My fiance and I are both graduate students (in a lot of debt) and my parents have offered to pay for our wedding. So my wedding budget is around $20,000. We plan on inviting 90-100 people.
Here are some things at my disposal that should stretch the budget:
- our wedding date will be in October/November 2013 (so off-season)
- we plan on using just an iPod and speakers for both ceremony and reception music
- I am ok with buying a clearance dress and sprucing it up with thrifted accessories
- my mother and aunt-in-law have experience with floral arrangements and bouquets so we will only be purchasing wholesale flowers and renting/buying-wholesale vases
- we have experience with graphic design so will be able to make & order our own invitations, placecards, save-the-dates, etc.
- my mother and I will be ordering gifts and trinkets in Taiwan where we will be able to buy intricate small gifts for less than $1 per gift
As for everything else, we are open to anythign that will fit our budget. We realize that is our biggest constraint. The wedding will be non-religious and preferably within driving distance from Brick, NJ (where my in-laws live). I know this may be kind of tough, but any ideas and any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!