Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
let me tell you our bank is BROKE lol
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How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
Original post by soontobmrsmike
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
Posted by evita2781
budget?? oh.... that went out the window months ago![]()
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
Make a budget and do everything in your power to stick to it!!
Having modest expectations of what the day will be like
Eliminating extras (add-ons at rental hall, photobooths, live musicians, etc)
Do Candle and Water inspired centerpieces rather than fresh flowers
DIY invitations
SMALL guest list!!
Have the wedding on a thursday or sunday
Have the wedding in the winter or during an off-month
Research photographers and DJs for the best deal
Having modest expectations of what the day will be like
Eliminating extras (add-ons at rental hall, photobooths, live musicians, etc)
Do Candle and Water inspired centerpieces rather than fresh flowers
DIY invitations
SMALL guest list!!
Have the wedding on a thursday or sunday
Have the wedding in the winter or during an off-month
Research photographers and DJs for the best deal
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
I'm trying to keep costs low but I'm afriad our budget is going to go up. I'm doing a party bus and no limos. Also DIY invites and favors. I haven't booked photo or video yet but I'll be looking for the basi packages.
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
I was very cost conscious, but didn't cheap out on the things I felt mattered most (photo/video, RH, hair/makeup).
Our biggest savings was negotiating our price and minimum at the RH, and having the wedding in December...we were able to have a Saturday night for a very reasonable price.
For flowers, we just used personal flowers, and had non-floral CPs. I got the CPs on sale for $12 a set, and the candles were purchased through a restaurant supply wholesaler.
For limos, I just had a small stretch and made the BP get cozy with each other. I just had a towncar for the guys to get to the church, not a limo. We also used a small company that DH's uncle sometimes drives for that had the most reasonable prices.
I negotiated the price on my invitations, plus won a lot of free services to have them addressed. I DIYed my favors and programs, and used my work connections for my ribbon wands. I didn't do anything extraneous like bathroom baskets or slipper baskets or cry packs.
Basically, every vendor I didn't take the first price quoted, except for hair/makeup.
Our biggest savings was negotiating our price and minimum at the RH, and having the wedding in December...we were able to have a Saturday night for a very reasonable price.
For flowers, we just used personal flowers, and had non-floral CPs. I got the CPs on sale for $12 a set, and the candles were purchased through a restaurant supply wholesaler.
For limos, I just had a small stretch and made the BP get cozy with each other. I just had a towncar for the guys to get to the church, not a limo. We also used a small company that DH's uncle sometimes drives for that had the most reasonable prices.
I negotiated the price on my invitations, plus won a lot of free services to have them addressed. I DIYed my favors and programs, and used my work connections for my ribbon wands. I didn't do anything extraneous like bathroom baskets or slipper baskets or cry packs.
Basically, every vendor I didn't take the first price quoted, except for hair/makeup.
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
i think if you seriously on a budget, the only thing you should 'splurge' on is the photos. remember, the wedding, as special as it may be, is only a 1 day event, so the photographs are what counts. those are the only tangible things you'll have left after the wedding day.
everything else you can budget and cut costs one. one huge saving factor ... is to rent your wedding dress instead of buying one. i know a lot of girls think that it's worth paying for, but honestly, outside of memories, will you ever be able to wear it again?
if you're getting married at a RH, then there's really no need for a limo. if you don't want to drive yourself, you can always arrange a ride with someone in the bridal party/fam, etc.
flowers -- always pick what's in season and work with a local florist versus a vendor. they might not be as familiar with the venue, but they'll be much cheaper.
everything else you can budget and cut costs one. one huge saving factor ... is to rent your wedding dress instead of buying one. i know a lot of girls think that it's worth paying for, but honestly, outside of memories, will you ever be able to wear it again?
if you're getting married at a RH, then there's really no need for a limo. if you don't want to drive yourself, you can always arrange a ride with someone in the bridal party/fam, etc.
flowers -- always pick what's in season and work with a local florist versus a vendor. they might not be as familiar with the venue, but they'll be much cheaper.
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
Get married in the winter...this saved us a TON of money....every vendor went down in price because ti was their slow time...I had a fantastic wedding that would have easily been at least 10k more if it was during peak time
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
The way I see it the RH eats up the most money so you should work to cut costs there. Cut your guest list back as much as possible and do the wedding on a Thurs night or a Sat or Sun day or in the offseason.
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
i've been really budget-conscious through this whole planning ordeal....
- I chose our venue because the price was right
- I decided that light shows/plasma screens etc from the DJ was something i didn't need, and got a one man dj/mc
- our centerpieces are really simple, just small bowls with four stems of hydrangeas in each
-I chose simple non-exotic flowers for all the personal flowers too (hydrangeas, roses)
- I got dollar store taper candle holders and still need to buy the candles, but i know the florist would've charged a LOT more for candles added to the tables
- I spent less than $2 a favor
- DIY invites...the Brides kits from Michaels....tho they were a pain in the azz, similar ones from a printer (pocketfolds) would've cost WAAAAAY more, and I wanted that look
- I went with a lesser-known but reliable photog/videographer and negotiated the crap out of him...and will be getting all my photos on disc (with rights!) to make my own album online
-because i am getting married at the RH i have no need for limos
guess that's all but i've really tried to be frugal with everything....i keep reminding myself it's ONE day....
HTH!!!!
ETA....i made sure i did things that were most important to me/us, which is having the wedding on a saturday, and in summer. other days/seasons would have been cheaper, i know...but in the grand scheme of things, these were the details i felt justified in spending more on.....thats JMO!
- I chose our venue because the price was right
- I decided that light shows/plasma screens etc from the DJ was something i didn't need, and got a one man dj/mc
- our centerpieces are really simple, just small bowls with four stems of hydrangeas in each
-I chose simple non-exotic flowers for all the personal flowers too (hydrangeas, roses)
- I got dollar store taper candle holders and still need to buy the candles, but i know the florist would've charged a LOT more for candles added to the tables
- I spent less than $2 a favor
- DIY invites...the Brides kits from Michaels....tho they were a pain in the azz, similar ones from a printer (pocketfolds) would've cost WAAAAAY more, and I wanted that look
- I went with a lesser-known but reliable photog/videographer and negotiated the crap out of him...and will be getting all my photos on disc (with rights!) to make my own album online
-because i am getting married at the RH i have no need for limos
guess that's all but i've really tried to be frugal with everything....i keep reminding myself it's ONE day....
HTH!!!!
ETA....i made sure i did things that were most important to me/us, which is having the wedding on a saturday, and in summer. other days/seasons would have been cheaper, i know...but in the grand scheme of things, these were the details i felt justified in spending more on.....thats JMO!
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
if u have a budget, stick to it!!!
u can get what u want for with ur budget, just be a smart shopper.
and alwaysssss make a deal. imo every price can be negotiable when booking with vendors.
u can get what u want for with ur budget, just be a smart shopper.
and alwaysssss make a deal. imo every price can be negotiable when booking with vendors.
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
Read these blogs:
http://silvercharmevents.blogspot.com/
http://www.thebrokeassbride.com/
for A MILLION great ideas on how to save money and to remind you whats important!
http://silvercharmevents.blogspot.com/
http://www.thebrokeassbride.com/
for A MILLION great ideas on how to save money and to remind you whats important!
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
Yay to another friday night bride! I am doing that too in order to afford the RH i wanted.
Its about picking and chosing what you feel will make your day special.
I say cut the favors and little things like that!
Its about picking and chosing what you feel will make your day special.
I say cut the favors and little things like that!
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
I am also on a very tight budget for our wedding and doing a lot of what other people were saying. DIY invites and favors that I find on clearance, etc. Not sure where you are but Margies Flowers in Farmingdale gave us great prices. and was willing to let us supply the centerpieces the flowers go in to cut costs.
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
I think its better to have a smaller wedding and focus on the things that are really important. I think often times brides feel like they have to have a huge wedding with a huge production b/c thats what everybody does and they feel the pressure. I think as a couple its important to create a day that best suits YOU! and not to conform to the pressures that society and wedding industry puts on us. And down the line if you're in a better financial situation you can always renew your vows and have a bigger party! Remember about whats important...and focus on sharing your day with the people that you love...and leave the drama at the door!
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
Posted by olganfreddy
I think its better to have a smaller wedding and focus on the things that are really important. I think often times brides feel like they have to have a huge wedding with a huge production b/c thats what everybody does and they feel the pressure. I think as a couple its important to create a day that best suits YOU! and not to conform to the pressures that society and wedding industry puts on us. And down the line if you're in a better financial situation you can always renew your vows and have a bigger party! Remember about whats important...and focus on sharing your day with the people that you love...and leave the drama at the door!
You have a good point, and I'm sure this happens sometimes. Other times, people have to include so many relatives. My mom has a large family and said all of her cousins would be insulted if we didn't invite them.
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
we're having 150 people on a friday night in august and so far are about 4,000 under our budget and i plan to do everything I can to keep it that way.
only you know your budget and if there is any flexibility. Use this site, go on the Vendors helping brides forum and post what youre looking for and see the best price you can get. If youre getting a better price somewhere else you can negotiate.
low CPs are def cheaper then high. stick with flowers that are in season for your time.
only you know your budget and if there is any flexibility. Use this site, go on the Vendors helping brides forum and post what youre looking for and see the best price you can get. If youre getting a better price somewhere else you can negotiate.
low CPs are def cheaper then high. stick with flowers that are in season for your time.
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
these are really great ideas guys![]()
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
I don't know how much the book cost, but you might be interested in reading this to help you.
Bridal Bargain Book
Bridal Bargain Book
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Re: How to have a beautiful wedding on a budget!!
Everyone has given you good advice here. Now the tough part comes with actually using it!
One thing I don't think I saw mwntioned is that you don't need to do all the little things that alot of the brides are talking about. Yes it might make it more personal but odds are that a lot of the l;ittle touches you slave over and spend money on won't be noticed - - or missed if you omit them.
You don't need bathroom baskets or slippers/flipflops, personalized napkins, your own printed menus, programs, table numbers. Use what the RH supplies. And while a program is nice it is not essential.
Even favors can be omitted, or do a donation in an amount you can afford. I decided to make my own rose shaped lollipops since that matched my invitations. I used coupons from Michael's and ACXMoore for all the things needed and for 90 it came out to about $30 dollars.
I printed favor tags and used plain ribbon with these on the lollipos so it cost about$ rather than $20. Every penny you save mounts up and while you may think that spending $2 /favor isn't bad if you have 100 guests . . it all adds up.
So eliminate as much as possible on these odds and ends. they really won't be missed.
we got a 1939 caddy for us and our small wedding party went in their own cars to the RH.
we got DJ, photo with proofs but no album , flowers for RH and BOKs and the basic pkg from the RH. I did the favors and invites and that was all we did and everyone thought our day was fantastic - - and it was.
there was so much food in the basic pkg from the RH that we didn't need to add etrxas - - see what you get and try to avoid the temptation to add more. people can eat just so much.![]()
hope this helps too.
One thing I don't think I saw mwntioned is that you don't need to do all the little things that alot of the brides are talking about. Yes it might make it more personal but odds are that a lot of the l;ittle touches you slave over and spend money on won't be noticed - - or missed if you omit them.
You don't need bathroom baskets or slippers/flipflops, personalized napkins, your own printed menus, programs, table numbers. Use what the RH supplies. And while a program is nice it is not essential.
Even favors can be omitted, or do a donation in an amount you can afford. I decided to make my own rose shaped lollipops since that matched my invitations. I used coupons from Michael's and ACXMoore for all the things needed and for 90 it came out to about $30 dollars.
I printed favor tags and used plain ribbon with these on the lollipos so it cost about$ rather than $20. Every penny you save mounts up and while you may think that spending $2 /favor isn't bad if you have 100 guests . . it all adds up.
So eliminate as much as possible on these odds and ends. they really won't be missed.
we got a 1939 caddy for us and our small wedding party went in their own cars to the RH.
we got DJ, photo with proofs but no album , flowers for RH and BOKs and the basic pkg from the RH. I did the favors and invites and that was all we did and everyone thought our day was fantastic - - and it was.
there was so much food in the basic pkg from the RH that we didn't need to add etrxas - - see what you get and try to avoid the temptation to add more. people can eat just so much.
hope this helps too.
