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Any African American Brides wedding's under $10,000???Seeing as you are on weddingbee sight.what ingenious shortcuts, discounts or DIY techniques have you used or heard about? Please share with others
Ours is $3,500!
Ceremony Venue - $245
Chairs (venue is outdoors) - $2/each
Reception Venue - Free with $500 food order and we're doing hors d'oeuvres
Photographer - $50/hour (4 hours)
Videographer - $75/hour (1 hour)
Flowers - $60 private gardener sells "buckets" of flowers for $30 each, we will diy bouquets, bouts, corsages.
Officiant - $50
Dress - $650 with alterations although I didn't want to spend over $500 total :(
Tux rental - standard
My band came as a set with ering, his band - $70 (Tungsten)
Invitations - Michael's (with 40% off coupons and jazzed up) - $60
Online rsvp to save money
Programs, escort cards, table numbers - pretty much the cost of scrapbook paper/cardstock and toner.
Shoes, undergarments, hair, nails, etc, all def fits within the budget
Pretty much, I think you can spend ANY amount on a wedding...it's your expectations that matter.
hi there,
I have not had my wedding yet but the amount will be more than 10,000 more likely..the ways in which I plan to save is:
Do my own centrepiece
use fake flowers fore centrepiece and bouques
ditch the bachelorette party
ditch the bridal shower
ditch the rehersal dinner
possibly rent my wedding dress
let bridesmaids buy their own dress
Hello,
I have recently posted about whether or not to even have a wedding considering our small budget. But so far we should be able to keep our wedding/honeymoon at approximately $6500 (not including rings.)
Venue- $850 includes- tables, chairs, linens, dj, 10 beers, 9 wines, centerpieces-it is at a beautiful theatre
Photography-$200-AWESOME amateur
Food-$700 very simple (chicken, potatoes, veggie, salad, bread)
Cake-$150 budget
Dress-$830- kind of a splurge for us but I'm having it custom made
We are going to the least expensive of the Sandals in Jamaica and it is all inclusive so our honeymoon is $2500 with airfare.
There are good deals out there you just have to look!
Hmm... I remember a lady mentioned on here who had a wedding under $10k... it was either $5k or $2k, and she had a blog. She was also featured in Essence Magazine online. It must have been about a year ago?
I know this doesn't help but maybe someone can remember who she is?
Okay, I found it on Essence.com:
http://www1.essence.com/relationships/advice/articles/budgetbride
The one with the blog must be someone else, I'll have to keep looking for that one.
if only california was as budget friendly :( the number crunching has become so stressful sometimes i just feel like my FI and i should elope! he wont have it though ::sigh::
Hi Ladies! I am new to WB but I am determined to keep my wedding under $7k.
So far,
Church wedding....$
Reception Venue...$628
Food....talk to a caterer $1500
Dress...not purchased yet but Craigslist, Ebay, WB...here I come...$250(including shoes and accessories)
Decorations...$500 - including centerpieces, linens, chair covers
Stationary...$150
Transportation..$300
Photo/video..$300
What am I forgetting ladies?
So our goal is to stay way under $10,000...do not know if this will happen, but here is where we are thus far:
Venue $3525.00 or $3200.00...huge price, I know...but it is a huge place that has so much to offer for our cermony and reception. It does include table, chairs and 5 different rooms for the events.
Catering at $7.99/pp...this full menu w/out drinks. I am waiting for the official quote. We are looking at 200 ppl by the way. Oh yeah, this caterer will charge to use their bartender, you can buy your own liquor (this will save a great deal for us)
My dress was $574.00 w/ tax...but priced well over $1500.00...I got it from Running of the Brides!
Let's see...I will be DIYing the STD's, Invites, and Programs. My brother does graphic design so he will design them for free...i will have to either pay for printing or print them at home.
We have are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives that we will be paying minimal cost for florist, dj, and photography as we know people who will be doing these things for us.
Also I have opted to do fruit filled centerpieces as they appear to be the cheapist. Limes are 10 for $1.00...can't beat that! For the ceremony I will be renting columns from hobby lobby at $20/pair.
Well, this is what I have so far but the cost is adding up quickly.
I forgot to add that we were gifted a trip to florida and a two day cruise to the bahamas, so we are using this for the honeymoon. Someone else has already gifted the airfare for us....yeah us!
Here's one article for a Brooklyn wedding under $5K: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/weddings/2008/09/21/2008-09-21_the_4722_wedding_one_brooklyn_bride_prov.html
And another (blog) for a NYC wedding for about $10K: http://www.citywendy.com/wendy/2009/08/how-i-threw-a-budget-wedding-in-new-york-city.html
mine will hopefully be between 5k-6k
Using a school gym as reception hall [will be dressed up and decorated]
using simple invitations that cost $40 for 150 invites
wedding cake made by simply ordering different size plain cakes and the arrange on tiers and decorating ourselves
DIY favors
DIY programs
DIY table card holders
I wish I had 10K to spend on a wedding (I def dont)
Reception Venue $325 (includes extra room to have kids sit to be babysat) My venue is so cheap because my wedding is on a Thursday....and my dad works at the hotel so i get to use his discount)
Food and Drinks are the biggest splurge for us. It will come to between 3 and 4K but we are having 2 receptions on the same day (at least we hope to)
Ceremony Venue: Not sure but hopefully not too much because its my moms church
Dress: 300 from Davids Bridal (on sale)
I will make sure the other accesories (veil etc.) dont come to over 200 with the most probably being spent on shoes (im a shoe junkie) But ill Prolly DIY veil (why pay $200 for tulle and a comb)
Decor: I will probably make my own centerpieces because i cant find what i am envisioning and Im allergic to pollen ( no flowers)
Grandma is getting my bouquet made (silk flowers) and me and my fiance both play instruments so we have access to a plethora of musicians....
To keep within your budget, only get things YOU AND YOUR FI want and NOT everyone else. ALso consider getting married on a day other than saturday...you would be amazed at the price differences!!
@MrsWall2B: Hi, I was going to DIY my own veil as well, but I found one on ebay for 13.99 w/ free shipping. I just received it yesterday and its perfect. Nothing fancy just the comb and veil with a pencil ribbon around the edges, but there were many to choose from. Just FYI...I will have to look and see the seller's name if you would like the info! Happy Planning!
My budget started out @ 7k. I don't plan to go over 9k.
so far:
Ceremony/reception venue $500
Catering $1400 ($12pp appt x 2 for 100 ppl)
photography $600 (@ $100 per hr)
Dress $300 (alterations free)
Bouquets/bout under $30 (diy; purchased bulk silk flowers w/ plenty left over)
Honeymoon $1600 (bermuda cruise)
Invites/STD/menu cards/programs/envelopes $90 (diy; cost of paper and supplies, and embellishments)
personalized aisle runner $20 (diy project)
Wedding cake (diy; free or cost of supplies)
DJ (could be free (gift) or $400)
Transportation ( $200 - $600 if I splurge for classic princess rolls royce)
decor for reception (around $2500 diy decor, vases, tableclothes, runners, ostrich feathers, tulle, chair sashes, candles, marbles, floralytes, ribbon, ring pillow, flower basket, guest book, candle sticks, pic frames, candle holder, numerous decor needs, etc)
other odds and ends (unity candle $20, gifts for bridal party $8 (martini and beer glasses from dollar store), knife and server set $10, birdcage veil $20.
I save alot by researching the net for the best prices and comparison shopping.
As you can see I also save by doing a lot of projects myself. I can also profit later by hopefully selling some of my wedding goods. To make some xtra before the wedding I am renting tableclothes and chair sashes.
Great ideas, ladies! My goal is to have an under $10,000 wedding as well. It's tough!!
Wow! You brides are lucky. My caterer alone is $10K. Not bad considering I am feeding a full course meal to over 300 people. I should come in under $15K when it is all said and done.
Do not ditch the bridal shower! Thats were you will get a lot of your gifts!! Thats your special day!! I loved mine!
@Ms_Charisma: Your MOH should take the lead. The other BM's should chip in as well.
@plannergirl, I was referring to @pat291's post!
My shower was a few weeks ago and it was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@MsTampaBride: Dont forget about all of the small things like the flower girl baskets and the ring pillow, aisle runners, the best thing to do is make a list for every part of your wedding starting with your wedding party Here is an Example:
Bride
dress
shoes
veil
garter
jewerly
Recepetion
card box
favors
centerpieces
toss bouquet
a pair of satin slippers
I have a wedding timeline and checklist that can email to you if you would like
I'm not African-American, but $10k is my budget. Here are some things we did to save:
-SMALLER GUEST LIST
-Sunday wedding during the day
-Off-season
-A food truck! (okay, that's our bit of quirk, but BBQ was on the list as was Indian food, both of which were coming up cheaper than more traditional caterers)
-skipped centerpieces (no one remembers them anyway :) and skipped the cake since we're just not fans (but you can also skip the "cake crap": special knife, cake stand, topper etc.) We're using tented menu cards with a few tealights instead of centerpieces and we have banquet tables instead of rounds so it's less noticeable there aren't any centerpieces. But even just storebought flowers in a vase you arrange yourself is a nice centerpiece.
-Calligraphy class: $50; then DIY STD, invitations, envelopes, place cards etc.
-Found a great venue that really has no need for extra embellishment, hence no decorations to buy
-no favors
-Photographers really are a dime a dozen. Saving on a photographer doesn't necessarily mean that you are sacrificing--be honest about your budget and some photographers will be willing to meet you on your price! Don't be afraid to ask for referrals from some photographers who are out of your price-range.
-no open bar, just beer, champagne, signature drinks
-my dress was inexpensive; still love it though; wearing shoes I already own. No veil, although my aunt offered to buy tulle and finish it with ribbon for me to wear, whcih would have been cheap.
-no rehearsal dinner; bachelorette/bachelor parties
-no garter
-In the beginning, it was no kids which would save on their "entertainment;" but we acquiesced because it is a daytime wedding outside and we felt like it was weird NOT to include them!
-no videographer
-iPod; no DJ or band
$10K WILL buy you a lovely traditional wedding, by the way--Sat night, dinnner, dancing and all the rest--even in LA, which is where we're from and pricing stuff out (there's a blog called "A $10,000 Wedding" and the bride planned hers in LA--it's very comprehensive; check it out) so admittedly what we're doing is far less traditional and you wouldn't have to sacrifice everything we did. But I found it incredibly liberating when people would post what they did without and it gave me inspiration to do without certain things as well, so I'm passing that on to you!
@pat291: Never thought about rnting bridal dress. That's a great idea. I'm not so sentimental that I have to pass it on to my children anyway.. besides doesn't ever girl want to wear their own "perfect dress"?
I'll see if our bud Crebre could chime in on this one. She's an A.A. bride and having an elegant wedding but being very budget conscious too! Sounds great, your plans btw, so far!
One thing I did for my wedding was have a restaurant reception in a private event area. Saved a ton, food was sublime, and have them still raving about the food a month later! Check that option out!
I'm in Chicago and my 10-10-10 wedding is $7K!!!!! I did a few diy projects (programs,escort cards,invites,garter,veil,pomanders) and I'm using silk flowers for the wedding($235 for everything!) So it's DEFINATELY possible!
@futuremrsoloyede:I feel the same way at times!!! Planning can get overwhelming at times.. but in the end i know it will be worth it...
Ours will probably end up around $10,000 give or take a few dollars. The best thing to do to save money is to make as much as you can, look in the DIY section here and Google stuff to save money. I also wish that I used silk flowers for everyone, but I didn't want to loose my deposit with the florist so I just decided to get my bouquet and his boutonnière from there.
Reception: $4000
Dress with alterations: $1900 (I know I spent too much here, lol)
Tux: $150
Church: $250
Ceremony decor: $100 maybe less (most was DIY- pomanders, bought tulle, no real flowers in church)
Flowers: We had real and silk, real for us and silk for bridal party from afloral.com
Silk Flowers: $80 Real flowers: $200
Paper goods: Ceremony programs, invitations were all DIY so about $70 including postage for invites. Have people RSVP online to save on some postage
Photography: $950 but this doesn't include any printouts or albums but its for 8 hours
Honeymoon: $1900 for 6 days 5 nights in Honolulu
Transportation: $300
Good luck!
I used to read this wordpress blog called "ten thousand only" She ahd some great tips there.
I don't want our budget to go above $6000.
So far we have our venue-$640 Hartwood Manor and Acres in Pittsburgh PA.
We opted to have our wedding at a church and all we had to pay was a $500 security deposit as members which is refundable if there is no physical damage done to the church itself. We give the pastor a donation which will probably be $150. As for the reception it is an all inclusive package including; linens,chairs with covers,napkins and bows of our color choice,buttercream cake of our choice,dj,light show, 5 hours open bar,cider toast,6 appetizers, 2 side dishes,main course,cesar salad,bread and butter,floral arrangements for each guest table,sweetheart table, gift table and cake table.Photography at the studio,church and reception,professional video,china,crystal and staff service for 150 guests. All for a whopping $7908.10 including taxes and gratuities ! My planner suggested that because I wanted different flowers and chairs that we could eliminate them from my package and save more money because my particular package offers roses,orchids, and ivys only. As the rsvps come in the list may shrink and so will the price so I'm doing pretty good. I was thinking about doing a candy buffet and let guest take their choice of candies in a takeout box.Yay Me!!!
Some pics of the hall :
The last pic is of a Quince. It was so nice!
MY wedding will be under $1000
Venue-Free (ballroom at my job at a retirement community)
Food- $200 (friend caters)
Decor $ 400
Dress-$105
Grooms Tux-Rental
Grooms Men-under $50
Bridesmaid/MOH- $34.99 (clearence JCPenney)
Flower Girl-free(borrowed from friend of family)
Invitations and Programs-$75 (Vistaprint)
Plus a ton of DIY things and I have a future in-law who owns her own wedding and event planning business!!!
Our wedding will be between $1000-$1700
Venue: $300
Dress: $399 sale at David's Bridal
Decor: DIY floral centerpieces (I got a little flower happy so I know I overspent in this area)
Invitations: Ordered on vistaprint.com and DIY a bellyband to tie it all together with envelope liners
Officiant: My uncle
Cake: $250 for 4tiered wedding cake and grooms cake
Rentals: Mom's friend from church - gave us a DEEP discount - I think it's $525
The budget could be a little more but I have alot of help from family and friends. Plus we are having the ceremony and reception in the same room. I am not having alcohol ( :( ) but we may go to a bar around the corner to hang out afterwards.
I am having my wedding April 8th and I plan it a year in advance and it cost me $3000 for the honymoon and less than $5,000 for the actual wedding. Total cost was $5,000. My reception will be held at a 5 start restaurant but everyone is paying for their own meal this saved me $4000.00 and I got my wedding dress for free. I won it so that was a blessing. But my point is this you can have an awesome wedding for less than $10,000
Im glad you ladies found ways to have a wedding under $10k. We could have if he would have agreed to have a destination wedding. Now we're having two very expensive weddings UGH! A traditional and destination...
I am trying to get my under the $10,000 range. This is tough with two destinations involved.
Hey ladies, if you don't mind, it would help if could also list how many guests your having and city/state (if its not listed). Just to be able to compare apples to apples.
For me I don't think thats gonna be remotely possible to keep it under 10K. We want it held in NY/NJ with appoximately 100+ guests. We bounced around the idea of doing a destination, but there are too many people where that I want to share in my day so thats off the table for now.
But I've learned through WB and other boards is to have a laser focus on select items that I/we consider essential (we can't be bothered with trying to take on other peoples image of what OUR day should be) . For me thats photography, food and music. Flowers is also high on my list. I want real and I'm not willing to do artifical, so that just means to have to use seasonal buds and minimal arrangements for decoration or possibly DIY. Everything else is optional or not even necessary, so thats a big savings if it gets skipped all together. Like I would really like to have a programs but most weddings I've been to don't even have them --so thats a maybe.
Our wedding is looking to be a little over $8000. Honestly, we didn't really have a budget but I knew I wasn't trying to spend over $10,000 either. We paid as we go and we searched hard for deals. Living in NY, it is extremely difficult to find nice venues that won't charge you an arm and a leg. We found a great venue in Queens that really hooked us up. We spent good money on our photographer, we got a deal on the limos, DJ's, food and open bar was included. We could have really saved money if we had our ceremony and reception in the church but there is not way I'm serving alcohol and playing worldly music in the church. Not happening. I saved a lot of money on my dress, flowers, and decorations. I'm so excited, it's going to be beautiful. You can have a wedding for under 10k but you also have to accept that you might have to lower your standards too. Don't expect to have a 5 star dinner, cocktail hour, top shelf open bar, 250 guests, beautiful chandeliers, white glove sit down dining, the best table centerpieces, and $4000 wedding dresses and think your wedding is going to cost under 10k, you fooling yourself.
I'm definitely under $10K
We're getting married on a Monday and we're only having about 40 people.
Ceremony venue is an outside garden and really no decor is needed because of the flowers in the garden - $500
We're just having a dinner after the wedding. The restaurant is letting us use their private room and they are decorating with a lot of candles so we really don't need decor. Should be no more than $1700
My dress I got it off of David's Bridal online outlet section for $140
Flowers just for me, groom parents and grandparents will be roughly $150
Cake $125
I've saved a lot of money researching on these boards and the local boards on The Knot. Also if you have it on an off day(other than Saturday) it will knock down some cost as well.
HTH!
Ceremony:
Dinner:
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