Brides on a Budget???

Brides on a Budget???

I was just wondering if there were any brides-to-be that have limited cash flow for their wedding- I Love reading these boards- im actually addicted but I am on a budget-any cost cutting ideas? I truly would love to spend lots of money on my wedding but in reality I cant without starting of our marriage in debt-is anyone out there in the same boat???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

I booked the KOC in my town we're having it on a Sunday anyay but its the same price everyday- I checked out the BCC but the package is for 100 people- Im having 150 and thats after cutting my list down- the BCC charges 50 pp after the 100 which isnt bad until you add on tax and service charges-

Re: Brides on a Budget???

I am definately with you on this. I DEFINATELY do not want to start our marriage in debt. What we have done is: make our own centerpieces, have small inexpensive favors, made my own STD's, and are cutting back on a lot of the 'frills'. We are having our wedding at the hall, so we aren't doing programs, we aren't doing menus, bathroom baskets, hotel room baskets for the out-of-towners...just a lot of little stuff. Everyone knows that we are on a limited budget, so they understand.

Re: Brides on a Budget???

I agree- Im not a glitsy person anyway and my family and friends understand because they were in the same boat at one time or the other- If I wanted I could hit my father up for everything I ever dreamed of- but what about the next day? I believe that I will have a beautiful wedding and be proud to say that I did it on a budget- hey maybe Ill write a book-

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Same boat-but we wanted a high end wedding so we're starting our marriage in debt. We know we can pay it off though within a year.

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Here's some of the stuff I did. However, I didn't get married at a hall so things were a little more pieced together!

-We had a buffet...a giant one. 13 entrees, full cocktail hour, full open bar, cake, espresso, pastries, cookies for $85.00 (this price included tax and gratuity) a head. We used a local pork store. The food was amazing!!

-I shopped around for white lights, cheap craft supplies for the year prior to the wedding. I made the archway we stood under-I bought the frame for $6.00 on http://www.sav-on-crafts.com

-we used a photojournalist as our photographer. She charged us $2K for all the proofs, negatives and CD-roms. We didn't order albums through her since we have the negatives and can do this ourselves.

-DJ-High Energy Entertainment...Ralph charged us $800.00 for the whole thing! We also used them for our video--we got raw footage of the whole ceremony, digital, for $700.00.

-Favours-I made these myself. We had bottles of rosemary infused olive oil. I bought the bottles wholesale as well as the oil. I filled them myself and sealed them. I think the grand total was about $100.


-Flowers-I used a family friend (I'd be happy to give her name to anyone!). Since I got married in the fall, I bought a whole bunch of mums for the decorations. They were 4 plants for $10.00 at the time. My bouquets, boutonierres and corsages came to $350.00.

Centerpieces-I bought a IKEA. I bought glass bowls and floating candles. Each centerpiece came to about $2.50.

Just some general ideas on how I saved tons! Let me know if you want more info!!

Re: Brides on a Budget???

I truly am with you! I am graduate student and so there isnt two incomes, we are epaying for everything ourselves and its SCARY! I am working for the summer and everything is going right into the wedding, we dont wnat any debt from this. We had some luck with cutting costs, because we had to get married inJanuary, so that I would be out of school and no homework for the honeymoon..and it just so happens that reception Halls are discounted in Jan and I think February. Our wedding is also on a friday night, which saved alot. So our reception is a GREAT PRICE and its going to be beautiful! The band happens to be friends of ours, so we are getting them for a small fee. We too, cut our guest list WAY down, explained to everyone that we want a small wedding, we are at around 75=80 people which saves a fortune. Our recpetion hall has center pieces included in the package, a half or a dozen roses,simple yet elegant I think and so all we have to do is worry about flowers for the chapel, its small, so there isnt much to decorate. Its acndleight wedding, so my matronsof honor will carry a candle with just a few simple flowers intertwined around it. We have no choice but to skimp on costs, so if anyone knows of a great photographer at a good price, please let me know!!! Good luck to you!!!

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

ME tooo...I got lots of things on EBAY!..And Im not getting into debt because of a wedding!! Im staying within my means..If someone at the reception has something to say...WELL TOOOOOOOOOO BAD!!!..but I can say...we paid it ALL ourselves..Unfornately Im not a Daddys Princess

Re: Brides on a Budget???

Re: Brides on a Budget???

I'm in the same 'budget' boat. I'm always reading the posts looking for ideas and have come across a lot of useful info We are thinking of a winter (Jan/Feb) wedding to cut the catering cost which can be a considerable difference, unless we get a similar deal for a summer wedding (July/Aug) which I've heard can happen. Planning also for a Sunday which is less $. We are getting some help from our parents, but its not nearly enough to pay for the entire wedding, most of it will be covered by us. Now it is even harder b/c FH recently got laid off his new job.

Re: Brides on a Budget???

i love these boards it really makes you feel that others know what your going through.

I am COMPLETELY on the same side. I've always dreamt of my wedding day but now that I am an adult and me and my fiance are paying for it my prioritites have really changed. To me buying a house is on the top of the list. Don't get me wrong getting married is as well but I can't feel comfortable spending a down payment for one day. Now if I was J-Lo or Jennifer Aniston I too would have the million dollar wedding but in the meantime I don't have thier budgets or their bodies...

Maybe we should create a budget board...LOL.

Now, after ranting, let me say I too love e-bay and have noticed that time is on my side. We are planning for next year in July and I feel I have time to search for good deals and girls I have found some good ones.

Re: Brides on a Budget???

I am on a budget & are having a lot of little details because I found wonderful deals on everything by really shopping around. Whenever I have found something I want I research to find the best price(which a lot of time is online). I used Netbride for all my dresses, including my gown(I saved over $200, I was thrilled with my service). Party City always has invites on sale & they have more choices than you would ever realize(I got my invites in a week!). My vendors are listed in my profile & they are ALL extremely reasonable, if you would like info on any of them FM me.