Budget Ideas

megan0801

I was quite overwhelmed when I saw how quickly things are adding up... I haven't booked anything yet, but I am seeing that it is very unlikely that I can have our wedding until $12k... So I am hoping for some suggestions on how to cut costs or ideas on how you might be financing the costs... My parents are contributing a little but, but most will fall on our shoulders- my FI is in med school, so we dont have a lot of funds to work with....

Thanks in advance!!!!

LittleSweetie

Best way to cut costs? Scrutinize your guest list.  Many wedding costs are fixed (you'll need a dress, officiant, photographer for sure), and while you can cut back and get a less expensive photographer, buy a dress from a sample sale, the biggest cost savings will come from cutting your guest list.  Expenses like dinner, drinks, cake, invitations, favors - all variable by guest count.  Linens, centerpieces, chair covers (optional!) - variable by table count, a function of guest count.

Think about who NEEDS to be there versus the peripheral guests that could go either way.  Our rule of thumb was, "Could we invite them over for dinner TONIGHT without any hesitation?"  Second cousins - out. Friends we hadn't seen since college - cut.  It adds up quickly when you go through your guest list and really ask yourself if they should be at your wedding.

Fridays/Sundays and off-peak months will also get you cost savings with your venue, photographer, DJ potentially.  

HTH

emilykathleen511

Hey! I posted this on the Budget Brides board quite some time ago...this is my total budget for a Sunday wedding of around 120 guests. I thought it might be helpful for you. Also, the budget brides board has a lot of helpful resources and lots of other budget brides who have lots of ideas for saving.
Venue Room Reservation: $295 (Discounted for a Sunday Wedding at Mississippi Dunes)

Est. Food & Service: $2,925 (Lower minimum due to Sunday Wedding)

Cake & Cutting: $200 (My Brother-in-law's brother's girlfriend is doing the cake)

The Gown: $400 (Thanks to David's Bridal!)

Headpiece & Jewelry: $50 (Thank Goodness for Etsy.com)

Est. Bride's bra, shoes, and alterations: $250

Hair & Make-up: $0.00 (My sister will do my hair & make-up)

Groom's Tux: $0.00 (Most places will give a complimentary tux if you rent all the tuxes through them)

Ceremony Location Fee: $495 (includes chairs, electricity, set-up and take-down)

Ceremony Officiant Fee: $250

Flowers: $335 (using a florist who just does it on the side out of her home; also, I may just make the bouts and corsages myself)

Reception Centerpieces: $27 (My reception venue provides mirror tiles and votive candles, so I'll just use them. The $27 was for little photo holders that I will use for my table number holders)

DJ: $300 (I'm using Neon Express. The $300 will cover the ceremony, social hour, and reception)

Photographer: $800 (I'm using someone who is just starting out)

Videographer: $0.00 (I'll just ask a brother-in-law tape the ceremony, and that will be fine for me)

Est. Invitations: $120 (hint in bio on ordering from Vistaprint: http://emilysweddingbio.weebly.com )

Est. His Ring: $50 (We found titanium bands on Etsy!)

Bride & Groom Hotel Room: $0.00 (We'll be sure to reserve a room block at a hotel that comps the bride & groom hotel room if you utilize so many rooms)

Est. Attendant & Parent Gifts: $250

Favors: $60 (I'm going to make hand-made ceramic mugs. The $60 will be for the clay and the glaze. I have kept in contact with my high school ceramics teacher and she will fire them for me!)

Marriage License: $110

Budgeted Total: $6,917

 If we had more money to add to our budget, we would add alcohol, more time with the photographer, more flowers and decor, and I would go get my hair done.

I hope that helps give you some ideas on how to save and make your budget work!

hkiesling

Some websites that offer good deals:

shutterfly.com (photos and photobooks)
michaels.com (extra coupons for crafts, invites)
etsy.com (anything unique and handmade)
vistaprint.com (STDs, invites, signs, stationery)
retailmenot.com (extra promo codes)

Some other tips:

If you DIY invites, Michaels has some good kits.  Buy something cheap the week before and get a 40 - 50% off coupon (do this for as many invite boxes as needed).  Buy invites the next week with said coupons.

Find a photographer who is just starting out.  They're creative and usually cheap.

Buy a sample dress.

If youu have decorations that are seasonal, try to buy them  the year before just after the season so you can get it on sale.  This could be leaves, Christmas lights, flower girl dresses (Easter), hearts (V-day), etc.

golden1215

I suggest ebay and amazon- in addition to the awesome tips for the girls who already posted.  I got my dress (brand new with tags) off of ebay for $212 (retail was $800) and FI's wedding band would have been $600 from wedding day diamonds and exact same thing from amazon was $199.   we also are having a very small wedding, less people so that we can offer nice food and drinks to those who are there, asked the photographer out-right for a smaller package that was not listed on their website (they accepted!) and are doing our invites off kodak.com instead of standard printed ones. 

theophania

Some of the girls on here created a website dedicated to advice on budget weddings.  I found it really helpful, especially the 'budget tips' page.

http://budgetbrides.weebly.com/

megan0801

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!!! I really appreciate the advice