I'm getting married in April...i'm on a budget...and need help with the details?

Question

So I have a place for the ceremony and reception and someone to marry us... Now I'm lost and don't know where to go from here... I'm on a tight budget any suggestions???

Answer 1

a buffet style wedding saves lots of money.you do not need a huge cake, most go wasted. try using fake flowers, sometimes they go better with your colors. keep the number of attendants low

Answer 2

Hooray for you! Do not apologize for having a tight budget. The wedding industry will have you believe that unless you are inviting everybody you have ever known, having an extravagant dinner with eighteen plates and 20 pieces of silver and flowers out the wazoo, for $$$$$ a head in the fanciest ballroom, and having it cost as much as most peoples' houses, you have failed at doing your wedding. Don't fall for that!

A great website is www.indiebride.com. They have all sorts of ideas. You can look at the big bridal magazines for ideas, but don't be a slave to the industry, or feel bad that you can't spend thousands of dollars for what is essentially a party.

I was the wedding planner/coordinator for my best friend's daughter's wedding last summer. We had about 60 people, 3 bridesmaids and groomsmen, 3 flower girls and 2 ring bearers. We had the ceremony in my back yard. I provided photography. Reception at the local community club. Food, punch, and beer. We used disposable plates and plastic ware. We borrowed some nice serving pieces and table linens. Made almost everything, favors, used wildflowers and supermarket flowers. We used what we had and borrowed what we could. Used friends and family to help out. She got her dress (not traditional wedding gown, but a long dress in a style she liked) from eBay. Attendants wore their own clothes in purple and green. Friend made cake at cost. Another friend did hair and makeup. Our total cost, (not including her rings) was just a bit under $800.

So it can be done. We do live in a rural area, so things are cheaper to do here than in the big city. And I am fortunate to have a great circle of friends and family who are always willing to help out. Hopefully you have some people to call on as well.

Ask friends and family what they have that you could borrow for a wedding. People have all sorts of nice things just laying in a drawer that they would love to see used for a special occasion. Everything doesn't have to exactly match.

Also bear in mind, the more people you invite, the more it will cost. So one way to control the cost is to control your guest list. Or be creative and have a potluck, or do a cake and dessert reception if it is the right time of day. Or do brunch for a morning wedding.

I am shooting a wedding for a friend tomorrow. It will be only her and the groom, their 4 year old daughter, the officiant, me and my daughter. I am doing the photography, and my daughter is doing the video. Her cost, including the dress, is somewhere around $300. She made her own cake, (and it is beautiful!) Of course, most people want a few family and guests at their wedding.

Don't forget ebay, thrift stores, and yard sales. Check craig's list and theknot.com. You have plenty if time to plan and look for bargains. Best wishes to you for the future!

Answer 3

Finally...another bride on a budget! You need to see if the reception site offers catering....if so check to see how much it is per person. If not, see if they allow outside catering. This will help you dtermine how many people you can afford to invite. Buffet style is always best for weddings on a budget. Do favors, centerpieces, invitations, etc. yourself. Make Michaels, Party City (party warehouse) your best friend. If you have a laptop...download songs and create a playlist...have a close friend monitor it and make that your DJ (check sound system at reception site first). If all else fails...cookouts are always a great idea and very personable for close family and friends.

Answer 4

you can borrow clothing- rent the tuxedos- and get shoes you are from a discount store that are comfy enough to walk down the isle and take off at the reception. for center pieces, have your friends help you. do something simple- bowls with floating candles and water lilies/ rose petals. its simple classy and elegant. do a buffet wedding- that way you dont have to waste time and money on place cards and seating, and you arent paying by the plate. this also allows your guests to mingle freely. as for the band or dj, see if one of your friends knows a dj and give him/her some of your own music to play! ask one of your good friends to MC! for the wedding cake- ask a family member to make one! or go for something simple and classic OR make cupcakes! its a huge new fad in weddings! that way there is no cutting fee and you can have chocolate, red velvet, and vanilla! for flowers, see if you really need them. do the bouquets yourself- buy some flowers and some ribbon. remember- simple and classic is always elegant.

Answer 5

Some of the best wedding reception food I had was at a wedding where the bride's brothers cooked all the food. Her mother made the cake. If you know anyone who would be willing to cook, ask them. Put disposable cameras around each table for candid pictures. Develop each one as you have the $. Ask two friends with digital cameras to do formal pictures and upload them to your computer (Two, in case on of them screws up). Then you can print them as you have money. Have a friend who likes music mix a CD of music for the wedding and for dancing later. Play it on a high-quality boom box or i-pod docking station.

Buy a wedding dress from a classified ad in the paper, or wear your mother's if it fits and is in decent shape. Ask bridesmaids to wear something they own, ask them each to bring some things from their wardrobe a couple of weeks before the wedding so you can pick out what each should wear. Have the guys wear suits and the same-color tie.

I used a small Chinese-style wooden box for my ring bearer to carry the rings in. (It was a Chinese-theme wedding). Use a simple decorated pillow from a home furnishings department for your ring pillow. Sew ribbons on it to attach the rings.

Everyone who provides a service can just consider that they're wedding gift to you.

Answer 6

Your going to need music, photographer and a florist. Don't forget the cake.

You can make your own bouquet and center pieces. You can hire a college student majoring in photography for pictures and check around for DJ's. Ask the people at the reception site if they can recommend any one. Go to bridal shows for ideas.

Answer 7

Dress, shoes, etc: You can shop discount boutiques, or David's Bridal has been having a huge sale....and usually those places are pretty good about doing discounts if you buy everything in one place. Bridesmaids...hmmm...I'd look at a consignment shop and ask around...keep in mind they don't all have to match, just fit with your color scheme. Tuxes: are they really necessary? Would a dress shirt and slacks be sufficient? I think so, and less expensive too. Flowers don't have to be expensive, just don't go nuts. If you need more help email me.

Answer 8

OMG YESTERDAY I FOUND THIS ITS A RENT A CAKE http://www.rentthecakeofyourdreams.com/

SO YOU RENT THIS CAKE IT HAS A SPOT FOR A REAL PIECE SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CUT IT AND YOU CAN FEED EACHOTHER REAL CAKE THEN IT GOES IN THE BACK TO "BE CUT" AND YOU SERVE SHEET CAKE FROM COSCO OR WHAT EVER



TRY THIS SITE THEY HAVE A FEW THINGS FOR THE WEDDING THAT ARE NOT EXPENSIVE

http://www.lakeside.com/details.asp?I=WEZ&Ntt=WEDDING&N=36&Nao=8&R=11244


AND ALSO HERE YOU CAN FIND THINGS YOU CAN MAKE YOUR SELF FOR THE WEDDING

www.diybride.com

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_wedding/article/0,2025,DIY_13783_3529575,00.html

Answer 9

Get bridal magazines, they are full of advice and direction. Also go into a bridal gown storre, they will give you free stuff like wedding planning books and ideas for the details. Good Luck, Swequin

Answer 10

Photographer( we got an amazing deal on one that we found on craigslist); dress, wedding party attire, cake, flowers. With flowers, you might look into buying nice silks and doing them yourself. That's what I did and you can't even tell they're silk unless you feel them. Saved me TONS of money, also.