Wedding Cost

12 Responses

1. MrsRed

   2009 Oct 20 1

   Don’t go for catering. Get finger and tray foods from Costco or Safeway and/or BBQ. You will save $100’s if you do. Catering is overpriced. You could also use an iPod instead of a DJ.
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2. Jonathan

   2009 Oct 20 2

   Okay, here’s what we actually did. Consider a wedding at a chapel and consider a major airport chapel, like JFK. You hire a minister. You get the chapel cheap! All your relatives and friends park in the airport lot. No cost to you. After the wedding you have the reception in the airports best restaurant. You pay only for the food your guests eat and the booze they drink. You have a toast, you all eat then it’s over. If you want dancing you plan the wedding for early evening or late afternoon. After eating you all drive to a club. Your family will Iove the one stop for the wedding and reception dinner. They get in and get out! Your friends will also enjoy the club afterward. This saves you a fortune in that you don’t rent the hall, pay for a caterer, parking, over priced meals, over priced booze and on and on. If you want brides maids and ushers let them wear suits and dresses. More money saved. Buy your gown at a discount store. The groom wears and nice suit. Your friends will always remember going to the airport chapel for the wedding. They’ll forget most of the weddings, but will always remember yours, because it will be unique. I went to one such wedding at JFK. It was great and I won’t ever forget it. Plus we did not miss the dancing etc. The wedding and the dinner both in the airport was plenty. Also we all appreciated the convenience.
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3. MikesEverything

   2009 Oct 20 3

   I’m sorry to hear about all of your mishaps, but I’ll make a few suggestions and hopefully at least one perks your interest!

   Growing up, I had a large family and we lived on a large lot with tons of room. We had 4 weddings there. With one of them, we had a barbeque style reception, the whole family helped cook. Another, we had miscellaneous items like yellow rice, chicken, roast beef, meatballs, cheese cubes, veggie trays, salads, casseroles, ect. Another time they had an italian style buffet with different pastas such as: linguini, spaghetti, penne, etc. with all different types of sauces. That also included a salad bar. The fourth wedding we had there was a winter wedding and they had a soup and salad bar. It was lunch time so it worked out great and they had different breads cut up all pretty that guests could dip into the soup.

   Just keep it simple and comfortable. Hope I helped.
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4. Sassy6gal

   2009 Oct 20 4

   Is there a nice park nearby? Have it in the park, with preacher under a gazzebo – my niece had a really nice wedding in a local park. Her’s had some benches in the park next to the gazzebo, but it is pretty cheap to rent chairs. I was married in my parents back yard with rented chairs, and flowers/ribbons in the trees. Really the only expense will be for the preacher, and any kind of reception – can be held at your families house, etc – just have to pay for food, and accept good wishes from those who attend. Good luck 🙂
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5. E-ma

   2009 Oct 20 5

   Threw my 2nd wedding together in 2weeks time this way.
   Paid for marriage license at court house. Ran through back yard to church on next block. Asked minister if we had to be members for him to perform wedding. He said, "No." Asked him fee for wedding & he said that there was none, just typical to make a donation to church after ceremony when when we had him the envelope with the license in it for him to sign.
   I posted a flier/invitation in the main office at work b/c I was work-a-holic and knew no one outside of work.
   Our Civic Center had a garden path with a humped foot bridge. We could go there while in full bloom without paying any money since it would only take about 30 min. of use. (Meaning no cost for decorations as nature provided the scenery.) A friend of mine offered to photograph as a wedding gift to us.
   My sister made lovely tape of music for ceremony. She began playing as the men headed from one direction on foot path & women headed from the other to meet at the center foot bridge. Had ceremony, handed envelope to minister, he signed, we signed, witnesses signed. It was handed back to us to file with our local court house. (We gave $50 donation back in the 80’s).
   We all headed to my sister’s house where she had buffet for reception & then we opened wedding gifts there.
   Other people loaded the car for us & then groom & I headed off to local motel for honeymoon. (All we wanted was a hot tub & pool & we got that.)
   On way back from honeymoon, we filed marriage license at court house.
   Very inexpensive and all the gift money (& saved wedding money) was used for down payment on our 1st home which we had already had things moved into so we went straight from motel to new home that only had $2000 of financing left on it.

   That was our choice to save wedding expense b/c we preferred having a home (since I was a package deal with 2 children).
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6. TrueLoveNeverDies

   2009 Oct 20 6

   You could do a pot luck wedding. Instead of guests bringing a gift, have them bring a dish to share 🙂 if you do chose this it would be wise to partially allocate what types of dishes people bring just so you don’t end up with 12 salads etc.

   Catering is overly priced and not really worth it, as another poster said. Sam’s Club, Costco, etc have good deals on veggie trays and frozen appetizer like foods that can be bought in bulk and prepared before the reception. This would save you TONS of money.

   Another fun idea would be to have each guest bring a bottle of wine/champagne/spirit instead of a gift. You could then use some of those bottles as an open bar during the reception and save the rest for your hubby and you.

   As far as decorating goes…..outdoor weddings can be lovely since everything will be green and lush during the summer months. Perhaps have a flower planting party prior to the wedding-fill pots with inexpensive (but beautiful) flowers to decorate the wooden deck (and possibly tables) with. This way you won’t waste money on flower arrangements that will die within the day.

   You could also use white christmas lights to decorate the deck, trees, shrubs, etc with. They’ll had a touch of romance and mood lighting once the sun starts going down. Not to mention they are pretty cheap and if you dont have family member you can borrow them from, you can get lights super cheap after christmas time.

   Best of luck to you!
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7. Koala_Girl

   2009 Oct 20 7

   Since your venue is your backyard, I guess that means you and your family are gonna make all the food, which would save a lot. Take good care of the garden in the weeks/months before the wedding, so that you may not need to decorate anymore. I mean, especially if your plants are all nice and green and the flowers in bloom, you can forget about buying decorations because you’ll have natural ones. If you have flower plants, you may want to use some of the flowers for your bouquets, corsages, etc., so you can save on florist fees. You can also get flowers, leaves, etc. for your table centerpieces from the garden. You’ll save and in a way, your tables’ looks will blend with the garden too. For a romantic touch, you can dig in the attic and look for your Christmas lights, and you can put some on the trees or shrubs in the garden. Save on your gown by buying on sale, making your own, or use your mom’s (and use the "something old" excuse too.).
   References :
   http://mareeyah.com/weddings/2009/05/16/wedding-on-a-budget/

8. mizshaionex

   2009 Oct 20 8

   Hello hun, A great Idea would be somewhat of a " candle light garden " theme. Litterally its as simple as it sounds. Lots of candles everywhere even flat round candles sitting on low surfaces to regular candles on tall candle sticks to floating candles in water which in your case pretty glass bowels filled with water and floating candles or water lilies. Since it is an outdoor wedding I suggest a wedding tent incase of rain. Your local rental store should have it inexpensively. If you can, try and find wisteria vines that still have blooming flowers on them and decorate the deck or where ever you may see suit. Or if your willing to pay the money, buy flowers from your local florist.

   If you have it at your parents you can buy white lights and thread them through the tree and it should look wonderful. A cute thing that a lot of people do is buy a lot of disposable cameras and let the take pictures of the wedding. Are you looking for more activity ideas or decorating ideas?

   I wish you the best with your wedding hun and a lifetime full of happiness in your marriage.
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9. iloveweddings

   2009 Oct 20 9

   Hi and congratulations!

   You can have a beautiful low cost wedding very easily. The major expense for any wedding is the venue and yours will be free! All the better!

   If it was me, I would go with your parents yard under the oak tree….sounds really pretty. You don’t need any decorations, just enjoy the nature.

   You can rent some chairs very easily to set up for the ceremony. Then, use the same chairs for the reception. Rent some tables if you need to and have a nice backyard reception. Have a BBQ. Maybe not hot dogs and hamburgers, but possibly grilled chicken and serve it with a variety of cold salads.

   OR….get some meat/cheese platters from your grocery store and have rolls so guests can make little sandwiches and then serve it with some cold salads. Get your family to help you with the food.

   Don’t forget the cake!
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10. TotalRecipeHound

    2009 Oct 20 10

    I think that’s a lovely idea! How about skipping a theme and just focus on outdoors and lovely flowers and ferns? I agree with skipping the catering. We managed just fine with a total of 40 people getting appetizers from Sams club (some we made up). I did have to rent an additional frig and hot plate as well as the things to keep things hot.
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11. GiddyGiddyGoin

    2009 Oct 20 11

    Personalyy I would LOVE to go to aan informal wedding in the yard!!! I am so sick of going to the banquet hall, same type of food, same traditional stuff etc. I would check out a thrift store for the dress or just go but a nice white dress. Remember, if you wear a veil, it will look bridal no matter what!!! (borrow a veil or again, thrfit store. I got mine for $2!!!!) Since it would be outside, you could do a nature theme, such as paper lanterns, dragonflies, white twinkle lights and rustic candles. you can get lots of this stuff at the $ store or craft stores. I would even borrow the lights from people!!! As for food, you could ask people to bring a dish, do a BBQ or do something simple like Brown’s catering. It would be TONS cheaper than any hall would be!! People will appreciate the casual affair and not having to go to the church/reception hall thing.
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12. Daya81

    2009 Oct 20 12

    go for a loosely based "secret garden" or tea party theme. definitely use a park or a family member’s back yard. make lanterns out of old glass jars and wire to place on all the tables or in the trees. use mismatched china from the thrift store or garage sales as place settings. add vintage tea pots and hand made tiers for finger foods. with a little epoxy, two 50cent china plates, and two glass candle holders you can make a one-of-a-kind hors d’oeuvres tier. you can even add crepe paper flowers as your bouquet, boutonnieres, and center pieces. go for a pot luck since your guests will be close family. plug in an i-pod and dance the nite away! good luck and congrats!
    References :
    http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/crafted-bouquet?autonomy_kw=paper%20bouquet&rsc=header_9
    http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/tissue-and-crepe-paper?lnc=bf89cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=lpg_crafts&lpgStart=1&currentslide=1&currentChapter=1#ms-global-breadcrumbs
    http://www.craftynest.com/2008/10/hanging-jar-lanterns/
    http://tangarangblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/two-craft-monday.html