Getting Married.... Frugally... Is it Possible?

[lehresman]

Originally Posted by luddybell

Yeah thats what throws me too Steve... Every caterer I have priced even for small "tid bit" appetizers is going to cost me at least $13.00 a head...

I am seriously thinking of recruiting some Aunt's and such for the "wedding kitchen crew"

You should consider what we did. We had 300 people at our wedding and just had cake/punch afterward. Later that evening we had a catered reception for close friends and family. We were able to cut costs significantly that way. Also, we enjoyed it much more since we were able to have a smaller dinner setting. I was afraid people would be offended who weren't invited to the 2nd reception, but everyone understood and I didn't hear any complaints about how we handled it.

[stressedmama]

I agree with DisneySteve. Money is just a tool. You only live once. So if you are being responsible with your money (saving for retirement, EF, college, pay off debts, etc) and you have the means, enjoy some of your hard earned/saved money and be willing to give too!

[nabejero]

Opt for alternative experiences for you and your guests, like a smaller intimate gathering, rather than a huge blowout.
Peruse forums and listservs like craigslist.com and freecyle.com for amateur pros (musicians, florists, cake specialists, photographers, seamstress, etc) breaking into the field trying to make a name for themselves. College campuses or vocational training schools like beauty schools offer opportunities for connecting with someone who can work with your vision.
Opt for non-white wedding dress.
Learn to do your own makeup using mineral makeup forums or stores like Sephora or Mac or makeup counters to do a trial run--ask the ladies to show you some tricks and tell them you are going outside for half an hour to see how the makeup "sets" before you purchase it.
Use ebay for items needed.
Use friends who have skills like photographers and graphic designers to make invitations with handmade paper ordered online.
Explore interesting sites like yachts or galleries or barns for the ceremony and/or reception.
And never use the word "wedding" when you approach a vendor. Say you are arranging your parents' anniversary or a kid's graduation party to get an initial quote on sites or services.

[BCHGRL]

My husband and I spent $14,000 on our wedding which included Lasik ($4K) for me.

I am not a materialistic person, but I honestly feel sorry for friends that did the courthouse wedding. Not because of any physical thing, but because of the magic I felt being with friends, family and loved ones in an environment (the beach) that I love. I'll never forget it. Nothing in my life has ever been so special. It honestly felt like a fairy tale. The people we love, the time of year we love, the place we love, the songs we loved to dance the night away.

I kept my wedding relatively low cost by making it a casual affair. Formality adds costs. For instance, we borrowed a friend's convertible. Had we had some big fancy church thing, something with more glamour would have been expected.

I didn't always go for the cheapest selection. Our DJ cost about $100 more than other DJs but everyone raved about him. We went to another wedding a month later and the DJ ruined the reception. Our DJ was worth every penny. We had a harpist that was reasonably priced. I can still hear Cannon D on the beach and remember how it brought tears to my eyes. But I cut costs on things that didn't make sense to me. Why did I need to pay for someone to tape our ceremony. You look at pictures, but honestly, does anyone really watch their wedding videos? My uncle taped it using my parent's recorder.

Good luck! It is an exciting time! You don't need to spend a fortune, but make it something you'll remember for years to come!