budget stress!!

So FH and I were going over our budget which we said from the start we were NOT going to go over. So we have already spent almost ALL of it and I still have almost a year!!!
Basically we only have 5k left in our budget for the rest of the wedding...
I still have to factor in:
MY DRESS
invitations
accessories
BM gifts
Parent gifts
hair/makeup
card box
tips for staff
(and im probably forgetting some stuff)

is this even realistic??! or do I have to break it to FH that we are going to have to re-hash the budget...
If anyone can tell me what you spent on these things because i have NO CONCEPT of if its feesable or not!

I need your help!!!

You can do it! WE are budgeting 1500 for tips. What are you thinking about in terms of money on your dress?

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Posted by heathery72

You can do it! WE are budgeting 1500 for tips. What are you thinking about in terms of money on your dress?

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Honestly I dont think I can spend more than 1k on my dress I hope I can find something I love in that price range!

Dress maybe try David's Bridal or RK bridal-they have a great selection of dresses in a wide variety of prices..

Invites-maybe think about DIY..I got a kit from Michael's and printing them myself... They are really simple as I think guest will read the invite, write down the date and throw away the ivite...

Makeup and Hair-this will cost you at least $300 to $400

Accessories- you can get nice ones in macys or lord & taylor also there are sooo many websites that sell jewerly $50 to $70 a piece..

Parents gifts-depending what you are thinking about getting them.. I was thinking about getting my mom & Fmil a pearl set (maybe from macys I think they run around $80) and maybe a watch for my dad and ffil...

BM gifts- maybe a coach wristlet? Coach outlets are having additional 20% coupon

I think if you do your research online you can stretch the $5000 and buy a lot of stuff..

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Posted by AgaBride062610

Dress maybe try David's Bridal or RK bridal-they have a great selection of dresses in a wide variety of prices..

Invites-maybe think about DYI..I got a kit from Michael's and printing them myself... They are really simple as I think guest will read the invite, write down the date and throw away the ivite...

Makeup and Hair-this will cost you at least $300 to $400

Accessories- you can get nice ones in macys or lord & taylor also there are sooo many websites that sell jewerly $50 to $70 a piece..

Parents gifts-depending what you are thinking about getting them.. I was thinking about getting my mom & Fmil a pearl set (maybe from macys I think they run around $80) and maybe a watch for my dad and ffil...

BM gifts- maybe a coach wristlet? Coach outlets are having additional 20% coupon

I think if you do your research online you can stretch the $5000 and buy a lot of stuff..

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Thanks so much!! I was waiting to see if you girls thought it was rediculous for me to even think I could do this or not... if it doesnt sound too crazy then I will try to make it happen!! Just stresses me out that in the next year I can only spend 5k!! HOW BORING FOR ME!!!

RK bridal?? Ill try there too.. I thought I was only going to be able to go to Davids to be honest...

I think you can definitely do it, you just have to research research research. I think you'll be able to find a dress at that price, look around. Also we're budgeting about 800 for tips, just because everyone is already gettig paid and we just don't have it to give. You can get nice inexpensive BP gifts, trying buying on Black Friday when everything is dirt cheap or think of creative non expensive gifts. Maybe you can do parent gifts after the wedding privately, idk...but I think you can def. do it!

Good luck hun!

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Posted by jilliibabii

You can definitely swing $5k for all of that! The dress and tips will be the most $$- I'd budget $3k for both together, that includes alterations. Ask about borrowing jewelry from your mom of FMIL or a friend- that way you get your DOJ free, you get your something borrowed, and each piece has a special meaning. I'd look in my shoe closet and see if I already had shoes that could work, especially if you want funky and colored ones! Invites you can DIY, mine are coming to about $175 for 150 of them using the Brides kits from Michael's (and lots of 40% off coupons).

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thanks!! feeling less stressed now!!!
STILL am a little stressed though!! I totally wanted pocketfold invites dangit!!!!
maybe if i get christmas money i can use it on those...

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Posted by Golden

I think you can definitely do it, you just have to research research research. I think you'll be able to find a dress at that price, look around. Also we're budgeting about 800 for tips, just because everyone is already gettig paid and we just don't have it to give. You can get nice inexpensive BP gifts, trying buying on Black Friday when everything is dirt cheap or think of creative non expensive gifts. Maybe you can do parent gifts after the wedding privately, idk...but I think you can def. do it!

Good luck hun!

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I never thought of getting something on black friday, good idea!! Its hard to think of doing things like BP gifts so far in advance... im the most ADD person you will ever meet... most things I do are last minute lol.
Also I think I over-extended myself with parent gifts!! I didnt get parent albums because they made my package more expensive, AND I thought they wouldnt want them!! then both sides of parents complained...so I said I would make it their gifts....until I found out they START at 200 each...

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Posted by Tessie728

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Posted by AgaBride062610

Dress maybe try David's Bridal or RK bridal-they have a great selection of dresses in a wide variety of prices..

Invites-maybe think about DYI..I got a kit from Michael's and printing them myself... They are really simple as I think guest will read the invite, write down the date and throw away the ivite...

Makeup and Hair-this will cost you at least $300 to $400

Accessories- you can get nice ones in macys or lord & taylor also there are sooo many websites that sell jewerly $50 to $70 a piece..

Parents gifts-depending what you are thinking about getting them.. I was thinking about getting my mom & Fmil a pearl set (maybe from macys I think they run around $80) and maybe a watch for my dad and ffil...

BM gifts- maybe a coach wristlet? Coach outlets are having additional 20% coupon

I think if you do your research online you can stretch the $5000 and buy a lot of stuff..

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Thanks so much!! I was waiting to see if you girls thought it was rediculous for me to even think I could do this or not... if it doesnt sound too crazy then I will try to make it happen!! Just stresses me out that in the next year I can only spend 5k!! HOW BORING FOR ME!!!

RK bridal?? Ill try there too.. I thought I was only going to be able to go to Davids to be honest...

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I got my dress from RK bridal and I love it!! It is definitely worth looking into. Definitely, go during the week. I went on a Friday to pick my gown and then I went back on a Saturday to pick it up. major difference. Also, opt to pick-up the dress instead of spending the $150 to have it delivered.

Try weddingfactorydirect.com for DOJ for BM's and for yourself... they also have tiara's, headpeices, veils...

I got my FG basket and RB pillow at theweddingoutlet.com for $16 total... including shipping...

my invitations are from Party City (Naturaly Ever After - Simply Stated)... to save money i put the reception info on the Invite, so i only have a rsvp and invite... $300 for 175 invites...

thanks so much for all the suggestions and keep em coming if you have more!!

I LOVE LIW!!!!!!

I also got my dress at RK bridal :) I went there on a Saturday there was soooo much chaos but I finally said yes... Yes, really go there- they have sooooooo many dresses there.

Also, if you want to do parent's album you can do it yourself... there are so many websites... I am thinking about doing smth like that for my e-pics when I get them.. I do not have my notebook with me but I have those websites so I will FM them to you...

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Posted by Tessie728

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Posted by jilliibabii

You can definitely swing $5k for all of that! The dress and tips will be the most $$- I'd budget $3k for both together, that includes alterations. Ask about borrowing jewelry from your mom of FMIL or a friend- that way you get your DOJ free, you get your something borrowed, and each piece has a special meaning. I'd look in my shoe closet and see if I already had shoes that could work, especially if you want funky and colored ones! Invites you can DIY, mine are coming to about $175 for 150 of them using the Brides kits from Michael's (and lots of 40% off coupons).

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thanks!! feeling less stressed now!!!
STILL am a little stressed though!! I totally wanted pocketfold invites dangit!!!!
maybe if i get christmas money i can use it on those...

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Haha, don't worry, my birthday is next week and I'm planning to use any $$ I get to buy my little sister's BM dress!

In a perfect world, I'd have pocketfold invites, too! LOL! But the invite kits aren't SO bad, reminiscent of pocketfolds even. I know brides on here got theirs from Cotsco or Party City and they're really reasonable, too! Just gotta be creative!!

And I'm so with you on the procrastinating. I want to go and get BP gifts on black friday, but I just feel like it's to early. Maybe I'll ask my mom to take a ride out with my to the outlets anyway! Maybe my b-day $$ will go towards BP gifts!

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Posted by AgaBride062610

I also got my dress at RK bridal :) I went there on a Saturday there was soooo much chaos but I finally said yes... Yes, really go there- they have sooooooo many dresses there.

Also, if you want to do parent's album you can do it yourself... there are so many websites... I am thinking about doing smth like that for my e-pics when I get them.. I do not have my notebook with me but I have those websites so I will FM them to you...

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Making the albums myself is a great idea!! I mean 200(starting) for an album is crazy to me!!

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Posted by jilliibabii

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Posted by Tessie728

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Posted by jilliibabii

You can definitely swing $5k for all of that! The dress and tips will be the most $$- I'd budget $3k for both together, that includes alterations. Ask about borrowing jewelry from your mom of FMIL or a friend- that way you get your DOJ free, you get your something borrowed, and each piece has a special meaning. I'd look in my shoe closet and see if I already had shoes that could work, especially if you want funky and colored ones! Invites you can DIY, mine are coming to about $175 for 150 of them using the Brides kits from Michael's (and lots of 40% off coupons).

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thanks!! feeling less stressed now!!!
STILL am a little stressed though!! I totally wanted pocketfold invites dangit!!!!
maybe if i get christmas money i can use it on those...

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Haha, don't worry, my birthday is next week and I'm planning to use any $$ I get to buy my little sister's BM dress!

In a perfect world, I'd have pocketfold invites, too! LOL! But the invite kits aren't SO bad, reminiscent of pocketfolds even. I know brides on here got theirs from Cotsco or Party City and they're really reasonable, too! Just gotta be creative!!

And I'm so with you on the procrastinating. I want to go and get BP gifts on black friday, but I just feel like it's to early. Maybe I'll ask my mom to take a ride out with my to the outlets anyway! Maybe my b-day $$ will go towards BP gifts!

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Heyyy heyy your wedding is in MAY mine is in OCTOBER so imagine how I feel getting BM gifts already!??! Your not too early at all!! I say do it!

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Posted by AngnShaun

when youre buying anything online go to retailmenot.com and see if there are any coupons... also go to ebates.com and register... you get a percentage back on any purchase you make online through the website

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Angela you have so many great suggestions!! Im saving all of this!!!