Where did you 'cut corners' to save money $$??

The biggest thing we did to keep our costs down was to limit the amount of guests ! Our RH had a maximum of 108 for the room we chose....we had exactly 100 people at our wedding
Also:
-We didn't do a venetian hour...just wedding cake & pastries on the tables.
-Spend less than $250 on invites, printed the envelopes out ourselves.
-Didn't buy an album from the photographer. We got a cd of all our pictures & I'll make my own combined with guests photos we've received.
-Got married at the RH so we didn't get limos.
-DIY'd menu, placecards and favor tags.
-Skipped programs, slipper baskets, bathroom baskets, guestbook, flutes & cake cutting set too (RH supplies these last few).
- Did not have flowers at the ceremony.

And, I wouldn't even look at a wedding dress if it cost more than 1k. Got my dress, tiara, shoes, undergarments & purse for under 1k and everyone loved my dress !!

Good Luck !

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Posted by imas98

The biggest thing we did to keep our costs down was to limit the amount of guests ! Our RH had a maximum of 108 for the room we chose....we had exactly 100 people at our wedding

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yeah, completely forgot to mention that... THAT was the real budget saver!!!!

I 'cut back' by not getting a video. But then I decided I wanted one and was going to hire a student from a film class to video it for us. But then we were very fortunate and won our video in a raffle.

You can always cut back on flowers by using either Stop and Shop or Whole Foods.

We got the smallest package from our dj cus it had all we needed.

We got married and had the reception all in one place so we didn't need to have limos.

Please don't cut back on your wedding photos! I feel like that is the most important thing!!

LOL didn't realize this was an old post and I already ahd replied to it!!!

no programs
no limos
low centerpieces
inexpensive invites
using RH table numbers and placecards

DIY menus
Programs were done by someone who was recommended to us..
haggle vendors..

DIY menus (Used paper we already had)

DIY cardbox (Covered a post office box with wrapping paper and bow- it was so cute!)

DIY programs (Used resume paper we had lying around)

DIY Thank you cards

DIY flowergirl headpieces

DIY ringbearer bowties

DIY bridesmaid Jewelry

DIY invite addressing (just nice script)

Ordered invites online, No inner envelopes for invites.

Bought nice dresses for BM's from Bluefly and saved Big $$. Only $99 each!

In season flowers helps keep down the cost...

Ordered chocolate favors (these were a hit) from ebay for $1 each person!

No valet - people didn't notice

No extras like bathroom baskets, or crypacks or petals...

No Limo (would've been nice to have a cool picture with a nice car, but we wanted to use that money elsewhere)

Definitely prioritize what is important to you. We splurged on photography for the memories. We wanted a photobooth but decided against it. Just draw up a list of pros/cons ..we would've loved to do more like a candy buffet, but in the end we already had a viennese and the favors...it would've looked pretty but no one missed it!

Also don't let people pressure you on what you need and don't need. In the end it's YOUR wedding!

DIY:
programs
place cards
table picture numbers
slipper baskets


found inexpensive:
invites
flowers
candelabras

Did our own programs and place cards on the computer.

Saved on postage by hand delivering a lot of our invitations (to co-workers and friends).

Cutting back? what's that?

I made my own programs and did a lot of shopping at the dollar store!!

I tried on my dress at RKBridal and then ordered it from their website they also lowered the price since I found it for cheaper on another website so I paid about half for my dress. I got my shoes from Davids Bridal 55 bucks. Hardly anyone saw them anyway. No save the dates, no programs or menus. Anything the RH could provide for free I let them do. I didnt use a videographer. No albums right away. Used my regular hair girl for my wedding hair and paid less than a hundred bucks. Paid 45 for each BM for their hair. I used a friend for makeup so that didnt cost me anything. No limos. No aisle runner. Borrowed a money bag as my something borrowed. I desperately wanted pocketfolds so I found an ebay vendor who made GORGEOUS pocketfolds for about half of what I would have paid from any other invitation place. Thats all I can think of for now.

I also used a friends flower shop. basically I tried to stay away from 'wedding' vendors since theyre usually ridiculously over priced.

Ooh and favors, I went to a wholesale liquor distributor in NJ on the border of Philly called Roger Wilco. I got about 125 mini bottles of champagne for 100 bucks. They even printed out free labels but I ended up buying DIY labels from Michaels. those were cheap too. I wrapped them in organza bags and little flowers. Got the bags online from buyorganzabagsonline.com for cheap.

I stayed away from wedding vendors -

Bought my dress for $5 on clearance took it to the seansstress who is redoing the dress, making garters, veil, all for $180

DIY invitations, centerpieces, menus, placecards, programs, favor bags, cardbox, cake topper.

No Limo

Cut guest list

Bought Charger plates at Big Lots for $1 (85 cents cheaper than renting)

Ebay for accessories nothing over $12

Hairpiece at flea market for $9

Borrowed my shoes

Candy bar - bowls - recycled stuff from here at the house, Scoops $1.28 online. Candy from candy store at flea market.

Baskets for slipper basket and programs ones from around the house, spray painted to match our colors.

Flowers getting silk ones done at a craft shop.

BP gifts - clearance sales

I am sure there is more as I have done everything to cut my budget.