Any tips for planning a Wedding on a Strict Budget?
We are having 2 receptions (one in uk and one in australia) so need to cut costs as much as possible.
Any tips will be appreciated?
There are so many things you can do to cut costs for your receptions.
- have the receptions earlier in the day. Most places can give you a discount if you are out of their location early and can rent it out to another couple in the evening. The food costs are cheaper earlier in the day because you dont really have to offer a full meal (depending on the time). If the reception is held around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, it is right past lunch hour so guests will be full from that. You can offer hor dourves or have a dessert reception. Both are fine.
- If you have to have it in the evenings, stick to 2 entrees, one being chicken and the other a vegetarian option. Buffets usually are the best way to go about the whole thing, but make sure to negotiate childrens pricing or you will end up paying adult fees for a childs plate. BBQ family styled meals are good, cost saving events.
- location is everything. It is cheaper to rent out space at a community center or local area park than to have it at a 4 star hotel ballroom. You can also try using a family or friends house or see if there are homes for daily rentals to host your party at- some mansions are rented or historical places. If you become a member of a VFW or Legion (i am not sure if they have those in the UK or in Australia but all it is a place where veterens of wars go to) you can save money because those are usually very cheap.
–Alcohol. The earlier the reception, the less need for it at all. People for the most part wont get hammered at 2 in the afternoon versus 8 at night. If you want to limit the open bar to wine and beer, or have 1 signature drink or just offer champagne, that is fine as well. Everything else can be a cash bar, or you can just make it non alcoholic.
- If you have it in a location where you can provide your own foods or alcohol, buy in bulk froma local wholesaler.
- have family and friends take pictures to save on photographers fees.
–centerpieces can be really simple. Buy 2-3 votive candles and tie a bright sparkly ribbon (or wedding color ribbon) around it for a very beautiful centerpiece.
–favors arent necessary, but if yo umust, make it something edible.
–enlist the help of family and firends. If you know someone who is a DJ, see can you get them to do your receptions. If your 3rd cousin is a baker, see will they make the cake for you.
–stick to your budget and you will be fine
above all else, SHOP around the internet. It is amazing just what and how much you can get online for a very small fee.
Good luck and congrats!
November 27th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I can’t give you specific ways to cut costs because I don’t know your situation and what you want, etc. But I can tell you that the best way to save money and stay within budget is to research, research, research! And look into every option you have for things like food and photography. This is want I’ve been doing and I have found some great deals! It might be stressful but it can be done!
References :
Planning my own on a $5,000 budget, so far I’m $1,000 under budget.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
first check out receptions days on fridays & saturdays some places let you have things half price if the wedding day is not on sunday… ask family memebers to help w/food or drinks go to the dollar store if you have one to get some wedding decorations…i hope this helps:)
References :
me
November 27th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Ask family to help with something in lieu of a traditional gift, esp if someone does something that you can use. My fiance’s aunt is known as a great baker, and we’re asking her to do out wedding cake…my sister is going to do the decorating, etc, because she’s very artistic, and she can make it look better than any wedding planner, or anyone else, for that matter….
References :
November 27th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
There are so many things you can do to cut costs for your receptions.
- have the receptions earlier in the day. Most places can give you a discount if you are out of their location early and can rent it out to another couple in the evening. The food costs are cheaper earlier in the day because you dont really have to offer a full meal (depending on the time). If the reception is held around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, it is right past lunch hour so guests will be full from that. You can offer hor dourves or have a dessert reception. Both are fine.
- If you have to have it in the evenings, stick to 2 entrees, one being chicken and the other a vegetarian option. Buffets usually are the best way to go about the whole thing, but make sure to negotiate childrens pricing or you will end up paying adult fees for a childs plate. BBQ family styled meals are good, cost saving events.
- location is everything. It is cheaper to rent out space at a community center or local area park than to have it at a 4 star hotel ballroom. You can also try using a family or friends house or see if there are homes for daily rentals to host your party at- some mansions are rented or historical places. If you become a member of a VFW or Legion (i am not sure if they have those in the UK or in Australia but all it is a place where veterens of wars go to) you can save money because those are usually very cheap.
–Alcohol. The earlier the reception, the less need for it at all. People for the most part wont get hammered at 2 in the afternoon versus 8 at night. If you want to limit the open bar to wine and beer, or have 1 signature drink or just offer champagne, that is fine as well. Everything else can be a cash bar, or you can just make it non alcoholic.
- If you have it in a location where you can provide your own foods or alcohol, buy in bulk froma local wholesaler.
- have family and friends take pictures to save on photographers fees.
–centerpieces can be really simple. Buy 2-3 votive candles and tie a bright sparkly ribbon (or wedding color ribbon) around it for a very beautiful centerpiece.
–favors arent necessary, but if yo umust, make it something edible.
–enlist the help of family and firends. If you know someone who is a DJ, see can you get them to do your receptions. If your 3rd cousin is a baker, see will they make the cake for you.
–stick to your budget and you will be fine
above all else, SHOP around the internet. It is amazing just what and how much you can get online for a very small fee.
Good luck and congrats!
References :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yourweddingonabudget/join
November 27th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
will they be themed the same? if so make silk flowers for centerpieces and tote them to the other country also as do your bridal flowers out of silk that way you do not have to buy it twice buy in bulk for wedding favors for both party’s you can save tons doing that use the same dress vs renting a tux are you able to afford one for your hubby or are you able to buy a really nice tailored suite instead of doing large wedding cakes do two smaller ones an give each guest a cup cake hope this all helps and diffrent times of the day prices are diffrent why not do one sunset wedding and one sunrise wedding an feed everyone at sunrise a big breakfast it tends to be cheep to feed everyone pancakes an eggs
References :
November 27th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
If you have any family friends that do special services ( DJing, Catering, Baking, Crafts, etc etc) ask them instead of gifts to provide some type of service. If you are a member of a church you should be able to have your ceremony free, or have it at a park, or at the same place as your reception. I’m making my favors, favor tags, programs, and save the date cards, as well as my unity candle and a few other things. Watch for sales at the craft store to pick up cheap supplies. Another tip, to find my ideas I picked the brains of others on here, wedding blogs and craft idea places. If I saw something I liked I’d figure out how hard it would be to make it instead of buying it. My cousin’s in-laws prepared picnic type food for her reception and saved a ton of money on catering (chicken strips, baked beans, fresh fruit…) Good luck!!
References :
November 27th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Cut down your guest list. The more people attending, the more you spend on food, drinks, even reception hall space. Choose non-floral centerpieces (and any other decorations) that you can ship from the UK to Australia so that you don’t have to spend 2x as much on flowers. Good luck!
References :