Getting married with a limited amount of money, any suggestions.?

Question

Serious answers please..... I am getting married in Dec. I really want a beautiful wedding, however I will not be able to spend a whole lot of money. If there is anyone with any suggestions, or know of anyone could be of assistance.

Answer 1

I depends on what your budget is and how realistic about what you're going to be able to do.

1. If you get married in a church, see if you can have the reception in their Parish Hall
2. If you want a reception as a banquet hall or hotel, marry on a Sunday and have a breakfast or brunch reception. Most hotels have empty banquet rooms on Sunday.
3. Consider using your pc to print invitations and programs
4. Consider recording music for your receiption or using your MP3 and portable sound system
5. Stick to your guns when it comes to your guest list. Invite people who've had a lifetime influence on you, not those you feel obligated to invite. My guest list went from 40 to 150; rather than duke it out with my mom, I told her how much money I was spending on my wedding. If she wanted to invite 110 more people, she was going to have to pay for them. She paid for the reception and the chair covers she insisted on.
6. How whimsical are you? Consider a cupcake "wedding cake" instead of a traditional cake.
7. Use poinsettias, pine or Douglas fir for your floral arrangements and center pieces. Your church may already be decorated for Christmas and that can cut down on the costs.
8. Have your wedding dress made. I had a dress made for $500 after looking at dress starting at a minimum of $1000. It was made from scratch to my measurements and with my input. It was far beautiful than anything I could have bought off the rack.

Also, don't get overwhelmed by the planning. A lot of your purchases and decisions will be fueled by emotion. It's possible for things to spin out of control. If I had to do it over again, I would have stuck with my original guest list and plan (which was to invite my guests to dinner and surprise them by getting married before dessert). I was lucky that my Mom picked up the slack, but it was money that could have been better spent.

Finally...the point is the marriage, not the wedding. Don't look at your wedding day as the happiest day of your life. If it is, you're saying that after your wedding day it's all downhill from there when the opposite is true. If you find that what you're spending on your wedding would make a decent downpayment on a house or pay any existing bills, rethink your plans.

Answer 2

I recently wrote an article about money saving wedding tips, so I've heard plenty of advice from the professionals.
There are so many things that other people consider "essentials" in weddings that you can do without and still have a beautiful wedding.
First of all, real flowers are a huge expense. You can make your own bouquets from silk flowers and literally save hundreds of dollars.
A reception is also a big cost. Decide if it's really important to have a sit down meal, open bar, and DJ there. You can have cake, punch and finger foods in the afternoon instead of having an evening meal.
Also, look into getting married on a day other than Saturday. Many places offer discounts for days other than Saturday. Consider a Sunday afternoon.
Make your own decorations. Enlist the help of crafty people you know. Things will mean more to you if you make them yourselves. Everything from the ring bearer pillow to pew bows to table centerpieces can be made instead of bought.
One thing I wouldn't suggest skimping on is a photographer. Pictures are the thing that you'll have long after the decorations are gone. Shop around and find the best service for your money, but don't enlist an amateur. It will show.
Good luck with all the planning, and congratulations!

Answer 3

I organized a wedding years ago where we put everyone on a boat (we got the boat for practically nothing because we let the company use the wedding pictures for their publicity). we had the wedding lunch in small picnic baskets - one per couple. We went up to a large state park on the boat, had the wedding under the trees, we took a van up with the champagne and wedding cake, everything else was in the picnic basket. After the wedding and picnic (on linen sheets spread out on the ground) we took the boat back - trio for music, open bar.

If you can't afford traditional, be creative - what is beautiful and important in your life. How can you celebrate that? Pot luck weddings can be great fun, but they are informal. A friend I know had a small wedding - and a week later, they had a large party for friends. (Of course, they had a theme - circus - even rented rides from a carnival.) As each guest arrives they draw a slip from a bowl with a job and a time - from 6 to 7, you take this disaposable camera and take pictures. From 8 to 9, make sure the ice buckets stay filled. From 7 to 8, help clear empty dishes from the tables. Everyone gets a job and takes part, and helps keep the cost down.

Planning a wedding should be fun and exciting, not pressure and pain. If it moves toward the latter, you're doing it wrong.

Answer 4

You can get married in a public place, like a lovely park. Some parks have nice covered areas that you could use for shelter if you're someplace that gets cold in December.
Instead of a regular reception, you can have a cocktail party and serve hor'derves or dessert.
Instead of having a full bar, you can go with non-alcoholic drinks, or have just one special drink instead of everything.
If you want to have a reception, look into some non-profit places that may let you rent their facility. It will likely be a lot cheaper and would help a cause.
Another great way to save money is to do a lot of stuff yourself. Make your own invitations, centerpieces, decorations, etc. You can always ask some friends to help with these things and make a party out of it.
Instead of buying a wedding dress, but a bridesmaids dress that comes in white, ivory, or whatever color you want to wear. Bridesmaids dresses are a lot cheaper and are just as beautiful. Try www.watters.com, they have some great dresses that could work.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 5

I have been to weddings where everyone is asked to contribute as far as food is concerned. I actually coordinated one and it turned out to be great. Everyone was happy and everyone loved the food. There were around 100 guest. Food and music will be the biggest concern usually at the wedding. At this, the bride just had to worry about getting her dress. The reception can be at a Parks & Recreations building which usually isn't expensive ($100 to $200) depending where you live. Had parties at those and I get my deposit back a week later. Dj's aren't that all expensive or if you know someone that owns a CD player with huge speakers they may even volunteer to play music at your party. Have your music selected beforehand and you have a whole year to plan ahead. The best weddings I've attended has been the ones that were the least expensive.

Answer 6

Just remember this...beautiful doesn't have to mean expensive.

Shop around, find the best price before you commit to purchasing things. Also make a lot of your things yourself, like for example your flowers. Fake flowers are much cheaper than real flowers. You don't have to have a lot of decorations, but if you want them, focus on the decortations in the places that mean the most to you, and less in other areas. Ask friends and family if they can help out with their own talents or if they have connections with people who could offer some help or services at perhaps a discount.

Good luck and only spend money on the things you truly must and want to have!

Answer 7

Try a very small wedding on a beach or in a beautiful garden or even a cliff overlooking water. Then invite all of your friends to a fun party at your house. Remember you don't have to invite anyone that your just not that close to (including your sisters boyfriends aunt twice removed lol). Its your wedding so do what makes you happy.

Congrats and Good luck!

Answer 8

There are loads of ways to save money on weddings nowadays. Try thing like making your own favours, theyre really easy and very cheap. My friend has just got married and she got her dress and both her bridesmaid dresses new on ebay and they were beautiful. Just have a small wedding for family and close friens then invite everyone else to the reception, thats always a good way to save. Good luck.

Answer 9

Do you have a large living room? My wedding ceremony will be held in my living room, my reception in the living and dining rooms. You have all the time you need to decorate in your own home. Just move some furniture! Limit your guest list. Have a potluck lunch or just cake and champagne. Try e-bay for a dress...there are some really lovely ones. Use Christmas trees for decorations and give the ornaments as favors. Ask your church if you can borrow their folding chairs (most places do have them).

Answer 10

Excellence Playa Mujeres