Anyone have any cheap wedding ideas?

Question

No courthouse. No Vegas. I wanted to have the ceremony at a church. Our guest list is around 100 people. We don't need anything spectacular, just a simple ceremony with the people we know.

Answer 1

We're planning our wedding AND reception right now for a guest list of 125 for under $1,600.00

1-NO SITE FEES- Now, with "us", we're having the ceremony and reception both in my parents back yard. I purchased 4 party tents (the white ones w/windowed side walls) off ebay for about $500. Even if you have your ceremony at the church, you may still want to entertain the idea of a backyard reception. Yeah, we're $500 out of pocket up front, but afterwards we plan on selling 3 of the 4 tents to re-coop some of our $$, still cheaper than renting out a hall! (plus we'll actually OWN one of them!)
To decorate the church inexpensively...just do a runner-if the church doesn't have one available,oriental trading has them for $25 and you may even find one cheaper off of ebay. IF you must decorate the pews, just do simple tuelle bows-forget the flowers, they can run up the tab and the bows are just as nice...who really pays THAT much attention to it anyway????

2-NO RENTAL FEES- Tables and chairs are being borrowed from our church for just a small donation. Again...cheaper than renting!

3-NO CATERES- We're doing a "Family Favorites" buffet. In lieu of gifts from certain family members, we're having those members supply "those certain" dishes that they are known for making so well. Then I'm going to print out little table tents saying who made what.

4-NO FLORIST/DECORATORS- I'm just going to carry a single red rose tied w/a ribbon and streamers, my maid of honor a white one. Making my own centerpieces, which I have TONS of ideas/designs that can all be done for less than $5-$8 each, feel free to email me for ideas if you'd like!

5-DON'T ORDER INVITATIONS- Cheaper to print your own...utilize your local discount stores...I found wedding invitation kits that will make 40 for $2.99 per kit at my local Ollies discount store. They also had kits for Thank you cards that make 80 for $4.99. Basically I only spent about $11 for all my invites and Thank You cards.

6-NO D.J.- Download your favorite songs onto a laptop, mp3 or ipod..hook up some speakers...there you go! I've seen it done at 2 other weddings and it worked really well. My mom even has one of those table-top style light up "disco balls"....(don't ask WHY she has one! lol), but we're going to set that up as well....music and mood lighting FOR FREE!!!


***THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVICE!***
7-KEEP AN OPEN MIND!!!! Don't get "stuck" on certain ideas/patterns/items....you'd be amazed how much EASIER it all falls together if you just sort of "roll with it"...it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to sacrifice anything, just be willing to bend.

I have TONS of money saving ideas....if there are any certain areas that you need or would want some suggestions for...feel free to email me!

Answer 2

Why don't you ask the family instead of wedding gifts help you with the wedding. You must have a nice park by you. Have it there in a nice shady spot. Have everyone make something to eat for afterwards and have it set up there as well or in one of your relatives house. You must have a cake. Have your local grocery store's bakery make you a nice simple wedding cake.They can make a small one. Are you gonna wear a dress? Believe it or not you can sometimes find a nice one in your local thrift store. Alot of people go to the local pawn shop for their rings. just be creative. ask other family members opinions and ideas. Also sometimes if you have one of those boat tours there, you can have your wedding on that. What else would be prettier han the water in the background? Again family members can help with that as a gift. My sister did that and it was surprisingly cheap! And beautiful! Oh yea, and sometimes the captain has the legal right to marry you and will include it with the price of the boat rental. GoodLuck and Congradulations!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

You have taken the first step already by not falling for the big white wedding industry propaganda that your wedding must be an extravagant affair, with every part micro-managed and a cast of thousands!

I suggest www.indiebride.com, and go to their cost cutting forum. Great site with lots of hints and ideas.

DIY is almost always cheaper than hiring it done, whether it's flowers, bouquets, centerpieces or dinner. But you have to have help or you will be frazzled and crazy. So don't be afraid to ask for help, graciously accept help when offered, and delegate some tasks to others.

Ask what your friends and family have that you can borrow to use for a wedding. People have all sorts of nice things laying about in a drawer somewhere and would be thrilled to see it used for a special event. You might find silverware, candlesticks, linens, dishes, serving pieces, there's no telling what treasure awaits your discovery!

Search eBay and thrift shops for items you can use. Look for a dress on sale or buy a bridesmaid dress instead of a wedding gown. If you're having attendants, have them wear their own clothes.

The most expensive single thing will be the food. If you have the ceremony at the right time of day, you could just serve cake and punch. If you're getting married around traditional meal time, then you need to serve something more substantial, but it really doesn't have to be a 5 course meal. You could have a potluck dinner if you have several friends and family members who could contribute. I live in a rural, southern area, and that is done frequently around here. It is not considered "tacky" in any way. You can get great deals on finger foods at your local warehouse club. You could get a local restaurant to cater, sometimes fairly inexpensively. You could do bar-b-que or hot dogs and burgers with the trimmings. (If you go that route, you will have to have a dedicated grill team as well as the buffet table helpers.)

Good luck to you and best wishes for a happy wedding and marriage!

Answer 4

Well, you have just about the right start! Figure out the budget between the two of you, how much you two can save and comfortably afford to spend yourselves on the wedding - that determines a lot. Usually going with a buffet for the dinner saves money, as does having a dj instead of a band for the dance. Watch out for prices for professional photography, they can be way overpriced. Were we to do things differently, we wouldn't have gone with professional photography at all.
As for budgeting, don't cheap out on the food or the full open bar - it's just part of being good hosts.
Good luck to you! Ask more specific questions any time!

Answer 5

Before weddings got so out of hand (moneywise), there were many ways to have an inexpensive wedding. Just have the wedding at the church. I am sure it is a nice church, no decorations or extra flowers are necessary. For the reception use the church basement, fellowship hall (whatever you call it) and serve cake and punch or cake and soft drinks. That makes a perfectly nice wedding. Have a friend take pictures and enjoy. Best wishes on your wedding and marriage.

Answer 6

Have an afternoon wedding and use the church hall for the reception. You can serve cake and punch or appetizers instead of a sit-down meal, which is always more expensive.

Self cater, make your own decorations, tie your own bouquets or use silk flowers.

There are a million ways to bring down the inflated cost of weddings. Quite a few of them involve doing the work yourself.

Best of luck to you both! I hope you will have a long and happy marriage.

Answer 7

Depends where you live. I planned my entire wedding for under $4,000 and that included the ceremony location, Officiant, Reception Hall, Full Family style Buffet, DJ, 3-tier Cake, dresses (and I paid the bridesmaids dresses) Tuxes, the whole shabang. lol

we are geting married outside on the beach of Lake Michigan. And Afterwards having our dinner reception at a nice hall already decorated (so saved $200 on decorations)
you just gotta look around.

Answer 8

Go to a retail outlet for dresses-JC Penny's has them. Davids Bridal is fairly inexpensive if there is one of those nearby you as well.
As for a hall-check around, and off-season weddings will be cheaper ( November thru early March) as they are just happy to book them to anyone.
Food, do finger foods and sandwiches buffet style rather than a plated sit-down meal. Check Wal-Mart for your cake. They have really good cake and nobody will know the difference! Also, ask around, there may be someone you know that could even do it for you!
Flowers-check your local Jo-Anna fabrics or Hobby Lobby for sales if going silk, and local florists for live. We have a wonderful Great Scot in my area with great boquets that do not cost a ton of money.
Photographers-Ask for a deal. Many of them will strike you a deal if you just want the pics loose and not in an album, or you just want them on a disk, and expecially if you need limited coverage. We always make a deal if people need it.
DJ-Check around and get prices, but do not forget to ask how long he/she will play for that price. Again, they may be less expensive during the off season.
Give yourself some time, and don't settle for the first thing that you find...Congratulations and happy planning!

Answer 9

Go for a small church, my husband is a pastor, and they only charge $5o.oo to use the whole church, for wedding and reception. My husband is a real sweetheart, he always says.. what whatever you can afford to pay me, which has been from nothing to $250.00.
Do your own food...Ham, or chicken, sloppy joes sandwiches, or even cold cuts for sndwiches. Have potato chips & pretzels. Make potato salad and / or maroni salad, cole salad, do relish trays yourself, baked beans, etc..
Don't go to a fancy bakery for a cake, find a lady that bakes locally, or do the cake yourselves, and serve cupcakes to go with it.
Don't need a true D.J., have a friend with speakers, and a bunch of C.D., to it.
Flowers, go with silk.. and make your own. Watch for sales.
Your dress....Check out Ebay, wonderful Buys, Thrift stores, second hand stores, etc.

Music, use C.D., they have wonderful bridal music,they you don't have to pay someone to play the organ or piano.
Wear a nice suit, instead of renting a tux, you'll be able to wear the suit again.
What maters most is that you be together in church, with each other, with the people who matters most to you.
God's Blessings on your marriage !!!

Answer 10

I got married on May 26 of this year on the wedding itself and reception we spent about 400. You can go to Sam's if you have one in the area. and buy alot of your food there pretty cheap cause its in bulk. it was good food also. Then you can burn your own music and you can stop and start when ever you want. This is your day it should be under the control of a DJ. Your family and friends will understand everything. They just want to see you get married.