Weddingbee boards

Since we had a big overseas move right after our wedding and didn't want to go into debt at all, we needed to keep the costs really low. We set our budget at $3000, and did our best. Even after I spent a completely insane percentage of the budget on my dress (1/3 the total budget), I think we pulled it together! What do you think?

All of the food was traditional Albanian (my husband and I both grew up in Albania).

Cocktail hour included bruchetta, spinach feta purses, mini pizzas, and stuffed grape leaves. 

We had a Mediteranian vegetarian full buffet dinner, made by me, my MOH, and my "bridesman". It included two salads, two pastas, grilled potatoes, stuffed tomatoes and peppers, and soup.

Instead of cake we had three types of cupcakes, which I made myself, and they were Mocha, Almond, and Blueberry. We also had a creampuff tower. There was no alcohol, but there was a large array of drink choices including more than ten kinds of glass-bottled sodas. There was also an international cookie bar, with more than 20 kinds of cookies which also doubled as favors with take-away bags.

Some of my favorite elements were the wood flowers you see on the tables (also in my bouquet and in my hair), which were made from driftwood after the Japan earthquake/tsunami. The proceeds from the flowers went to Red Cross Japan.

Another favorite element was the tablecloth on our sweethearts table. That same tablecloth (hand embroidered from Albania) was on the table on the dock when my husband (then boyfriend) proposed. He purposely used it for the place setting with the idea in mind that it could be used at our wedding and future anniversaries. 

So there it is!!! Let me know what you think, and if you have any questions on the budget breakdown or anything. I'd love to help other low-budget brides plan! :)

I love all the details!!

@tranquility: We only had 30 guests, and that was probably the biggest sacrifice/savings we had. I really recommend cutting that guest list though, because it gave us a very intimate and special wedding. We plan on having a "Reaffirmation of Vows" sometime down the road (maybe the 3 or 5 year mark) where we can celebrate with EVERYONE, once we've been able to save some money. 

Your wedding was so beautiful, you did an amazing job with your budget! Congrats!

@Miss Tattoo: Budget Breakdown! Here we go...

Apparel: $1150 ($1k for the dress, $100 for his tux rental, $30 for my headpiece, $20 for my shoes, I did my own hair and makeup)

Venue: $700 (5 hours rental time of the chapel for ceremony and courtyard for reception)

Food + Drink: $500 ($350 for food - doing it yourself saves SO much! $100 for drinks, $50 for cupcakes and creampuffs - also made myself)

Music: $0 (iPod, laptop, own speakers)

Rentals: $300 (tables, chairs, and dishes)

Decor: $300 (flowers, linens, string lights, chargers, picture frames)

Photography: $0 (talented MOH did all but the shots with her in them, those were my dad)

Invitations: $50 (all handmade, and personalized stamps)

How I did it: 

 I started purchasing and making things months before, and purchased our string lights and gold chargers at after-Christmas sales for next to nothing. 

The food was also very cheap, making it myself helped tremendously but having vegetarian food also brought the bill down. There were a few meat-eaters at the wedding, but nobody seemed to miss the meat. No alcohol obviously saved us a lot too, but everyone was enjoying our old fashioned sodas and dancing, and it didn't seem to bother anyone. 

Side note - that canopy on our sweetheart table now hangs over our bed. :)

Everything is so beautiful!You look like a fairy!Congrats on your wedding and on your accomplishment with your budget!

You've just given me so much hope for my $5,000 wedding! Everything looked so beautiful!

Too gorgeous!

Thanks everyone! :)