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Budget wedding ideas?

picaritospicaritos
10 Comments
in New York-Hudson Valley
Hello! 2 weeks engaged and shocked at how expensive everything is... We would like to have a wedding sometime next summer with a 10,000 or so budget. I'm a student so we're drawing from one salary only. Any reception sites/caters, photography, dress, music, etc...tips? Anything would be appreciated! Most of our family is in Westchester but we are willing to have the reception an hour radius from Westchester. We will have about 120 guests. Thanks!
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Re: Budget wedding ideas?

  • NYHarleyBrideNYHarleyBride
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We're having our wedding in FL, but I have heard the Poughkeepsie Grand and Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt are both reasonable. Also, if you pick a Sunday or a Friday, most places offer a better deal. If you are willing to cross the river, Anthony's Pier Nine is definitely in your range.
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  • sjsphishsjsphish
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would recommend Cortlandt Colonial up near bear mountain... i wen to a wedding there last nov. and the couple also was on a budget ... food/drinks were good and the place was pretty and it had a nice outdoor ceremony space!
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  • LPQueenie99LPQueenie99
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Our wedding budget is $10,000 too, and as of right now we are a little under budget. We are having an afternoon reception at Anthony's Pier 9 for less than 5k. We've done a lot of things ourselves to the cut the cost. You can do it, you just have to be resourceful. Our DJ is $950, flowers are $400, Church 1k (scream!!), limo $475, my dress (and accesories) $500, gifts for attendants $400. That leaves almost, stationary $50 (I designed and used VistaPrint), FI's suit FREE at Men's Wearhouse, wedding decor $300.These are all approximations, but we are still $1500 under budget! It can be done! Good luck! 
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  • Jenniferk08Jenniferk08 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    check out the riverview which is reasonably priced and includes your cake and centerpieces.  centerpieces alone can cost close to 1k.  and cakes can cost a couple hundred to also almost 1k.  as for a dress, you can check out craigslist or on the trash to treasure boards here on the knot.  to also save money you can try the off season like april/may or september/october.  summers months are prime time and so cost a lot more.  and book asap since the sooner you book sometimes the better the deal.  do not bother with things like the vienesse hour since most people are full and will most likely not miss it.  for my wedding we had fresh fruit, cookies/pastry and strawberries dipped in chocolate at every table. it was loved by everyone, did not really cost extra and saved us from paying that extra money.  as for photography, we spent alot on ours but i truly feel you get what you pay for sometimes. check out prices and do not be afraid to say if you think something is too much, negotiate. and remember we are all here, brides to be and recent brides if you need help...
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  • surfergalsurfergal
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Congratulations! Some tips: 1. Cut your list to the bone. More guests = more tables, more flowers - etc. 2. Hold your wedding during an "off" time (although I'm happy with what we did - with what I learned I would have gotten married in January! We went to a beautiful wedding last Jan and the bride told me that the vendors were extremely negotiable and the wedding was easier to plan because everyone was available and accomodating! 3. No need to have favors! We moved and I ended up giving away/throwing away msot of the ones we received. 4. Choose your florist carefully particularly if you know what you want. All florists buy the flowers and materials from the same place - it is the design and markup that make the difference and drives the cost up. I chose large bouquets of roses in a long stem vase with an orchid in the stem. Not too complicated to put together; beautiful and the less expensive and extremely nice florist was able to do them. Most of all - enjoy and good luck!
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  • Laura&KieranLaura&Kieran
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I second the off season tip ... we are getting married in March and its about $75 cheaper per person than if we'd picked at date after Easter.
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  • picaritospicaritos
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thank you! I really appreciate all your feedback and support. These are excellent tips! The venue is where I need to start right now. I will check those places you suggested sometime this week. We may need to consider an off season wedding but we're also having a church wedding in Portugal that is making things a bit more complicated. Any suggestions for photo/video?? I can hand a camera to a friend but I think the quality is never the same so I would rather not skip this.
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  • sjsphishsjsphish
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    oh yea! Riverview would be nice also!!! I had my engagement party there on a sunday afternoon adn it was really really cheap! plus they are super negotiable! you can find photog/videog's on craigs list...
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  • mhandemhande
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Another option to save money is to find a venue that doesn't require you to use their in-house catering. Buying your own alcohol and hiring your own bartender will save a ton. And when my sister got married, she saved a bunch of money by using Boston Market as her caterer; they do a decent buffet, as it turns out, and nothing has their logo on it. Then again, it didn't include cocktail-hour hors'doeuvres. (It was a casual wedding.)Also, I purchased my dress at a consignment store in Manhattan. I paid $350 for a designer gown, then an additional $200 for alterations and cleaning. Much nicer than what I would have been able to find brand-new for $550.
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  • specs1624specs1624 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    First off congrats!!  I'm on around the same budget you are and haven't found it too hard to stay on budget.  I definitely agree to find a place that include the cake and centerpeices, not only saves money but that's one less thing you have to stress over.  We're using Hunt's Landing which is probably out of your distance (Matamorus, PA).  But they have an area to do the ceremony outside if you're intersted.  Try using silk flowers or making arrangements yourself, definitely saves money over real, plus they'll last most than 3 days.  Don't be afraid to buy used things.. the trash to treasures board on here is a great help.  I just got my veil off there, absolutely beautiful and almost half price.  I'm also doing a lot of garage sale looking too, found our toating flutes for $1, very pretty, and we'll have them engraved.We're also not using a limo, that'll save $300-500 right there.  We're going to borrow a nice car from a friend to use instead(hopefully a '55 T-bird).  Hope thses ideas are helpful!
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  • picaritospicaritos
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Very helpful! looks like i may just be a DIY bride ;-)
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  • mockninemocknine member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Congratulations!!!Here's what I can offer- For the venue, try Arbor Ridge in Hopewell Junction.  I cannot attest to their food/service, but I can tell you that when I was looking they were the least expensive, and it included the cake!  http://www.arborridgecaterers.com/I am also an "off season" bride, on a Friday.  At my venue, it would've cost me about an extra $5K to have it in season and to have it on a Saturday!!  As for my photographer- I am using Kimberly Coccagnia (which was a recommendation from another bride on here).  She offered a reduced price because I am out of season.  I also was concerned mostly on a package that offered the rights to the prints to help reduce the cost.  You will be happy to know that many photographers do offer this..    http://www.kimberlycoccagnia.com/I agree with pp, and think you don't have to do favors.  I'm combining my favors with a candy buffet.  I didn't want to spend the money on a viennese hour, so I'm doing this instead and killing two birds with one stone!You can also purchase invitations from Michaels or Wal-Mart and print them yourself.  They have modern updated ones now, that are similar to what you could purchase printed already.  Or many other brides on here have used Vista Print and saved $$.OK.. sorry that was so long!!  I hope I helped at least a little.  Good Luck, let us know how it turns out!   
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  • picaritospicaritos
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    OMG thank so much, everyone is so helpful! I'm learning a lot and getting great ideas. I will def check out kim for photo and start looking at the venues.
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  • mls68mls68 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Hey:) Go to websites like stylemepretty and snippetandink for some great budget ideas. Terrace on the Hudson is also offering a special starting at $55 a person - definitely take a look at their website.  Also, see if there are visual art students, aspiring photographers, videographers or  musicians who would love an opportunity to get some extra bucks and add to their resume.GL!
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  • woodfrogswoodfrogs member
    Knottie Warrior 100 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    If you do some research at HudsonValleyweddings.com I think you'll be able to find reasonable photo and video.
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  • SoonToBeMrsDoctorDanSoonToBeMrsDoctorDan member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would have to say that my favorite budget tip is to buy a white bridemaid's dress instead of a wedding dress.  Forget what the sales lady says the quality is no different.  I got a watters bridesmaid dress in white, when it is all said and done with alterations it is going to cost $400 ... a very similar dress from watters in their bridal like is $1400, thats w/o alterations!
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  • lzbridelzbride
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    i second the colonial terrace.....its very worth the visit
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  • picaritospicaritos
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thank you everyone! Made some phone calls and loved the guys at Colonial Terrace! So this weekend we're taking a trip to see them, Riverview, and maybe some other place if i can get a hold of anyone else. Terrace on the Hudson will send me info by mail (we couldn't agree on a date to meet). Thanks so much again!
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