Everything seems so essential, but there must be some things you can compromise on or find an alternative to to make the day affordable while keeping it great.
2007-07-09 04:44:04 · 37 answers · asked by paraordinate 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Favors are something you can skip all together it you like. I doubt people will miss them.
A videographer can easily be skipped. Just have someone tape it with a home camcorder. The quality wont be as good and you wont get a fancy opening with your names and a flowing satin background (Gag! Although with programs like imovie now, someone might be able to whip up a great dvd for you for free!) and most people i know never watch the wedding video anyways.
If you don't want to spend a fortune on center pieces you make these yourself! Getting flowers in bulk and arranging them in a nice vase (from the dollar store) could be lovely and cheap. Or you can do a flowerless arrangement (post here to get some great ideas!).
Dont skimp on your location, photographer or food though. But you can find ways to save money on food and location. You can post more specific questions as you go through the planning process and people can give you more specific answers. There are plenty of thrifty brides here (like myself) that are very creative and can help you save some money.
Good luck and best wishes!
2007-07-09 04:51:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ONLY essential things for your wedding are the bride & groom, as well as your friends & family to share your day. Other than that, you NEED to have your marriage license and an officiant to marry you. Rings are a token of your marriage.
Nothing, and I mean NOTHING else is "essential."
Think about the tone you want your wedding to have. Do you want a formal, elaborate affair? Or is a bash in order? That'll help you determine your budgeting priorities.
For us when we planned our wedding, we wanted a party. So we looked at the elements of a party - good food, good drinks, good music and good company. That's where we placed the prirority of our budget. I also wanted a good photographer to document the day.
You don't need elaborate flowers. You don't need personalized napkins, matchbooks, bubbles, chocolate bars, whatever. I think chocolate fountains are an unnecessary expense (and a mess!). You don't need super-expensive favors.
Honestly, less is more. Think about the most fun wedding you attended. Go on. I'll wait. :) :)
Okay. What made it so memorable and fun?
Now. Describe the centerpieces. How about the bridesmaids' shoes? What were the favors the couple gave? How about the flowers? Can you remember?
Chances are, unless it was REALLY recent, you can't. It was the atmosphere that made it a blast. If you remember that as you're planning, you can't go wrong!!
Best wishes to you!!
2007-07-09 05:00:44 · answer #2 · answered by sylvia 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Food and venue.
The only thing cheaper than a yard wedding and a house reception (dangerous with weather and family strife) is a church service and reception there. Some churches don't allow alcohol, which makes the reception lots cheaper, too. A 2 pm time means that no one will be expecting a meal, so you can get by with cake, nuts, mints (preferably home-made butter or cream cheese ones) and punch. (I'm partial to sherbet and gingerale but others may be cheaper.)
Buy or borrow a used dress. (That means you can't cake smash, but that's vulgar anyway.) Use flowers that will be in season. You might be able to find a grower in your area.
Don't skimp on the bride's shoes (She'll be wearing them for hours and I remember thinking about my feet during my ceremony--not a great way to start married life.) or the photography. Even so, it's a ceremony, not a photo op, don't have him/her get in the way to get some "great" shot. (No guest at the service should see a flash or a photographer.) At the reception, put those little disposable cameras around for lots of candids (They're about $3.00 each on ebay.)
2007-07-09 05:28:24 · answer #3 · answered by Sarah C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some areas where it is okay to scrimp a little and some where it is not.
Save on:
* invitations (order them online at www.invitationsbydawn.com)
* Entree choices (you really don't have to serve prime rib. Lasagna tends to be the low-cost stand-by)
* Programs for the ceremony (if you're having a short, simple ceremony, they may not even be necessary)
* Centerpieces, decorations and colored linens. People are so focused on you, they won't notice them anyway.
* Favors. Wedding favors are optional. Don't spend a ton, or make them yourself.
* Accessories - I know it sounds blasphemous, but you can wear shoes youve worn before. No one is looking at your feet.
Where NOT to cut back:
* Photographer. Your wedding will be over in 5 hours. You'll be too busy to see it all, so a good photographer is essential. Plus, the pictures last a lifetime and are handed down to your children eventually!
* DJ - A bad DJ can RUIN your reception. Make sure you know what you're getting into.
* Food quality - Lasagna is fine, but make sure it will still taste good.
* Any areas that are important to you! Make sure the things that you think are most important get their fair share of the cash flow. For me, it's all about the cake!!!
Good luck!!!
2007-07-09 04:58:01 · answer #4 · answered by corinne1029 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
All you really need is your loving fiance(e?)
Everything else is decoration. Keep in mind that the real greatness comes with the marriage. The "happily ever after" that always gets glossed over in the fairy tales? That's the good part. The wedding lasts for a couple of hours...if you plot that out with the average wedding costing ballpark $5000, that's over $2000 per hour...for a party and a pretty dress...
Do what you'd like to do to honor the day, but keep in mind that the real treat is what comes the day after the wedding and every day after that.
2007-07-09 04:50:19 · answer #5 · answered by KD 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
+ Print your own invites...you can save HUNDREDS- check AC Moore, Michaels and Target for the best selections
+ Shop around for your dress, if you want to, you can check out David's Bridal which is more affordable, but certainly not amazing quality. Check out Michael's craft store...they have beautiful veils for $20 that sell in Boutiques for nearly $200 (I'm not kidding...they aren't tacky at all)
+ Go simple on bouquets...single larger flowers are great for your bridesmaids, simple centerpieces are great, too
+ Try to have it somewhere where everything is included. If you have to rent each element separately, ie, chairs, silverwear, place settings, your costs will sky rocket
+ Look into your local vintage car club and see if you can get a deal to have a car take you to your venue or church. This can save you a few hundred dollars for the cost of a limo
....Hope that helps
2007-07-09 06:22:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been saving a ton of money right now by booking a reception hall that caters, provides a cake, and because I am not including alcohol they're providing a DJ for the same price ($200). So that really helped us save a lot. Alcohol can be very expensive, depending on how much you think others would drink or not you can decide if you want to remove that or just not include it.
2007-07-09 05:19:16 · answer #7 · answered by Lauren S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really be careful with costs/packages regarding professional photography. Have a great buffet dinner, but don't skimp on either the music nor the full open bar.
Make your own invitations. Don't spend an unnecessary amount on a cake - lovely cakes can be found for several hundreds of dollars. Same with centerpieces and decorations, don't need to spend a lot, or make them.
Good luck.
2007-07-09 04:48:52 · answer #8 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Centerpieces...do not spend a ton on them... people never remember what you have as a centerpiece.
Favors....do not waste your money on worthless junk and personalized trinkets that no one wants.
You don't have to have guest book and corny matching feather pen, place cards, unity candles, cake toppers, programs, personalized napkins and all other old wedding parafernalia...it's so passe and overdone.
Get married Off season (not May through Sept) and, if you get married on a a Friday or Sunday, you will get better rates than on a Saturday.
You don't need 8 bridesmaids and 8 GM... you don't even need ushers and hostesses....really.
Do not overspend in decorating the church. Churches are beatiful as is and no one cares about what kind of flowers and how many are in the altar or the pews.
Cut back on the guest list. Invite people that you REALLY care about.
Good luck
2007-07-09 04:48:19 · answer #9 · answered by Blunt 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
There are 3 things you do not skimp on.
1) The dress. You don't have to spend alot, but you need to invest a good amount of money in it. As long as you'll have pictures, you'll have memories of the dress. Make sure you have good memories.
2) Pictures and Videos. Again, in 50 years, this is what you'll have left. Make sure you spend good money on them Don't get a student photographer. That makes me cringe. They are not professionals, get professionals.
3) If the food sucks, you're guests will talk. No matter what the occasion-wedding, grad party, a holiday; never skimp on the food. If you're guests are hungry they will take. If the food is bad, they will talk. I know you shouldn't listen to other people, but food is so simple to provide.
2007-07-09 05:34:52 · answer #10 · answered by Answer Girl 2007 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋