Ask the readers: cheap wedding ideas
![[ wedding dress image ]](http://www.thebargainqueen.org/images/wedding_dress.gif "[ wedding dress image ]")
Cathy asked:
Can we maybe have a wedding special. You know, where to get cheap dresses, suits, catering etc…
I’d like to throw it open to you, dear readers.
Did you get married on a tight budget?
Have you been to a fantastic bargain-priced wedding?
If so, please share your favourite cheap wedding ideas!
(PS: Want more wedding info? Read about My big fat budget wedding, Why expensive weddings are crazy and Tips for saving money on your wedding.)
Add to del.icio.us
Stumble this
Share on Facebook
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
I’m organising our wedding on a budget as we’re getting married overseas (and the flights itself will cost a fortune), and I made a fantastic bargain with my lovely dress. It’s new, but from a pre-loved store in Brookvale (near Sydney, http://www.twiceasnicebridal.com.au/). They bought it off the rack from a retailer. And although it’s very detailed (train, a little embroidery etc), it’s only AUD750. I’m also getting a friend to do my hair on my wedding day, cause hair dressers prices are ridiculous - and she’ll make a free trial :-) We’ll DIY our invitation cards as well. I won’t have bridesmaids, just a “witness” as we aren’t getting married in church - we chose a lovely registration office in an old castle instead. My nieces and my nephew will be the flower girls and boy, but my Mom is making their baskets herself and my sis and sis-in-law are paying for their clothes (I offered to help out but they rejected). It’s the little things on which you can save heaps!
We got married 26 years ago on a tiny budget. Dad gave us $2000 and said whatever was leftover we could have. We planned to move, so we wanted as much as we could for traveling costs.
So we spent about $600 for our wedding. I used wildflowers for the flowers, and the florist was a friend’s mom, so for her labor and the trimmings it was $35. We got married in a little church, and our friend took the photos. Our reception was potluck and Dad provided the bar on his own dime. Another friend played ukelele and sang vaudeville songs on the porch for entertainment.
My dress was an $80 Gunne sax, and I wore a white ribbon in my hair. My maid of honor did my hair and makeup. My husband to be bought a nice suit on sale for $80 that he wore for years afterward for dressy occasions and job interviews.
The only thing I regret is not spending good money for the photographer. Our friend did a pretty good job, but I don’t have the kind of portrait I would have liked. I would say, that is the expense you need to shell out for more than just about any other. Still, all in all, it was the kind of fun day that very few more expensive weddings I’ve attended have matched.
I made my dress and it cost $200 for the material and I looked great. The suits were hired. Mum made the two bridesmaids dresses and we used white hirecares and freinds to drive us. We made the invitations. The ceremony was in Centenial Park and free and we had the best day. The money isn’t the important thing, it’s the celebration.
I’d totally agree with DowdyDiva about the professional photographer. Save your dollars to spend on the photographer for the ceremony and set photos (but not the actual party), it will be worth it in the end.
At our wedding reception we had dinner and live music for super cheap. We hired my high school’s jazz band (which I had been a part of) and also a their culinary arts group. Both are awesome and award winning. We gave a donation to both and paid for the price of the food. I can’t believe what I’ve seen spent on reception food and dj’s.
Also, the church we got married at had a reception hall, so we used it and saved lots of money there. Plus, they wouldn’t allow alcohol, so we had the perfect excuse for not having an open bar (which we didn’t want to pay for anyways).
My dress was big and rather expensive (about $800). That’s about the only place we splurged and technically my mom paid for that. Looking back, a smaller dress would have been easier to go to the bathroom in (and, oh yes, cheaper).
Thank you all for sharing your stories! There’s lots of great inspiration there for budget-conscious brides!
I’m getting married this fall & both my fiance and I have decided that we’d much rather have a down payment on a house rather than a massive wedding!
I’m making my own wedding dress (ivory duppioni silk) for $200 as well as my own jewelery (fresh-water pearls) for $100. My honey found a great tuxedo on eBay for $125 (slightly used, but it’s a lovely 100% wool tux) We’re not using fresh flowers to decorate - instead I’m using vintage silver plates ($2 each) glass vases ($2 as well) and tons of little tea lights.
So far, we’ve kept the costs down to less than $7000 Cdn for a wedding with 150 people :-)
Sounds like your wedding will be gorgeous Chloe!
Hello.
We have already spent $20,000 (more than we expected to spend) on our ‘Dreams Do Come True’ June 09 wedding and there is just no more money to stretch for flowers for the reception. We were going to do silk bouquets, etc for the bridal party, but the vendor fell through just last week on short notice. Now, I’m rushing to meet with a florist next week to discuss the costs of single stem calla lilies for my bridal party and I’m not sure what type of bouquet for me. We are also going to discuss corsages and boutinnaires for the rest of the party (i.e., hostesses, parents and groomsmen).
Our reception offers lons stem like globes with votives as a guest table decoration. I wanted to add a little more with an emphasis on flowers, but we need to lvie after the ceremony and honeymoon! Any ideas how we can add flowers to the reception tables with minimal costs? We are expecting 180 guests so we should have 18-tables.
Thx
Hi Michelle, I’ll post an answer to your question in the next couple of days, so keep a look out for it!