Help Budgeting a $4000 wedding?

OK I live in Rhode Island {that is also where the wedding will be...either that or in Massachusetts.} For the time of year i would like either May or November/December. Our budget will be about $4000. I don't have to worry about the cake {my aunt will be making it.} And I don't have to worry about the dress {either my mom will make it or I will buy it at Davids for $99 and she will do the alterations, so that won't be a huge expense either way.} With just immidate family {aunts uncles and close friends} we will have about 125 people {i have a huge family.} Now for my questions...lol which would be the best time of year {out of my choices} to get the best deal?? How else should i budget this money {how mush for reception, flowers, photogropher...etc.}?





THANKS!

Help Budgeting a $4000 wedding?
It depends on your venue, but lunch time will definitely be cheaper than dinner time. Weekdays or sometimes even Sunday is cheaper than Saturday. The nice thing about December is that some churches will already be decorated nicely for Christmas (lights and greenery). I'd plan for at least 50-60% of your budget to be spent on the reception, and then go from there. (food ~ $20 per person will already be $2500).





Good luck!
Reply:January is also a good month to look at. You can get really good prices cause all the holiday parties and holiday weddings are over.


You will probably need to find a venue that you can use for free and then bring in your own catering. Obviously no liquor with your budget. You might want to consider reaching out to some friends who take good pictures to see if they can help you out because a prof photog will eat up 1000 from your bud. You can pull off a nice wedding for 50-60 people with $4000 but 125??? You will really have to scale back. Good luck.
Reply:For a photographer, ask one to be there for only the ceremony and an hour or so afterwards for "wedding shots", total of 2 or 3 hours and some will charge you less than $500.00, as soon as you say wedding, they assume you want pictures THE WHOLE DAY and start costs at $1200.00, aslo make sure you get the disc of negatives so you can develop them for much cheaper.





Instead of a sit down meal, why not have just appetizers, make it a cocktail type party.





Save money on alcohol by only serving wine (at the tables) and/or soft drinks/water, or just have an alocohol punch, and a non-alcohol punch.





Food/reception will take up most of the budget, so make it an informal mingling party and you won't have to worry about chairs, tables, cutlery, glassware, centrepieces etc...


Hope this helps.
Reply:I be November/December is going to get you the best deal in Rhode Island. May has tourism starting to build, the weather is warmer, so you might not get a break.





$4k is a tight budget. Can anyone in your family help with making the food? If they can, just rent a hall and buy the food in bulk at Costco/BJ's/Sam's Club - this will save you alot of money. ALSO, if you can do an hors d'ourves and cake reception rather than a dinner - that will save.


Cut back on flowers. Just have bouquets and boutenierres. See if the venue has centerpieces you can use instead of buying your own.


DIY as much as possible.


Shop around - check out craigslist - for photographers. I feel I'm getting a deal at $900 for my photographer so that will be a bigger expense for you.
Reply:This is a very helpful thread for low-budget weddings...I'm working with about 5K myself.


http://kvetch.indiebride.com/index.php?t...

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