Need Advice For Our Wedding...?

Question

OK, so heres the deal. My fiance and I were going to get married next summer in Hawaii, but my mom kept hinting how sad it would make her, so we decided to get married here w/ the family. I've always wanted the big grand wedding. My fiance doesn't, plus we really can't afford it. I want to get married this summer, I love this man with all my heart. How can we have a small wedding (I just want gorgeous pictures to show future generations) that is still beautiful and won't cost a bundle (I'm in college and we're paying for the whole thing ourselves)

Answer 1

Your wedding doesn't have to be about materialistic issues. The fact that you love this man and want to marry each other is the important fact here. Invite the important people and keep your wedding plans short and simple. Remember the important fact is that you are going to marry this man and share the rest of your life with him..that's what's important the commitment now how fancy or big things are. Have it at a church nice reception, with the most important family and friend s around.

Answer 2

You can invite a lot of people and have it be BIG in that sense, without it being BIG as in expensive. (I'm planning a wedding with 200 guests for about $3500.)

There are a lot of $ saving tips you can find, but the biggest cost savings, I have found, center on these few ideas:

1.) Get a bridesmaid's gown in white or ivory as your wedding gown. No one will know the difference and you will save hundreds of dollars. Also, consider having no attendants, or at least very few. This cuts your hassle and your expenses.

2.) The most expensive parts of a wedding are reception food and drink. But remember that IF you plan your wedding and reception for a non-meal time of day, you CAN have a non-meal reception-- just snacks, or just fancy cupcakes and punch, or just cookies and tea, or just wedding cake and coffee and tea, or just a fruit a cheese tray with sparkling wine. Your invitations should say "Wine and cheese reception to follow" or "Dessert reception at two o'clock" or something simillar, so people know a meal will not be served.

3.) Have people you know volunteer to do certain tasks, as their gift to you. If your aunt lends her backyard, you have a garden wedding and reception. If your best friend is a photographer, they can do your photos. If you know anyone with PA equipment, they can help DJ. If your cousin is a music major, have them perform the ceremony music. Remember to write thank you notes for any help you do receive.

4.) Keep only the elements that are truly important to you and eliminate anything that is not, as an extra. Not interested in a veil? Don't have one. Not big on flowers? Skip them.

5.) Invitations can be handwritten on any pretty stationery you happen to own, rather than paying for printing. See a good etiquette book for how to write the letters properly. (Do not print them on your home computer, however. The fact that you are hand-writing them is what makes them OK by etiquette). I have one friend that used stationery and note cards from the Goodwill that she bought for about $7, and they were her invitations and thank you notes for the whole wedding process! There was nothing wrong with them (just a store's overstock that had been donated), they were pretty, and she saved a ton of money. Accept RSVPs by phone and do away with response cards (which aren't actually proper anyhow).

6.) Scan your community for free or low-cost wedding venues. Consider the local community center, library, park, restaurants, diners, zoos, schools, colleges, church halls, etc. The most affordable venues will NOT be found advertising in the wedding magazines-- they're likely to be non-profit organizations with lower budgets. You'll have to go off the beaten path.

Answer 3

Make sure that the areas that your pictures are going to be taken is where the time and money is spent on decorations. See if there is a flower garden in your local area that you can get married in or have pictures at. My husband and I had a small wedding and we kept the decorations very simple and really played up the altar of the church and the head table where we sat at the reception. We also took some pictures outside in the flower garden by the church. Don't worry about the small details. No one remembers them anyway. Think about it - do you remember what the centerpeices looked like at the last wedding you attended? Unless they were something totally amazing, probably not. All people remember is if they had a good time. Good luck!

Answer 4

The major expense will be the wedding and reception and the dress unless you can find a place that rents them. You can use silk flowers instead of real ones for a fraction of the cost and they look real. If you only have the maid of honor and best friends then that cuts down on your flower expense. Serve just the cake and punch instead of a buffet style dinner. Check for places that will charge a minimal fee to do the wedding and reception. In most cases they will decorate for your wedding in the colors of your choice. They will even provide the cake, champagne glasses and knife and server. If you cant find such a place, try local hotels that offer wedding/honeymoon packages. Or you can have the wedding at a family home. Then the only major expense will be the dress, tux and flower and you can put together something very nice for around $500 to $1000. Congrats.

Answer 5

I am getting married in less then 2 months and even though my parents are paying for a lot of stuff, we are not spending a lot of money. We are having the reception at the church which we don't have to pay for because we are members. The photographer is a lot cheaper because all the photos are digital and he doesn't print any he gives you the disk. We got all the dress at David's Bridal they have the best prices and you get discounts for the wedding party. We are decorating mostly with candles, and be bought a lot of them at Dollar General. The best way to save money is do most of the stuff yourself, with the help from friends and family. Don't turn anyone down who offers help, you will need it good luck!

Answer 6

I think you should get a really good photographer who takes unique and beautiful pictures. You can always go cheap on other things, I mean, there are other ways to save money and if you have the time & friends/family you can cut the budget in half by doing much of the little things yourself......This is what I have been planning for my wedding. Also you might find ideas on the knot's website. Good luck on your wedding!!

Answer 7

Have a small family wedding and a small family reception and save your money for a while so that you can make that trip to Hawaii. The people getting married should be the most memorable not the scenery surrounding them!

Answer 8

My advice would be to have a small wedding with just yours and his immediate family and one or two BEST friends invited, have the wedding somewhere beautiful ( good photo opportunity) and have everyone get dressed up, and then to get the big wedding feel and of course all the wedding presents, invite everyone you ever met to the reception, if you have it somewhere with a bar attached everyone pays for their own drinks and you'll only have to pay for the location and a buffet

Answer 9

You don't have to pay a bundle to get nice pictures and wonderful lasting memeories. have small backyard ceremoy or if religious have it in your local church thats free. invite only close friends and family. You can also have the reception at a nice restaurent not too expensive or have your family cook the food. go to www.Perfectweddingguide.com

It will help with everything you need. goog luck and congrats.

Answer 10

you could get married in a reg office...for the pics i would c if ne1 at your college is doing or has done a photograph course ...I'm sure if you bung em a bit of cash they would help and it would a hell of a lot cheaper then hiring a professional and have pics taken in a pretty park or some thing......and for the reception..if you no some1 with a large garden ave it there...you can decorate it yourself and it will save loads of money.....my mate was bit hard up for cash and had her reception in our local working mans club (a rite poo hole) we all helped decorate it and her mum made a buffet for the meal......and a smaller 1 for the evening......and it was absolutely beautiful!!!!!! hope some of these suggestions help!!!!!