I'm getting married next year! Any tips for a great day but keeping the cost low?

Answer 1

have a buffet instead of a sit down meal

spend money on your dress - but give the bridesmaids a budget on theirs and buy high street

have a small wedding - but a massive party - you only pay for the cost of the venue you hire and the buffet - then tell everyone you don't need presents - but money would be nice to help with ....... whatever!! then when you count your money after the party that could pay for your expenses - the wedding etc!! or at least pay towards it all!!

involve as many friends and family as poss to help out with your hair and makeup - maybe you know someone who drives a nice car - a BMW or mercedes - that could be your wedding transport sorted

if you buy a wedding book there will be plenty of ideas for an inexpensive but wonderful wedding!

xxx

Answer 2

Your reception site, food , rings and dress are among your most expensive items Flowers and photographers are right up there too. Take a couple of pieces of papaer and write down every costs or thing that you can think of regarding wedding expenses and youe and your future husband rate them and cross out the things that aren't important. Then plan according to your budget where your $$$ go. See if some close family members will gift you the item instead of buying a gift. You can't expect a friend or sibling to cater your whole wedding but they might be able to provide a cake or make do ahead appetizers. Try to get your style down now so you can buy non-perishable items ahead of time. Champagne, wine and alcohol hold well. As does fabric and craft items. That spreads the costs over a year rather than hitting the old credit cards hard at the last moment. The dollar store is a great resource. Consider not having favors. Have special guests take home flowers or centerpieces.

Answer 3

Ok you've received alot of really great tips so far, so I'll try to keep this short. I got married two years ago and had 300ppl for under $7000, which this day and age is cheap! Here are a few things we did:
1. Beer and wine only, had friends of friends bartend. Paid them each $50 and they got to eat!

2. Got married at my church which only required a "donation", not a set amount, so you can determine what you want to "donate". I think we gave like $100. Also because I belonged to the church the pianist, flutist and trumpet player played for free.

3.We used all silk flowers instead of real. They didn't wilt and are a fraction of the cost. We did the arrangements ourselves.

4.I got my dress at a small boutique for $100. Larger stores like David's Bridal tend to charge more, unless you hit them up when they have their big sale!

5. DJ. No band!

6. Photgrapher was a friend who had a really nice camera, only charged me for the film and developing. I liked this option because I got ALL of the pics and the negatives. You won't find that at a studio.

7. We DID NOT pay for the bridesmaid dresses or the groomsmen tuxes. I think that's ridiculous! I've never been in a wedding where the bride and groom paid for my dress, hair or shoes!

8. We did a buffet and my cousins who weren't in the wedding put it all together (no caterer). It turned out fantastic.

I could go on but I think you get the point...do alot yourself and you will save a ton of money. You can also get alot done ahead of time, so you're not freaking out two days before your big day!

People still say what a great reception we had, because it was so laid back and fun!

Best of Luck!


7.

Answer 4

Make your own center pieces. Watch the costs of flowers. Hire a DJ instead of a band. I agree with the buffet. Have just beer and wine for the bar. Or if full bar, have only 1 hour for cocktail and close during dinner. Watch the length of the reception. Use a friends large car instead of renting a limo. Keep the rehersal dinner to a min. Fire Companies can be nice and inexpensive. If it is a warm time of year, have a tent wedding on a large yard. Have certain people make food (buffet style), but have someone in charge instead of you. Maybe go to local favorite restaurant to have an off-duty employee do the buffet and bartend, or contact local bartending school. Good luck.

Answer 5

I am getting married in 8 weeks and we are paying for the wedding ourselves so have done it fairly cheaply.
The reception is in a village hall with University caterers and we have bought the wine for the tables - can't even begin to say how many thousands this has saved.
We are getting married a little later in the day so the meal is evening dinner, with bacon butties later in the evening - saves on another buffet.
Transport - we have booked a 1940's bus (same colours as the wedding) so we only need the 1. After the wedding my HTB and I will travel to the reception with immediate family, bridesmaids, ushers etc together, with a glass of champers or 2!
Flowers - keep them seasonal.
Honeymoon - this is our gift list.
Good luck

Answer 6

Hi - I got married on the 5th August last year.
Start off by writing down all the things in priority order so once the budget has been spent the things at the bottom you do not have. Everyone has different priorities, mine were the dress and the venue my friends was number of guests so its up to you.
Getting married abroad is the cheapest way to do it but if the number of guests are important to you this may not be the best option.
Limit the number of bridesmaids if you can, as their dresses can be expensive and look for someone locally who sells them from home rather than a highstreet shop as they are cheaper - thats what we did and it was great. My dress I did not compromise on - I found it and that was that.
Shop around for flowers and suits.
Consider not having wedding favours as they are not necessary, I have been to a few weddings that didnt have them.
Budget on the number of drinks given out during the meal to everybody.
The bridesmaids gifts could be their jewellery that they wear on the day, the ushers and bestmans gift could be their cufflinks. Winter weddings are cheaper than summer weddings.
All just ideas though prioritise your day. But most of all ENJOY IT!

Answer 7

First off, Congratulations. Set yourself a maximum budget that you can't go over, think about everything you're going to need and just set yourself a goal of what you want to spend on what. Try having a real celebration, maybe making the wedding less formal and more party like, but with class. Have a buffet and maybe hire out a place that you can decorate to make it look beautiful but not overly expensive, maybe bring in friends and family to help decorate for free.
Hope you have a great day and a happy future xx

Answer 8

i went to a fantastic wedding last summer. My friends got married. The most expensive part was the church hire £650. For the reception they put a marquee up in their fathers garden. It was so beautiful! There were 160 guests. The dress was second hand, bridesmaid dresses were in the sale at BHS and suits were hired. Food was prepared by family members and it was a huge buffet. The grooms dad played live music and alcohol came cheap from a booze run to france.. it was a great wedding, low budget and memorable! Best wishes to you!! oh also... the flowers at the church .. there was a wedding before our friends and the bride went halves on the cost of the flowers so they shared them!!

Answer 9

I had my wedding for under $1,000. It was still elegant even though the price was low. Some tips I used to cut on costs were the following:
*cousin was in charge of playing the music off a burned CD
*wedding and reception at the same site
*anyone who had a digital camera took the pictures
*family made the food
*used tea lights in candle holders that were puchased at the dollar store

Answer 10

Instead of hiring a photographer (which can cost a fortune!) my cousin bought disposable cameras & put one on each of the tables at the reception. Guests then took photos of themselves & everyone felt like a part of it especially when the time came to showing the pics. Instead of being bored everyone was interested in seeing the pics that they took and there was a story behind almost every picture. Very memorable indeed!! Hope this helps even if it only saves a small amount. Every little helps!!!