Weddingbee boards

We've been engaged for 2 weeks this weekend, and over the last few days I've been thinking about how FREAKIN' EXPENSIVE WEDDINGS ARE! 

He's a volunteer fireman/who works nights in the hospital ER/who also goes to paramedic school 3 nights a week. I'm a VERY part time underpaid retail zombie/undergrad student in my 3rd year/who commutes to 2 colleges 4 times a week. Both of our families are pretty old fashioned, so we both still live with our parents. That works out well for the time being, as we're not really planning on living together for a while. His hourly income is more than double of mine, and he's full time, so he makes pretty decent money. 

I've come up with a relatively easy plan for us to follow. It will include both of us taking AT LEAST $25 out of each paycheck and putting it into a cash fund that we're going to keep in a safe. That way, we'll be saving AT LEAST $100 per month, hopefully more as I get more hours at work over the holidays and he moves over to a paid fire department. Our wedding won't be until I'm finished with school, which should be in about 2 years, since I just changed my major. I know it's not going to be a lot of money (saved up - especially if it's ONLY $100 a month), but I'm thinking as far as deposits go for our venue/catering/etc? I'm not sure. I'm really not sure of a lot of financial things, unfortunately, but considering the wedding will come hell or highwater, we've got to start watching our spending. 

We don't have a $2,500 budget, just to clarify. I just want to save for deposits and things of that nature. :) 

Wow, I have never heard of that. How interesting. Oh great, here's to a night of online research when I really need my sleep. ;) Thanks!

I believe that you can do anything on a budget if you put your mind to it.  My only question is why you are sticking with cash?  Since you are looking at a 2 year timeline, your money could be earning interest!  Maybe not much but every dollar counts when you're on a budget, right?  Also, if you and your FI have direct deposit, you can often arrange for a certain amount of your paycheck, like $25, to be automatically deposited into a second account (i.e. savings account).  This would help you be disciplined in your saving - since you will never see the money, it may be less tempting to spend it.  Just an idea...

I've had a lot of issues with my banks f-ing things up, to put it the NICEST way possible. I don't trust them to do anything with my money except keep it in one place right now. I already have this little thing where it "saves" my money for me every time I use my debit card, so I don't touch that money and it adds up very quickly. But as far as opening up NEW accounts or having a joint account, I'm going to pass. I'm also one of those people who despite having a rather high quality taste DO NOT use ONE credit card. Everything I do is cash only -- debit, check -- straight out of my bank. It's much easier in the long run. I've watched too many of my family members drown in debt. I guess it is hard for some people to understand, but the cash route works for me, and it works very well. My parents do the same (despite an average income -- we're no closet-millionaires) and it's very impressive. Budgeting runs in my blood. :)

Also, it's not going to be our "budget." I'd rather go get married at the court house than try to scrap together a mere $2500 in TWO YEARS. I guess I was a little unclear. We're using it MOSTLY for extra honeymoon expenses, as well as down payments on other things. Honestly, I should have just said we'd be putting away more than $100 a month, because we will be...just not in December because there are so many other expenses that month.