How are you paying for the wedding?

Question

I am getting married in September. The more I plan and the closer it gets the more money I am spending. It's stressing me out. I was just wondering if you have any tips on saving money and planning a wedding.

Answer 1

A lot of the stuff for our wedding we haven't had to pay for (DJ, Cake, Photographer) then my Dad & Stepmom gave us $1000 to spend for the wedding and his parents gave us $1000 to spend of the wedding...both of those will go to the reception hall & food. Then everything else we've pretty much paid for ourselves. My mom did buy my veil off ebay...the same veil from david's bridal priced there @ $100 got it off ebay (exact same thing) for $25.

Ways we've found to cut down some costs are for my centerpeices...I watched the sales at the craft store...and hit it at just the right time.

Ebay has been another one of my fav. places to shop...I got my cake topper, unity candle & holder and some thigh highs all for the price of just what the candle holder would have been in the store.

The dollar store has been another god send...I've got disposable cameras to put on the tables from there.

Also for flower's it pays to shop around...don't go to some big name florist...because you are just paying for the name. We found a local (well local to my mom) florist...who did all my flowers (bridal bouquet...3 bridesmaids bouquets...5 bouts...4 mother/grandmother corsages...4 father/grandfather bouts...unity candle flowers & ceremony decorations) for $315.00 That is literally 1/2 the price of what we would have paid had we gone to one of the "name brand" florists.

Also instead of getting your traditional invitations where you have to buy the envelope...invite and rsvp card all separately; we got Seal-n-Send invitations from www.now-and-forever.com . I love mine...they were SOOO much cheaper than going with the "traditional" invitation. Your getting the same thing, but its all on one card. So you have the invitation at the bottom is the rsvp card, whcih separates to mail back...which all folds up to be its own envelope. SO much cheaper!!! Here's ours:
http://www.now-and-forever.com/CasPage1B.cfm?sEnsembleCode=CasEns02180&page=2&strcontinue=yes&strsearch=no&format=SNSCasEnsNF

DIY and Sales are going to be your big money savers! Anything that you can do yourself (centerpieces) do it...get the peices and put it together yourself. Watch your sales flyers. Also DavidsBridal has some awesome sales every now and again...I got my flower girl basket & ring bearer pillow in one box...was orginally $50.00 I got it for $10.00.

Hope this helps you some!! Good luck with your planning and I hope everything goes smoothly!

Answer 2

The biggest thing to remember that the actual wedding is just a day - your marriage will last (hopefully) a lifetime.

From personal experience, my husband received deployment orders (military) on the first Sunday of November and we got married the following Saturday. We planned our wedding in a week and including our honeymoon, we spent less than $5000 total. And we would not change a thing about it.

We were married in a beautiful house that belongs to some friends, I purchased my wedding dress "off the rack", my husband opted to purchase and wear a suit - rather than renting a tux or wearing his dress uniform. We chose not to have attendants (HUGE savings there), and rather than having an extensive rehearsal dinner, we had a casual dinner with our minister, family, and close friends.

As for the reception, because we had a small party (approx. 40 people), instead of renting a venue, we called around and found a resturant that would happily accomodate our party for a small fee.

My suggestions for saving money are: cut down on the flowers that will be used in your wedding venue, rather than purchasing expensive attendant gifts ( such as things from Things Remembered, etc) personalize these gifts - make them yourself - your attendants will appreciate the personal touch, and top way to save money - don't serve alcohol at your reception. If you do want to serve alcohol, make it a limited selection such as wine and beer - steer clear of the liquor - that's where a major amount of expense will be incurred. Also, when choosing your cake - go to small, local bakeries - they will typically be much less costly that a "chain" or larger advertised bakery - often, there work will also be much higher quality.

Like I said, just remember that your wedding is only one day and ask youself this: "Do I really want to spend the first years of my marriage in debt because of my wedding?"

Best of luck with your wedding and I hope this information helps.

Answer 3

We are paying our wedding through our income tax refunds and taking some extra money out of our paycheck and into our savings account.

As for saving money, don't go big on decorations and flowers. Make your own bouquet. Don't spend hundreds on a wedding dress.

Make your own favors. Make sure its sweets or some type of thing that can be used.

Don't use placeholders for regular guests. Only have place holders for the wedding party and their immediate family. Only those in your wedding party, their spouses, and you and your grooms parents and brothers or sisters not in the wedding party need a placeholder. Let the other guests figure out where to sit and who to sit with. I'm sure those who do not get along will make sure they are not sitting at the same table.

Answer 4

I know that the typical answer is to devise a budget, but the budget idea hasn't worked for me. It didn't work for me because I didn't know what a reasonable price for certain things were. Instead of a budget, I have just tried to shop around. When looking at cakes, I found a picture of a cake I wanted online, then went on the search, calling all around my city to the different cake shops, they were going to charge me between $900-$1200 for my cake, which I was not paying!!! I eventually came across a lady who worked in a very well known bakery but was off on mat leave and was still baking cakes in her home. So for the cake that I wanted (a 3 tier cake w pillars inbetween) PLUS a 3 tier waterfountain that the cake is placed on, all said and done - $305!! Delivery, assembly and pick up for her waterfountain, tiers and other items used. My centrepieces I got from Ikea, they are lanterns. Originally $8 each, I got them on sale for $2.99 each just before Christmas. So I bought 20 of them. Flowers, I got everything I wanted, but my florist really worked with me to do it nice but affordable. I've got 8 others in my wedding party as well. The hall, I had no idea the price, but I wanted it. That was the only thing I didn't shop around for. I do strongly suggest that you do though. Check into their regulations as well. Are you able to bring food in? It could be cheaper to get someone else cater your event, rather than have the hall do it. Cash bar is a must as well. Invitations, make them yourself. You can go and buy overtures I believe they are called. They are really beautiful, I was looking at some yesterday. You can buy a kit of 50 for $30-$50. Print them on your computer at home even! Coloured ink! ta da. It would be awesome. Favours, not needed if you don't want them. So no worries there! I am getting married in mid September myself, so I know what you're talking about.

Good luck!!!!! :)

Answer 5

By staying organized and keeping everything on schedule, you can prevent the additional cost associated with -RUSH- charges, by taking these steps you will be able to have a successful cost effective wedding.

You will first need to set up some sort of filing system, which will include everything from contracts to receipts. Remember, the key here is to stay organized. By following the suggestions outlined below you will be able to stay within your budget, you will also keep yourself and your families out of a heap of financial debt.

Saving Secrets

1. Do not make quick and uninformed decisions, this could cause canceled contracts and returned items, which in the end will cost you quite a bit of money.

2. For every product or service you purchase get everything in writing. Read every contract thoroughly and search for hidden cost.

3. If family or friends offer their help, Accept It.

4. When choosing the appropriate site for your ceremony and reception, have both at the same location.

5. Order only as many announcements and invitations that you will need.

6. Hold your wedding during Off Hours and on Off Days. Saturday is the most frequent day for weddings, so try to play another day.

7. Don't be afraid to ask for discounted packages and negotiate everything.

8. When purchasing flowers order flowers that are in season, exotics are usually more expensive, they have to be shipped. Order plenty of greenery to increase flower volume in bouquets. Miniature flowers usually cost less then full size varieties.

9. When purchasing your gown, save on alternation fees by having the shop order to your exact measurements. During your fittings, make sure you wear everything you will wear under your gown to ensure a proper fit and eliminate last minute charges for alterations.

10. When purchasing bridesmaids gowns, ask the bridal shop if it is possible to receive a group discount.

11. When choosing a rental shop for the tux's see if the shop will give the groom his tux for free.

12. Compare the musician's or DJ's fees per hour as opposed to a flat fee. Also question overtime charges.

13. Purchase limousine rental for the bride and groom to travel in and provide alternate transportation for the wedding party.

14. Photography/Videography order all prints and videos together. Request a discount for ordering in bulk. To supplement the pictures that are taken, have disposable cameras on each table at the reception for guest to use.


good luck

Answer 6

We started saving 2 years ago so we have some money to pay for the biggest expense - the venue. We will also do a lot DIY. Only buy necessary things and stay within a budget - so no overpriced chocolate fountain = (

We are having a Mexican wedding so we will have padrinos (Asians have this too) they are sponsors (family mostly) who help pay for the wedding.

Answer 7

The best thing you can do is create a budget and STICK to it exactly ... budgets are a great way to help curb spending. If you spend a little more in entertainment or food, then you should cut back in other areas, like attire or flowers. Pick the 3 or 4 thigns that are really important to you and your fiance ... those things that you refuse to cut corners on. Everything else can be done to a lesser extent and that should help a lot.

Answer 8

These days, couples pay for their own wedding. I knew what I could save over a year, and budgeted accordingly. Biggest tip - don't bother with professional photography/portraits. Too much money, and someone you know has to be decent with a camera.

Answer 9

Do a cash bar first of all. Hire a Deejay instead of a band (with references of course). Use silk flowers instead of real ones, except for your bouquet. I had a friend who baked the cake for just the cost of the ingredients. It was beautiful. It had 4 layers, it was white with white edible pearls bordering each layer, 6 big, beautiful red roses as the topping and red rose petals all around the cake at the base. If you haven't already booked the venue, getting one with decorations already provided is the way to go. For many wedding favors and/or decorations go to eBay and type in wedding in the search field. You'll be amazed at how many items come up. I also asked close family members to sponsor items that I needed in lieu of a wedding gift and I recognized them in a frame by the sign in book. I got my dress at Dillard's on sale. I cut corners all kinds of ways. It's amazing what you can do on a budget if you really try. My Wedding day was surreal. I hope yours is too. Don't stress out too much. Get someone to do it for you such as a close friend or relative. To handle all the details the day of. You will enjoy your day much more if you do. Congrats!

Answer 10

You have to come up with a budget. Make a list of everything you need to pay for your wedding and decide how much you are willing to spend for it. This will give you a total dollar amount for your wedding. You can make adjustments to the amounts you spend on the different pieces, but don't allow yourself to go over the total budget amount you set.