Weddings on a budget - help!?!?!?

Question

Me and my partner really want to get married but weddings are sooo expensive. Our parents won't pay anything - have you got any ideas of a cheap wedding?

Answer 1

i can email you with some ideas if you want.
or you can email me [e-mail]
Because I dont have enough space here to tell all

Answer 2

My wife and I were in the same boat, mixed family (so already had kids costing $, broke parents, etc) so here are some things we did to save money. First we had the service at our church, and our pastor hosted the ceremony (so no required cost, but we gave them "gifts" of money for their kindness), had church soundman, and camera crew, etc. Next we found a independent cake maker so our cake was only just over $100. I rented a tux, and asked the guys in the wedding to provide their own (as they all were aware of our situation, and wanted to bless us) and explained that if they couldn't afford it, I'd help, but I didn't need to. My wife found a great deal on the bridsmaids' dresses at JC Penny's and again, told the women where they were and to pick out their own. So, as you can see, the up front cost was fairly inexpensive, you just have to get creative and trust that the people that love you, that you want in your wedding will be helpful and glad that you 2 are taking this oh so important step in your lives together. As for the "reception", we handed out little notes to people as they left inviting them to our house (we had a pretty big house with a good size yard, and we were married on May 4th so the weather was nice too) for an "ice cream and cake social" after the wedding. We bought all sorts of different toppings for the ice cream, had drinks, and we all just visited and had a very nice, relaxing time. We had comments about how much fun it was, and what a great idea (my wive's idea by the way). The wedding is important, and you should enjoy it and get the most out of it that you can, film it, etc so you can look back later, but really the marriage is the most important thing. You don't want to be stressed over money, just relax and have fun with it. We also got some pretty basic, but cute invitations for not a lot of money. Be creative, don't be afraid to ask for help, and remember the reason for the occasion!

Answer 3

Well alot of places have "package deals". The place where my husband and I got married did. It was a beautiful garden location. You just told them how many guests, and they gave you a price. The price included flowers, DJ, Cake, Minister, Tables, Chairs, Tablecloths, Photographer, and Dinner. You get to choose from a list of entrees', appetizers, etc.

Plus you could always add extras on at the florist if you wanted MORE flowers, bouquets, etc.

Oh yeah, and if you do it at a place like that, you get a discount for doing it during the week. I think like 20% off Monday-Friday. I got 10% off for doing it on a Sunday.

So basically after I paid them, all I had to do was find bridesmaid dresses, my dress, invitations and party favors. It also made it SO stress free to have it all taken care of for me. I think the total cost of my wedding was about $7000. That's nothing for a wedding these days. Especially including the photographer and everything.

If you were thinking cheaper than that, maybe you have a friend with a nice yard that you could have the wedding? My friends did that and it was still very nice. They just rented the tables and chairs, and the food was sort of BBQ style. It was still pretty neat. There are so many different things you can do. Just do lots of research!

Good luck!

Answer 4

My husband and I got married a month ago tomorrow - hurrah.

We had a wednesday wedding so the registrar cost £100.

I had a lovely evening dress that I never get to wear that cost me £90 7 year ago though I did buy a new wrap thing to go over it - - £40.

We had four lovely freinds to witness it - nothing.

We took a cab to the registir office and then back home - £20

We invited our four friends for a glass or two of bubbly and a slap up indian meal - £250

So £450 all in. And it was so lovely, it enabled us to concentrate on each other rather than 'the day'.

You can always have a big party or re-new your vows in few years when you have a bit more cash to splash! After all marriage is about the conmitment not about frocks and cake.

Answer 5

I am going through the same hell as you. What i have done so far is set a budget. My budget is 3,000 pound (uk) I have set 500 for dresses, mine and three bridesmaids. Monsoon do wedding dresses, asda, marks and spencer, monsoon and other highstreets fr as little as 100 pound. Three hundred for parners and bestman suits and my little boy whi is 4 page boy. 150 pound for registra office, im making my own invites ive bought the stationary and that has came to 20 pound. I have bought all the table decorations ie balloons, favours, table confettie from ebay and that has cost me about 15 pound. Im doing my own bouquets with silk flowers 5 of budget for that is abut 30 pound. 300 pound for reception,buffet and dj. But there is so much more which i can't even think of. I know i will go over the budget cause ive not even thought of shoes the car and everything else. You have to sit down and come up with a price you are willing to spend and try and budget it as best as you can. Good luck and congratulations. Try ebay it's great!!!!!!

Answer 6

My husband and I got married on a shoestring. We called in lots of favours. We did it at a registry office, but we picked a lovely looking one. (Westminster Registry Office is fantastic, if you live in London. We were officially meant to be in Camden Reg office, but it was all false ceilings and nasty winos outside! Westminster is all wood-panelling and grand steps) My Dads wedding present was the honeymoon.
We asked a local pub if they would close their doors for the evening and have just us and we guaranteed them a certain amount of spend over the bar. We asked a caterer friend to do the food, just buffet style. We got a arty friend to design the invites. Our wedding was wonderful. There is also a lot of off licenses that will allow you to purchase wine based on what you actually consume. So you can just get enough for a toast. All in all our most expensive outgoing was the photographer. We spent only £2000 in all back in 1999.

One last BIG tip is that if you are saving costs then a lot of it will be organised by yourself. To avoid that really stressful time just before the wedding, ask a very reliable friend to take over the organisation. You should be able to relax on your big day. I did that and it really made a difference.

Answer 7

Have a destination wedding/honeymoon. And just invite parents/siblings/family and friends that would flip their own bill. It would be like a big vacation for everyone. Just make sure to plan it a while from now to give people heads up.

Or

A Barbecue wedding. Someones backyard and just like a barbecue style.

There are many ways to save on weddings. Good luck!

Answer 8

Make as many things as you can. Use fake flowers instead of real - Wait till they go on sale most places will have a sale for 50% off wedding stuff & flowers. Surf the web a lot. I bought my wedding dress online (my whole attire cost $300) My dress was a formal cathidral legnth train. Ask around where the best deals are for tuxes,cakes, photos everything. Go to the mall for bridemaid dresses- Remember your attendents are on a budget too.

Answer 9

Weddings can be as cheao or expensive as you make them.
Print out your invites on your pc yourself.
Choose a registry office for the wedding and then maybe do a buffet at your place (real cheap) or have a meal at a pub for just a few select friends.


Get a taxi to the event instead of hiring cars.

Get several friends to take photos instead of hiring a photographer.

Do your own flowers by buying them from wallmart or tesco and tying ribbon round it yourself. Saves money on having a florist which usually charge a fortune.
Buy your dress on ebay as you can get some cheap bargains.
Dont bother with bridesmaids or ushers.


Buy your cake ready made at Tesco (they do plain white iced fruit and madeira cakes) then decorate it yourself.

Have sparkly bubby for the toast. it doesnt have to be expensive champayne.

Ask guests to give you money towards honeymoon instead of gifts that you my never use.

you can word it politely by saying

"we do not expect gifts but if you would like to give something we would appreciate some money towards our honeymoon"

Answer 10

go to you local VFW hall and ask if you can rent it for a wedding or maybe have a daytime reception on the weekend or have it on a friday night because it is usually cheaper than the typical saturday night. maybe even decide on a luncheon or bbq after the wedding and wait a few years for the big reception. make all your own decorations and boquets.
make your own inviations on the computer--there are many different programs you can buy. have those disposable cameras on the tables for the guests to take pictures for you. ask a friend to do the video. go to somewhere like david's bridal--many dresses start at $99. have the groom and groomsmen wear suits with matching ties. go to a local caterer or have family members help make the food.

Answer 11

When I got married, money was very tight. We had the major family member bring the food. For example, Aunt Sue brought potato salad, Uncle Ron brought chicken.

We decorated the hall ourselves.

Also, for wedding pictures, we gave certain family members film to take pictures at the wedding and the reception. Back then they did not have disposable cameras.

Best of luck to you.