Official Brides on a BUDGET thread!

I am really surprised that there’s know similar thread (that I know of) so I thought I would start one. Many of us can not afford to spend 20K (or are unwilling too) on a wedding, as much as we would like. So we need to get create and help each other out! What are some of the things you are doing?

1. Flowers. Consider going to a local florist rather than using a more “wedding related” type florist. Not only is support you little local store a great idea but you can save money as well! I found a local florist in Glendale, Queens where my tulip bo-k will be under $100 and the bridal bo-ks will be under $40! I am using candles instead of flowers for RH tables, which is a big savings. And because I am getting married during Lent my church does not allow flowers inside the church during this time. But I think I would have decided against flowers in the church anyway.

2. For those getting having a Catholic Church wedding, you can ask for a reduced fee for your Pre-Cana; I had to call the Douglaston Pre-Cana office to do so. Otherwise is $195 per couple fee. And my Church is also willing to give me a reduced fee as well.

That’s all I have to offer right now. Can’t wait to share ideas!!!!

I am making my own invites i spent on $50 on supplies from cardsandpockets.com, they had a sale.

I also bought my favors from favorfavor.com who had the best prices from all the sites i checked out.

I bought my ceremony accessories from wrapwithus.com they too have excellent prices.

---

Posted by NY2009



I am really surprised that there’s know similar thread (that I know of) so I thought I would start one. Many of us can not afford to spend 20K (or are unwilling too) on a wedding, as much as we would like. So we need to get create and help each other out! What are some of the things you are doing?

1. Flowers. Consider going to a local florist rather than using a more “wedding related” type florist. Not only is support you little local store a great idea but you can save money as well! I found a local florist in Glendale, Queens where my tulip bo-k will be under $100 and the bridal bo-ks will be under $40! I am using candles instead of flowers for RH tables, which is a big savings. And because I am getting married during Lent my church does not allow flowers inside the church during this time. But I think I would have decided against flowers in the church anyway.

2. For those getting having a Catholic Church wedding, you can ask for a reduced fee for your Pre-Cana; I had to call the Douglaston Pre-Cana office to do so. Otherwise is $195 per couple fee. And my Church is also willing to give me a reduced fee as well.

That’s all I have to offer right now. Can’t wait to share ideas!!!!

---

Thats a great price for flowers. Can I ask what florist you used in Glendale? I actually booked a package with the Wedding Plaza which included the florist but I havent actually sat down with them to discuss flowers yet. I live in Glendale and if I can get a florist close to home with great prices I would rather do that.
I also didnt know you can get a reduced fee for pre cana. I will check into that also.
Thank you!!

I am also using candles for my tables at the RH. I am making them myself and getting all the supplies from Michael's.We are making our own CD's with our fav songs on it as the favor. My MOH is making my invites,programs, CD jackets and menu cards. All I have to pay for are the supplies.
I am using roses for all my bo-k I'm hearing that is the cheapest .

I am sadly also not having a videographer.

---

Posted by vicandbarbara09

I am sadly also not having a videographer.

---

Neither am I, so don't feel bad! I would love to have one but really can't afford one!

I'm doing my own make up. I know how I should look why spend the money. It's nice to get pampered, I'll save that for the honeymoon. Also, my photographer is awesome. He's giving me a CD with all Hi-Res photos at the end of my party. Only cost me $1200.00 with e-pix.Now I can print what I want. When I want albums I can contact him after the wedding & pay when I order the books.

---

Posted by Future Mrs H

Thats a great price for flowers. Can I ask what florist you used in Glendale?

I live in Glendale and if I can get a florist close to home with great prices I would rather do that.

---

I am using Mc Kenna's Florist; 67-11 Central Ave, (718) 821-2714. I met with Diane last week and loved her; very understanding that I am on a budget.

I live in Middle Village but will be getting ready at my parent's house in Glendale (69th place between Central and Myrtle) so this is close enough where I can send my father to pick up the flowers and will not have to worry about delivery fees!

She also going to get me fresh rose petals for the tables. She quoted me at $5 per table, and will have me pick up the roses the day before for me to bring to Riccardo's. She said she has worked with Riccardo's before and that Riccardo's will peel the roses for me the day of so they are nice and fresh.

---

Posted by NY2009

---

Posted by vicandbarbara09

I am sadly also not having a videographer.

---

Neither am I, so don't feel bad! I would love to have one but really can't afford one!

---

I am also not having a videographer not really seeing the point. I know i'll watch the video once and forget about it. I am also going to make my own cardbox, some type of decoration for my place card table. Also Ikea has tons of stuff you can incorporate into your wedding.

So glad to see all your posts, all this spending does get to be a bit much. Another option for flowers, if you have great family and friends support on the day of, order flowers yourself from a site like fiftyflowers.com and do it yourself. They will walk you through the process of choosing flowers, ordering, delivery and caring for them.

Since I decided on only wearing my veil during the ceremony, I opted for a beautiful but simple, double tiered $15 veil from a vendor on Etsy.com.

We didn't do e-pics. Not worth the money for us and didn't really see a use for them since we would rather hang up wedding pics in our home.

I also didn't spend money on things people would never see... like my shoes! I wore the sandals I wear everyday. They are comfortable and high enough for my dress.

I borrowed my day of jewelry from my mom.

---

Posted by NY2009

---

Posted by vicandbarbara09

I am sadly also not having a videographer.

---

Neither am I, so don't feel bad! I would love to have one but really can't afford one!

---

same here
but our photog does a slide show of the day set to our song and i'm confident in him capturing all our moments

I am almost at my wedding date so I thought I would jump in here too!

1) We are not doing limos or anything for transportation -- it is just another added cost and my dad is certainly capable of driving the 5 minutes from the hotel to the RH.

2) Reduce the number of guests.

3) Consider having the wedding in an off-season month and/or not on a Saturday night. Doing this alone saved us over 4K at our RH.

4) Nix the favors. Does anyone really need them? I have only received a favor at one wedding in my life and I have no idea where it is.

5) Nix add-ons at the CH -- people do not need expensive sushi on top of pasta and meat stations, etc. CH is only for one hour, and people will be drinking and mingling.

6) Don't foget to NOT scrimp on what is truly important -- if you and FH think the photographer is the most important aspect, make sure you have a good amount in your budget for this. If you don't care about having a band, get a single-man DJ thing.

7) Buy things used or as a sample. I got my crystal beaded veil for 60% off because I was willing to take the perfect-condition floor sample. I bought a faux fur wrap to wear from an 08 bride for $25.

8) Borrow stuff from family! I am not spending anything on DOJ. My mom is lending me the necklace SHE wore on her wedding day. You probably have a relative out there who would be honored to lend you a special piece of jewelry for your DOJ.

9) Don't be afraid to negotiate with vendors. They worst thing they can say is 'no.' We negotiated with the photographer and videographer and saved 2K! They beat the price of the other, cheaper photog we had been considering. We also asked our RH to cut the number of CH stations from 4 to 3 (with less guests, you need less food too). So they chopped another $10 pp off the price just for this.

I am sure I will think of more so maybe as time goes on I will edit this post!

Great thread idea!

---

Posted by EsquireBride

1) We are not doing limos or anything for transportation -- it is just another added cost and my dad is certainly capable of driving the 5 minutes from the hotel to the RH.

---

I am seriously considering this as well! My family is fine with it; but FMIL and FSIL are highly insulted that we wouldn't provide Limos for the entire day! I don't have a big bridal party; just 2 girls and 2 guys. And we all live locally. FH is torn at not doing limos.

Another great idea to cut down cost of photo's- consider only having a photographer for part of the day. I am thinking of just having the photographer for a an hour's worth of formal shooting between the church and the reception! And will be using disposable camera's on the table at the reception. Also, try to elimate all of the prints and just get a disc with a copywrite to your photos. albulms can always be added on after the wedding.

Ladies, not to rain on your parade, but videography is so important. I was on a budget and if you see my review I got all I wanted and then some and manged to keep it under $15000, including honyemoon to Jamaica and rings.

Ladies trust me, you will regret it if you dont get at least a basic package somewhere. My videographer has packages as low as $600 for only a couple of hrs of video, I am sure she can accomodate you or you can find someone else willing to work with your budget.

It is such an important day that will go by so fast and you get to see so many things that you wouldnt have otherwise. I have seen my video soooooo many times since I got it.

Re-think the idea of no video....would you have a wedding with noi DJ? its crazy talk...

---

Posted by emc282rjm

We are not getting a videographer either. Instead, we are putting those disposable video cameras (you can get them at Duane Reade for like $15 on each table. We are having a film school friend videotape the ceremony!

---

Wow they make disposible VIDEO cameras? That's a great idea ...I am looking into that now
Thanks for the idea!!!

its ur decision about the video.

FH and i are trying to decide on that ourselves. The only reason i see it is because that day is going to be such a blur. But i feel like the memories can be re-lived through photos.

to save $ i would go with a dj/mc combo, and 1 photographer.

Imo i don't think having cameras on the tables is worth it anymore. Half the time you develop the cameras and most of hte pics are blank, not usable, or whatever. Enough people have digital cameras now so you could just ask them if they would mind putting their pics on a cd for u.

Much better quality