I am getting married and I am a single mother of 1, I work and go to school and I am planning a wedding all at the same time. Stressful I Know! But many people often ask me why don't I hire a wedding planner, and I tell them that I have my own special ideas on how I want my wedding and I don't think a planner can put together the things I want. So me and my fiance' or searchng for tips on planning a remarkable, but affordable wedding. Please, if you have any suggestions, ideas, tips or just anything you want to say, this will help me tremendously. Every answer counts. Thank You!!!
Delicious D
I to am planning and paying for my own,you are so right! STRESSFULL!
I do not have much help so I allowed a year and it will probably take the whole year, like you I am single, naturally… I am also in Bible School!
I am constantle going to thrift stores! I am taking many differant containers and adding floral rocks to the bottom, water and a gold fish with a floating candle in each one! I bought each clear glass container for 10-25 cents each, some I collected from friends anad family! large mouth flower vases and gold fish bowls! A few were bowls! I borrowed punch bowls from friends and family, The candles, were 20 per bag bought at Dollar Tree for $1. and bags of floral rocks also $1. per bag, I will only have 8 to do them all! For center pieces, I will have 20 tables, provided by my Church! What a blessing that was!
I bought bunches of roses for $1 each and 2 was plenty for my flower girl to use, and another 2 bunches for to put around my center pieces! It only took 30 minutes to cut off the petals! It saved me over $50. , that was the cost of buying the bags of rose petals from Wal-Mart.
I am blessed as well with the gift of clothing design, I went to a bargin fabric barn and bought materail, I will sew my brides maids dresses.. I had each of them look for a non-stretch tank top and will sew them with a just below the hip length, then add the bottom, for a drop waist line dress! 3 yrds of fine nylon, and make a arm wrap that will go around thier backs and hang from thier elbows .. They are awesome! And still can be worn later.. Not a one use dress! If you want something more decorated, use ideas from magazines or websites! I also bought each of them a pearl necklas and earings, for again $1. each at Dollar Tree!
My wedding gown was used, $50. The Grooms tux, complete, $35. also used!
Since I will be married at 6PM, I will do dinner cheaper than finger foods! I found a local BBQ place, again blessed, a friend owns it and I am getting smoked ribs for $19. per slab! 4 will feed about 150 people, and my local Dollar General sells, Seasoned Smothered potatoes with sliced carrots, (it is a new product) cost 3 cans for $1. I am stocking up and will need $25. worth, 2 friends have offered to make potatoe salad, and another 2 coleslaw! Discount bread stores, loaves of bread 3 for $1… And dinner is served! Another friend loaned me a 50 cup coffee maker ! My brides maids are paying for my cake, another blessing! If you have friends who own a video cam, ask them to video, The same for photography! All of these services are the best gifts you will ever get!
I also will put colored index cards on the tables so each adult can write us a note from the heart and will be put on a photo album , thoughts for a lifetime!
I will also be decorating the Brides (cake) table with several candels aranged in brandy and wine glasses , also purchased at Yard Sales and Thrift Stores!
I done my daughters , grooms, and brids maids and best mans, roses the day of the wedding from Wal-Mart for less than $20. !!! I added ribon and it was beautiful! I am still thinking of the same idea for mine! Guest Book, and Pen, Dollar Tree $1.
If you want any info I missed feel free to e-mail me!
Congrats , and have a very blessed marriage!
June 1st, 2007 at 5:45 pm
you can always elope. its cheap.
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June 1st, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I too planned my whole wedding from scratch by myself. Go to fabric stores and get some fabric for decorating the chairs backing, get a large cheescake for dessert, at a fabric store you can even get a tiara and use your own ribbon to decor it. Go to good wills to find decorations or vases and use ribbon with theme colors to fancy up the vase. I have a ton of ideas and the best thing is to go with what you want not others take your time and relax it is suppose to be fun .
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June 1st, 2007 at 5:50 pm
My (late) wife enlisted the help of her bridesmaids, all very creative girls who happened to be thrifty shoppers too.
They scoured dollar stores for everything they needed to make:
- the centerpieces for the tables (little fishbowl type things with artificial flower inside and a fancy ribbon around the brim
- the bonbonnieres (not sure about spelling?) - little plastic swans (which are sold as pot pourri holders or something like that) that they put little candies in and fancy ribbons around the necks
- her garter
- the pillow for the ringbearer
- a feather pen for the guest book
- a bunch more flowery type things for the head table
- I think also the bouquets for bride, maid of honour, and bridesmaids, all artificial flowers
If I can remember anything else (it was almost 9 yrs ago!) I will add it!
(any sense telling you not to stress yourselves out while planning?!?)
Oh, and my brother (hobby carpenter) made an amazing wishing well out of cedar, for cards on the gift table, and we have been passing it around the family for each wedding
(and not that I would ever admit watching it on purpose, but let's say flipping through the channels I have happened upon that Bridezilla-type reality show - what on earth is up with these girls - signature drink? custom tablecloths?)
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June 1st, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Lets see…I bought my wedding dress off eBay, bought my shoes at Walmart, the day before the wedding I'm getting 2 doz roses from Walmart and making my own bouquet. I'm also getting my cake from there.
I know it's Walmart, but wow am I saving money!
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June 1st, 2007 at 5:52 pm
It sounds like you have specific ideas for your wedding and that is great. If you have pictures or drawings or samples then a wedding planner would be able to help you. It is their job to make you happy.
Otherwise I would suggest Vegas!
References :
June 1st, 2007 at 5:53 pm
If you go to amazon or any book store they carry this book called Bridal Bargains. They know how to really cut corners in wedding costs. The cheapest book right now is $8.64 at Amazon. You can buy it at Barnes & Nobles also.
The only suggestion I could make is have a wedding at a park or a lake if you can. There are some really beautiful places on the lake. Its cheaper not having to pay a fee to have a party there. Also, if you have your family help make a lot of the fancy foods like going to costco and buying in bulk will cut the costs down as well.
Congrats!!
References :
http://www.amazon.com/Bridal-Bargains-8th-fantastic-realistic/dp/1889392227/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-1843432-2081257?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180745271&sr=8-2
June 1st, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I am trying to do an afforadable wedding for under 5 grand. I am doing my own centerpieces (it's cheaper and you can do it the way you want it) Craft stores have a lot. I am doing my own decorations.
There are a lot of websites that have forums of brides that are in the same boat. You can get a lot of ideas from there.
I'll add some websites so you can check them out.
Good Luck & Congrats!!!
References :
http://www.weddingsolutions.com
http://www.theknot.com
http://www.weddingchannel.com/home.html
June 1st, 2007 at 5:59 pm
People remember if the food was good and if they have fun. Spend your money wisely (good food, good booze and a good DJ/band), but resist going overboard. Marriage is tough enough without going into debt over the wedding.
References :
June 1st, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I to am planning and paying for my own,you are so right! STRESSFULL!
I do not have much help so I allowed a year and it will probably take the whole year, like you I am single, naturally… I am also in Bible School!
I am constantle going to thrift stores! I am taking many differant containers and adding floral rocks to the bottom, water and a gold fish with a floating candle in each one! I bought each clear glass container for 10-25 cents each, some I collected from friends anad family! large mouth flower vases and gold fish bowls! A few were bowls! I borrowed punch bowls from friends and family, The candles, were 20 per bag bought at Dollar Tree for $1. and bags of floral rocks also $1. per bag, I will only have 8 to do them all! For center pieces, I will have 20 tables, provided by my Church! What a blessing that was!
I bought bunches of roses for $1 each and 2 was plenty for my flower girl to use, and another 2 bunches for to put around my center pieces! It only took 30 minutes to cut off the petals! It saved me over $50. , that was the cost of buying the bags of rose petals from Wal-Mart.
I am blessed as well with the gift of clothing design, I went to a bargin fabric barn and bought materail, I will sew my brides maids dresses.. I had each of them look for a non-stretch tank top and will sew them with a just below the hip length, then add the bottom, for a drop waist line dress! 3 yrds of fine nylon, and make a arm wrap that will go around thier backs and hang from thier elbows .. They are awesome! And still can be worn later.. Not a one use dress! If you want something more decorated, use ideas from magazines or websites! I also bought each of them a pearl necklas and earings, for again $1. each at Dollar Tree!
My wedding gown was used, $50. The Grooms tux, complete, $35. also used!
Since I will be married at 6PM, I will do dinner cheaper than finger foods! I found a local BBQ place, again blessed, a friend owns it and I am getting smoked ribs for $19. per slab! 4 will feed about 150 people, and my local Dollar General sells, Seasoned Smothered potatoes with sliced carrots, (it is a new product) cost 3 cans for $1. I am stocking up and will need $25. worth, 2 friends have offered to make potatoe salad, and another 2 coleslaw! Discount bread stores, loaves of bread 3 for $1… And dinner is served! Another friend loaned me a 50 cup coffee maker ! My brides maids are paying for my cake, another blessing! If you have friends who own a video cam, ask them to video, The same for photography! All of these services are the best gifts you will ever get!
I also will put colored index cards on the tables so each adult can write us a note from the heart and will be put on a photo album , thoughts for a lifetime!
I will also be decorating the Brides (cake) table with several candels aranged in brandy and wine glasses , also purchased at Yard Sales and Thrift Stores!
I done my daughters , grooms, and brids maids and best mans, roses the day of the wedding from Wal-Mart for less than $20. !!! I added ribon and it was beautiful! I am still thinking of the same idea for mine! Guest Book, and Pen, Dollar Tree $1.
If you want any info I missed feel free to e-mail me!
Congrats , and have a very blessed marriage!
References :
June 1st, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Your budget is probably pretty tight. So sit down with your beloved and make a list of all the elements of a wedding and reception from the rings and dress on down to still or videography. Each of you rate them in the order of importance. Trade your list and then make a master list. Throw away the stuff you don't care about. Put your money in the areas that you do care about. Family members and friends may gift you some of the other "less important" items on your list. Plus there are always people wanting to help. You can enlist people in the areas that aren't as important to you. If you know them well have family members or friends spend $$$ they'd spend on gifts for some element of the wedding. ( I'd only suggest this for people you're really close to) Like Aunties & best friends.
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June 1st, 2007 at 8:48 pm
You can save thousands on food if you do something different like roast a pig, lamb or prepare smoked briskets. If a friend or relative can't help you with it you can find someone with cooking experience and pay him a few hundred bucks instead of thousands .
No one really cares if you spend $25.00 a plate on Portuguese potatoes and Danish ducks except the caterers selling the stuff.
References :
June 1st, 2007 at 10:57 pm
My husband and I had the wedding of our dreams, with a budget under $ 4,000!! That was for everything!! Go to every craft store you have in your town. Going thru wedding books, and magazines help also. If you see something you like try to do it your self. To save the cost of flowers, I used silk for the bouquet, that my maid of honor and I did ourselves. Plus now I will have my flowers forever. There are a lot of ways to cut cost. First you need to decide what is the most important things to you,and every thing else get creative.
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June 2nd, 2007 at 6:15 am
It's all in the planning, but you can surely do it yourself since you will be having a simple wedding! Plan to have a small ceremony for family and very close friends, then your number of guests is small. Have it at the jp, or at your home, or backyard, then just host your guests for a meal at your home. Since you won't be having the big white gown and all the finery, your costs will be minimal, so you can plan all those extra little touches only you can do!
Congrats and good luck to you both!
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