Wedding Cost

11 Responses

1. Emily

   2009 Nov 25 1

   having an afternoon tea reception rather than a sit down meal.
   Also making my own cake and getting a professional to ice it, making my own invites, making the bridesmaids dresses, having someone i know do the flowers
   References :

2. SirenSong

   2009 Nov 25 2

   Sit down with your fiance and make 3 lists: 1st is your must haves, 2nd is things that are nice to have but you can live without if you have to, and 3rd is things that are not important to you that you don’t want to include.

   Avoid anything marketed as ‘wedding’ if you can since it will be 10x more expensive and lesser quality than the same items in the other depts of the store that are not labelled ‘wedding’.

   Hold the reception at a non-meal time so that you don’t have to serve a full meal and serve desserts instead. But if you must have a full meal, have your favorite local restaurant do the catering since they will be much cheaper than a regular wedding caterer and you will already know what the quality of food is like.

   Skip the champagne toast since so much of it goes to waste. Most people take a single sip out of obligation and leave the rest which is a waste of money on your part. Allow them to toast with what they are already drinking.

   Rent what you can from your florist (candle holders, etc) or baker (cake stand, etc) so that you don’t have to find a home for them later. If you must purchase these things and other crafty items, buy them from a local brick and mortar store rather than online since glass items are expensive to ship since they are heavy and fragile. Walmart has a huge craft section, and they and Joann’s are much cheaper and have the same items that Michael’s does.

   Enlist list help from family and your attendants but keep in mind that they should not work on the wedding day since they won’t be able to enjoy themselves otherwise.

   Skip the favors since they are not necessary. But if you must have them, stick with edibles.

   Have the ceremony and reception at the same venue.

   Put a cap on your guest list since that is where your main expenses will come from. Invite only those you are closest to, not your parents’ coworkers’ neighbors.

   Keep in mind that sheet cakes in addition to a fake cake will not save you any money, despite what some people will tell you. While some bakers may not charge very much for that, they are being deceptive since there is much more labor involved in having the extra sheet cakes and in any other industry, you would be charged extra for extra work. The same is true of cupcakes. They are much more labor intensive for the baker than a regular wedding cake even though there are bakers who don’t charge what they are worth. Either serve your actual cake to your guests (grocery store wedding cakes are really quite tasty and inexpensive compared to a specialty bakery) or else go with a different dessert.

   Shop around to get the best deals.

   References :

3. Angelina

   2009 Nov 25 3

   For our wedding, we didn’t rent a limo – we chose a small bridal party and made sure the church had a reception hall that we could use.

   I also printed our own invitations which saved a lot of time and money; they were simple and to the point.

   It helped that my husband is a pastry chef who specializes in wedding cakes – so that was a huge undertaking that came free of charge for us.

   Probably the biggest money saver was that both our families contributed emmensely to our wedding day – paying for most of everything for us. That was amazing and we are so grateful.

   Hope your day is everything you want and more!!
   References :

4. Debbie P

   2009 Nov 25 4

   I had a friend make the bridesmaid dresses.
   Another friend made the favors
   My dress was a "bridesmaid" dress that came in white and I fell in love with it (spent 200 and it came with the veil, shoes, all the extras).
   
   References :

5. MauaoLady

   2009 Nov 25 5

   I used my family, friends and acquaintances to keep the cost down. They didn’t help my fiance and I to pay for anything but they offered their services and we accepted.
   A friend has made my dress, the bridesmaids dresses, and the grooms and groomsmens suits. My fiance’s father is a farmer so he is supplying all the meat and his brother is a produce farmer and is supplying all the vegetables. One of my cousins is a hair stylist and her friend is doing our make up. Another cousin is a distributor for a brewrey and has offered us a good deal on alcohol. My fiance’s cousin is one of the countries top DJs and offered to spin at the reception. My mum’s sister is a florist and is taking care of all the flower arrangements.
   Things like that. There are alot of people helping us and we are grateful to them.
   References :

6. Blunt

   2009 Nov 25 6

   The best way to cut costs is to:

   -CUT DOWN THE GUEST LIST. Invite only inmmediate family an close friends. No second cousins, no highschool friends that you haven’t seen in years, no co-workers and no gyn acquaintances.

   -Purchse your cake at a supermarket, Walmart, Albertson’s, Pucblix have very noce designs that will look teh part at a fracrtion of a designer wedding bakery.

   -Use a supermarket florist and save $$$$ Giant and Stop and Shop have great selection and very skilled florist. Or buy wedding flowers packages online at http://www.costco.com

   -Inviations. DIY with invite packets from Walmart, Target or your local party store and save $$$

   -Skip wedding programs, favors, menu cards, save the date magnets and all the additionals that are really unnecesary.

   -Think outise the box. You do not need a unity candle (yikes), guest book (no one ever reads them).

   -Skip the liquour. Just have a toast with sparkling wine or cider, and offer sodas, water and tea. That wioll save you big bucks

   -Do no monogram or personalize anything. It’s so passe anyway.

   -Use craiglist for gently used wedding items in your area. You’ll be suprised how many brides are trying to ger rid of their wedding extras for pennies on the dollar.

   -Buy your dress on ebay, off the rack or online. davids have a 99 dollar gown sale.

   -Limo is really not necesary and is a waste of money.

   -Have your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday off season That’s October through April. That will save you a big chunk of money

   -Have a very small wedding party… no need for 8 BM and GM,. and 3 flowers girls.. that will inflate the costs

   Good luck and congratulations
   References :

7. mjd0117

   2009 Nov 25 7

   Your best bet is to go cheap with as much as you can! Besides the dress of course!

   Our wedding cost a little under $5,000 and it was beautiful.

   We kept the wedding party small..2 bridesmaids, 2 groomsmen and 1 flower girl.

   My hair cost 30dollars and make up 15 dollars..I didn’t go tanning or get my nails done!
   We skipped champagne toast and left the liquor up to the guest at the bar.
   Center pieces were a vase with 2 gerber daises..the vases belonged to the owner of the place we had the wedding.

   Flowers only for me..and my 2 bridesmaids and petals for the flower girl. My friend did the flowers for free. We skipped boutineers for the men. Costs- $150

   We buffet it and used plastic plates silverware and cups..except for us we got the real deal.

   Favors we’re cheap cheap from one of those bulk websites plus we got them on sale for nearly half the price..you have to hunt and wait sometimes the sale goes on and off but be sure you have enough time. We even went to the dollar store and picked up a few coloring books for the children!

   I got really lucky with the dj..I was really really nice and got a great deal and he was awesome as well as the cake I paid 75 dollars for a sweetheart cake and 2 sheetcakes and it fed 150 guests and it tastes great. Ask around people you know may know some one who may know some one else!!

   To make up for what we lacked we had ourguests dress comfortabley like it was any other saturday get together.

   This is all if you don’t mind it cheap which really isn’t for everybody I am sure. I know I didn’t care and if any of my guests or my family had a problem I would have hesitated to let them know they could leave. But everybody loved it!!

   If it was in our budget and say we we’re loaded I would have had the fanciest high class super expensive wedding with tons of crystals a giant dress and all kinds of stuff like on tv!

   Bottom line is if you can cut corners and be happy doing it then go for it! You are going be married either way!!
   References :
   Just married!

8. Steph

   2009 Nov 25 8

   1). Cut the guest list. Each person is at least $50, 10 people gone thats $500 for for you

   2). Make your own invitations. DL size to save on postage. Design them in word with a graphic (you can find pretty much any picture you want on the internet) take them to the printers and print. You can do invitations like this fo as little as .20c for black and white on 80gsm paper or .50c on card.

   3).Buy your dress secondhand. Or get a bridesmaid dress in white with a train (I think dessy has a nice one). The secondhand dress will have only been worn once and look and feel brand new. You will save hundreds if not thousands.

   4). Skip the accessories. Do you really need new wedding shoes? Make a feature of it and wear some coloured heels you already own. Do you need new jewelery? Borrow off a family member if you don;t have something suitable (it can be your borrowed thing as well). Borrow or make the veil.

   5). Skip the Cars. No one sees tham arriving, few people stick around to see them leave so they are not nessecary. Get a taxi or if you need matching cars how about a few matching hire cars. Can be as little as $20 for the day but you will have to drive them (or recruit someone for this duty)

   6). Diy as much as you can. Centrepieces can be as simple as and interesting water glass with a flower in it and a few candles. Programs can be printed for .20c. Do your own makeup and hair. Have a weekend beofre the wedding to practice with your girls.

   7). Make your own cake and serve a sheet cake from the supermarket (especially baked of course). Your cake only need be one or two layers and might simply have a ribbon around it in your wedding colours. They are beyond simple to make.

   8). If your venue lets you serve your own alcohol and only have beer and wine. Heaps cheaper than drinks packages and everything left over can be returned tot eh liquor store

   9). If your venue lets you serve your own platters in place of appetisers.

   10) choose a beautiful location so you don’t have to make it beautiful. Saves you on flowers and other decorations.

   11). Make a playlist on your computer or MP3 player and play in place of a DJ. Get a talkative family member to MC.

   12) . Have the wedding on any day but a saturday.

   13). Use local produce from a farmers market (talk to them beforehand about an order).

   14). Use flowers that are in season. Buy from the grower and arrange yourself.

   15). You do not need the oot baskets, the cake cutters and toasting flutes, the monograms, the favours (though they are nice) the open bar, the dj, the disposable cameras on each table, the fance food (who said you cant have roast or pasta?) or really any of the additional things.

   16). ebay and second hand are your friends.
   References :

9. luvhrlysnjager2

   2009 Nov 25 9

   I have read the answers before answering myself and just wanted to let you know they are good ideas. Now here are a few of mine. If you absolutely love a cake you see have to have it a faux cake made from gumpaste except for the top tier which you are supposed to keep until the following year(dont think Im keeping mine that long…lol) or the bottom tier to do the whole cutting thing, anyway definately have a sheet cake behind the scenes for the guests. For our out of town guests we went to the local hotel and were able to get a nice discount because they were renting several rooms that would otherwise probaly be empty.The flowers. Since I want to keep my bouquet they are made of artifical flowers that I bought at a discount store and took to the local florist who only charged me $30. The bridesmaids will carry a single cala lilly with ribbon..cost $15 total….the flower girl will throw carnation petals instead of rose petals they dont wilt as easily and are way cheaper. $8 for a dozen of them from the grovery store. The boutaineres we are making ourselves 3 rosebuds some florist tape and a stick pin and you are done. Cost under $20…my dress http://www.informaldresses.com beautiful white dress with some lace and beads $98,plus $35 shipping…shoes already have them…price cant remember…lol…We are getting at the city park a few blocks from where we live and it has a cute lil gazeebo on the river and it is kept very nicely…cost $0…that’s right nothing…the officiator is a friend…cost…nothing $0….you can go to WalMart and get a DYI invitation kit for under$35…I am going for the pros and spending $98 for 100 invitations….The reception venue is on the river with a beautiful wooden deck and shelter out from the main building that has a self contained bar and seating and bathrooms. Cost $0…we talked to the owner and asked if we paid to use one of thier bartenders and had a cash bar ( again no charge ) if we could do the food ourselves. He happily agreed. He makes money from the bar and we pay nothing for alchol., other than what we ourselves drink. The food is picnic style and will be simple and fun. The food is costing us around $200 and the things to go with it ie:plates,forks etc…under $75. With all the money you save you can have wedding favors of any kind. If you would like more ideas feel free to email me. Good luck and congratulations!
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10. adherentofgod

    2009 Nov 25 10

    Do you mean any ideas for simple and cheap wedding? Just check this blog http://bestweddingdance1st.blogspot.com/ out, if so.
    References :
    http://bestweddingdance1st.blogspot.com/

11. cw

    2009 Nov 25 11

    – Make your invitations
    – Make your programs
    – Do a candy bar for favors (buy candy in bulk @ Costco, Sams, etc)
    – Order things online for cheaper prices (e.g. guestbook, flower girl basket, etc)
    If you’re really looking to save money, here are some bigger ideas…
    – Have your wedding on a Friday or Sunday
    – Have your wedding early so that you can just do appetizers and cake and not have a full meal
    References :
    I got married…