How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
By Claire BowesYou just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.
Wedding Gowns
Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It's probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.
The Reception
This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone's home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.
Photography
The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all.
Invitations / Stationery
If you're on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home invitation cards. There are many online stationer's that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC.
Miscellaneous
Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn't have to be a fruit cake ' try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?
Summary
Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.
About The Author:
Copyright © 2004, Claire Bowes
Feedback About This Post:
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
I am from Sydney west and do photography I know how expensive a wedding can be because I just got married so I offer cheap prices to help
my email address jimbeam_girl22 AT hotmail.com
Some of my work http://jimbeamgirl22.redbubble.com/
Thank you!
Post By Melissa (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
Have any of you checked out this place, it's orientaltrading.com They have really inexpensive things you can use for a wedding! From decorations for the ceremony to reception! I liked this place!! Hope this helps!! Also to help cut costs on wedding gown,there are places that can rent you the gown.!
Post by lulu45
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
I used these templates and made all of my own wedding invitations and thank you cards.
It saved me a lot...
http://www.printable-wedding-invitations.com/
Post By Carli (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
just found this ~::~
http://www.cheap-chic-weddings.com/index.html
Post by melody_yesterday
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
Who ever sent in the idea for quiche from sams kudos to you I shop there and hadn't thought of that one my fiancees eyes lit up when mentioned it!! Thank you. Want a nice wedding that looks expensive but is cheap. Anyone have any other food ideas? And are ribs appropriate at weddings?
Post By SISSY (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
Go to goodwill for wedding gown, rent a tux, go to local plant nursery-if you go in off season when weather changing will get great deal on flowers and plants-may even be able to rent flowers for a small fee. Have family make cake or ask local churches for help finding someone. Rent local church for low fee. Or again ask church members for help in locating place. Go online and use free templates for invitations. May I recommend a great site I found to use-its cheap and takes care of a lot of things needed like gift registry etc. Http://www.Weddingorchid.Com/cplogin.Asp?T=1
Check out site I am using it in planning my own wedding. Most of all don't stress over wedding planning it is not meant to be a stressful time but instead a happy time. Prepare ahead and all will go smoothly.
Post By SISSY (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
HI I am trying to do all myself. rented a hall for $100.00 though would love it outdoors if the weather let us. made all decorations myself and the flowers at walmart and $ store. went to a wedding shop and got dress for $99.99. that is right a new one. old stock but looks great on me and making cake myself (or going to try). boys are renting suits. bought material for hall if raining and pic have to be inside to make a back drop cost about 60.00. though i did go out on the limb for the photographer though another way to put $dollar store cameras too on the table and get the guest to take pic and you may love what you see once developed best of luck to all still working here. Have fun francine
Post By Francine LeBlanc (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
Nobody is paying for my wedding but me. My girlfriend thinks that its a good idea to have a small wedding because she does think i'll be able to cough up the money. I know she is saying that a small wedding is ok but I know its been her life long dream to have a big wedding. We both come from low income places but we have have manage to make the money we need to have a good life style. Even though this is suppose to be a wedding on a budget i plan not to go over but her dress is 700 dollars I want to rent use to Chrystler 300 limos and have a big party after my goal is to only spend 2500 I still need a cake place to have the wedding and party after but I want to do it all formal in a church and at a hall after .
Post By T-TOWN (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
hey Jose, good luck to you and yours. my best advice is get creative, and focus on the things that she enjoys. I've seen people rent billboards, and proposals by delivered teddy bears and barbar shop quartets. Never underestimate the old fashioned charm of a bended knee either. granted that with my fiancee that puts us about eye to eye :D
Post By jan (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
My suggestion- if you have the time DO IT YOURSELF
Flowers 2 words- SAMS CLUB. look at samsclub.com. Want roses? app $60 for 100 stems! lillies and orchids are app $50 for 50.
Also check overstock.com type in bulk flowers end pick to your hearts delight.
I live in Tallahassee which has gorgeous city public parks, and The only fee we have to pay is a $30 connection fee if we want power for any park we choose. This includes using the gazebos. We're doing a November wedding here which means beautiful weather not too hot, not too cold, and rain is rare, so we're planning an outside early evening affair. All I need to supply is seating and tables for our guests. We're doing our own set up. We're using the same place for both the service and the reception, and renting a local senior center for a rain location. ($80 early registration fee)
Also never doubt the wonder that is EBAY. We're doing a favor bag that includes lucky bamboo and a handblown glass ornament with our monogram painted on it since we're going into November. (see below) The place cards are actually small palmetto fans that have cards on them, just in case of it being warm (blissweddingsmarket.com)
On the tables we're supplying an inexpensive variety of small wooden dollar tree games to provide icebreaking among table groups.
For our decorations we're doing branches painted silver with the ornaments hung on them mixed with holly (free from my tree) dried lavender (ebay) and Eucalptus (overstock) in clear dollar tree pillar vases. The ornaments will be $163 for 300, ribbon to tie them will be app $30 for 300 yards.I'm also setting up beeswax pillar candles the I made on the tables surrounding the vases.
We're hanging inexpensive white paper lanterns and parasols from the trees above and weaving christmas lights in them so they glow.
Granted we're blessed to have a brother who's a baker, so the cakes taken car of and one of my best friends is a concert pianist who has recruited some friends to provide a band as his gift to me. One of my fiancee's cousins is a notary public, so she's doing the service. (you can have a trusted friend become ordained online)
We're taking advantage of the discount offered off the marriage license for pre marriage counseling.
We're making our invitations by printing them on a sheet of ivory vellum and putting that in a trifold of card stock in our colors. ($15 for 40 invites) We're asking RSVP by e-mail or phone to cut down on postage.
My dress is very basic and I'm making my own veil ($20 includes comb, lace, netting etc) My something borrowed is my mothers wedding petticoat, my something blue is the sash on my dress, my something old are the pearls my grandparents gave me when I graduated.
My grandmother and future sister in law are doing the pictures. my grandfather is vidoetaping it.
We're having the rehearsal dinner at the same place and will probably do a buffet meal of some sort.
Well here's my issue-
I need ideas for inexpensive dinner meals!
We're at $1500 right now. I want to keep it under $2000. Any ideas?
Post By jan (Guest Post)
lost...
i guess i am the only guy writing in here. well i still havent asked my girl to marry me yet. i was just checking the prices around and i dont think i can give her the wedding of her dreams. so that got me stressed out. i dont even know where to start planning a wedding. i guess thats why man aint good at this. so i am coming to you ladies for help or tips on how to ask her to marry me. any good ideas? my e-mail is jmgarcia916 (at) yahoo.com thanks for your time
Post By jose G. (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
I AM PLANNING MY WEDDING FOR THE SUMMER AND I AM HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO FIND A PLACE THAT WILL FIT MY HAWAIIAN THEME THAT IS REASONABLE PRICE.
Post By LORI (Guest Post)
How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
i want an inside wedding but i am unsure what to have as a theme...any ideas...im getting married in
Aug.
thanks
Post By Missy (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
Need ideas on center peices for tables & ideas on guest favors for cheap
Post By Joy Walker (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
I need to plan a wedding under 2500 dollars""
Post By christine pauly (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
For your reception, you can go to Sam's and buy items such as the mini quiche or meatballs for a buffet. You can even purchase bags of chicken drummettes or chicken fingers, make a pasta salad and buy some fruit to serve. A lot of caterers do this anyone and charge you sky-high prices!
Post By Missy (Guest Post)
RE: How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
Wow! that is an awesome article...it gave me a LOT of insight on how to plan a cheap wedding...I only have $1,000.00 to work with IF im lucky. For my gown I am using a ball gown i have in my closet and spicing it up with a few apliques from a fabric store. I am having my sister make the invitations and only inviting close friends and family. We are having our wedding out side at a national park near some waterfalls. The only cost is the parking :) for the reception we are having everyone bring a dish and I will be making the cake. we are making 2, 2tier cakes from Betty Croker. (cost for cakes and frosting, $10.00)
Good Luck to everyone else planning a wedding.
Post By Ammi (Guest Post)
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