How can I plan a nice wedding on a VERY tight budget?

Question

I would like to use a local park, but I am worried that no one will be able to hear us say our vows. Are mic systems expensive? We can hold the reception somewhere else but we would still like to play some music before the wedding. Any ideas?

Answer 1

You can rent a karaoke machine and be heard perfectly if that is what you are indeed going for! My wedding is on the 8th of this month and we have only spent $2000! That's for a hall, a chapel, photographer, d.j., make-up artist, hair stylist, his tux, my dress, our children's clothing, decorations, food, etc... I kid you not! Look around on the internet, there are lots of cheap places to get items for your wedding as well! Go to the following:

www.saveoncrafts.com

www.wrapwithus.com

There are tons of cheap ideas! Congratulations and I know your wedding will be beautiful!!!

Answer 2

You should be able to hire a microphone system relatively cheaply, especially if it's an older system. It will still work wonderfully! It's a very good idea to get a microphone. I went to a wedding held in a gazebo in a park, and we couldn't hear a thing.

If you belong to a church that has a choir, you could ask them to provide some music before the ceremony. Perhaps you have a friend or family member that is a talented musician. Or you could just plug in your ipod into some speakers. The guys you hire the mic system off will help you with this.

I agree with Loretta Jane, don't use silk flowers! They look really tacky most of the time. A park will have enough nature and flowers that you won't need them.

For the reception, make the centrepieces yourself. I'm making pyramids of white chocolate lindt balls glued together with melted white chocolate, with a few flowers stuck here and there in the gaps on the pyramid. I'm having tealight candles on the tables and a few small vases with one or two flowers in them.

We're only serving finger food at ours, but we might have it catered. If it was only finger food though it wouldn't be hard to do yourself with the aid of friends and family - get everyone together the day before the wedding and have a fun time drinking wine, chatting and making some yummy finger food!

Alcohol can be bought in bulk, or bought in small amounts over a period of time. I know of one couple who asked a few friends and family members to buy one inexpensive (under $10) bottle of wine a week for a few months. By the time of the wedding they had lots and lots of wine.

Best way to do a wedding nicely on the cheap is to get all your family and friends together and find their hidden talents that you can use to help for your wedding. Most close friends will be delighted to help!

One tip though, don't skimp on a photographer, or at least go to one of those photo studios not long before or after the wedding and have a professional photo taken in your wedding attire. My parents' wedding photos are terrible - photographers have better cameras and techniques with lighting etc at their disposal. Photos are really the only thing that will last beyond the actual wedding, for generations to come.

Good luck and have fun! =)

Answer 3

Whatever you do DO NOT SKIMP ON THE PHOTOGRAPHER! Having "uncle Ted" take your photos will be a mistake. We did this and now I have no nice pictures of our day. And the guy we used was supposedly a photographer. Just remember you get what you pay for.  

Answer 4

A park will definitely save you cash.That's what we're doing and I'm buying a karaoke machine to make my announcements.Have family members help out with food and don't hire a dj.They seem to rush people most of the times when doing announcements.If the park has flowers or a nice scenery,don't need to buy flowers.For centerpieces,

were using floating candles and fiances mom is making the cake.Have someone take you'lls pics instead of hiring a photographer.Pics can come out just as nice with a digital camera.Christmas is coming up,so ask for gift cards,that way you can buy your decorations and favors with them.Thats if your having your wedding after christmas.Thats what I'm asking for.Good luck.

Answer 5

Decide whats important to you.... then spend lesson whats not  

Answer 6

Call the local highschool or college and see if they have a few people in the band that could put together a string quartet. That might save you some money. Oh..and dont use silk flowers, they are not pretty, and they look cheap. You would be better off if the wedding was outside just having a few fresh flowers and letting nature be your decorations. A nice inexpensive centerpiece for tables could be a potted blooming plant stuck in a terra cotta pot.  

Answer 7

How many guests are you talking about, when you worry about not being heard...?

The best tip to keep the wedding in a tight budget is to cut the guest list as much possible. That'll save you on the food, the table/chair rental, and if the crowd is small enough, it'll save you on a sound projection system too.

Maybe you could get away with getting an acoustic backdrop for cheaper (IDK, like the choirs use in open air concerts) like, borrowed from a school... (Just an idea)

What kind of budget are you looking at? That would be helpful to us answerers...