I can not afford the wedding I want. Any suggestions on a nice wedding with about $6000?

Question

My fiance' and I want a small church wedding with family and friends, and a reception. How can we pull this off with this amount. We don't want it to look cheap either!

Answer 1

Here is how to spend your $6000 and have the wedding of your dreams:

Reception Site/Food/Favors $2,700.00
Photography & Video $900.00
Flowers $900.00
Music $480.00
Rehearsal Dinner $300.00
Bridal Gown $300.00
Limousines / Transportation $150.00
Stationery / Invitations $120.00
Bridal Accessories $60.00
Clergy/Chapel $60.00
Wedding Accessories $30.00

As you find deals, you can reallocate funds to different categories. Here are items not included:

Honeymoon (since costs vary depending on where/when you go)
Rings (since this is a liftetime investment), Bridesmaid dresses (since Bridesmaid typically pay for this themselves), Tuxes (since groomsmen typically pay for this themselves + oftentimes with a certain number of tux rentals from the wedding party, the grooms tux is free.)

Answer 2

Good lord! That's almost double what we spent. Just make sure that when you choose things like flowers and such, you are getting the best price possible. Also, you could buy some of your flowers wholesale and put the arrangements together yourself. For food at the reception, have refreshments instead of a sit down meal. You can still have really nice food that will be filling and be enough for everyone, but it won't cost as much to have it catered because you aren't paying for servers. You don't have to have everything that a pricier wedding would have and just be cautious about what you are spending on and how much. Decide what things are a "must" for you and your soon to be husband, and what are things that can be scrapped later on if money doesn't allow for it. Do not hire a wedding planner! They will cost you sooooo much more.
Also, this is the best time to buy your dress. Discontinued styles are on sale and the prices will be cut sifnificantly, same with bridesmaids dresses. All the new styles will hit the stores in about a month and a half and right now bridal shops are liquidating last years styles to make room for them.
You can get a really pretty gown for half what it would have cost originally in some cases.
Congrats and good luck!

Answer 3

My son got married last Fall and her mom did the entire wedding for around what you are saying. She shopped around, watched for bargains, sales, discontinueds, etc. She made the pew bows herself, rented the altar decorations, candles, etc. Got a great deal on a dress, tho I would've gone with david's bridal and gotten a much less expensive one AND the attendents' dresses too. Check and see if the flower girl can borrow or rent her dress. Lots of times there are people you know who've had c'ren in weddings and will let you borrow their dress.Just a thought, but since you're only wearing the dress once, do you know anyone who had a beautiful dress you might borrow? Lots of people consider it very flattering to be asked that. Family, maybe? Network with frends who may be able to make your cake in trade for a service. Bartering is a wonderful way to get what you want without killing your budget! My daughter in law's mom did all the fruit trays and fingerfoods for the wedding reception with the exception of the cake..that was made by a close personal friend in exchange for a barter. The most expensive part of the wedding was the photographer. This was the one place they didn't want to scrimp, mainly because her mom's wedding pictures had been botched years before! If you are members at the church, you usually don't have to rent the facilities, just do the cleanup afterward. The more family and friends you get involved, the more hidden talents you'll find, and they'll feel special for having been a part of making your day so special. Good luck to you both. I know you'll have a beautiful wedding!

Answer 4

Don't waste a lot of money on flowers. Especially in the church. Use more creative decorations such as ribboms and bows. But your dress on sale at David's Bridal or use your mom or grandmom's heirloom dress. For the reception - choose a garden rather than a catering hall. Again, less flowers more ribbons and bowes. Consider silk flowers for the bouquets for brides maids and real for you. Have a buffet instead of a sit down dinner - and talk with the caterer about less expensive items like pastas, salads and maybe ONE meat dish. Instead of a 3 tier cake, get a one tier for the cutting ceramony and serve the guests an inexpensive sheet cake instead. Most guest don't eat the cake anyway. Do NOT have an "open bar" and if you do - it should be wine, beer and soda only. Don't buy expensive champagne for the wedding toast (well, a good bottle for you and hubby like Korbel) but fill the guests glasses with $3.00 a bottle of "Andre". Most guests just take a sip of the glass for the toast and don't drink the rest - so filling their glasses with expensive champagne. Forget the party favors - most guests end up tossing them anyway. For more ideas on how much things will cost and to get more ideas go to www.weddingchannel.com You can also set up your wedding website with all the info and you can also set up all your bridal registries there as well.

Hope you have a long and happy marriage.

Answer 5

Try looking for a hall that normally does regular parties. There should be some in your area. Check under clubs or halls in the phone book. Ask if they do catering or find a buffet restaurant that does outside catering. Many places like hometown buffet do outside catering. Silk flowers are great they last forever and you can get the flowers you want within your budget. Renting your dress could be an option but I hear it's almost as expensive as buying so, do some research. I was able to find a great dress for $300.00 in a dress shop. I donated mine to the Salvation Army. I saw a good handful of dresses there so that could be an option as well. All of your wedding party have to pay for their own clothes but, Try to pick a color that can be easily found. Don't make them all wear the same dress just the same color. This way they can find an affordable dress. If you start buying things before wedding season you can find great deals. I can give you more details if you email me. I'm not a wedding planner or anything so don't worry. I had a very tight budget and I got married before the holidays. So I know how to pinch a penny. So feel free to ask me for any additional help.

Answer 6

Oh, hon, you will have the wedding you want --- just be careful with the planning and budgeting. Hopefully you will see that it's not always the best to have a huge extravaganza! The marriage is what is important.
Some tips - I always thought the money for professional photography was wasted. These days, there is usually someone in the family or friends who can take half-decent pictures, so hopefully you have someone like that. Also, for the reception, check if your church ladies will cater, or another non-profit organization. They always have the BEST food for really decent prices, but this depends upon where you live.
Make your own invitations, or have someone else do them on the computer for you. That cuts a lot of cost.
Good luck and Congrats!

Answer 7

I'm getting married in july this year and what i have come to realize is that a wedding is not about the dress or the cake pretty much any of the material things it is about uniting 2 people who love each other very much and want to spend the rest of their lives together so it doesn't matter how much money you spend or what you serve at the reception just keep in mind what is impotent and that is that you are with the one you love and you have loved ones around you to help you celebrate.

We are having a church wedding with just family and a fue of our closest friends and for our reception we are having a backyard bbq but that's what we want it's nice and simple and everyone is comfortable
congrats and good luck I know what you are going through.

Answer 8

can you have the reception in the Church hall? Have the family do the food and just buy flowers and a wedding cake. Rent the service items from rent all. Get family friends to help set up a buffet and coffee. Do not have anything except champaign for a toast and soft drinkls. A bar is a real waste of money. You can do the whole thing under 3,000 including the dress and the tux and small favors for all. Then keep the honeymoon to under 3.000.

Answer 9

Don't assume you can't afford your wedding. I was delightfully surprised to find that there are a wide range of buffet halls in our area that cater and provide everything from the tables/chairs to the centerpieces for one price. The most reasonable ones were run by Knights of Columbus or similar organizations. But we also found several small caterers who have their own banquet halls that were phenomenal. The most expensive part is the meal. Take a good look at your guest list.....is it just everyone you've ever met? lol or people who really matter? Trimming that helps. Many places now have outdoor grounds where you can get married at the same location as the reception. A church may help you with the cost if you explain your situation. I think the most important thing is to get clear on what it is you want... make a list of the top five things.... and dont get caught up in the marketing excess (you really DONT need engraved match books lol). Oh yeah...and if your groom doesn't make the top five...run. Include items you are looking for (cake cutters, cake topper, runners, champagne flutes) on your shower registy. Tap into the creativity and talents of your guests...chances are you have someone who loves to decorate or is crafty and loves weddings (like me lol) let them help you come up with ideas.
Rent your cake (yes rent it)....look it up under rent-a-cake. Get on the phone and take a day or two to visit the various vendors in your area...you will be amazed at what you can learn just looking at the pictures they have of previous parties... get creative about your location....some local resorts, golf courses, restaurants and cafe's host smaller parties (lots of banquet facilities require 175 or more). Most of all..have fun. (Oh..and my experience is a tent wedding does not end up costing less in the long run...so do that only if that makes you happy). Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 10

6000 is plenty of money for a nice but small church wedding...so stop worrying!

my advice : only spend a lot on the things that will last.
for example...
don't spend a ton on lavish invitations, because most people just throw them away.

similarly, use fresh flowers sparingly, and go for other means of decoration.

don't spend hundreds renting a limo...rent (or borrow) a luxury vehicle instead.

instead of having a full bar at the reception, make wine your only alcohol choice...if you can have friends of friends tend bar, you can save even more by buying your own wine.

don't go crazy with choosing wedding favors...chances are, there going to end up in the trash too.

good luck...i am sure you'll get the wedding of your dreams