How to have a nice wedding with out going broke?

Question

Me and my boyfriend are planning on getting married in the next year, we both want a nice wedding but not trying to spend a lot of money or use credit cards to pay for it, we are both working college students so income is very tight, we are trying to put some away for savings but with 2 cars, insurance, rent, gas etc. but it is pretty hard. I'm more that sure i will do my own invitations, get the cake from wal-mart and cut cost there, any ideas on cutting corners and tips are greatly appreciated, we don't have parents to pay for the wedding simply because i was adopted by family and they really don't have much money to spare for a wedding, my boyfriend mother has another child to take care of ( his dad passed away a 2 1/2 yrs ago) so we wouldn't even bother ask, it just seems rude to us, we know she's trying to make ends meet. If any one has any good info on sponsored weddings we heard someone talking about it, i didn't know there was any such thing as that, Any suggestions are appreciated.

More info

no more than 100 guest

4-5 bridesmaids/groomsmen

colors Peach and Cream

possible wedding month, July, August, Sept, Oct

Answer 1

First, keeping the guest list fairly small will be essential. The more people you invite, the more expensive the reception. Just that simple.

One way to save tons of money is to get married at a time when your guests will not be expecting a meal to be served - say your ceremony starts at 2 PM and your reception at 3 PM in the church hall. You can serve just cake, punch, and a few appetizers instead of a sit-down dinner with alcohol (these are some of the biggest costs for a wedding). You can still cut the cake, have toasts, and do a first dance, but you won't be spending $100 a plate on dinner.

Look at several possible venues and ask them when their "off-season" is. They will likely charge a lower price at that time, because the demand isn't as high.

Use the expertise of your friends, too. If one of them is great with hair, maybe she'll do yours for less than a salon. If you cousin is a good photographer, maybe he can do the photos for a reasonable price. You can make your own invitations and have them printed at Kinko's on nice paper for much less than it would cost to order them from a stationary place. Appoint a friend to be the "iPod DJ" and rent a few speakers instead of hiring a DJ. Basically, any time you can do something yourself, or have a friend do something instead of hiring a professional, you can save a lot of money.

Answer 2

This may sound strange but the biggest money saving tip I can think of is ebay. I got my dress there from  seller called "April's Bridal" and it's a 3500 Mellissa Sweet knock off for 160 (shipping included). I just gave them my measurements and got the dress about 1 1/2 months later...perfect. I did a ton of research on how to get a stellar dress for less and this was by far the best option. They also do Bridesmaids dresses as well.---I also got all my jewelry there as well.

Answer 3

Congrats to you and your fiancee!!! YAY!!! :)

Well the main thing is to do what you can yourself... invites, flowers, favors, decorations, etc... those little things can add mucho dollars when you have someone else do it!

I have a budget myself of about $5000 (give/take a couple hundred bucks!) and I'm having about 125-150 guests.

The biggest expense is the meal/bar bill, which is usually about half of your budget. Having a buffet might be a little cheaper than having dinner per plate, I think mine's gonna be about $10-12 per guest for dinner. As for the bar bill... I'm going to pay for soda, get a keg (or perhaps a half keg? I'm not certain yet lol) of beer and if anyone wants mixed drinks they will have to pay for them. (Some people may think it's tacky, but I am actually putting on the invites -- in small print at the bottom -- that a cash bar will be available all night, so they come prepared, cuz I know a lot of people won't bring money with them if they think *everything* is complimentary.) Mixed drinks are what really hikes up your bar bill!

You can get a lot of ideas just watching those bridal shows on TV. I've also gotten a lot of ideas just reading people's questions and answers on HERE.

My cake... I actually was lucky enough to come across a girl on Myspace that lives in my town that does beautiful cakes out of her home for relatively inexpensive. BUT you must watch that, only cuz a lot of reception sites require a licensed baker or to use their own on-site baker, plus there might be a cutting fee which can range from $1-5 per slice (or even more!!! Make sure you read the fine print before you commit!) :) Also don't look past going to Walmart's bakery or your local grocery store's bakery... I've seen some great cakes come out of those places too, and you would have never known it!! Or check craigslist, too...

I am making my own flowers. I actually hit Hobby Lobby when they were having a 50% off sale on all of their flowers, so I got $100 worth of flowers for $50! You and your bridesmaids could have a flower making party (or a favor making party as well!)

As for my favors, I'm doing a couple different things. Of course I'm having bubbles! I got plain bubble bottles at Dollar Tree for $1/dozen (CHEAP!) and I actually found a girl on ebay that prints up labels for very cheap! this is a link to the seller http://stores.ebay.com/Beautiful-Favors-...

As for my other favors, I saw a cute one on a website for sale that was called a spoonful of kisses, and it's a plastic spoon with a few hershey kisses, wrapped in tulle and on the tag it says "A spoonful of kisses from the Mr. and Mrs." with our names and wedding date. I also am having programs which I am printing myself.

Also printing up myself are the invites! I didn't need paper that was real fancy so I went to Office Max and got some fall themed paper (cuz I'm having a fall wedding) and some envelopes and some postcards for the reply/save the date cards. (I'm only sending save the date cards to people that live out of the area that will have to make travel arrangements) Cuz I couldn't see spending a fortune on invites that most people keep until the wedding and throw away!

Also, here are some websites that I am using to curb my costs:

http://www.bridalonlinestore.com/ <---AWESOME dresses at a fraction of the cost of traditional bridal shops, excellent customer service and the dresses are JUST beautiful, and are guaranteed for satisfaction!!! They also have bridesmaid dresses as well and other accessories (veils, headbands, hair clips, gloves, guest books, etc.... you get the idea!) :)

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ <---sign up to receive their wedding ideas book in the mail (it's free!) and there is awesome ideas in it and on the website for favors, decor, etc. I'm having a fall wedding and I'm getting leaves to scatter on the tables from here (those are under the fall section rather than the wedding section though) everything is relatively cheap and if you order over a certain dollar amt you get free shipping. This is also a good site for relatively inexpensive bridal party gifts, as well!

http://www.tullesource.com/ This is awesome for inexpensive tulle and they have such a wide variety of colors. My wedding colors are apricot and sage and they actually have my colors in tulle, which is great cuz I need tulle for one of my favors and for my centerpieces.

http://www.confetti.com/ another great one for confetti (hence the name lol) and other decor. very reasonable prices!

http://www.michaels.com/ yeah... awesome wedding stuff for not too much! I love going to Michael's! (Hobby Lobby and Dollar Tree are my friends too!) :)

There ya go, that should get you started!!! :)

Good luck!!!

Answer 4

my husband and I went to Vegas. We got married at the Bellagio. It was beautiful and not expensive comparatively speaking. We made it a weekend, and the families and friends love it. I couldn't imagine it being more perfect or less stressful

Answer 5

I agree with bridal muffin. The best way to save is keeping your guest list down. Even 100 people is high (our will be 70 max). Invite close friends and family only.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but the best way to keep everything in perspective is picking three things as a priority ... three things you guys both really want (that don't include guests and your significant other, of course). I mean  things you would spend money on. For us, it was the venue, the photographer and my dress. So those are the three things we splurged on, and seriously cut back on everything else.

We decided to use an iPod for music, so no band or DJ. We're only having ceremony bouquets and boutioniers, no fancy floral centerpieces, just candles and branches in vases. We went for the cheapest menu option at the venue (because as many people in my family who have been to many weddings over the years have told me, no one cares about the food). My cousin is a graphic designer, so she's doing our programs and invitations for next to nothing.

Use ebay and craigslist a LOT. You'll find supplies, dresses, etc. for super cheap.

The only thing I would suggest NOT skimping on is the photographer. The flowers, the music, the dress, all that stuff is only for a day. The photos last forever, and you'll regret it of you don't have good ones. I've known too many brides that cut corners with the photographer, and their one regret is that they wished that had gotten a less fancy cake or centerpieces, and put the extra money toward a better photographer because their pictures were not good.

Answer 6

Well I'll tell you the easiest way to cut costs is to cut the guest list.  The fewer the people you have to provide food, drink, cake, etc for, the cheaper the wedding.  100 people is a relatively large wedding in my opinion (we're having 110 and getting a lot of help from family because that's almost all relatives. lol).

I guess the most important thing to keep in mind is to make an air-tight budget that includes absolutely everything, and stick to it.  If you forget something, don't add it on, work it in by cutting costs on something else.

Also, the months you have listed are prime wedding season, so you won't really get any deals on anything.  If you have your wedding in the "off" season (January to March) you can save 40-50% of the catering/venue costs.  We had venues offer to wave up to $1500 room rental fees to book in January, and then packages that were 30% off per person costs for that period.

My fiance and I booked for November to save money (about 30% off per person), but from what our planner is saying now, November is getting REALLY popular, so it's not considered off season anymore.

Also, consider booking on a Friday or Sunday, you can save tons on money there too.  We got quotes that were 40-50% off for a Friday or Sunday booking, and some places will wave room rental fees as well.

Just do your research about what is really popular, and then go for the opposite. Also, just keep your perspective.  It's just one day, so you're right that it's not worth going into debt for.  As long as you don't have the "it's my day so I can have whatever I want" attitude, you'll be fine.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

It's all about planning and shopping. Consult wedding websites too!  

Answer 8

There are a multitude of ways!  First, if you both work...plan on a date that will allow you to use your income tax return so that you aren't using credit cards!

Second, check where you plan on having it. Is there a family member with a big yard? or who goes to church regularly that can help you get a place at their cost.  Don't worry about decorating chairs..they are for butts and no one cares!  Balloons and tiny white lights that you can pick up dirt cheap after Christmas at Wal Mart are always great decorations!  You can make your own flowers very easily...get the bouquets from Wal Mart or Hobby Lobby and just add some colored ones that you like with hot glue...very simple!  You can get almost everything you need at Wal Mart!  I would suggest that you decide what you want and as you go through the store over the next year...say if you want bubbles instead of birdseed...watch for them to go on sale or if you have a little extra cash and pick them up.  You will not believe how easy it is to pick up ribbon here, and balloons there and store them in a big box and before you know it you will have all the little extras you need without going broke.

As for the reception.  IF you are a close knit family here is an idea, you are students and they all know you are broke, and you are doing this on your own.  What if you have some Aunts that could get together and make finger foods in lue of a wedding gift?  Or, our family loves any reason to get together for a "reunion" so we are going to have a potluck reception. The invitations will read that instead of gifts we would love for everyone to come and bring a coverd dish so that we can all have time to get to know each others families.  Takes a lot of pressure off of a fancy dinner?  Just some ideas to kick around.  I wish you the very best...and remember, it is about love, a life together and having family there to wittness it...not about how fancy it is! Just enjoy it and have fun!

Answer 9

I sympathize, but please know that you should downscale your plans and have a wedding that you can afford.

There is no such thing as "sponsored" weddings, unless you are Angelina Jolie or Star Jones.

Now, with that said:

1. You cannot afford 100 guest. Try 35-50 at most. Trimming your guest list is the best way of saving costs.

2. You cannot afford 5 bridesmaid. What about 2?

3. Forget about July, August wedding. Everything cost truple during wedding high season. You best bet is October, you can have substantial savigs by marrying off-season.

4. Getting married on a Sunday or a Friday will save you money. Saturday is when is most expensive.

5. Do not serve liquor at your wedding, have a toast and sodas instead. Liquor will eat one of the biggest chunks on your budget.

Please have the wedding that you can afford and downscale accordingly.

Good luck