Has anyone gotten married without wearing the traditional gown/tux ensemble?

Question

We're getting married on a budget. You could say that there's basically NO money for a wedding. We've been together for years. We already have a child together (willingly). We simply cannot (and would not wish to) spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on one day of our lives.. regardless of how special it is to us. We would like a nice ceremony but attire alone would cost us upwards of $500 (and that's buying things on sale that were already low cost....). Does anyone have any suggestions for attire? We are planning on having an outdoor wedding. Also we have not set a location yet and are seriously considering our own backyard simply because we can't fins any location near us to use for under $500 so if anyone has suggestions or other tips they'd be appreciated.

Answer 1

garden wedding will be good for your plans and for your budget. there are lots of people been wed not wearing the traditional outfit. you could simply fashion an old white gown you have or a white dress and a long sleeves polo shirt for your beau. you can set your wedding as uniquely as you want and much affordable by using all other resources you can find in your home. or you can create a hawaiin theme for your wedding if you like. you can just wear hawaiin outfit and so your guest and a "barbeque party" like for the reception.

for more ideas you can go to this link http://www.dietforbrides.com/blog/2006/0...

congratulations!

Answer 2

Oh yeah.  In fact my sister is next month.  Her groom is wearing a cuban suit. He refuses to wear a suit or tie.

you know like this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fashionable...

My sister is wearing a pale pink sundress.  They are getting married on the beach.  Most beach weddings I've seen the groom is in khakis and a button up shirt.  Sometimes tie and the sleeves rolled up.  Rarely a jacket.

You are in VA why not do a beach wedding?  Officiant-roughly $100.  Marriage license- roughly $60.  Go down to the beach.  Get married with just parents and siblings there.  Have a place cater-less than $100.  I mean BBQ for 6-8 would only be about $40.  Italian would be closer to $100.  Cake-ask moms to make it.  Bouquet-walmart $5-10.  Grand total $250-300 not including wardrobe.  You could wear something already in your closet or get a nice sundress that you can wear over and over again.  I have a beautiful one in white that I get compliments on every time I wear it.

http://www.newport-news.com/shop/product...

You could do about the same if you are closer to the mountains.  There are gorgeous spots right off the Blue Ridge parkway.  You just pick a spot and exchange some vows.  Many areas off the parkway have picnic tables and everything.

Nice doesn't have to be expensive.  You really don't need to share the most important day of your life with 200 of your closest 2nd and 3rd cousins and business associates.  My sister's wedding will be about 40 people.  All very close extended family that we see regularly.

Answer 3

My first - all traditional

My 2nd:  A cream colored suit with lace sleeves and lace overlay on the skirt (stunning)

My 3rd:  beaded gown (not wedding) which cost more than my 1st wedding gown.

You could just purchase a white dress and get a veil to make it more bride-y

Answer 4

My cousin and her husband were married at the courthouse (I know you said you couldn't do that). My cousin wore a strapless white dress with a little black detailing that she had purchase at a department store a few days prior. Her husband wore a button down shirt and a pair of dress slacks.

You could wear a simple (but pretty) dress from any store. Check to see who's having sales and start there. Your fiance could wear a suit of some kind, if he can find one in his price range. Or, he can do what my cousin's husband did and just get a nice button down shirt and maybe a tie or something to that effect.

For a location, your own back yard would be a great place. I would do it in my backyard, but unfortunately my "backyard" is a parking lot at a condo complex!

Alternatives to your backyard would be local and state parks. They can be really nice.  

Answer 5

We got married in hawaii.

My hubby wore black pants and a white shirt no tie.

I wore white knee length skirt and blouse.

Everything was kept small.

I had a party when we got back at our home.

Answer 6

Well, my mum and step dad got married in a register office and my step dad wore jeans. I don't think it matters what you wear as long as you are both happy.

Enjoy your day!

Answer 7

I bought a beautiful dress from China, on Ebay, a traditiional style wedding dress (and they have loads of different ideas) and it cost less than £100 (so $50) including postage.  My husband also bought a suit rather than a tux, in a dept store sale for £65 (about $35).

Also, do as much as you can yourself and you will be fine.  It is amazing the ideas you can get from one bridal magazine, and then use these ideas for your wedding.  

Good luck.

Answer 8

Me & my guy.

It's a second marriage for both of us & we were in our 5o's (still are)....we got married at the town hall in the little NY town I lived in at the time. The beautiful grounds have a white gazebo on them, and we were allowed 100 guests, rain or shine (if it rained we would have been married inside) the town judge was our officiate.

I wore a three piece lined chiffon formal pants suit ( a pair of pants, a sleeveless matching blouse, and a heavily beaded knee length over jacket with see thru gauzy sleeves) in deep cranberry red.....he wore a dark gray business suit, a beautiful knit black vest, a deep blue shirt and a silk tie with a pattern of small squares-deep re& blue squares on

a black background. I carried a bundle of asian star & calla lillies in autumn colors (cream,cranberry, burnt orange,golden yellow) accented with brown mini cat-tails)...his buttonhole was a mini-calla.

My outfit was on sale at Macy's-350 down to 150.....my guy used a suit/vest/tie he already had.I made my own salads..my second eldest daughter made our cake, the platters & flowers came from a local gorcery store, the plastic ware from a local party store. We used plain yellow gold bands from Wal-mart (got my fancy ones later as gifts)

It was a beautiful autumn day...the trees in full color, the sky so blue...we had 20 guests so we all assembled inside the white gazebo........perfect.

Our reception was a cold buffet held at my sister's house......everything, food,beverages, outfits, rings, license, judge's fee, plastic wear (to save on clean-up) ran under 2,000.00. i enjoyed it far more than my first wedding which was a big white fancy church affair and a formal sit down dinner at a banquet hall.

Answer 9

We married at the registry office for a total fee of £103.50. My husband wore the suit he had worn for his first marriage (kudos to him for still fitting in it), with a new shirt and tie. My outfit came from Rapp (a line of Indian cotton and viscose garments with same-colour embroidery) and cost £45, but nobody could tell - it was an ivory set of long empire-waisted dress and bolero. Both my hair and bouquet cost more than the dress, although not considerably more. I suggest you check charity and consignment stores for once-worn gowns, if you want something more conventional.

Answer 10

my fiance says it is stupid to rent a tux and will be wearing one of his suits. Find a consignment shop a freind of mone bought her wedding dress for $99 and i mail her veil from tulle from fabric.com. Also talk to your friends borrow one of their wedding dresses i know you wont belive but check good wills & salvation army's you may find a fancy prom dress for $25 . I sure have. Allot of parks will allow you to rent them for $25-$50. If you are getting married out side have a linen theme he can wear linen pants & shirts. You can buy it on clearance right now.Go to macy's and find a prom dress on clearnace light colors are dirt cheap roght now (i mean less then$75). I recommend printing the coupon from their website first.