how can you keep costs down on your own wedding?

Question

I want the dress, bridemaids, best man, cake, party all the family to be there but we dont earn alot we was going to wait till we earned more money but that could be 5 years so we want to get married soon

Answer 1

I had 5 months to plan my wedding. I made all of my own bouquets, boutonnieres, and even decorated my own unity candles. My wedding dress I bought at a bridal consignment shop. The original cost of the dress was $1800. I got if for $375.

Don't be afraid to check out dollar stores for things like table decorations and candles, matching plates, napkins, cutlery.

You want your bridesmaids to be able to wear the dresses again. Go on a shopping trip with them and have them pick out a dress they like from Sears, JC Penny's, Wal-Mart, Target or where ever. Chances are, if they know they will be able to wear it again, they will be more likely to purchase their dress themselves and save you that money. Also, places like Wal-Mart, Miejer, Kroger's do wedding cakes. Or if you trust a friend or family member (or even yourself) to practice making and decorating your cake yourself, that can save a lot of money too.

Hold your reception after "lunch time" but before "supper". That way you can get away with a cake and punch reception and not have to feed all of your guests.

Try to find a park that has a nice area to hold a simple ceremony. That way, its free. If you are a member of a church, they will usually do it for free too.

I'm sure I will remember more of what I did after I finish my post. (after all, it was almost 10 years ago!)

Good Luck and Congrats! ;)

Answer 2

Have a think about this:
1. Go to a register office and have the wedding there - £100 approx. If you go and have it at a hotel or hall they charge you through the roof AND you have to pay the registrar to be there extra.
2. Don't get a chauffer driven car - get one of the family or friends to drive you there, and give the car a good clean & put a ribbon along it!
3. Make your own cake. Basic wedding cake costs £165+ approx, I'm making my own (very rich) fruit cake for £15 - all iced and yummy!.
4. Get a dress you like, doesn't have to be a big gown, consider a smart suit, or have a look in the High Street shops for something nice. Oasis, Coast - the do gorgeous dresses you could get for a wedding, around £100.
5. What about having everyone back to your place and doing a BBQ if you have a garden, and if not a buffet at your place?

I'm getting married in April, we're trying to beat the system on the money making wedding industry! Good luck and congratulations. Also why not register on your local Freecycle site (Google it) where you can ask for things for free that people are getting rid of - you can get a cake stand, dress, anything else you need by doing this. Also take advantage of the special offers on Champagne - like 3 for the price of 2 - it soon adds up!
Good luck, hope this helps!

Answer 3

There are a number of things you can do to keep costs down, Ask the Bridesmaids and Brest men etc to pay for their own suit hire or dress hire tell them it will be instead of a present. Ask your guests to contribute for the Honeymoon its a common practise nowadays as a lot of couple live together already and don't need anything for the house.
See if you have an aunt or friend/relative who is good a making cakes, bet there is someone you know who can. Or just buy one form M&S they have some nice ones.
Make the invites yourself they are easy to do and as long as you use good card then they will look lovely.
If you are catholic then there will not be a fee for the church only a donation, explain that you would like to pay after the wedding.
Find a farely small photogropher they will be cheeper.
Have the reception in a hall they will charge less.

I did most of the above and it was the best day of my life, all the guests commented on the very personal touch as we had done nearly everything ourselves. Above all remeber it is a day for you and you partner and dont worry what others will think.
Good Luck!!

Answer 4

I got married 3 years ago and we didn't have much money. We managed to keep the cost down to around £1200 and that included the honeymoon! The most expensive item was my dress at £250. My husband had just bought a new suit so there was no cost there, just got some matching ties for him and the best man. Register office was about £150, car was free as I work for a taxi firm! We had our reception in the local pub so no fee for the room, spent £200 on the food (buffett) and £150 for the disco. The cake was made by my chef bro-in-law and we had an all inclusive honeymoon in Spain. Photos were about £100. It was the best wedding I've ever been to and you would never have guessed it was on the "cheap". Good luck with yours!

Answer 5

First, congratulations and every best wish for the future.
You have made a good start by agreeing that saving for a house is more important that a flashy wedding to impress.

Why not have a self catering buffet reception, hire the wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses . Arrange for three or four friends to video ( Murphy's Law says equipment goes on the blink at important events) and you then have a choice of what you put in the Wedding album.
Be upfront about it and mention in the invitation that they can help with the catering . to bring a bottle and bring and their digital cameras. Decorate your own wedding cars.
Have your wedding present list at Marks and Spencers and you can cash in the unfortunate presents for vouchers to buy what you really want. Hire a hall with a kitchen and have a barn dance to finish of the evening. All ages can enjoy learning the steps,it gets people off their chairs cuts down the drinking time and keeps the children amused and ready for bedtime.

I think it could be a really fun time and very memorable . Have a wonderful time.
Finally remind yourselves that a wedding is a day but marriage is for ever. Also people like to help those who help themselves.
God bless.

Answer 6

I have heard that you can buy once used dresses this will help as long as they are cheap remember to ask people who you know, if you know someone who can re use old to new dress makers ask them find the colour sceme, your dress must be NEW no if or buts, best man ect can hire theres, now looking for venue the cheapest is doing the catering yourself would cost around £300 get family to help you, most of all the Room Hire look around there are places that hire all the room and do the cartering for you for around £1000 but you can just hire a room and do this yourself, DJ if you live in the West Midlands or West Bromwich areas ask me i know many different DJ's ok I am having the same issue i want one wedding my misses wants the other i will loose, which ever way mine going to cost me around £3000 or even more, i got to find a the cars stuff got the present for bridemaid do you need help try surfing the net for place like these below.

Answer 7

Weddings don't have to be painfully expensive to be nice. Start shopping for your dress early and check out the bargain racks. I found my dress on a discontinued rack for a little over $100 dollars. My sister bought a Vera Wang dress that someone had worn and returned to a high end store for less than $200 - it required alteration but was gorgeous on her. The bridesmaids and groomsmen traditionally pay for their own outfits. The tuxedo rentals aren't outrageous and you can help the bridesmaids by setting some criteria and letting them choose the dresses. I gave my bridesmaids the choice of two colors and they picked one and found some great dresses to wear. They were happy to be wearing dresses that they actually liked.

Get a simple wedding cake in a traditional design - they really aren't terribly expensive. If you get married at a church, try to reserve the church's hall afterward for the reception. If I were you, I'd enlist my family and friends to help with the food and decorations.

My idea of a great wedding is one that everyone has a good time. Nothing has to be fancy or perfect just fun.

Answer 8

You can get married for as little or as much as you want. All you have to do is think a bit creatively and stick to whatever budget you set. Don't get lulled into buying all the lovely goodies out there - keep it simple and plan carefully.

My best advice is to get as many people to help out as possible. They'll enjoy being part of your special day and you'll save a fortune. Use a back garden, get a friend to photograph, do the catering yourself, flowers and cake can be made by other members of your family or friends. If everyone pulls together, you can still have a great day that's really special but that doesn't cost the earth.

For some more tips and ideas on how to save money on your wedding, visit http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk

Good luck!

Answer 9

you don't have to spend a lot to get married
have the wedding at the registrar it costs from £100 up and you can have family there too!

don't spend a whole lot on a dress, shop around for one you like it may be from monsoon, oasis, (i got a lovely champagne colour wedding dress from bhs for £100)

make your own cake instead of getting a bakers to do it or even try m&s or supermarkets!

if you want cars then why not try what i done i got a local taxi firm from phonebook and hired 2 mercs from them and they only cost £300 (for them both for the whole day and they supplied the ribbon for the front and the flowers in the back )

i know it sounds cheeky but ask your bridesmaid and best man if they dont mind buying or hiring there own outfits!

and for the reception justt prepare your own buffet
and have a disco instead of a band!

Answer 10

We had a great wedding on a smaller budget. I bought a lot of things on ebay!!!!! If you have time to shop and wait for the deals you can wait it out. I got a tiara for $15 that would have been $80 in the store!!!! Also, they suggest borrowing a veil from a friend. You could have the guys wear suits instead of tuxes and it looks nice as well. If you know of someone that makes cakes that will help!!! Just start shopping for the deals!! It will all work out. Good luck!!