Wedding for Young Couple

[project15]

We got married last year for about $5,000 (including rings and honeymoon). She saved on the wedding dress by "renting" one for about $250 including alterations. We felt no need to buy one to just keep in storage.

We also saved on the reception by having a dessert reception and served cupcakes and ice cream for about 100 guests.

[PrincessPerky]

If you want a church shop around..ask folks at work and try the smallest..small is usually cheap, though I would avoid catholic...not usually cheap...unless you want a catholic priest. (no offense, just based on past experience)

If you want outdoor try state owned, your taxes pay part of the cost already.... avoid anything labeled as 'great place for a wedding', they charge for that phrase!.

My cousin got married at her MILS home, nice pretty yard, and free.

I think she either rented the chairs or borrowed from a church or fire hall..not free unless you know someone. (which btw is a good reason to get to know church goers and firemen!)

If you want indoor use the reception hall for the service, our Ex aunt did that and it was fine, they had the chairs set up for dinner but you can also use 'guest labor' to rearrange from a 'formal' set up to the tables.

[ithaca]

Just got married a few months ago. A few ways that we managed to save money.....

-- Set up a playlist on my ipod and used that for the reception music. So we didn't have to bother with a DJ and the music turned out great. Cost = $10 (bought a few songs that we really wanted)

-- Wife's aunt is a photographer. We paid for her hotel room and any supplies that we needed. She gave us all of our pictures in digital format and I touched them up from there. Cost = $400.

-- One of our friends knows how to bake wedding cakes. So she baked our cake and gave that as a wedding present. Cost = $0.

The one area where we "splurged" was on food. I've been to a few receptions where the food was not good and I just didn't want that to happen to my family and friends.

[geffklusner]

find a good place for that.

[kilcher]

We have enough money for an expensive wedding but we both realize it's ultimately a waste. What's really important is that we love one another and those who are important to us are there. We want everyone to have fun, we're not interested in putting on a big show for them. Here's how we are keeping our costs down...

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No wedding party. We're having two witnesses stand up with us. That also means no need for a rehersal dinner.

We're limiting guests to family and close friends - we invited about 60 people.

We bought the invitations and response cards at a party store and had them printed at Kinko's. Total for 50 invitations, response cards, and printing was less than $25.

The reception will be held at the church. Not only is it convenient for everyone but there's no extra charge since we're already paying for use of the church.

The reception is being catered by a local Italian place. Just placed the order today - entree, salad, and bread for 80 people = $270. We'll buy about 12 2 liters of soda for $12 - no alcohol. We bought plastic plates, silverware, cups, and napkins at Sam's Club.

We're burning our own music CD's - no DJ.

The cake and photography are free - friends of her mom's. We're buying them each a $50 gift certificate to thank them.

We're having our wedding December 20th so the church will already be decorated for Christmas. We're going to buy some Poinsettias to put on the dinner tables but those should be cheap, especially that close to Christmas, and people can take them home with them.

Any guests who choose to stay in town will pay for their own accomodations.

Honeymoon - We had initially thought about going to Hawaii. Tickets were going to be $1000 each and we'd spend a day flying there and a day flying back. Tickets to Florida were half that price and we could be there in a few hours. So that's the way we went. So not only did we cut our ticket prices in half but we bought ourselves another full day of fun in the sun. Neither of us have been to Hawaii so we don't know what we're missing.

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Even after all of that I'm still surprised with how much things cost. The bulk of it is the honeymoon. I can see how easily things can get out of control!

[boefixepa]

I use to wonder how people could spend some of the costs I'd heard about on weddings, and then I went to get married and found out!!!

It's really quite obsured if you ask me.

I agree with what other posters have said. Decided what is important to you and spend the money on that and then don't sweat the rest, just do what needs to be done.

As far as locations, yes those can be a huge cost. Besides the great advice already given....look into club like places. For example, Lion Club meeting halls usually have many open days. You will ahve to decorate it yourself, but that's doable. Our churches have 'cultural halls' (ready fancy gym) that members can reserve for no costs. The have table and chairs available, again you have to do all the set up. Not all places are out to make huge money, you have to look in non-traditional places. I really like the idea of parks and state facilities...look into what you have. Don't ask for a wedding recption hall....ask for something like a family reunion, or a family party, and a whole new view will open up to you.

Food for me was the largest costs, but if you have friends and family to help, or do a self-serve thing, that will keep costs down. Also you don't need to provide dinner, a light snack will do.

My most expensive thing was the photography, because that was the most important thing to us. And I'm glad for it. I love our photos.

Best of luck, and FYI, it's been a little over six months now and I won't trade being married for the world. Even if it had just been him and I at the court house, I'd be just as happy.

And lastly, I've had some friends get married at the court house, elope or whatever and throw a party some time later....