Okay, my partner and I are planning on having a very simple wedding in about a year's time, and we want to keep it inexpensive so we can use the extra money for the honeymoon.
We want to get married in my grandfather's yard, because that is where my parents married. My other grandfather is a priest and will marry us (I don't know if that usually costs or not), one of my aunts is a baker and regularly makes cakes in our family in lieu of a wedding present, and another aunt is a photographer and does the same. I'm looking at buying my dress, having simple flowers, renting my partner's tux, paying for my hair and makeup as well as 2 or 3 bridemaids (my friends and I have a deal where we pick out inexpensive bridesmaid dresses and pay for our own), buying the wedding bands, and renting chairs. We do not plan on having a large reception, just some punch, cake, chips, and fruit in my grandfather's yard.
What would you say is a reasonable budget for this?
Budget for wedding? I do not have much help so I allowed a year and it will probably take the whole year, like you I am single, naturally... I am also in Bible School! I am spending well under $500. and having about 150 people! So you can downsize..
I am constantly going to thrift stores! I am taking many differant containers and adding floral rocks to the bottom, water and a gold fish with a floating candle in each one! I bought each clear glass container for 10-25 cents each, some I collected from friends anad family! large mouth flower vases and gold fish bowls! A few were bowls! I borrowed punch bowls from friends and family, The candles, were 20 per bag bought at Dollar Tree for $1. and bags of floral rocks also $1. per bag, I will only have 8 to do them all! For center pieces, I will have 20 tables, provided by my Church! What a blessing that was!
I bought bunches of roses for $1 each and 2 was plenty for my flower girl to use, and another 2 bunches for to put around my center pieces! It only took 30 minutes to cut off the petals! It saved me over $50. , that was the cost of buying the bags of rose petals from Wal-Mart.
I am blessed as well with the gift of clothing design, I went to a bargin fabric barn and bought materail, I will sew my brides maids dresses.. I had each of them look for a non-stretch tank top and will sew them with a just below the hip length, then add the bottom, for a drop waist line dress! 3 yrds of fine nylon, and make a arm wrap that will go around thier backs and hang from thier elbows .. They are awesome! And still can be worn later.. Not a one use dress! If you want something more decorated, use ideas from magazines or websites! I also bought each of them a pearl necklas and earings, for again $1. each at Dollar Tree!
My wedding gown was used, $50. The Grooms tux, complete, $35. also used!
Since I will be married at 6PM, I will do dinner cheaper than finger foods! I found a local BBQ place, again blessed, a friend owns it and I am getting smoked ribs for $19. per slab! 4 will feed about 150 people, and my local Dollar General sells, Seasoned Smothered potatoes with sliced carrots, (it is a new product) cost 3 cans for $1. I am stocking up and will need $25. worth, 2 friends have offered to make potatoe salad, and another 2 coleslaw! Discount bread stores, loaves of bread 3 for $1... And dinner is served! Another friend loaned me a 50 cup coffee maker ! My brides maids are paying for my cake, another blessing! If you have friends who own a video cam, ask them to video, The same for photography! All of these services are the best gifts you will ever get!
I also will put colored index cards on the tables so each adult can write us a note from the heart and will be put on a photo album , thoughts for a lifetime!
I will also be decorating the Brides (cake) table with several candels aranged in brandy and wine glasses , also purchased at Yard Sales and Thrift Stores!
I done my daughters , grooms, and brids maids and best mans, roses the day of the wedding from Wal-Mart for less than $20. !!! I added ribon and it was beautiful! I am still thinking of the same idea for mine! Guest Book, and Pen, Dollar Tree $1.
If you want any info I missed feel free to e-mail me!
Congrats , and have a very blessed marriage!
Budget for wedding? food is the big thing, i think you are going to need more than chips and food like that. i would try to budget for 1,500 if it's close to 100 people
Budget for wedding? With everything your family was able to do for you as far as the cake and photographer, you saved a lot of money.(My family members are doing that too) You should be able to do the rest for under $500. I am having a pretty traditional wedding and reception and am only spending between $500 and $1000. I learned a lot of economizing when I put together my first wedding and my sister's wedding so I'm gonna be able to have a beautiful wedding on a very small budget. Congrats on your marriage.
Budget for wedding? Even if you are not having an elaborate reception with a full dinner I would look at renting a location even if it is the VFW. I found planning mind (which was orig. going to be in the grandparents back yard as well) that most halls are the same price as the backyard wedding if not cheaper. By the time you rent the tent in case it rains, chairs for butts, and things to eat with its about the same. We found a hall that includes all of the tables, chairs, and serving basics for 500 for the whole day. Its about 20 mins. outiside the city limits and the chairs aren't the designer ones but thats not what it's about anyway so don't listen to anybody who says it is.
Since the backyard has sentimental value you can probably use a collection of plates and silverware from the family members involved (a great tip to clean them is to lay them on the ground on a big tarp and use a hose and a mop instead of one by one in the sink) and having a few potluck dishes and stay very cheap. Chairs can be borrowed or rented but the tent I'm telling you is a MUST. Even if you don't use it the whole time its such a comfort to know you are covered in any weather situation and to get out of the sun.
I would budget $10 per person for food and decor, everything, in this situation. You can stick to any budget as long as you make it before hand. It's when you run wild without "ok I'm going to spend 1,000" that you end up spending more than you need to.
Budget for wedding? I would say 2500 to 3000 depending on how much you dress would cost I would keep in the 200-300 dollar reange for the dress, flowers from 100-200 depending on if you wanted centerpieces or just bouquets and buttoniers. The band from 500-750 roughly. and chairs from 150-300 depending on where you are located and what you choose.
