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Weddings > Planning on November 02, 2010

Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

I'm interested in any suggestions on how to contain the cost of a wedding. For example, I need help with dresses, flowers, food, venues, etc.

By Lucy

Answers: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

Read answers for this question below.
By
11/04/2010

My first wedding was ultra-frugal. My wedding dress came from a consignment shop, as did the groom's suit. The only people in attendance were the pastor, the best man, matron of honor, and the groom and me. I typed announcements after the fact. We bought some semi-fancy plain cards that I typed on a borrowed typewriter (this was in 1982.) His family gave us a pot-luck reception at their church's fellowship hall a couple of days later.
My current hubby and lifemate and I also had a very small wedding, although my dress was new and from Sears or Penney's. Again it was the attendants, the pastor and us. We went to a local Chinese buffet afterwards.
Our oldest son got married at the county courthouse, with a handful of folks other than hubby and me, and we went to a local Mexican restaurant afterward. I'm not sure where my daughter-in-law and her maid of honor got their outfits, but the rest of us just wore nice church clothes.
These three weddings are the most frugal I can think of. Best to you and your new spouse!

By
11/03/2010

Just look up "wedding" here & you will find lots of frugal ideas. It can be done, I have done 2 weddings for very little (Under $1,000).

By
11/03/2010

If you need ideas for a frugal wedding, just plain go and get married. It is the thought between the two of you that counts, not a showy affair. Have a couple friends or relatives stand up with you and go out for a meal after the ceremony. Otherwise have the ceremony in somebody's house with just immediate family attending. Have it during a time of day that you won't be expected to serve a meal and just have a small wedding cake with coffee, tea, and punch. Have a couple relatives do the serving. As far as dresses, flowers, etc. you know better than anyone what you like.

When I got married we got married in the pastor's study, and I wore a white brocade street length dress that I had made with a white hat and shoes and a red carnation corsage. My sister wore a red dress that was a hand me down from me a couple years before and a white hat and shoes. That was it. The men wore dark suits and had boutonnieres. Back then if I had bought my dress it probably would have cost at least $100.00, ready made. I can't remember what the fabric cost but it was pricey for the early 60s. However, even now you can find really nice looking street length dresses or even really dressy suits that can be worn for other occasions.

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Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

Well, the FRUGAL Bride's mother has pulled off another wedding on a budget! I had less than 5 WEEKS to get-er-done and boy did we do it up right! But needless to say things are a little more costly when it comes to your only daughter! I must say that I surpassed the $600.00 wedding for my son and Daughter-in-law, but less than $1000.

This included all the accessories, a rehearsal Dinner and decorations, and Reception supplies, decorations and Food! The tables were gorgeous with 50 cent (ON SALE) small topiaries, silver plated votive cups and candles, sage green pillar candles in small fish bowls with clear marbles. The most extravagant item was a clear picture frame which said "Sweethearts Forever" which cost $2 a piece. Moms, It Can Be Done.

I bought things on sale from Dollar Tree Stores, Walmart, Dollar General Stores and Family Dollar Stores. And I made all the Bouquets, Baskets Corsages and Boutonnieres. Rehearsal Dinner was kept simple with an Italian theme. We served Lasagna, Spaghetti, Garlic breads, vegetable and pasta salad with puddings for dessert. Reception foods included: chicken salad, tuna salad on croissants and heart shaped finger sandwiches, pasta salads, cheese balls and crackers, and huge vegetable trays and cut up fruits in watermelon and cantaloupe baskets carved to hold the fruit. There was food enough for over 100 people with leftovers.

Cupcakes along with a three tier cake were a hit and actually only 1 and a half cake was cut by using cupcakes. Do I sound like I'm patting myself on the back? Yeah Buddy, and I am in debt to NO ONE. It's all been paid! I bet a lot of Mom's wish they could say the same!

By Sharon Shearer


RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

I want to pat you on the back also for finding frugal ways to give your daughter a beautiful wedding. It can be done if people would just look (shop) around. Great things can be found at dollar stores. We bought a lot of our decorations, plates and napkins at a dollar store and containers for the food, mints, and balloons. And a few extras for fun at the reception. (05/23/2006)

By jmz2005

RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

Do you have any pictures? I'd love to actually see how great the food and tables looked. (05/23/2006)

By

RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

I have A daughter getting married in the next year. I would love to learn more from you. What a great gift to your daughter, and a lesson she can learn starting out. Great Job!(05/23/2006)

By Karen E

RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

I have to know how you did it! And when is your book coming out? I hope in time for my wedding next year. (06/11/2006)

By mtravick


Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

I'm planning a wedding around Howard County, MD and would like any advice you can give on an inexpensive wedding. I'm also struggling with finding an inexpensive alterations expert. Thanks for your help.

By Janineco from Howard County, MD


RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

At my first daughter's wedding we had a committee from our church provide food. They were so willing and it was their contribution gift. We bought silk flowers from a wholesaler and had a local seamstress make the bridesmaids dresses. You can also rent dresses just like tuxedos (lot's cheaper than buying what they won't wear again anyway).

My second daughter is getting married this October and we are making the candy guest treats ourselves, I made their invitations, I am making the punch and we will pick up flowers the day of the wedding from Kroger's or Sam's or some such big store and put bows on them and place them as bunches (not in vases) around the reception tables and area. You just don't have to spend and spend; even having just nuts and bridal candies or fruit and veggie plates is enough. The celebration is what it's all about. Congratulations and have fun. (09/19/2009)

By HalfWhit

RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

I cut back on a lot of the expensive decorations. Instead of buying too much tulle, I gathered cattails, grass, sticks, etc. and painted them. I placed bunches of these in areas that needed coverage. I handmade my favors instead of buying them, which cut the cost down to 5 cents each. I also, made gift baskets for all my wedding party as opposed to traditional gifts.

A lot of supplies can be picked up at yardsales and through trading sites. People are not going to remember what colour your doilies were or if you had roses or daisies, they will remember if it was a good time or not. (09/24/2009)

By holygeez


Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

We are getting married on February 20th, 2010. I have almost no budget. Our colors are burgundy, champagne, and ivory. We will be doing all of the decorations, food, etc. ourselves. Please help.

By Katie from MN


RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

I had a frugal wedding. It was at a University in front of a memorial water fountain (with the University's permission of course). We borrowed chairs from the music department; friends and family set them up. We used a boom box for the music and had made a CD with the music we wanted to play in the order we wanted it played (can't mess that up). The pastor was a friend of the bride's family and did the service for a small donation to the church.

The reception afterward was in the University cafeteria. They didn't charge much since all they had to make was the punch and they had to clean up afterward. Paper plates and plastic ware rule, especially when you can buy them in bulk off the internet in whatever color you want.

My mother made the cake. She actually made two cakes, cut them down into the shape of bells, put their tops next to each other like wedding bells and frosted them up. They looked and tasted good.

Just be creative on the location, it doesn't have to be a church. Of course being your wedding is in February unless you're in Florida or Southern Cally you need to be indoors.

Oh yeah, we bought invitations in bulk and wrote in every one to personalize them for the family they were sent to. We didn't pay for personalizing the cards with our names and the wedding details. But on wedding details you could order up some mail return labels to stick on the inside of the invitation with the date and location. The wedding dress was rented and the bridesmaids were coordinated with off the shelf dresses. I don't remember the details about the flowers. (11/14/2009)

By Suntydt

RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

Let a J P marry you all then have the reception at home. Good luck. (11/14/2009)

By kffrmw88

RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

My nephew got married at sunset, on the beach, by the Hermosa Beach pier. There were a couple of small flower arrangements on top of posts. She had a beautiful white dress and he was in black; both were classy, but not crazy fancy. Most guests had cameras so no photographer fees. Not sure where the minister was from, but she was more unique, less whistles and bells. Then we all went to a decent restaurant (probably the most expensive part of the whole thing). They timed it just right and it was awesome. (11/14/2009)

By totally frustrated

RE: Ideas for a Frugal Wedding

Congratulations on a winter wedding and on getting married! These are some ideas as a wedding is intensely personal some of these you may find unusable. Here goes:

Clothes:

  • Buy wedding dress and tux online/thrift store.
  • Rent wedding dress and tux at store.
  • If you are handy with the sewing machine buy white dress and embellish/alter yourself.
  • Buy a pant or skirt suit that you can wear for other special occasions after the wedding (white suit can be a wardrobe staple).

Bridesmaids:
Pick color/length of dress to coordinate with wedding and let the bridesmaids dress themselves (eliminates expenses for them = better gifts for you:)

Bridesmaids/Best Men:
Provide same color boutonnieres to further coordinate the look of your wedding party for pictures and such.

Boutonnieres/Corsages:
Use carnations they come in all sorts of colors = easy to coordinate and baby's breath (bridal white...) OR use fake flowers that color coordinate.
Look online for easy instructions on how to make your own boutonnieres if so inclined.

Priest:
Get married by a justice of the peace (inside, do not have to rent church or hall saves $$$) and just have reception afterward. Pass the word around to your friends/relatives that you are looking for a minister (we have a friend whose father is a minister and he can marry people) who can marry people.

Location:
Having wedding in your home can save a lot of money just have the person marrying you come to the house.
To save money on a reception hall just have the wedding and reception in same place. Have people come in and seat themselves at the already set up tables and get married on the platform by the minister who came to location already. (saves people some travel time, etc) Festivities start right after.

Having wedding at your church's hall can save you money or even be free (you can try volunteering for some church activities in exchange for some/all money off the hall rental price).

Have wedding at a friends/relatives whose house is bigger than yours tell him/her that could be his/ her wedding gift to you. (If it is cheaper than a hall pay for a cleaning service to come after the party or have people in your bridal party clean up and let them keep the decorations.)

Tables:
Rent (borrow from friends) fold out card tables as long as they are trimmed in the same color shape of table will not matter (white is always easy to find and then you can have the trim color be fabric dyed or etc. below)
Buy dollar store tablecloths.
Rent table cloths.
Buy lengths of canvas/cotton (sometimes 99cents/yd or below) in white/ tan (tan and champagne go well together because yellow base). You can also tea dye white cotton to antique it (awesome for romantic wedding lace).
If the card tables are long and rectangular and same height they can be covered in bedsheets (cheap white bedsheets) and the seams covered with lace.
Paper is cheap and can be found in huge rolls at a significant discount (buy tan/white and use red as accent- colored paper is more expensive).
In the case above tables may be made into two big long ones (saves materials).

Chairs can be rented at significant discounts from schools/churches-see above.

Table decor:
Centerpieces

Use white glass vases from the thrift store (white is not see through and you don't have to put anything in for color. It can also be spray painted champagne). With red carnations and baby's breath, ivy is also good trim as it fills space and stays green. (Find someone with an overgrown garden and it is free.)

If your heart is set on clear vases (thrift/dollar store) you can use food dye in the water to give color.

For flowers visit a flower shop and ask for day-old flowers/throwaways = significant discount/free.
Spray painted twigs (free from garden you can also use evergreen) white/gold with tissue paper flowers (or paper punched ones-real ones). Make a nice centerpiece around a mirror tile with a candle on it. The instructions with pictures are online to make all of this.

Glittered candles on top of a mirror (thrift store) also work with a champagne glow.
Pine cones are also free and you can spray paint them to match if a winter decor is desired.

Favors:
Shop after Christmas sales to get all sorts of things for favors (red/white/gold are Christmas/New Year's colors) at significant discounts (including wine or champagne)

Some ideas:

  • candles (goes with candle centerpieces above)
  • candy treat bags
  • see through ornaments with glitter and ground Styrofoam inside with your names and the date handwritten with colored/metallic permanent marker on it
  • paperpunch butterflies/hearts/or favorite shapes out of paper and scatter like confetti between waxed paper sheets with wax sides facing each other and iron on low over a sheet = placemats (more details in Martha Stewart)
  • cupcakes
  • use favors as place markers write guest name on it

There is a great book called "Trash to Treasures Christmas" ISBN 1574860941. It has lots of tips on making decorations out of cardboard tubes, milk jugs, etc.

Dishes:
Use bulk plastic/paper dishes and cups.
If small wedding buy china a thrift store and make sure that it is white or coordinating color.
Use paper sheet as place mat (bonus, children can draw on it).

Guest book:
Use several spray painted twigs and provide guests with strips of paper and ornament hooks so they can write write wishes on it and hang on tree. Same as above only a white pillow (other item can be subbed here) people get to sign and then you display.
A pack of note cards "blank" used for wish and "lined" used for address = instant address book.

Invitations:

  • email invites = free
  • Postcards (2 invites printed on a piece of cardstock then cut in half w/guillotine) cheap + half the postage.
  • RSVP by phone/email = less paper used cheap+save time.
  • Use regular computer paper printed invites stuffed in envelopes. There is no extra postage for extra bulk.
  • Print/design your own invites on cardstock (or choice paper). This is still cheaper than store bought kits and customized.

Food:
Buffet style is cheap.

Snacks:

  • popcorn, white and can be drizzled for effect with food dyed white chocolate (easy recipe online)
  • pretzles with french onion dip
  • dollar store peanuts
  • tortilla chips and salsa
  • cherry tomatoes, green peppers, celery, and radishes for tray
  • cheap cheese bought in chunks, cubed by hand
  • mini microwaveable meatballs w/Alfredo and marinara sauces
  • mini sausages
  • buy cheap turkey/ham at Thanksgiving cook and cube it for meat tray before reception
  • deviled eggs

Entree:

  • chicken tenders
  • Swiss steak
  • pasta

Salad:
Use Boston lettuce instead of romaine, red vinegar and oil can be cheaply bought in bulk and mixed with herbs before for vinaigrette.

Rolls can be baked a few days before and frozen or bought at significant discount and frozen then refreshed the day of.

Chicken/ham/egg salad like someone suggested on here.

Soup or anything that can be made in a large crockpot is your friend (it saves time). Chili is red and coordinates. LOL

Dessert:

  • mini cupcakes
  • mini anything- cookies, cupcakes, strudels, pieces of cake
  • fruit tray with chocolate fondue

The Cake:
Get a small cake decorated with what you want (cake topper, too ). However you want, this is the showpiece.
Get an iced sheetcake with no decorations in the same flavor/icing as your wedding cake and keep in the back. This is the one distributed to guests after showpiece is cut into (this saves up to 85% off the traditional 3 tiered cake or more if someone makes both at home).
Use cupcakes instead of cake.

Okay, this is it. Sorry it is so long. Hope it did help. These tips were gathered over a period of time from different sources (Thriftyfun.com, Martha Stewart, Trash to Treasure Christmas, self and friends who all had weddings). (11/19/2009)

By caeridwen

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