Ways to cut costs

Hey ladies...

I recently became laid off from my job unexpectedly and money has been especially tight. I had a great interview the other day and I'm hoping for the best.

FH and I are going away next weekend to discuss our wedding plans and ideas. I've been doing as much homework as I could the last few months... but I know one of FH's big concerns is about $$$. Seriously, we have a house already so I think his mindset is more on upgrading the bathroom and the kitchen rather than spending $30k on a big party. He joked earlier that we should just elope and this way we take care of the wedding and the honeymoon - scary enough he may have been partly serious.

Basically, I know that I better put on my best sales presentation ever next weekend to eliviate his mind - which is not easy to eliviate someone's concerns over $$$ when you are unemployed trying to convince them that you'll take on the bigger burden. Here is my list of things that I'm planning on telling him to either eliminate certain costs or add to our budget:

1- Tax refunds, pending I get that job and don't need mine to make my minimums on my bills. He however, should use his toward the mortgage - not the wedding.

2- Continue with my p/t job even once I'm gainfully employed again.

3- Have an informal engagement party hosted by my parent's at their house (maybe dad will slip me some extra cash since he doesn't have to pay for a catered affair - but I doubt it). I feel this way we'd register at one or 2 places but send out invitations (like the kind you buy at a hallmark store or maybe my dad can make them on his computer) and maybe we'll get some monetary gifts - or at least people will buy the non-monetary gifts for this and give us cash for the wedding.

4- Have a Friday night wedding instead of Saturday or Sunday - depending on the hall whichever day or time is cheapest.

5- DJ - get the most basic package - no bells and whistles, just introduce us, make a few announcements here and there, play what we want him to and that's about it. No smoke, no toys or any of that garbage that goes unappreciated for the most part anyway (not putting it down if anyone's doing that, but if it costs money it's not worth it to me).

6- Flowers - no floral centerpieces - use candles and make them with stuff from Michaels. Only flowers will be the bou-k's.

7- Small Bridal Party - about 3ppl each, plus maybe a ring bearer and flower girl (his son will be 9, so maybe he can be a JR. groomsman and eliminate the RB).

8- 100 guest or less - only kids are those in the BP and have an A and B list so that this way FH doesn't freak out that he can't invite some guy he went to grade school with that he hasn't spoken to in 10 years. MEN!!! Then if someone from A sends back a 'no' he can pull someone off his B list to replace them, but we stop at 100 guests.

9- Buy invitations as cheap as possible since they'll end up in the garbage anyway.

10- I'm make the 'save the date cards' somehow.

Anything else anyone can think of? I'm hoping to stay under $15k which I know is painfully hard to do, but unless I want to get married on a beach in Mexico - I'd better be prepared to show FH that we can do this somehow. The priority items to me are good food, the photographer and the videographer (and the honeymoon - FH agrees with this one). I know - videos not that necessary - but I have to admit - FH's first wedding was taped and is at his mother's house somewhere b/c some of their dead relatives were there so she can't part with it, but I have an issue with that being on tape and not ours. I know - stupid, but it's life I guess. Any other suggestions?

You should purchase Bridal Bargains its a great guide on how to pick vendors and save money on your wedding.

Good Luck!!!

You've mentioned some really good ones. I did do most of these (cheapest DJ package, no centerpieces, only MOH and BM)

But I would also suggest getting married off-season. Because I got married in February, many of my vendors were willing to work with me on the price - I paid more than $50pp less than I would have had I gotten married at any other time.

FM me if you have any questions.

ETA: You might want to consider buying your dress on bridesave.com - I found mine on there for $300 cheaper than I paid in a salon.

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Posted by Mrs.Ptobe

Anything else anyone can think of? I'm hoping to stay under $15k which I know is painfully hard to do, but unless I want to get married on a beach in Mexico - I'd better be prepared to show FH that we can do this somehow. The priority items to me are good food, the photographer and the videographer (and the honeymoon - FH agrees with this one). I know - videos not that necessary - but I have to admit - FH's first wedding was taped and is at his mother's house somewhere b/c some of their dead relatives were there so she can't part with it, but I have an issue with that being on tape and not ours. I know - stupid, but it's life I guess. Any other suggestions?

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You're off to a pretty good start Keeping it under $15k isn't really that hard... our's will be about $16 and I didn't skimp too much.

Look for a hall that will give you a price of under $80/pp - that's your biggest cost. Sunday afternoons are inexpensive days to have a wedding.

Buy a dress at David's or on ebay. I found my perfect dress at David's and my FSIL found it on ebay for $200 less and it was prettier (we'll see when I get it lol)

My FMIL sells Carlson Craft invites, so maybe check out their styles and hit me up for her phone number - she'll give you the best price possible.

Can you skip the videographer? I can't justify spending that kinda money on something I'll watch once, maybe twice. Pictures last forever!!

Don't know where you live, but Sprigs & Twigs in Islip Terrace has some awesome prices for flowers.

Having an even smaller bridal party will save also.

Good luck!

Here are some great vendors you can look into who are reasonable!!

1. now-and-forever.com for invites (mine are $200!!)
2. High Volatge DJ - VERY inexpensive
3. Linden Florist in Linderhurst. Not a vendor on here but they are SO affordable!! I am hiring them for mine.
4. Buy a wedding locations magazine from Borders. You will be VERY surprised at how affordable some halls are. I was shocked. There's plenty of choices on LI!
5. Go to David's bridal or Commack wedding center for your gown (I've heard their service isn't that great, but you'll get the deal you want on a beautiful dress)

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

i wanted to add a few more ideas:

1. you can buy a kit to make your own invitations, you'll save a lot this way. another idea is that party city has the same invitation books that other palces have, but they discount 30%
2. i second High Voltage - they have great prices
3. some photographers like 12th night don't include albums, so they cost a lot less, and you buy the actual album and buy reprints.
4. getting married in january or february is a lot less money (and some halls include centerpeices - mine did, and so does Milleridge Inn).

Do your flowers yourself and keep it simple. My friend bought all her flowers at Costco (the roses there a gorgeous and they last and last and last) a few days before her wedding. She spent $400 and had enough roses for centerpieces, all bo-ks and bouts and still had enough left over to give as thank you gifts for her vendors. It was so beautiful.

Good luck.

I did a lot of the same things and my wedding ended up costing about $17k for 100 guests, including everything but the honeymoon. I looked at these places for invitations and got them at Rexcraft:
www.rexcraft.com
www.invitationsbydawn.com
www.americanwedding.com

I also made C-pieces and they ended up only costing about $20 a piece - not to offend anyone, but most people really don't care about or even pay attention to the centerpieces.

The best ways to save are, as some people mentioned, keep the guestlist small, and get married at an off season, or off time. Our reception was on a Sunday night, which may be the same or even cheaper than Friday night. I also only had a MOH and BM as my bridal party. This saved a lot on limos, flowers, and gifts. You can keep the costs down if you look for ways to save. Channel 5 news had a special on this last night and said to go to their website for ideas.

BTW: Stewart Manor CC is not an all inclusive package place. They include centerpieces and the cake, but not limos, photos and DJ. I think the person who posted this was thinking of another place.

I've read some great books on planning a wedding on a budget (alot of the books are available at the library!). One is 'intimate weddings: planning a small wedding that fits your budget and style.'

Also, check on the internet for money-saving ideas (Dollar Stretcher has a piece on weddings).

For a florist, Designs by Rose (www.designsbyroseinc.com) is great and *very* economical. We've seen her work at other weddings and we're using her for ours.

If you're willing to get married in the next few months, lots of reception places will give you a seriously discounted price for dates they haven't (and probably won't) book.

If you search, there's also a few good threads on reception hall prices, and a lot of them were around $60/pp for a non-Saturday night.

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Posted by Mrs.Ptobe

Hey ladies...

I recently became laid off from my job unexpectedly and money has been especially tight. I had a great interview the other day and I'm hoping for the best.

FH and I are going away next weekend to discuss our wedding plans and ideas. I've been doing as much homework as I could the last few months... but I know one of FH's big concerns is about $$$. Seriously, we have a house already so I think his mindset is more on upgrading the bathroom and the kitchen rather than spending $30k on a big party. He joked earlier that we should just elope and this way we take care of the wedding and the honeymoon - scary enough he may have been partly serious.

Basically, I know that I better put on my best sales presentation ever next weekend to eliviate his mind - which is not easy to eliviate someone's concerns over $$$ when you are unemployed trying to convince them that you'll take on the bigger burden. Here is my list of things that I'm planning on telling him to either eliminate certain costs or add to our budget:

1- Tax refunds, pending I get that job and don't need mine to make my minimums on my bills. He however, should use his toward the mortgage - not the wedding.

2- Continue with my p/t job even once I'm gainfully employed again.

3- Have an informal engagement party hosted by my parent's at their house (maybe dad will slip me some extra cash since he doesn't have to pay for a catered affair - but I doubt it). I feel this way we'd register at one or 2 places but send out invitations (like the kind you buy at a hallmark store or maybe my dad can make them on his computer) and maybe we'll get some monetary gifts - or at least people will buy the non-monetary gifts for this and give us cash for the wedding.

4- Have a Friday night wedding instead of Saturday or Sunday - depending on the hall whichever day or time is cheapest.

5- DJ - get the most basic package - no bells and whistles, just introduce us, make a few announcements here and there, play what we want him to and that's about it. No smoke, no toys or any of that garbage that goes unappreciated for the most part anyway (not putting it down if anyone's doing that, but if it costs money it's not worth it to me).

6- Flowers - no floral centerpieces - use candles and make them with stuff from Michaels. Only flowers will be the bou-k's.

7- Small Bridal Party - about 3ppl each, plus maybe a ring bearer and flower girl (his son will be 9, so maybe he can be a JR. groomsman and eliminate the RB).

8- 100 guest or less - only kids are those in the BP and have an A and B list so that this way FH doesn't freak out that he can't invite some guy he went to grade school with that he hasn't spoken to in 10 years. MEN!!! Then if someone from A sends back a 'no' he can pull someone off his B list to replace them, but we stop at 100 guests.

9- Buy invitations as cheap as possible since they'll end up in the garbage anyway.

10- I'm make the 'save the date cards' somehow.

Anything else anyone can think of? I'm hoping to stay under $15k which I know is painfully hard to do, but unless I want to get married on a beach in Mexico - I'd better be prepared to show FH that we can do this somehow. The priority items to me are good food, the photographer and the videographer (and the honeymoon - FH agrees with this one). I know - videos not that necessary - but I have to admit - FH's first wedding was taped and is at his mother's house somewhere b/c some of their dead relatives were there so she can't part with it, but I have an issue with that being on tape and not ours. I know - stupid, but it's life I guess. Any other suggestions?

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Things are tough for us, and our budget is 18,000 for the wedding. We skipped the Engagement Party, and sent out STD/Engagement Announcements, we made ourselves.

Sunday's are as cheap as Friday's - usually the same rate. I can suggest Fox Hollow it's $89 per person (including tax/grat/mini-vienesse, 5.5 hr reception) and the Mayfair Frams in NJ, it's $106 per person (including tax/grat/vienesse, 5 hr reception.)

Let me know if you need help with anything, I have all the pricing and info available.

Here's all inclusive in brooklyn. I've had two events there, beautiful, polite, and the food was fantastic.

Silver Package
-5 Hour Affair
-Up to 100 Guests
$49.00 each additional Guest
$8,995

-Includes Photography Pacakge
-Includes Videography Package
-Includes a DJ
-Includes a 10 passenger Limo
-Choice of Ice Sculpture or Valet Parking

Gold Package
$9,995

Platinum Package
$11,495

Gennaro's
6602 13th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
(718) 236-7252
Ask for Frank!

http://www.gennaroscatering.com

Halls will def. give you a better price off-season and if you book within the few months leading up for a date which they have not booked yet. At that point, you are added profit to them and they are much more flexible.

Also, some bridal centers offer package deals for video, photo, etc. at a decent price.

You can check out my budget vendors page if you want:

Page

You can also look at craigslist.org for vendors.

You have basically all of the right ideas otherwise. I hope someone has mentioned eBay and the book Bridal Bargains.

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Posted by nferrandi

I've heard many girls mention halls that are all-inclusive and that would be a great thing for you to look into. It would include your photo/vidoe, limos, flowers, DJ and hall for like $10,000 for 100 people. It could work out just perfect for you. You would still get your nice wedding and DH would have less to stress over. The few halls I can think of off hand are Ariana Waterfall and Stewart Manor CC.

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I know that the Huntingtwn House was doing it awhile back but they might still be doing it.

Yes you have the right idea I would also pick a Hall that has the all-inclusive Package deal

What we're doing:
- small bridal party-
-all inclusive honeymoon in Mexico
-Saturday day wedding
-our hall price includes centerpieces and the cake

Those all sound good!

I would continue with the part time job

You could skip the engagement party all together

You could make your own invitations. AC Moore and Michaels have some really pretty invite kits for a really good price

You could call your out of town guests to inform them of the wedding in advance, that way you could skip the save the dates

Look into a day wedding or a wedding in January or February (much cheaper)

I think Brentwood CC and Middle Island CC have all inclusive packages that include flowers, limos and photo.