Advice on a small budget wedding? See details!?

Question

Yeah my boyfriend and I aren't engaged yet but we've both decided to go ahead and begin planning. He's in the Air Force so he doesn't get paid a whole lot and we're not counting on any extra monetary support from family.
We intend on getting married in Colorado where I live and our wedding date is probably labor day weekend of 2008. If anyone has any advice for me I would appreciate it. Websites, names of places, anything would be helpful.
We are most likely having our wedding at my grandparents house which is up in the mountains (beautiful area).
So yeah, any advice would be lovely.
Oh and one more question, the wedding will most likely take place outside and thus it's not going to be Church formal, I'm probably having the groomsmen in suits cause it saves money and most guys like that anyways. If anyone has any dress ideas that would be helpful. Guest list is probably going to be around 60-70 people. Thanks for the help!!! Any and all advice is appreciated!

Oh and no alcohol will be served at the wedding either. Just thought I would add that.
Once again thank you very much for the advice!

Photography will be provided by my uncle and my mom (she says she wants to, but I think she'll be too emotional and the photos will be of the ground cause she can't hold the camera). However they both aren't professionals but their photos look pretty professional.

As far as my grandparents house goes, its a 4 bedroom house with a large living room, kitchen and a basement that serves as another bedroom. 3 bathroom too. Parking will not be an issue because their area is huge and they have loads of dirt roads for parking.

My bridesmaids are my 4 best friends and my two little sisters who are 10 and 12 or will be 11 and 13 when the wedding comes.

Answer 1

theknot.com has alot of budgeting tips.
i work in a restaurant and bridal shop and weddings are cheaper on fri and sun than on sat!(almost half the price)
and
if you are an"average size girl you can get a good deal on a sample or discontinued gown.
and then have it taylored to fit you perfect!
most bridal shops get all dresses in 10s or 12s so unfortunalty if you are any size bigger this is not a bargining tool.
dont be afraid to get a couple estimates for everything. and ask for throw ins . mention that a couple of your girls or guests are engaged or might be getting engaged soon!
sounds tacky but saves money and buisness like the referals
happy planning

Answer 2

I got married 6 months ago.We got married at our home.This was a 2nd marriage for both of us.I bought a nice formal dress.Floor length,very,very light yellow with beading across the bust and it had thin straps.I can use the dress latter for a cruise or other formal occasions.My husband wore his navy blue suit.We didn't have attendants.I got the cake made by a lady on craigslist.I bought tulle at Michael's and some fake flowers to make bows for the chairs and to make a arch on the wall.Family helped with refreshments for the reception.My brother in-law video taped the wedding and several people toke pictures and email the pics to us.We sent them to Walmart and had prints made at 15 cents each.It was really a nice wedding several people said it was the prettiest weeding they had been to in a long time.There is just something about a small wedding.We spent less than $1000.That includes everything.Family is such a big help when it comes to the reception.Ask to borrow serving pieces and table clothes from family and friends.Ask them to bring food stuffs too.You probably want even have to ask ,they will probably volunteer if they know you are on a budget.Just don't worry about things.Everything will work out.All weddings are beautiful.

Answer 3

Calling it a renewal of vows doesn't change the fact it's a sham wedding. Tell your husband's family that you have already united as husband and wife and you just want to move on in your lives. Your wedding was very much a real wedding. Getting married is what makes a wedding, not flowers, bridal showers and bridesmaids. You thought you were grown up enough to get married so time to start acting like an adult, if you're not up to the task, maybe it's not too late to get an annulment? You're clearly too young and do not possess the maturity and responsibility required for a marriage. Don't use cases of mental illness in his family as an excuse to do what you want, how pathetic.

Answer 4

Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

I just LOVE small weddings! They are the best!

You are off to a good start ...
~ date set
~ venue location chosen

Now...
**Your dress: I would definitely wear a WEDDING DRESS! Look online for ones marked "destination gown" or "informal" gown. I would choose something floor length with NO train. It can be in white OR ivory....whatever YOU like. And, the gown can be as fancy as YOU want. My only suggestion, again, would be to stay away from a gown with a train as you will be outside.

Budget ideas: This is a little hard as I don't know what kind of budget you are working from.

**The ONLY problem with having a wedding/reception at someone's home is the cost of rentals. You will need to: rent tables, chairs, linens. Please don't use the plastic or paper tablecloths! Rent real linens...or, if there is a store called Family Dollar in your area, that is where I bought tablecloths for my son's rehearsal dinner - $5 each! Then....what about inclement weather? I live in Michigan so I always have to worry about the weather! If it is fine in Colorado, maybe you don't need to worry about that. But if you do, you may have to check in to also renting a tent.

**Food for 60-70 people - that is a lot of people to feed! Have you thought of the cost of having it catered? Or, are you going to be doing the food yourself? It's really whatever YOU want. You can have a big meal or a simple "light" meal. If you had a 1 p.m. wedding, you could serve something "light" such as finger sandwiches, assorted cheeses and crackers, veggie and fruit trays, punch, coffee and cake.

Of course, that is only MY suggestion. There are many, many other food choices from pans of lasagne, to baked chicken, etc. The only thing to keep in mind is how big is your granparent's kitchen and what space is available for cooking?

**Another consideration for "home" weddings: is there adequate parking facilities? What about adequate bathroom facilities? If your grandparents only have 1 bathroom...that may be a problem with 60-70 people!

**Invitations: Please go to a Target, Walmart, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc. and purchase their "boxed sets." These are soooo nice...many styles to choose from. You get 50 in a package for about $25! You simply print them on your computer....easy and affordable!

**One real easy way to save on your wedding is to have 2 attendants ONLY....a maid of honor and a best man! Maybe a flower girl if you want. This saves on "bridesmaid stress" and attendants gifts, rehearsal dinner costs, etc.

**Bouquets: Personally, I love REAL flowers! You don't need to have a huge bouquet with 67 different flowers. A few well chosen (roses?) tied with a silk ribbon is very elegant and beautiful.

**Cake: Have a small cake for you and your hubby and then make cupcakes!! This is soooo easy and affordable!

I hope I have given you a few suggestions! I hope you have a beautiful wedding day and marriage!

EDIT: Ok...you are good to go on the parking, bathroom and kitchen situation! It should all work out then! Enjoy!

Answer 5

Here is a good place to get cheap wedding gowns:
http://www.houseofbrides.com

Also, ebay has tons of wedding dresses (some new) and you can get tons of decorations, etc. there as well. Probably the most expensive for us was food. Decide on what the least expensive items you can get are, while still leaving options for guests such as a vegetarian dish. You may consider having a pot luck as well.

Answer 6

well you are all ready saving money buy using your grandparents yard , but other creative ideas are going to the dollar store to find decorations and parting gifts. I know the dollar store may sound wierd and cheap but i saw it on "whos weddding is it anyway?" and i used the idea to help my bestfreind plan her extra small budget wedding last month. The next way to save money is have family member cook their speciality dishes instead of a caterer. And last but not least use theknot.com , they are the best website i have ever seen before they have money saving tips, a calender once you enter you weddingdate it gives you a month by month break down of things to do when planning your own wedding.

Answer 7

i hope this will help: and congratulations im planning my wedding my self for april 2008 and i have been searching on internet myself. I want a memorable wedding but sticking to my budget. Its not easy, but the main point is to unite in one with the one you love. Everything else will fall in its place.

Have a minister go to your grandparents house and marry u there since family will already be celebrating memorial day have everyone bring a dish, im pretty sure they will be glad to help u that way.

good luck and hope all goes well for you.

Answer 8

my budget is 3k. and i'm sticking to it. we are having 100-140 guests.
shop ebay for favors, i am getting organza bags to fill with chocolate- $10 for 100.
ebay for wedding band for him- he wants tungsten- $50 ebay instead of $200 in stores.
i found a lady to do floating candles and votives on ebay $84 for over 100 hand made triple scented candles.

diy food. my fiances family is making pasta, ham, chicken divan, mac n cheese and a few other things

i am getting my cake from shoprite, only $1.50 per serving and i love their cakes. the cake will be for immediate family the other guests will get sheet cake- bjs price $15 for a 1/2 sheet.
since the cake is cut in the back/kitchen nobody will know it's not from the tier.

we are having an outdoor wedding also, i am getting either a consignment dress or maybe a end of season prom dress to wear- white but more informal

guys are wearing white linen button down shirts and tan slacks.

silk flowers- afloral.com
super cheap prices and super cheap shipping, tons of selection.

invites i found on ebay. 100 invites, envelopes, thank you scrolls, rsvp postcards, reception cards, registry cards and address lables for $92. oh i am able to use any image on the invite package, any font, and any color.

email me and i can hook you up with these vendors for some great deals

Answer 9

Not serving alcohol is a very good idea because wedding guests love FREE liquor and they will drink and drink and drink.

Suggestions . .
Your bridesmaids dresses should be bright colors, not pastels. Why because pastel colors will fade into any outdoor background. And the bouquets they carry should be simple, bright flowers of all one color. If the Bridesmaid is wearing a bright yellow dress then the bouquet should be bright yellow daisies and/or yellow roses.

The gentlemen should dress in dark suits . . black or dark brown or navy blue. They should all dress in the same color, not one of this and one of that. The gentleman's tie can coordinate with his partner's (bridesmaid's) dress.

Do NOT use silk flowers. A real Bride only carries real flowers.

Keep it simple. The formality of your wedding should reflect your ceremony site, and it does not get any simpler than "Mother Earth."

Avoid using "white decorations" . . once again white will fade into the background, your decorations should be seen from a distance.

Don't ask your guests to bring their own chairs. Rent nice chairs, sturdy tables, bright tablecloths and napkins for your reception. Your guests will be impressed!

Don't ask your guests to bring food. As host and hostess, it is your responsibility to treat your guests. A wedding reception is not a "pot luck dinner." Your menu can be as simple as "beef stew" with a tossed salad and biscuits or barbequed ribs and potato salad.

Use your setting (the mountains) as your "theme." Think row boats, plaid flannel shirts, tree bark, evergreen trees, canoes, campfires, marshmallows and hot dogs on a stick, s'mores, rusty sculptures, moose, deer, and fishing for bass in a stream.

Instead of ordering a large wedding cake, order a small wedding cake and cupcakes. Cupcakes are easier to handle and your guests will like the idea that you did something different.

Table favors only work in two categories . . something useful or something edible like homemade cookies. You can't go wrong when you hand each guest a bag full of chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies as they leave your reception with a "Thanks for coming" note attached.

Dont' buy a wedding gown with a train. Your gown should be simple, very little ornamentation, with a floor length or tea length skirt.

Don't tell your guests to come "casual." When you tell your guests to come dressed "casual" they will show up wearing bib overalls, flip flops, faded jeans, T-shirts, hunting clothes, and bowling shirts. Take pride in your wedding presentation.

Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant

Answer 10

advice small budget wedding details