Post # 1

Member
3 posts
Wannabee
I recently decided how difficult my budget is for a Charleston, SC wedding. We decided on the location and the date long before we found out the budget… Please! ANY help, advice, recommendations or knowledge of the area would be MUCH APPRECIATED!!
Our budget is $7,000 right now. If anyone could help you would be doing me and my family a huge favor for ANY input 🙂
Thanks in advance!
Post # 3

Member
513 posts
Busy bee
@BudgetedBride: We’re on a very tight budget too. We were determined to have a nice honeymoon somewhere tropical so we had to cut in a lot of places for the wedding. We got a beautiful venue, but we will be making our decor/flowers ourselves, possibly doing cupcakes instead of one large cake (we’d save about $500 just on this), probably hooking up our ipod instead of hiring an overpriced dj or band, and we’ll be having an afternoon ceremony/reception with drinks & finger food instead of individual meals or a large buffet. I know a lot of people that want their wedding to be SO extravagant and such, but we’d rather save money for our home/honeymoon, and have a nice casual reception.
Post # 4

Member
308 posts
Helper bee
My budget was 10k but I only had 30 people total at my wedding. If you’re planning a small wedding I can definitely help 🙂 My wedding was just on Saturday and was amazing!
Post # 5

Member
192 posts
Blushing bee
how big is your wedding??
try great expectations catering. we looked at them before we realized we would be getting more budget help from our parents. they do catering and bar service for a really good price.
also, we’re getting married on a sunday to save some money.
you can have a beach ceremony on folly for pretty inexpensive!
look at chi photography…she has good prices by the hour if you don’t need tons of hours.
okay sorry those thoughts were all over the place. but just somewhere to start!
Post # 6

Member
705 posts
Busy bee
Wedding Size and Day can make a BIG difference. Sometimes venues are less expensive on a weekday night (like a friday night wedding) or on a sunday. I also agree with PP, you can save on having an EARLY wedding- like mid morning or afternoon and do a brunch buffet or finger foods instead of an actual cake.
I am diy-ing out flowers, and am “upcycling” stuff i found from yardsales and my uncles collection for our centerpieces (which i am in LOVE with)… there are tons of ways to cut corners… Best place to start is with a guest list and theme and then work from there! (you could always push the date back to save more if none of these ideas are appealing. My Fiance and I found ourselves in the same boat, so we opted for a longer engagement so that we would have a slightly larger budget for the wedding and honemoon)
Post # 7

Member
705 posts
Busy bee
OH! another thought! If you are ok with being a little off beat, look into food trucks for catering and such! A lot of times they will cater you event with great food for a LOT less then a traditional caterer!
Good luck 
Post # 8

Member
609 posts
Busy bee
@Tiffner: My venue twin!!! I didn’t realize that your wedding was this past weekend. Congratulations!!! Tell me all the details. Ahhhhh congrats again, so exciting!!!
Post # 9

Member
192 posts
Blushing bee
Oops, just realized I got the name of the catering company wrong. it’s “beyond expectations”. I think we’re going to use them for our day-after brunch.
Post # 10

Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
@toothfairy910: They were our wedding day caterer, Kim was amazing. I can’t praise them enough! So easy to work with and the prices were fabulous!
Post # 11

Member
843 posts
Busy bee
@toothfairy910:
@MrsPinkPeony:
I contacted via website/email 4 caterers on Monday, one was that great expectations, and I’ve only heard from one (not GE). The one I heard from said a quote would be this week or next. Is this normal and should I contact the others again or are they usually this slow??
Post # 12

Member
192 posts
Blushing bee
Okay so I don’t know if you saw my blooper but I got the name of the company wrong-it’s beyond expectations. If you want to PM me your email address I could forward the initial quotes I got from them when we there thinking of using them for our actual dinner. Otherwise the email I got them at was [email protected] . They did get back to me fairly quickly.
Post # 13

Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
@meke: I remember Beyond Expectations being very quick, they were one of the first few caterers to get back to me.
Post # 14

Member
843 posts
Busy bee
Thanks ladies, I used the form on their website and just decided to email them this time, same with the others. Just contacted a few others as well, so the race is on for 7 caterers!
Post # 15

Member
609 posts
Busy bee
Everyone is running slow right now it seems. Everyone is right in the middle of spring wedding season so I wouldn’t be worried if it takes a little longer to get back to you.
Post # 16

Member
843 posts
Busy bee
@JenniferMm:
. I didn’t think about that. I just got a response from one who said they got my original message but were very busy and would get back to me soon. Just send me that acknowledgement the first time and I will wait, I’m in no rush.