Name those practical budget saving ideas for a wedding?

Question

I keep seeing a lot of responses deal with setting a budget and being smart when planning a wedding. Beyond telling me to go buy a book and do it myself, what are some real actual saving tips and ideas. Give me at least 5 if you can.

Answer 1

Hi and congratulations:

1. Keep things as simple as you can.

2. Have a small wedding party.

3. Have a small guest list.

4. If you can't have a small guest list, then possibly do a cake, punch and coffee reception.

5. Enlist HELP! If someone offers to make the cake, let them.
If someone knows how to arrange flowers....let them.

6. Print your own invitations using "boxed sets" that you can buy a Target and other discount or craft stores.

7. Do everything simply.......a bowl with floating candles for centerpieces is one idea.

8. Another idea for simplicity is to have the bride carry just a few nicely arranged flowers - tied with a nice satin ribbon. The same for the bridesmaids....have them carry 1 or 2 flowers instead of a big huge bouquet....you can save tons by doing that.

9. Don't waste money on a limo OR favors.

10. Go "outside the box" when it comes to a reception venue. Banquet halls and hotels can be expensive. Look around at other options....VFW halls, church halls. Because the reception is the biggest chunk of a wedding budget, this could be a substantial savings.

Good luck!

Answer 2

First you have to decide what is teh most important things for you to have, and what things you can scale down or maybe eliminate. I planned a wedding for under 3,000, if you shop smart-it can be done.

We made our own invitations

We had a very small wedding-of about 40-50 people of only close family and very close friends.

I got my dress online for a great price

Get your accessories, like hair stuff, shoes, table settings, cake topper, veil, garter etc at a discount store or www.orientaltrading.com has tons of wedding decorations.

We got our minister, music and pictures in a package deal for a great price.

For our reception-we had it at a local restraraunt in a banquet room.

Have a dry reception

Have the guys wear suits instead of tuxes-you can buy a suit for less than renting a tux and you get to keep the suit.

Get your cake from a local bakery-like a grocery store- They are nice and mine turned out great.

Have the wedding and reception at the same place-it can be cheaper this way.

Have the wedding and reception at someones house.

There are tons of things you can do to have a nice wedding at a great budget. Shop around, search on the internet. Its can be done!


Also, for the dj, have a friend do it with just a stereo or computer.

Use your friends and family, i found that many of mine were very helpful and helped in any way they could, and it saved alot of money.

Have a friend videotape you wedding or have a friend take pictures-if you know someone who can do a nice job.

Answer 3

1. Cut the guest list-keep it to family and close friends. Do not feel that you have to invite every person you are acquainted with.

2. For the cake that is given to guests, get sheet cakes from Costco, Sam's Club, or wherever. You can save a ton of money there.

3. When possible, do it yourself. You can make centerpieces and other decor for a fraction of the cost. Almost every time that there is an ad for a JoAnn's, Michael's, or other craft store, you will find coupons where you can save 50% on a single full-priced item. If you are doing something more themed, Oriental Trading has stuff that will be less expensive than at any other craft store.

4. The word "bridal" or "wedding" automatically will raise the cost on anything. Many prom stores have white prom dresses, which at most will be around $6-700. For shoes, go for the "formal", "prom", or "evening" route. Also consider buying a nice pair of shoes that you would wear again.

5. Get people you know to help out. If you have friends who are musicians, ask if they will play. If you have a friend who makes jewelry, get him or her to help you make your wedding jewelry. Go to a culinary school to get students to cater your wedding-many schools will be happy because it is real-life experience for them. If you know a dressmaker, get your dress made-you can get the exact fit and look you want.

6. Have your wedding in the morning or in the early afternoon. Most weddings are on Saturdays in the afternoon or evening, from what I have noticed. Having it on a Friday, Sunday, or even a weekday will help cut costs. Also if you are doing a morning wedding, you can serve some breakfast food as well as some lunch food. If you do an early afternoon wedding, you can go lighter on the food offerings. I don't think at 1 PM people will be expecting you to feed them lobster and Kobe beef.

7. Cut the alcohol. Maybe limit it to two drinks per person. Maybe only do a champagne toast, wine only, or go the route I intend to go and have no alcohol as well as have a soda fountain.

8. For the things that require special stationery (invitations, programs, etc), you do not need to have the special $2 a sheet paper with text on vellum tied onto each other with tulle. You can cut back a little and people will not notice but your wallet definitely will:)

Answer 4

There really is a book called Cheap Ways To...which gives many ideas. My favorites are:


1. Use a simple lily for the bridesmaids instead of bouquets. Use cheaper or "discounted" flowers for your bouquet.

2. Get a small cake for display and for the "joint cutting" and have friends each bring a sheet cake. Have someone wheel the cake to another room (most halls have kitchens) and do the slicing. No one will be able to tell the difference between the bakery cake and those your friends brought.

3. Keep the reception intimate.

4. Have the wedding on a weekday. Cheaper everything.

5. Have a friend take photos or video.

6. Get your gown second-hand. (extra credit points?)

Answer 5

There are many ways to cut the cost of a traditional wedding.
1. I am not sure of the place you are looking for but check out community centers, backyard of friend, or family member...that's up to you.

2. get married in the evening and have a coctail reception. You don't have to have a sit down expensive dinner with tables, etc. Have bar or bistro tables around and serve lots of appetizer or tapas (small bites) like foods. And for dessert. A small cake for you to cut, but a chocolate fountain with fruit adn pound cake and marshmallows, etc for the rest of the guests. And no bar. A signature drink, and wine and water, and sodas. we had sangria in champagne fountains. Red and white, that we made ourselves.

3. go to your cities flower district. Find someone who knows about that. We went to the flower mart in Los Angeles for my wedding (where all the florists pick up there stuff wholesale) last year. It's less expensive and you can put your own arrangements together.

4. make your own favors. They are not so important anyway,. do something cute that reflects your style.

5. Make your own invites. It can be less expensive, but more time consuming. (I do custom invites. I could do the job if you'd like. I've got great, simple inexpensive ideas! Plus, save the dates)

6. Do all your own decorating. You can do elegant things inexpensively, without just going to an art store and buying those big ugly bows.

7. Spend the most money of a good photographer and ask family members to videotape instead of hiring one. The pics you will have forever. Video won't be watched as much as the pics will be viewed in your house.

8. DJ is important too. OR download all the songs you want and keep them playing (lots of songs so there is not a break) and just appoint an emcee to announce things.

Most of all have fun. Don't stress out too much. Remember that something will happen that won't be according to schedule. Roll with the punches. MOST IMPORTANT!!!!!!---It's about the marriage...not the wedding. Don't forget that!!!

Email me for any ideas or if you need help!

Answer 6

1. Prioritize your want list. Eliminate the bottom 10% of your list.

2. Do a pot-luck for the reception. People really would enjoy this - both cooking and eating.

3. Use a non-standard location for the reception. A friend's house, high-school gym, etc.

4. Hire a wedding planner. They know how to cut corners, if they know what they're doing. The cost of them is wiped out by your savings.

5. Avoid an open bar.

Answer 7

Just keep everything simple.
1) You don't have to have a limousine
2) Only offer soda, beer, and wine at the open bar
3) Buy a wedding dress on sale or even rent one
4) The men don't need to rent tuxedos - just white shirts with matching ties, black pants and black shoes.
5) Have an interesting buffet at the reception instead of steak, salmon, etc.
6) Go to a local hairdressing school to have your hair and nails done -- at least call and see if this is something the students do for experience and minor cost.

Have a great life.

Answer 8

1. Buy gently used (or rent) wedding clothes
2. Have a close to home honeymoon
3. Do not feel obligated to have a lot of people in your wedding party
4. I had my reception at the church - just cake, finger sammies, nuts & a veggie platter, and punch with sparkling cider for the toast.
5. ASK ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DO WHATEVER THEY ARE GOOD AT. (When my bil-sil got remarried, I helped her plan the wedding, worked with the resort, made their invitations, officiated the ceremony, AND MADE THEIR WEDDING CAKE. ps when I retire, I'm opening a wedding chapel; that's my dream so this was perfect for me)

#5 is probably the most important - every family has talent, does someone play the piano or sing? Who is good at crafts? Someone probably enjoys decorating cakes as a hobby (I do).... think outside the box.

Answer 9

Why 5? Ok well...
1) Ebay. We bought candles for our center pieces off of there. Also the gifts to the people who where standing up
2) Instead of a hall where you need to cater in people, Look at restaurants. I don't mean like a chilies, But a nice Italian restaurant usually they are cheaper and come with more.
3) friends. We knew someone who could bake, and they made our cake, someone who was good at sewing to fit the dresses, a photographer and a DJ
4) Do it your self. If you dont know anyone who can make a cake, Make one your selves. A good idea is cupcake cake, We bought a cake stand and out friend made cupcakes for us to put on it.
5) print your own invitations.
6) instead of a DJ, bring in a decent stereo, and hook an I pod or computer to it and just have that run the music.
7) cash bar or no bar at all. The misses and I are not big drinkers.

There is plenty of ways to save. But you just need to be creative. Good luck

Answer 10

Girlfriend...if I only new...cause this wedding stuff is stressing me out and I'm not getting married till August 08!!! My problem is I have expensive taste. If I am going to do it, I am going to do it right. But you can do it cheap and do it right. Take your time shop around, buy lots of bridal mags and learn from them (just get a subscription, my whole house is being swallowed up by bridal magizines! If someone droped a match, heaven help us all (ha-ha) But, I can give you this tip, if you are getting married in a place that has everything included like maybe the La Fountaine Bleu, Martins West or Michaels....ya know venues like that. Its cheaper to get married on a Friday or Sunday. I am getting married on a Sunday and it is thousands of dollars cheaper and I dont have to have the hassle of decorateing, catering, cake etc...Also check out your legion halls, people forget about those places, some of them are really nice and have beautiful wedding packages and ceremony sites. Also if you have friends and family that want to buy you a gift, ask them to pay for the photographer or videographer or something for the wedding prep. My mother is paying for my photographer, videographer and DJ. My sister is paying for my invitations. And my dads got the rest...POOR DAD...but what daddy'd little girl wants daddy's little girl gets.

Congrats on your nuptials.