I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for brides on a tiny budget. I'm just getting overwelmed by the cost of having a nice traditional wedding and would like to consider some lower cost options. I wanted to get married at Sandals originally but FI shot that down because he wants his family to share our wedding day. I don't know about destination weddings because most of his family is quite honestly broke. Any suggestions? I'm sorry to be so vague.
AJSBABYGIRL
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
Where are you looking to get married? Nassau, Suffolk?
You can do a lot of do it yourself things. Instead of having flowers as centerpieces you can make a nice candle one. You can make your own invitations, place cards, centerpieces...tons of things, even jewelry. Check out the DIY board and you may get some good ideas from there.
Also it is very important to shop around for vendors.
Here are some inexpensive, highly recommended vendors
florist- Burton's DJ- FM Entertainment Photography- Twelfth Night video- in sync
Good luck!
October Bliss
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
Saturday evenings are the most expensive, so stay away from them. Instead, chose a Sunday afternoon or Friday evening.
May through October is more expensive than November to April. January & February are the least expensive months. In some cases you can get a Saturday evening in January for the same cost as a Sunday afternoon in June.
A reception hall that does more than one wedding at a time (like Chateau La Mer) tends to be less expensive than a one wedding at a time facility (like Giorgios).
Make sure you shop around, and use your negotiating skills. Most halls are willing to negotiate on something, whether it's price, minimums, or extras. Same thing goes for other vendors, most are willing to negotiate about something.
The easiest way to control costs is by controlling the guest list (it is also the hardest, because everyone wants to invite everyone).
Pick and choose what is important to you. If invitations don't mean much, don't buy expensive ones. Lots of girls have gotten fabulous invites and a very low cost by buying at Costco or Party City instead of a high priced specialty invitation store. Get only raw footage instead of a fully edited video. Candle centerpieces are less expensive than floral CPs. Low CPs are less expensive than high CPs. Prices also vary by actual flower selection (unless you use Burtons). Roses are less expensive than orchids. Anything you do yourself (like invites or silk floral CPs) will be less expensive than having someone else do.
Search the boards for other cost saving ideas.
MyDay627
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
I dont know where you live and it may sound crazy but check it out, it's not how it sounds. The Knights of Columbus in Oceanside does tons of weddings and looks nothing like a Knights of Columbus inside. They are very inexpensive and the food is terrific. Ntl. Flower Wholesalers I think is the name of the florist and they seem to be cheaper then any of the other florists. Burtons also has alot of designer gowns very inexpensive. FM if you want any other info. on the Knights of Columbus.
thelastresort
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
There are also less expensive places that offer wedding packages. I know the Brentwood Country Club offers packages that start at like $8K and include EVERYTHING, DJ, Flowers, limos, etc. for that price. Check them out.
jtgarsik
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
my FSIL doubled her centerpieces as favors....she got REALLY cheap glass vases(i think for the $1 store!) in different sizes, then had the florist use those...it worked well. Also, try to find an 'out of the home' florist...they save u a TON of money because there are no overhead storefront charges(fm me if you'd like mine! she's fantastic!) also, SHOP AROUND. get the cheapest price for each vendor....then when u find the one u love, tell them about the cheapest price, and 'what can THEY do to match it'....uuumm...what else....HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY!!! you'll get cash gifts....if i can think of anything else i'll let u know!
I am looking into some of those vendors now and am having good results.
I know that a lot of girls on this site have used Vinny from High Voltage and Burtons.
iffy
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
I have heard also that the Oceanside Knights of Columbus is REALLY nice - I haven't been there, but have heard from a few different sources that it is a great deal - and really nice.
Stop & Shop does beautiful flowers.....really!
Centerpieces can really add up if you let them...the candle thing is a great alternative to flowers....
A donation to a cause that you believe in is a great alternative to a favor for your guests, and you can determine the amount you spend on that...your guests don't need to know if you donated $10 per person or $1 per person....
and, one more thing...you don't need to spend a small fortune on a dress that you will wear for 8 hours of your life - there are lots of reasonably priced dresses out there...and Phyllis from Gownfind.com usually has the lowest prices....
Good luck!
Tracyann1976
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
What about getting married on a Thursday night. A friend of mine did that and she saved money on the hall and on all of the vendors.
donegal419
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
get married on the off-season (Sept. is not off-season. we're getting married in February and saved thousands this way.
get married in the afternoon, not evening.
cut out centerpieces.
make your own programs, menus, save the dates, etc. invitations can be hard ,but you can do it yourself to sometimes for cheaper.
go with independent vendors...we booked a photo and video person who threw in the video for FREE because he wanted to book and work with us during the off-season. these huge studios charge a lot more.
DJ over a band (cut out extras like give-aways and lighting and you'll save evn more).
go with a smaller hall... the big ones are usually over $80 a head (like jerciho terrace, westbury gardens, watermill, east wind, etc.) look into smaller places that are not wedding factories: knights of columbus, stewart manor, many parks, museums, also will have weddings.
you could look into bringing your own catering to a cheaper place like an american legion or something can also save you a lot.
have ONE limo! (you don't need 3!)
GOOD LUCK@!!!
libby2595
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
one thing that saved me a truck-load of money is... look into the talents of the people you know.
here is an exaple of what i did:
cake... free-a co-worker of mine who is also a great friend used to be caterer. she's making my cake as my gift. i know it will be DELISIOUS and EXACTLY what i want.
also, look into schools... some local colleges offer classes in flower arrangement, cooking, photography, music departments. contact the school and see if they can help. they can either assign it as class project with the teacher's supervision or you can hire a student.
dress... this is a good one. try bridalonlinestore.com their prices are wonderful and their service is GREAT. fm me if you want more info.
diy... don't be afraid to give it a try. you'd be surprised what you can do. again, tap into your loved ones, have them help you along. diy can go anywhere from a glue gun and some pretty ribbon, to making your own invites, to doing your own flowers. and a computer can do a LOT. i'm surpised at how much can be done, just with a computer and a printer.
a lot of the other things i've thought of, have already been said. if you need help with anything fm me. i'd be happy to share all of my other tips with you
David's Bridal is always having that $99 gown sale.
Instead of huge bo-k's for the BM's maybe a few callas or one single rose.
DIY invitations.
kitty1224
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
Look into Coral House or Brentwood Country club or the Knights of Columbus. What about Millerage cottage during January, very pretty and they decorate for christmas. It would have been one of my choices.
frosty
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
We had an inexpensive wedding (by LI standards). Some of the things we did:
~Got married on a Sunday morning ~Had a breakfast brunch reception at a restaurant (that saved us tons of $$) ~We used non-flower centerpieces ~We did donation favors and then gave out candy to our guests ~No limos ~I made my own bouquet, as well as my MOH's plus all the bouts ~I made our invitations/inserts ~I made our programs ~I made our placecards ~I bought an inexpensive dress ($350) ~I got my shoes on ebay ~DH wore a suit instead of a tux ~DH and I only had one attendant each (no flower girl/ring bearer)
We also have some talented friends, who were able to help with the music during the reception as well as the photography.
thelastresort
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Re: Budget Bride wedding Suggestions
Also, I know that Boces/Wilson Tech students will do flower arrangements and other services as 'practice' and it is much cheaper. My aunt has used their flower classes on numerous occasions and was very pleased with the results. Also, if you really want to cut back...use your ipod...I know many DJ's are using that nowadays anyway, so just make a wedding music playlist and have an outgoing friend do the announcements, etc.
