My fiance and I are getting married this June. Neither of us are very picky, high maitenance or need/want an all-out ritzy wedding. We plan on having the wedding and reception at my Dad's. He lives in the country with plenty of parking and yardspace for our guests. We were thinking of just getting a couple kegs, maybe catering or maybe just some grilling! We are on a SUPER tight budget. Having a great time with our friends and family is our main objective! Does anyone have any advice how to pull off an inexpensive but memorable/fun wedding in this short amount of time?
2007-03-24 15:06:15 · 8 answers · asked by Jess 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I should add that it's going to be a casual wedding. I'm going to have a dress but very simple, knee-length, nothing poofy, haha. But I guess I don't expect people to get dressed up necessarily. I know I'm planning our wedding not a kegger or bbq but I really want it to be about whos theres and why we're all there. No one remembers the flowers, etc, I want people to remember what a good time they had at our wedding. So with that in mind, still have any ideas on what to do?
2007-03-25 00:50:07 · update #1
To save money, stick to beer and boxed wine--there is no problem with boxed wine; it is SO much cheaper than bottled, it tastes good (as long as you get a decent brand), and it serves a ton of people. There's even a boxed sangria now. (Buy white wine, and chill it. Red wine doesn't scream BBQ, even if you are serving meat.)
You likely have a friend with a great camera. Put disposable cameras around so your friends can take pictures, but ask a friend with an interest in photography to bring his/her camera so some semi-professional shots can be taken. As long as you don't ask them to take a thousand pictures, they should be thrilled that you asked! Ditto on a video camera.
Find someone with an ipod and speakers. Set up a playlist of songs you want played at your wedding, in the order you want them played. This way, you won't need anyone to DJ!
Citronella candles are a MUST to keep bugs out of your wedding celebration.
For dessert, do "decorate your own cupcakes" with a white wedding theme. This way, you don't have to hire a baker, and you don't even have to frost the cupcakes! Make a bunch of white cupcakes (not yellow-they sell white) and have your guests decorate them with non-pareils (Snow-Caps), coconut, white M&Ms (you can special-order them), white chocolate chips, etc. Watermelon is always refreshing. Or, rent a cotton candy machine--your guests will go nuts for it. It shouldn't be too expensive.
Make as much of the food in advance as possible. If you do decide to grill, make sure you have someone who doesn't mind manning the bbq while others dance and socialize. (This shouldn't be too hard.) Buy pre-made salads (cole slaw, etc.) to be easier on yourself. Do something a little different--make garlic bread for the burgers (or buy it premade), make kabobs, etc.
For favors, think edible. Nobody wants stuff that's going to sit around the house. Buy nectarines and put them out in buckets. Not only will they be decorative and fragrant, your guests can help themselves to one on the way out. Or, go with the outdoor theme. . . something your guests can use all summer long. maybe those little battery-operated handheld fans? Make cheap labels on your computer to stick on whatever you decide on.
Or forego favors altogether--it's totally fine.
Sounds like fun. Good luck.
2007-03-25 03:54:12 · answer #1 · answered by kimpenn09 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The grilling sounds nice.. have a friend or family member be in charge of the food... or just have a local restaurant delivery - nothing fancy. Don't even tell them it's for a wedding.
It sounds like a cute/fun wedding..
Don't forget the music! Since you're out in the country - you can have the music plenty loud.. Try and use a little of your budget for live music - it's worth it - even some amatuer singer or country guitar player.. a family friend even.. live music is one of the best things you can do to make sure people have fun
Are you into the whole country thing? If you are, they have country/western themed Cake toppers, invitations, etc.
You could both wear cowboy boots under your dress/tux
Play some wedding games - I found some the other day but now I can't find them.. Similar to shower games but you can play them at the actual wedding since you want it casual.
Definately use the internet to comparison shop..
www.theknot.com
www.shopzilla.com
www.bizrate.com
2007-03-24 23:57:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I want to come to your wedding.. it sounds like it's going to be so much fun!
One suggestion.. don't bring out the kegs until AFTER the ceremony :) My daughter recently went to a wedding at which the guests were swigging from cans during the ceremony, and I think that's a bit TOO casual and disrespectful
If you want to do something a little different than a plain old BBQ.. why not try roasting a whole pig? MMMMMM yum yum!
Here's a link to instructions.. in some areas you can hire someone to come out and tend to the pig and cut it you don't need to fret about it.
http://www.cannulismeats.com/html/how_to_roast_a_whole_hog.html
Get lots of tables... jazz them up with white tableclothes... these disposable ones at Coscto are think and lovely and sop up spills well! June should have lots of bedding plants still for sale... wrap the bases in foil that matches whatever your 'colour' is and they'll serve as table decorations, weights to keep the tableclothes from blowing, and favors that won't go to waste :)
You might want to rent a party tent if you're doing this outdoors... summer sun can be a bit MUCH to sit under.
Congrats on your engagement.. have a great, fun wedding!
2007-03-29 04:56:43 · answer #3 · answered by endorable 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make a list of the top five things about your wedding.... figure out what makes it special for you. Then remember, you are not planning a party or a bbq or a family reunion, its a wedding. Make it different from a bbq or party in ways that are meaningful for you.....I have seen beautiful outdoor weddings with those white tents. Remember too, you will be dressed and feeling very important that day, you may not want to turn it into a keg fest (no prob if you do, just think about it).....have a keg fest the night you get back from your honeymoon.....or something....but I would give myself a chance to have a special, classy day.....
2007-03-25 01:01:43 · answer #4 · answered by Sweetserenity 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We're on a tight budget, too, so I completely understand when it comes to crunching numbers.
Do you have any friends or family members that are good on the grill? Maybe you could go to Sam's Club or GFS (Gordon Food Service) to buy your food in larger quantities, and get a bit of a discount. That's what we're doing. Maybe have grilled chicken and some salads and a veggie?
Look around for a company to where you can rent a tent and tables from. Maybe attend some bridal shows if you're able. You can meet lots of vendors and possibly win door prizes for gift certificates.
Instead of renting table clothes, you can purchase rolls of plastic table coverings. It would be sooo much easier to clean up!
An idea for the cake...get a small wedding cake and then buy sheet cake for the rest of the guests. It saves money!!
Good idea on getting a couple of kegs, too!
2007-03-25 11:20:48 · answer #5 · answered by sweetxgrace 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just decorate the place really nice. Make sure you have good food or catering and also alcohol. I dont know if your going to have a band or a DJ, but got to have some kind of an entertainment for your guests. Most people who go to weddings will go there to eat and drink and have a good time. So if your not going to have at least 2 of these, many of your guest will leave disappointed.
2007-03-25 03:37:30 · answer #6 · answered by msknowitall 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like you already know what you want--but i would add, have one table with a white table cloth [even paper one] on it and a nice arrangement of flowers, OR 2 white candles, with the cake and already poured glasses of champayne, or a few glasses already poured, [it can be very inexpensive wine] you can even buy plastic champayne glasses for this, surely for this special occasion you want a toast-[the best man should do the toast] but beware of running children, have this little table off against a wall, away from children. --p.s.-- i know you want it to be casual but-be wise, remember how some guests [guys?] can be, don't have too much beer there, you do not want any brawls ruining this day.
2007-03-25 01:01:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
look up the oreintal trading company online and they have all kinds of stuff for outdoor/indoor weddings ect i had my wedding in my yard and it was great. good luck and best wishes.
2007-03-24 23:20:35 · answer #8 · answered by nuzzihuzzi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋