Links..book suggestions…anything would be super helpful!
Thanks! I hope this isn't impossible.
I want to DIY so links for that would be cool too.
Im in the Vancouver, BC area. So anything in that locale would be great too!
Get your general guidelines from Emily Post or Miss Manners, who aren't trying to sell you anything … not from websites and magazines supported by The Wedding Industry.
Remember that it's only a party. You manage to have perfectly splendid holiday parties and birthday parties without specially personalized items, guest books, favors, programs, and so on. Get a 1940's wedding guide and you'll see that many "necessities" and "traditions" are actually recent inventions of The Wedding Industry. They're not going to tell you that matching bridesmaid dresses are optional or you might choose the option of not buying any! Purchase from a non-wedding vendor when possible; if you can find white shoes at PayLess then why pay a fortune at David's?
Be ruthless in trimming your guest list. No, you don't have to allow singles to bring a date; that rule only applies to married or engaged couples. (I'd stretch it a bit to also include those who have lived together or been in a steady relationship for several years.) And if you invite your favorite 11 year old neice, it does NOT mean that you have to invite every child of every guest. Doing RSVP by phone gives you more control of your guest list as you can demand the full name of everyone attending instead of trusting that people correctly fill out response cards and mail them in a timely manner.
Don't get caught up in trivial details like centerpieces. People will remember if the food was bad, if they were bored or uncomfortable, if the time/location were inconvenient. Most won't even remember whether you had a centerpiece at all.
Cut way back on alcohol. People who are so enamored of booze that they can't have fun without it already know how to stash a supply in pocket or purse.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:37 am
theknot.com
It's the website I went to when I was planning my wedding. We had a small wedding at home, but a huge party afterwards for the reception (over 150 people). We ended up spending less than $1,000. That included the rings and everything.
Good luck.
References :
March 6th, 2008 at 10:39 am
2 word. City hall
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March 6th, 2008 at 10:41 am
-Keep your guest list small.
-Make as much as possible - invitations, save the dates, programs, and most of your stationery.
-Get married early in the day so you don't have to feed everyone - do cake and punch only.
-Find a dress that's inexpensive.
-Keep your attendants to a minimum.
-Make your own bouquets and boutonnières.
-Reception and venue are the bigger items - find a public area like a park or friend's house - it will be cheaper.
-Order your cake from somewhere like Sam's or Costco - just as good, half the price.
You can get good ideas from places like craftster.org, offbeatbride.com, marthastewart.com…
References :
March 6th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Make your own invites, bouquet & favors…Every family has a family member that are good cooks..get them to cater your wedding. Have buffet style, buy items in bulk. And when people start to ask; what do you need help with….Don't hold back…delegate
Congrats…
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March 6th, 2008 at 10:46 am
First of all, congratulations! My wedding budget is $5,000, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve =}
Here are a few of my money-saving tricks:
Wedding dress: I found a beautiful gown at http://www.groupusa.com/ for a little more than $300 (my splurge). They have beautiful gowns by wonderful designers from affordable to extravagent.
*Try places like GroupUSA, David's Bridal, and even eBay for knockout deals.
Bridal Jewelry: I found my crystal wedding jewelry at no other than Wal Mart. Originally I had been looking at genuine jewelry from big name stores, but decided to scrimp here to save money for the wedding gifts my fiance' and I plan to get each other.
*Don't forget retail sortes like Wal Mart and Target. My headpiece, earrings, and necklace by Crystal Collections came to $21.
Wedding location: I have three choices, a lovely place on the property of a family friend (I really want it to be there, if they agree to it), a church that has a SMALL fee and goes well with my wedding style, or on the mountain where my grandparents' grew up, married, and live.
*Look for unconventional venues; they'll be cheaper or even free.
Reception Site: I have two options here, one of which is the brand new mansion-style library in our town. It would cost only $199 ($100 refundable damage deposit, and $40 for a library worker to stay on site). The other would be our local arts building of the town center. They have several large and beautiful rooms and are roughly the same amount as the library.
*The same rule for venues applies here.
Caterer: My friends and family are fabulous cooks, and are going to provide a buffet-style meal for the wedding guests.
*Friends and family can really cut down on wedding expenses!
Cake: A friend of my fiance' and I is a cake baker, and would only charge us the price of the ingredients.
*If you don't have anyone who can provide this. Go for a two or three tier cake, and then have sheet cakes to cut for the bulk of the guests. That way you end up saving several hundred dollars. You can also have a two-tier cake, serving that only to wedding party, parents, and grandparents and serve guests with a cupcake tower.
Flowers: I am making my own bouquets. Flowers for a 30-stem wedding bouquet, toss bouqet, and six 20-stem bridesmaid bouquets would only run $40 before shipping costs from http://www.theflowerexchange.com. I am having a family friend do the arrangements for a fraction of the cost.
*Do as much as you can on your own!
Invitations: You can purchase nice paper, envelopes, and an emblam, and an ink cartridge and make your own for about $50. OR you could go to http:///www.invitationsbydawn.com
I'm getting 100 invitations for $64.95 (by the time the envelopes, etc are included it will be $107)
*Instead of $250-$350! Do what you can on your own, or look for budget-conscience resources like the one above.
DJ: My fiance's brother is a DJ, and will save us $975 by doing the reception as a wedding gift.
*If you don't have someone like this, consider cutting the cost by having premade CDs of the music you want, and have someone man the player.
Another tip, don't go for costly favors for the guests–most just throw them away–instead get glass vases and fill them with candy in your wedding colors, making an affordable (and memorable) candy buffet. Be sure to provide little bags. Have your bridesmaids' pay for their dress and shoes, and have a family friend who's good with hair or makeup help with that on the wedding day. Be sure to get them nice gifts!
If your attendants are on a budget, go to a place like http://ww.groupusa.com for dress ideas. My attendants dresses cost $119 each, and they're something they can wear again and again.
GO TO http://www.theknot.com It has everything you could ever need. Also get these books: Wedding Planning for Dummies, The Knot's Guide to Wedding Planning, and Priceless Weddings for Under $5,000. Your local library should have at least one of them.
Good luck!
References :
**EDIT**
March 6th, 2008 at 10:49 am
You can get DIY invitations at any craft store, or you can go to http://www.notfromabox.com they have a section of DIY too. Favor wise, try making cd's for guests, making labels and putting them on candy, for flowers you can get them wholesale and do thoose your self, DJ you can hook up an ipod to speakers and have someone handle that. for food if you don't want to have a pot luck you can do a earily wedding and have finger foods, small sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fruit etc. Good luck and congrats!
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March 6th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I am getting married on March 22, in 16 days….anyways, I have planned and paid for my entire wedding and honeymoon for less than $5,000.00! I found a wonderful community center in the country to hold my outdoor wedding and indoor reception. It was only $298.00, and $100 is the deposit and will be returned! I found my wedding dress on ebay for $25!! Its absolutely beautiful, BRAND NEW, and has a long train. The catch…it came hand sewn from china so it took about a mth to recieve. Flower girl dress, ebay too, I'll send you the ebay store info! It was $15!! I did all the decorating myself…try papermart.com, and orientaltrading.com for almost everything you need! I can help you alot!! Just contact me at sathdelina@aol.com!! I am planning on starting my own wedding planning bussiness so I would totally love to help!!!
References :
Myself…lol
March 6th, 2008 at 10:52 am
D-I-Y is going to be your best friend. Look into the invitation kits that you can buy at just about any retailer, print the programs yourself.
Consider non-floral centerpieces and decorations. Flowers (fresh or silk) can be very expensive. Candles (if allowed by the venue) can be pretty cheap and add a very nice atmosphere.
Keep your guest list as small as possible and consider having your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday. Reception venues charge much less for these days since there isn't the high demand (and a Sunday brunch reception could be very chic).
Look at alternative dress options. You can find white/off white evening dresses at department stores for a fraction of the cost of a similar gown at the bridal store. Check ebay if you are familiar with that site, or look around for second-hand dress shops. Or consider having a dress made. There may be seamstresses in your area that can create a dress for you for the cost of material and their time, which will be significantly less than ordering a dress and having it altered.
Stay out of the 'bridal' isle at stores. See if you can find something similar in a craft store or outlet store without the word bridal attached to it. The word bridal on something usually means the cost has been raised.
Check the dollar stores. You can usually find deals on some of the basics you'll need (place cards, napkins, easy decorations) at a fraction of the price of other places.
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March 6th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I'm not sure what your guest list looks like but I don't understand the problem. We are having a wedding this year, with our guest list at 48, it's running around $3500.00 with a sit down catered dinner, DJ & Photographer. I don't understand why people feel the need to make things so elaborate.
I made all the flower arrangements myself $300.00
I made the "Save the Date" magnets & all the Invitations $50.00
My dress is $180.00
Shoes $30.00
Wearing my own jewelry
Doing my own make-up
Hair $50.00
Photographer $200.00
DJ $300.00
Dinner $20.00/plate (includes champagne toast) $960.00
Cake (Cupcake Tower) $75.00
Tuxedo $150.00
Rings $500.00
Centerpieces $120.00
Favors $240.00 (Chocolate Buffet / Cookies /Champagne flutes w/chocolates)
Made my own Ring bearer pillows $3.00/ea
Guest Tree (instead of guest book) $10.00
Attendants gifts $150.00
Rehersal dinner $200.00
I guess the biggest "no no" that people here would see at our wedding is that we are not offering an open bar, its a cash bar, which to be honest with you here in the Northeast is the norm. I have never attended a wedding that offered an open bar. We are however trying to come up with a little extra money to be able to give each of our guests a drink coupon.
It can be done… you just have to make up your mind that its about sharing your day with your loved ones, not about impressing them.
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March 6th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Taratot had great suggestions. Also don't have favors, it will cut down on your costs.
Safeway has great wedding cakes for like $200. You can buy a dress off of craigslist and have it altered to fit you. Get all your accessories off of ebay. I got my tiara on there for $20 and it is more beautiful and stunning than any other tiara I have seen, even the ones in the $200+ range.
Keep your guest list small. Just have some simple little refreshments like chips and dip, nuts, veggie platters, etc. Use throw away plates and plastic ware so you don't have to rent it.
Get a friend to do the photography for you, but someone that has good equipment. If you don't know anyone, post on craigslist that you will let a photographer come take photos of your wedding for free, in turn you get the photos and they get to use them in their portfolio. Lots of people will do this. I did some modeling this way, it was all free.
For your DJ, have a friend use his computer and download some free DJing software (limewire or something?) and do everything for you. That's what we're doing. Except my brother in law is doing that.
It can be done…
References :
wishing I had gone the inexpensive route… now that all the bills are due!
March 6th, 2008 at 11:02 am
The smaller your guest list the cheaper your wedding. You can make your own pew bows, centerpieces for the wedding, scan the graphic from your invitation and reception cards and use those to make other things like save the date magnets, favor labels, favors, programs, thank you notes for your shower gifts and wedding gifts, use silk flowers and make your own bouquets, use regular candles for the unity ceremony and regular candle holders, make your own guest book as a scrap book, use a bird cage to hold cards that are brought to the reception, make your wedding party gifts, make your favors or don't give them at all, have an afternoon wedding and do finger foods, cake, punch and non-alcoholic beverages for the reception. Use a foam wedding cake and serve from sheet cakes instead.
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March 6th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Funny, my budget was probably supposed to be $5000, but we ended up spending more than $10,000. So here's some advice on how to avoid going over budget:
1. Stick to your guest list count (no matter how many people show up out of the woodwork after you announce your engagement, do not budge on the guest count),
2. Do not let websites like theknot.com with their beautiful slideshows of gorgeous dresses, flowers, receptions, etc convince you to spend a little more here and there (it ADDS up!),
3. Book your photographer early! We were able to save $500 for booking him a year in advance; he raised his prices 6 months later to a rate we would not have been able to afford. If the photographer is not experienced at the time you book him, but he will have more sessions by the time of your wedding, he should have gained the experience needed by then. Ask him how many weddings he has booked before yours.
4. Don't spend a bunch of money on the things that are not even going to be noticed (i.e. shoes, purse),
5. Do not get favors (unless you really want them); nobody keeps them and they create waste. Make a donation instead.
6. Beer and wine (soft bar).
7. Budget correctly. Who knew veils were another $100-200? Who knew I needed to get lingerie that would fit with the wedding dress (lines, shade)? Figure in the extra make-up you might buy. Who knew I would have a zit emergency right before the wedding that needed a $350 dermatology session? Figure in tips, postage, time away from work (if you are paid hourly).
By the way, a friend of mine was able to buy a Vera Wang dress for a wedding dress for less than $350. You want to know how? She checked the bridesmaid section of the website. Absolutely beautiful full-length gown!
References :
March 6th, 2008 at 11:32 am
These aren't in order, but they're as they come to mind! Please forgive the disorganization!!
When booking things, if you can possibly avoid it, don't mention it's a wedding. People are greedy and will jack their prices up. You can say it's a family fathering. Which is true! Or a group event. Also true. Once you have established and agreed upon a price, you're in the clear.
Well, let's see. I'm not sure if you have a WalMart there, but they have delicious cakes (surprised me, but everyone fell in love with it!) for $140. Prices in Canada, I'm sure, will be different, but everything's higher there, so I'll go with US price experience and you can adjust accordingly…
Also, if you have anyone around you with a knack for baking and/or decorating, consider asking them if they would do your cake.
If you want place cards at your reception, use business cards. You can order free ones from VistaPrint.com. They'll have Vista Print on the back of them, but hey. Free cards!
You can visit a local printshop or stationery maker and see if they have any scraps of left over paper they would be willing to give you. Shred this crossways and make your own confetti for afterwards. This also works well with foil paper (like the kind that wraps candies, and you can buy it on rolls in a craft store) to make beautiful sparkly filler material for centerpieces, plus if you use candles, it catches the light beautifully.
I don't know if you have David's Bridal around there, but this chain store very often has $99 sales for their gowns. And if not, Vancouver isn't too far from the states, looks like! Could be worth a trip!
If not, check department stores for rack dresses. If you're lucky enough to fit into one right off the bat, you can save loads of money buying one off the rack. If things are just a little off, it could be worth it to get it and find a reliable seamstress! This can help with bridesmaids dresses, also if you're helping pay for them. Do you do Prom in Canada? Dept. stores often have prom dresses that will easily double as a bridesmaid dress and you can get them all in one fell swoop if you bring your 'maids along for fitting!
Choose a time of day after people have already eaten, so you won't have to serve a full meal; just snacks. You may word on your reception invitation something along the lines of "Join us after the ceremony at (location) at 3 p.m. for light refreshments!" That gives the guests a heads-up to get a meal in beforehand. This will cut your costs IMMENSELY.
If you are able, avoid weekends. Granted, some people find it easier to get weekends off, but they are a vendor's dream… prices instantly shoot up. This goes for bands/djs, caterers, and locations. Friday is better. Then you have weekend to celebrate, as well!
Book everything as far in advance as you can and be very wary of any cancellation policies. If you need to cancel or reschedule (let's hope not, but life happens), sometimes that cost can be crazy. Check your contracts over. The earlier you can secure your location and vendors, the better.
Haggle with people. Don't be afraid (but don't be condescending, either) to save yourself some money. For instance, if you want to get your hair and makeup done as well as your 'maids, call or stop by the salon and offer them your business. Put it on the line. Maybe something like, "I'm willing to bring the business of 5 ladies needing their hair and makeup done, but as you know, people hear the word wedding and instantly jack their prices up, and surely you understand I'm trying to catch just the littlest break. So here's what I'd love to do. I'll bring in my 5 lovely friends and we'll gladly patronize your business if you would be willing to do 6 for the price of 5!" Most businesses will be so happy to have the 5 full pricers, they'll be happy to do one more, if for no other reason than positive word of mouth! (And being in advertising, I know the value of word of mouth!)
If you know anyone who is really good with a camera, ask them if they would do you the honor of being your photographer, perhaps as their wedding gift to you. You can do more than one, and have one doing formal shots and one doing the fun candids! The extra bonus on this is that you'll be able to keep your proofs/negatives, unlike with a professional photographer.
If you don't have any shutterbug friends, check out the local colleges and art institutes for photography students. Speak with the professors and ask which of their students they would recommend for a job. Even if they don't have any current students they'd recommend, they can usually direct you to someone they know. Referrals can save you big!
While we're on school programs, if you have a school nearby with a catering program, consider talking to the instructor about having them cater your wedding. And I don't just mean a culinary institute! Check colleges and high schools! You'd be surprised how many schools are eager to have their pupils gain the experience. The food is delicious, plus the cost can't be beat!
When it comes to flowers, ask a local florist which flowers are in season at the time of your wedding. Going with seasonal flowers will make a huge difference. Also, check to see if there are any flower markets, or farmer's markets with florals. These will also save you big.
You can also do silk flowers. They have many replicas that looks realistic and not only are they cheaper (sometimes, this dependson the maker and the quality) but you don't have to worry about wilting, plus you can have them for keepsakes forever! Consider mixing them; using some real and some silk!
Just some thoughts off the top of my head right now. I'll come back if more pop to mind!
References :
Congratulations!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Get your general guidelines from Emily Post or Miss Manners, who aren't trying to sell you anything … not from websites and magazines supported by The Wedding Industry.
Remember that it's only a party. You manage to have perfectly splendid holiday parties and birthday parties without specially personalized items, guest books, favors, programs, and so on. Get a 1940's wedding guide and you'll see that many "necessities" and "traditions" are actually recent inventions of The Wedding Industry. They're not going to tell you that matching bridesmaid dresses are optional or you might choose the option of not buying any! Purchase from a non-wedding vendor when possible; if you can find white shoes at PayLess then why pay a fortune at David's?
Be ruthless in trimming your guest list. No, you don't have to allow singles to bring a date; that rule only applies to married or engaged couples. (I'd stretch it a bit to also include those who have lived together or been in a steady relationship for several years.) And if you invite your favorite 11 year old neice, it does NOT mean that you have to invite every child of every guest. Doing RSVP by phone gives you more control of your guest list as you can demand the full name of everyone attending instead of trusting that people correctly fill out response cards and mail them in a timely manner.
Don't get caught up in trivial details like centerpieces. People will remember if the food was bad, if they were bored or uncomfortable, if the time/location were inconvenient. Most won't even remember whether you had a centerpiece at all.
Cut way back on alcohol. People who are so enamored of booze that they can't have fun without it already know how to stash a supply in pocket or purse.
References :
March 6th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Boy, do I have tips! Here we go:
1. Try to hold your wedding in a city park. It is a government-regulated public place, so it costs far less than a venue like a botanical gardens or a privately-owned place, and it is blooming with foliage, so it's already beautiful on its own without additional flowers, so you save on decorations. The spot I picked for my wedding is a gorgeous little verandah by a lake, and it will only be $75 for the whole time, thanks to its being owned by Colorado Dept. of Parks and Recreation
2. Have your reception at a restaurant. Most restaurants have a banquet room or special area for large parties, so it's not necessary to rent out the whole facility. Also, most restaurants have a catering menu, where you can choose a couple menu selections and sides for a buffet, or you can have them make up a 3-course "special event" menu, if you prefer to serve plated meals. Additionally, things like linens, silverware, and wait staff, for which reception halls usually charge extra, are included in the final price. I was lucky enough to score my favorite Mexican restaurant's enclosed patio area for 5 whole hours- with no deposit and no fees beyond the cost of the buffet I'm having them do. I have so much left over in my budget that I'm even letting them throw in their house mariachi band for an hour or two for a couple hundred extra bucks!
3. Utilize your friends. There are bound to be some friends or acquaintances that you couldn't include in your wedding party as attendants, but you can use their special talents at your wedding, while giving them a special, meaningful role in the celebration. Do you have any friends who are good photographers? Let them handle the candid shots at the reception. Any people with a passion for gardening? See if he/she can lend you some blooms from his/her garden for use in bouquets and centerpieces. My fiance and I are lucky enough to have found a DJ (my brother), a photographer (his co-worker) and even a minister (we're getting my mom's boyfriend ordained online) for our wedding, Not only will it make our day more special, having loved ones contribute in these ways, but they have all offered their services pro bono, which will save us like $1000 at least!
4. Pick a dress that's not necessarily a "wedding gown." Everyone knows that retailers and vendors charge more for anything with the word "wedding" in it, because they can!! There are plenty of beautiful white dresses that are not specifically made for brides, but they still look bride-y and beautiful paired with some flowers in your hair. If your heart is set on the traditional bridal gown and veil, check out eBay or Craigslist. Lots of people sell their wedding gowns for way cheap- and they were only worn once, so it's not gross or anything. You're going to laugh, but I found my dream wedding dress- an off-white, ankle-length hippy-dippy sundress which I plan to wear with bare feet and daisies in my hair- at Ross for $7.49. It's not fancy, but I didn't want fancy anyway. I'mgoing for the flower-child vibe at my wedding.
5. Don't let anybody make you think you need a tiered wedding cake. They are pretty but cutting them is a pain in the butt and usually requires the help of a "cake cutting crew," which bakeries tend to offer with purchase of cake- for an additional fee, of course. Ask yourself this: at every wedding you've ever attended, aside from the traditional cake-cutting where the bride feeds the groom cake, have you ever bothered to pay attention to how the cake gets cut and ends up on your plate, or do you just eat the cake set in front of you and revel in its deliciousness? My point: none of your guests care about HOW the cake gets on their plate, as long as it gets on there and tastes yummy. So just buy a tiny, deocrated wedding cake with the topper on it to use for the cake-cutting ceremony, but serve your guests from a plainly-iced sheet cake in the kitchen area that gets cut and brought out on plates. You stand to save like $300 if you do it this way, and everyone still gets cake and is therefore happy.
6. Select one "signature cocktail" to serve, rather than have an open bar. Open bars are very expensive, what with the different types of alcohol needed on hand to make all the drinks guests will request. On the other hand, cash bars or alcohol-free weddings are pretty tacky, if it's for financial rather than religious reasons. A solution is to decide on one cocktail to serve, in addition to regular soft drinks. If you and your fiance are wine enthusiasts, select your favorite bottle to be poured with dinner. Or if you guys are a more laid-back couple who loves microbrews (they're BIG in Colorado!) select your favorite to be served. Not only does it cut costs, but it decreases the chance of a guest getting drunk and obnoxious at your wedding. We're actually going to do a margarita bar, I think, to keep with the fiesta theme, even though neither of us likes tequila, LOL.
7. Everyone has a friend or relative who fancies herself/himself a hair and makeup artist. If you have a friend or relative who really truly is good about doing hair and makeup, have him/her style you and your attendants for the big day. Offer to pay, of course, but I find that people tend to be flattered to help out with a wedding of a loved one and will usually do it for free, if materials like makeup are provided. If you have a hairstylist who is also a friend (as many women do) definitely invite her to the wedding, but don't expect her to do your hair and makeup for free, unless she offers to as a gift. It's her job, after all, not a hobby, as it is with some relatives. Keep that in mind.
8. Burn CDs of your favorite romantic songs, like a soundtrack of your wedding, as favors for your guests. A spindle of blank CDs is usually around $30 for 100 or so. You can pick up the blank CD jewel cases for about $10 for 100. And it will take maybe a few hours to burn 100 CDs, if you've got a reasonably fast computer. If you don't have a CD burner, just about everyone has a friend with one. See if you can get a friend to donate his/her time to be your official "soundtrack producer." It's a great favor because it's actually useful, unlike dumb things like rice bags or personalized bubbles with your wedding date emblazoned on it.
9. DIY invitations are the easiest they've ever been, if you're computer-savvy (and I assume you are- you're online, after all…) Go to Party City or one of those stores and pick up some blank invitiations (they're about $20 for a box of 25 or so). Each invitation has a website that you go to to download the template that fits with the invitation layout. Then you just type in the invitation text however you like (www.versethis.com has invitation wording for all occasions-pick one you like) and you print them out on a standard laser printer. Once again, if you have a computer-geek friend, you may want to enlist his/her help, but it's pretty simple. They even include practice sheets so you don't mess up an invitation if you print it wrong the first time.
10. (and probably the most important money-saving tip) Don't let friends, relatives, magazines, TV shows, or stores make you feel as though you HAVE to spend money on unnecessary things. For instance- wedding favors. We've already covered some very nice and inexpensive favors to hand out, but there will be people who try to pressure you into getting some outlandish, expensive trinkets for each guest. Remember- it is a very important day, but it is just ONE DAY in your life. Don't let people bully you into spending oodles of cash on something that, frankly, is going to end up in the "junk drawer" of their kitchen. (sorry, but it's true-all my wedding favors from people's weddings end up there). Stick to your budget, stay reasonable and rational, and remember-weddings are nice but it's really about the marriage.
References :
Getting married in Sep. 2009- wedding expected to cost less than $2000.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I did my daughters wedding for less than than 2000.00 It was beautiful! That included the dress. Just do a lot of the stuff yourself or with mom or friends, buy a second hand dress if you want a real fancy one or a new cheaper one. My daughter got a 3000.00 absolutely beautiful dress and veil for 450.00. They girl had worn it for about two hours. We did our own flowers and big thing is just do cake and punch ,mints,nuts etc at recep. you don't need a lot of food!!!
References :
March 6th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Hi. A friend of mine had a $1500 budget, and I helped her to find some of the things for her wedding. Both she and her hubby are Japanese.They are both Christians, but didn't want to have an indoor wedding.
They first decided on their budget. This pretty much dictated how big their wedding was going to be. They were both just graduating from PA school, and didn't have alot of extra cash. He was going back into the military, and they wanted to be married before he left. He was a corpsman in the Navy, and was returning to active duty, after PA school. So he proposed 4 months before their 2nd anniversary as a dating couple. This is the date they were married on. She originally wanted to have a HUGE wedding, but decided she would rather have an intimate ceremony with immediate family and close friends. Plus they HAD to be married before he returned to active duty because there was NO guarantee that she could go where he would eventually get orders to. Their parents offered to pay for the wedding, but they didn't want their monetary help.
Ceremony: So they chose a local, very quiet spot to have their wedding. The wedding was held at The Pagoda Japanese Gardens near where we live (this location was FREE). The pastor did a FANTASTIC job. He incorporated some japanese wedding traditions. He recited the ceremony in Japanese for the non-english speakers. (My friend sent him a lovely gift for all of his hard work!)
Guests: There were 20 guests for wedding and reception.
Attendants:They didn't have any bridesmaids or groomsman.(Although each set of parents did walk their children up the aisle.)
Attire: She bought some lovely jewel (aquamarine) toned brocade from (asian print)Joann Fabrics on sale. Then made two very lovely matching japanese style casual robes(material was $30.00.. labor free). She didn't want to wear the traditional kimono like her mother. But wanted to still be within "traditional" dress. She did her own makeup and hair.
Jewelry: She wore a lovely pair of aquamarine earrings, braclet, ring, and necklace set in white gold. (a gift from her parents).
For their surprise engagement party (I was in on that…. she had NO clue until she opened the box..hehe). He asked me to go with him to help pick out the "right" one for my 5'1 tiny petite friend! Poor guy had NO clue what to buy her. So I was out with her one saturday shopping for some things at the mall.. and I "pretended" to look at a new wedding ring for myself.. and so I got an idea of what she liked.. hehe… she had NO clue until after the proposal that I helped him to pick out their rings… I laughed so hard that I cried with joy for them.. They didn't have alot of money.. so he bought her a small diamond This is the ring that he got to propose with.. but he promised to get her a "rock" on their anniversary. She just laughed
Engagement ring: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8001533&povid=cat3896-env8204-module149027-rLink4 ($300.00)
Wedding ring: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4180460 (225.00)
His wedding ring: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7754508 ($175.00)
Photography: The photographer was the eldest child of a family friend who attended the wedding. This girl is a graduate of a local JC and needed the work. I have to say. She did an AWESOME job! Now she's got more work then she can handle because of word of mouth referrals. (Free)
Invitations: Ive gotta admit I did NOT help her with. But this is the website where she got her ideas from. tp://www.lcipaper.com/catalog/specialty.paper?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LPC&Product_Code=PO8FGF&Category_Code=II . I asked her how much she spents she said less then $45.00. What she did was get some card stock, aquamarine paper, and some gold stickers with the japanese symbol of "prosperity". (this price included the place cards)
Food: Now this was very interesting!!! Since my friend was married in the morning time (10:00 a.m.), they opted to have a luncheon for the reception meal. Shortly after the ceremony we went to her parents house. They had set up their family room in a very unusual way. Everyone had a lovely pillow to sit on and a small table was set up with place cards. In the very front of the room was a tea set. I was about to witness a very old custom. My friend surprised her groom with a traditional tea ceremony. It brought tears to everyone eyes. Because it was so graceful. She shined when she served her husband his tea. After the tea ceremony a light luncheon was served. We had a choice of salmon, chicken or beef, with two choices of salads, fresh fruit, bread, wine. The whole reception I think if I remember correctly was about ($300.00). Their mothers cooked EVERYTHING. (Having a breakfast or lunch reception is MUCH less expensive then a sit down dinner.) For the cake they had a sinful cheesecake that his mother made! OMG! You talk about SINFUL!! (free)
Reception: Her parents has a HUGE family room that they turned into a delightful japanese themed room. Most of the items in the room came from different parts of her family home. Several rock/waterfalls. Pictures of cranes, and a 100 year old japanese lantern. Her mother and his mother decorated this room. So this was a free gift from her parents.I was just the "gopher" (go for this.. go for that). LOL!
Favors: She bought some very pretty chopsticks, fans (with cranes), and small japanese lanterns, with tea lights. (Cost $60.00)
Music: They played traditional Japanese music on her parents PA system. (Free).
Honeymoon: 2 days at a local hotel. (Cost: $100.00).
So if I am not mistaken… They spent roughtly $1200 of their $1500.00 budget.
**Since they opted to forgo having the huge wedding like she had originally wanted… Their parents bought them a brand new 2007 Chevrolet Malibu. With all of the perks. They drove from the east coast to the west coast in that car. **
I hope that you have a wonderful wedding, and much joy on your special day. Good Luck.
http://www.theknot.com
http://www.davidsbridal.com
http://www.frugalbride.com (this is a canadian site)
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