll save money. For example, I've found a lady who bakes cakes as a hobby who will bake ours for a third of what a bakery would charge. Same with our photographer - you can also check with local colleges, because lots of students will work for cheap in order to build a portfolio.
2. Get on some message boards (yahoo, theknot, wedding channel, etc) and search for brides who are trying to get rid of things. You'll find that many many brides are selling dresses, decorations, even invitations. You can save a bundle by doing this. I've gotten all our wedding bubbles for about $50 - buying from a store would have cost me over $200. Depending on where you live, you might find something in your local paper.
3. Thrift stores, thrift stores, thrift stores. Especially for vases, baskets, and other decorating things. The key is to go often!
4. Ask everyone you know. I found our baker through a coworker, and my photographer on myspace. Lots of people know someone who does wedding related things - and are usually more than happy to recommend!

Finally, consider what's important to you. It may be a lavish reception with lots of food and a three-piece band, or you may care more about the dress and the honeymoon. You and your fiance need to decide what you want to spend the most time, money, and energy on before you start spending.

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

There have been a lot of great ideas so far. Here are a few of my own to add.

Look around and see if you can find one location to hold both the wedding and reception in. That will save you having to rent and decorate two different locations.

Consider having an alcohol-free reception or just an alcoholic punch instead of an open bar. That alone can save you tons of money.

If you have your wedding during the afternoon, you could have a cake and punch reception only. Again, much cheaper than trying to feed everyone a full dinner.

Giving yourself lots of time to plan will help save you money as well. When I planned my wedding, our colors were red, pink, and white. I had almost a year and half to plan, which allowed me to take advantage of post-holiday sales at both Christmas and Valentine's Day in purchasing decorations.

You can find lots of ideas in Diane Warner's book "How to Have a Big Wedding on a Small Budget." It runs about $14 at Barnes and Noble. Also, if you are able to find it, Martha Stewart has a wedding planning DVD set (you may even be able to check it out for free at your local library.) There is all kinds of information on it. Especially helpful are the sections on making bouquets and making wedding cakes.

Be sure to accept the help of any talented friends who offer! I was able to get my wedding cake for the price of the ingredients this way. Also, if you know anyone in a band you might be able to get yourself a good discount.

Good luck, and happy planning!

Answer 3

Everyone has some great suggestions here. I too have been trying to shop savvy and save money on my wedding dress. What I have found, though, is that my choices are extremely limited once I start shopping for second hand dresses, or sales item, or rentals. Chances are, you will not find anything you even remotely like shopping this way, unless you are not picky at all and just want something white to cover your body as you walk down the aisle. I am very picky, though, and want to love my wedding dress. If you feel the same way as me, then your best bet is to just go into a local boutique and tell them straight up what your budget is. They will show you everything they have in that price range, and if you don't find anything that you love, then try another boutique. If your town is anything like mine, you should have at least half a dozen boutiques in your area. Someone is bound to have something off the rack or on sale that you love. Good luck!

Answer 4

Good question.... I have a million ideas!
Invitation:
Create your own on your computer.
Wedding Date:
Have your wedding during the week. Vendors will cut you a deal on their services.
Cake:
Get a small cake for you and your hubby to cut for photos. Then serve a sheet cake to the guest. Your baker will make a sheet cake that is made with the same filling as your cake.
Dresses:
Get your dress and the bridesmaids dress at an outlet. Check out the clearance rack at all the shops you go to. There are some great dresses on those racks.
Reception:
Have a lunch buffet. The cater can come up with a great menu that can fit your budget.
Family:
Alway have family members help you were every you think they will helpful.

Have a great wedding.

Answer 5

I got married August this year and the wedding was relatively cheap but we didnt have anything tacky

My dress was $500au as it was a new design and my size so didnt have to remade in my size

I had silk flowers which were about quater the cost of real and you can hardley tell the difference and you can keep them forever which is great

My shoes were clearance on a website $50au

We got invitations from a store that you just filled in names and places and sent them our selves about $250au all up including postage. A great idea is to enclose a stamped self addressed envelope for the RSVP to ensure people get back to you, theyve no excuse then

Our wedding was the last month of winter so out reception was cheaper by about $15au per head

Hair was cheap as it was our local salon, they recommended a make up artist so that was cheaper as she was recommended and had nails done at the same salon

If your in Melbourne Aust I can give you more details otherwise best of luck!!

Answer 6

It depends. What is your idea of the perfect wedding?

Is it in a church or could you do a beach/forest/outdoor wedding?

Is it elaborate or simple?

A lot of outdoor places have cheap rates for private parties. Another idea is a private home of a family member or friend.
Then you could rent chairs and decorate them with flowers along with a nice alter decorated with flowers as well.

Get a discount wedding dress; they are affordable, and not too flashy. They are really pretty.

Talk around, find a priest/preacher/pastor that will do the wedding for free--most do anyway!

Have a small wedding party--perhaps just you, your maiden of honor, the best man, and your fiancé. As well as you mother/father to walk you down the isle. Prom dresses or just formal dresses would be good for the ladies and for the men rent the suits

Create your own invites. You can make them beautiful with a touch of creativity, some paper, a computer, and some ribbon from the dollar store.

For the reception, take a cake decorating class, and then make your own cake! Learn how to make great hor dourves—serve them buffet style at a reception at a relative’s house.


Then you could rent chairs and decorate them with flowers along with a nice alter decorated with flowers as well.

After that get a discount wedding dress. They are really pretty.

Talk around, find a priest/preacher/pastor who will do the wedding for free--most do anyway!

Have a small wedding party. Perhaps just you, your madain of honor, the best man, and your fiance. As well as you mother/father to walk you down the isle.

Create your own invites. You can make them beautiful with a touch of creativity, some paper, a computer, and some ribon from the dollar store.

Answer 7

My sister just got married on a shoe string budget, and her wedding was beautiful. We did the invites ourselves, had a barbaque instead of a formal dinner, bought flowers from Sam's Club and wrapped them in ribbon instead of hiring a florist. There are ton of things you can do if you have time and patience. Shop the clearance departments, store closing sales, and garage sales for accessories. Scour the internet for tons of advice on budget weddings, and hit up friends for favors whenever and wherever you can. Or you can do what I did and just elope!!!

Answer 8

cut out on all the small things because trust me they add up. I spent a ton on napkins with all the fancy writing on it and now I have a cabinet full ( about 550) of napkins that are too pretty to use. I also let a small noname printing company do my programs. It cost me between $8.00 and $15.00 for 250 programs! My bridesmaids had fake flowers, you never would have known. Those are just a few suggestions

Answer 9

drive to virginia beach and get married like me and my wife. cost us $135 for the service and a video. That was 16 years ago and we are still very much in love. An expensive wedding does not guarantee anything.

Answer 10

Don't waste money on professional photography. Honestly, you have to have a friend or family member who can do just a good a job.