MemberGiven the financial crunch most of us are feeling right now I thought it might be useful to compile some tips about how to save money in the wedding budget.
What was your best money saving move?
Mine was to DIY my flowers. I did all of them for around $150. I probably saved myself thousands of dollars.
MemberWe’re not having a sit down meal. We’re going to do a short, dessert reception in our church basement. We’re also not hiring a florist- the church will be decorated with lillies for Easter (which is the Sunday before), and I’m doing all of our bouquets through Etsy. Those are the two big money savers!
MemberI got quotes for several thousand dollars for my flowers, too, and I’m having a skilled friendor (she does wedding flowers ALL THE TIME, just doesn’t make a business of it) do the exact same thing that I got proposals from other florists for, and she’s doing it all for under $500.
I’m also saving a fortune by using a location that allows you to BYOB. I have a friend who has catered and captained weddings and bartended in the past, and he will host our bar for just $25 per hour for himself and his friend. We’ll bring the alcohol. When all is said and done, the whole thing (full open bar) will cost under $1000, whereas the cheapest reception site we found that required you to use their alcohol charged $12 per person, per hour for BEER AND WINE ONLY. For our 125 guests over the course of four hours, that would be cost prohibitive! That’s a savings of at LEAST $5000!
MemberI think mine was limiting my guest list. Partly my invitations, partly those who were willing to make the trip.
Part of me wishes I had a local wedding however the 65 or so people who were invited are turning into 25 or so attendees. So I want to show them they are appreciated with a good meal, nice favors (which with a local/ larger wedding I would not have done), out of town bags, etc. I am so appreciative of anyone who is making the effort to come.
So this was inadvertant to the economy, but a good thing, I guess. Sometimes I wish I’d had a larger, local wedding, however there was no local place to do it as Fiance and I are from different places.
MemberWe’re doing our own food and flowers (I think, not totally decided on that one yet). Going to be super simple and fun.
MemberWe found a great venue that gave us pretty great pricing for both the ceremony and reception. The package was all inclusive so we didn’t end up paying out the nose for a bunch of separate things. Another money saver was using connections for our flowers, cake, and photography. I had friends from my church do my flowers and photography so was able to work out great prices with them. And we got our wedding cake for free from a friend of my mom’s for the "display cake". The cake the guests got was ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. And I DIY’d all of our wedding stationery, as well as made the cookies I put into welcome boxes for our out of town guests. Oh, and keeping the guest list to 50 max definitely saved us some cash. Small and intimate was a must for us!
MemberHaving my fiance negotiate the price, the deal etc. He is getting such good deals!
MemberI believe mine was talking myself out of letterpressed invitations and stationary and switching to printed. I’ll save several hundred dollars by doing this, and if I DIY my save-the-dates and things like menus and programs I can save even more!
MemberWe skimped out on the flowers too. We got married and had the reception in an outdoor venue that was very lush with greenery and blooming plants, so I thought lets just do twinkle lights and candles. We bought a lot of cute white lanterns from Ikea to hang in the trees too.
For my flowers I went to a local supermarket and they did a really lovely bouquet for me, my bridesmaid- single flowers for the mom’s, bouts, flower girl head wreath and petals- with delivery all for like $125. it was amazing.
As much as I do love fresh flowers and i see other brides with GORGEOUS flowers that are so swoon worthy, for myself I just couldn’t bring myself to spend the money there. We put that money towards handrolled cigars and frozen custard flown in from hubbys hometown.
Member
MemberMine was several things…
DIY flowers
Secondhand dress
Wedding and reception at friends house
Also no sit down meal
And a small wedding
MemberFor us so far, it has been the decision to have a daytime wedding. Our venue would have cost. It would have cost us at least $6K MORE at our venue if we were doing it in the evening. We noticed this at many of the venues we were thinking about for the wedding. While not for everyone, we were willing to make that sacrifice. We’re getting similar menu as well except the time is just different. Also I bought a dress that is not that expensive. I think those two things have been good for our budget so far.
MemberI’m like a lot of you…
DIY invitations and flowers (even though I’m not sure about bouquets yet). Although that Gocco gave me hell last week…I hope to have better luck next time!
Photographer search on craigslist.
Family members will play strings at the ceremony.
Band search on craigslist – living in New Orleans, I am overwhelmed with options! We’ll have the band play just one or two sets, then switch to a DJ (free – a friend).
Ceremony at a park – no flowers necessary, and the cost was only a $225 donation to the city’s plant-a-tree fund.
Cocktail hour at mi casa, down the street from the park.
All-inclusive reception venue, except for champagne. We’ll bring our own.
Attendants won’t have matching dresses. I told them they can wear any gray dress they want.
Splurges: my dress, day-of makeup, hopefully a honeymoon, too 🙂
MemberWe are having a cocktail and hors duerves (spelling??) reception, which literally saved about $4000, and we’re still having a full open bar!
I also found a retired florist on craiglist to do my flowers for about $650 (quoted $2500-$3500 by area florists).
MemberWe opted to have a smaller, high quality wedding and were surprised that things could get so pricey!
DIY Invitations
Friday night wedding saved us a few thousand on the venue and photography
Negotiating photography package and flowers
Honeymoon registry
Vintage suit for him instead of a traditional suit or tux
However…i have to admit we splured on my dress and the catering!
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