im looking to spend around 3500 total ...I have about 125 guests and i already have a DJ so subtract that.. also the church where i am getting married will be free
2007-01-29 06:16:43 · 10 answers · asked by raaainbow 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Some of the ways to cut down on expenses is to do a lot of it yourself. Make your own invitations and thank you cards, make your own flower arrangements for most of the decorations and then have a florist do like your boquet. Also, you can have a potluck wedding or have a local favorite restaurant cater for you. Hold the reception at either a restaurant or a family members house.
The most importaint thing is to be creative and if you have to go over your budget a little bit then it isn't the end of the world.
2007-01-29 06:28:35 · answer #1 · answered by minicoop_jen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to www.indiebrides.com for many ideas on cost cutting strategies.
One thing, never tell a vendor that you want to order ----- for a wedding. Just say a family reunion or party or something and let them quote a price first. Vendors see $$$$$ when they are discussing a wedding.
The food is usually the major expense. You could have a cocktail reception instead of a sit down dinner. Or you can get family and friends to make the food, either finger foods or a real meal. If you are elegant in the presentation, it won't look like the church potluck supper. (And if it does, there's nothing wrong with that!)
Ask family and everyone you know what they have that you can borrow to use for a wedding. People have table clothes, vases, fancy candlesticks, serving dishes, silver etc etc just sitting in a drawer. They would probably be thrilled to loan it for a wedding.
Is Aunt Edna a gardener? Flowers! Uncle Bob a camera buff? Photographer! Cousin Betty like to make cakes? Duh!
This kind of thing works great IF you can give up some control over every detail, and if you can accept some mark less than professional perfection. Let's face it, Uncle Bob's photos will probably not be as stunning as the professional who gets $3000 for a day's shooting, and Betty's cake might be a tiny bit crooked.
If you have some part that you feel must be perfect, then hire a professional for that and use the amateur work for something else.
Ask ask ask! Then use the talents of your friends and family. They love you and will be glad to help on your special day.
Good luck!
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And Chelsea? You had better check with the rental agency about using the house for a wedding. Some contracts expressly forbid things like weddings and house parties, it would be wise to check before going too far with your planning. Sounds beautiful, though!
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2007-01-30 09:53:48 · answer #2 · answered by Ara57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm getting married next year. I don't really have a large budget also. An Idea that i'm still working on is to rent a vacation home for a couple days. We live in Oregon and I want to get married at the coast. So, we're renting a HUGE house with a very large deck that is right on the beach. We're having the cermony on the sand and the reception back up at the house. It's a gorgeous house and only around 300/a night. We can rent some tables with white tablecloths. and chairs. Use the deck for a dance floor and the DJ. If you really want to save money you can do a potluck wedding or have friends and family members cook for you. Or hire a caterer. You can do all the decorations yourself and make it as gorgeous as you want it to be!
Hope this helps, and congratulations!
2007-01-29 14:26:56 · answer #3 · answered by Chelsea W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most expensive part of a wedding is feeding the guests. If you plan on having 125 people, you would need to figure an absolute minimum of $20.00 per person for just a meal, tax and gratuity (unless you plan on cooking the food yourself). This would not include a champagne toast. That cost alone is $2500.00.
The best way to keep your expense down is to keep your guest list down.
2007-01-29 18:36:53 · answer #4 · answered by 14b32bbdog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to michael's for alot of your decorations and make your own boquets and boutinerres from fake flowers. get signed up on their mailing list to get coupons, get some other people to do the same. then, when you go to buy something every week, use the coupons. take some people with you that have coupons and then you can get more! The dollar tree has some things like thank yous,tulle circles that you can put buttermints into for your guests, and much more!
2007-01-29 14:25:18 · answer #5 · answered by jacksonblonde 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your probobly going to have something a little more causal. I can tell you most of the cost come from the little details. Such as car/limo rental, so nix that. favors, they're really a waste of money. Try to rent or borrow a wedding dress from a friend or family member.
2007-01-29 14:23:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do silk flowers, they are beautiful and inexpensive. If you have a pool or someone willing to let you use theirs a tropical wedding is really easy. Just do colorful flowers and have a cookout and dance around the pool. My Friend did this and it was beautiful and everyone had a blast!
2007-01-29 15:16:10 · answer #7 · answered by Texas Pineknot 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jump over a broom.
(total cost : Broom $9.95)
2007-01-29 14:23:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Use a park and have a BBQ.
2007-01-29 14:20:23 · answer #9 · answered by alwaysmoose 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
http://www.theknot.com/co_profileview.htm?profilename=budgetbridesbio
2007-01-29 16:01:10 · answer #10 · answered by BeatriceBatten 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋