What are good tips for throwing an inexpensive, non-traditional wedding?

Question

My best friend is getting married in two months. She got engaged last week. She doesn't want the big expensive thing, because she thinks our whole idea of what a wedding should be is more about what advertisers tell us than about two people committing to one another. So she doesn't want just bargain version of a "traditional" wedding. But she does want my help.

I don't know where to start. We're thinking around fifty guests. There's one matron of honor (me) and a best man. She wants both of their families involved. Somehow.

Anyone have any good ideas?

Nothing Las Vegas-y. My friends hate "corporate" stuff, so it doesn't get worse than Vegas in their book. Also, they really want their wedding to be memorable.

Answer 1

Try www.indiebride.com for off the beaten path ideas and money saving tips.

I have done several low cost weddings, they can be every bit as nice as weddings that cost a small fortune. To me, even $5000 seems a bit of overkill. After all, it's only one day, no matter how important a day it is. You can do a lot yourself with the help of family and friends.

If you do want to do an outdoor wedding, make sure you have a rain plan. If the outdoor location is lovely, you really don't need much in the way of decor.

Ask people you know what they have that you can borrow for the wedding. People have all sorts of lovely things just sitting in a drawer and would love to see them used for a special occasion. You might borrow linens, serving pieces, dishes, punch bowls, candlesticks, etc etc.

They may have a special interest that could be incorporated into the festivities. Think themes, I have seen medieval, butterflies, eggplants, stars, suns & moons, and Star Trek in weddings.

Really, not much under the sun is brand new and never been done. To be recognizable as a wedding requires some amount of tradition. So bend tradition to suit the couple, and let their personalities shine through.

Answer 2

I found if you find a place to rent and get outside vendors the cost is higher than finding a reataurant. If you find a restaurant they'll give you a better rate on a Sunday or Friday. Most of these places have party rooms too. I had mine on Sunday night and it was lovely, it was in the fall in NYC. If you mention wedding the price goes up drastically, I heard to ask it's a family reunion and once it's in contract then mention, we decided to have the wedding after all.

I only had a bridesmaid/best man and kids (ring bearer and flower girls). I also notice you don't need to spend alot of money on rehersal dinner when it's that small a party.

I would starting looking on the internet and see what places are available and if it'll work with their place of ceremony.

Answer 3

1. Set a budget
2. Find a place for the wedding and reception
3. Look for inexpensive options to catering (friends working the night before sounds great)
4. Find an good champagne (bring only enough for toasting, one or two servings per person)
5. Whatever you do, get a top-notch wedding cake. Do not scrimp there.

Answer 4

Reserve a separate room in a nice / special / fun restaurant, and have dinner there. The ceremony can be conducted either right there, or beforehand at a park or some location that is special to the couple.

Answer 5

I am getting married next month and with the help of my family the wedding is costing about 5000 total .,
for announcements and rsvp's i used vista printing that offered free or 150 color postcards for about 25 bucks, postage on a postcard is only 23 cents instead of 41 cents.
I ordered my invitations from ann's wedding.com i got 150 for 80 bucks in color with liner and outer envelopes. i sent the rsvp postcard inside it with a stamp preaddressed back to me. the food is buffet style and is a full 3 course meal and deco is being done by my sisters which is of strings of lights , candle center pieces , you can get different color and size candles from dollar store. what has cost-ed the most was rental of tables and chairs and linen but that's only because i am have over 150 guest. drinks and my dress are all a gift from family ( i prefer that then a gift at the wedding) my bouquet and other flowers are being made by us.. you can buy everything you need at Michael's and get flowers in bulk at a flower mart that give wholesale prices

you can divide the cost among close family. one gets food for main course or one can by guest book and garters.. but you have to delegate things to others.

gifts for get are candy tines and boxes 50 boxes with ribbon and thank you tag for 19.99 at Michael's and jelly belly's are 6.00 per pound and they look really nice.
best of luck

Answer 6

I had a non-traditional wedding with just family and friends. It was held in my brother-in-laws backyard. We rented a canopy for the ceremony, and all the flowers were in rented baskets from the rental place. They also delivered and set every thing up.and we had a BBQ and just a sheetcake with our names on it. My son-in-law took all the pictures and had them developed and some enlarged and framed as our gift. I wore a pantsuit and he had on slacks and sport coat. The whole expense was less than 500.00 dollars. We celebrated our 10th anniversary in June. My friend had her ceremony in a park. another had hers on the beach.

Answer 7

Maybe have it family reunion style and have people bring a dish to share. Kind of a gathering of good friends to share your day. Any family members sing, or play musical instruments, And don't forget to take lots of pictures.

Answer 8

have her get married at the court house and than have a party at a hall or someones backyard or someones house she could do a Laua out and have everyone were laua skirt's and the men were hawian shirt's go to party city and get tiki decorations now that would be cool have a bomb fire a keg of beer get tiki light's etc.

Answer 9

Find a park with a gazebo in it for the ceremony, then have your guests go to a nice restaurant afterwards to celebrate.

Answer 10

Just have like a barbeque and invite all the family and go online so you can get alot of the decorations online and email the invitations