Wedding costs and ideas??? please help!?

I want to get married outside, in a garden/lawn setting or on an outside patio of a restuarant. I'm not going to have very many people at my wedding, just immediate family, so it'll probably only be 25 ppl or so. My mom will be making the cake, and I will have the pastor at her church come do our wedding. I'd like the wedding and reception to be held at the same location. I want the flowers to be white lilies and red roses.





Any ideas? How much do you think this will cost? any help at all will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Wedding costs and ideas??? please help!?
Hi. It all depends and it's hard for any of us to give you prices as we don't know where you live.





If a garden/lawn setting....would that be at someone's home? Or a park/garden? You would need to rent chairs in any case. But they aren't very much. It's just nicer to have people sitting and you and your groom standing. If you are looking at a garden in a public park, you will need to call the city where it is located to inquire about fees and policies.





If you are having it on the patio of a restaurant, I would still set up some chairs. The nice thing about a restaurant, is that they will already have chairs and you can just set them up on the patio and then return them to the inside. Again, it's hard as costs depend upon WHAT restaurant you choose (as far as prices to feed 25 people.)





Just call around and get prices. Cost compare the outside garden/lawn with the restaurant. Obviously, if you have it in the garden, you will need to have someone bring the food in. So then you are looking at catering costs, chair rental, table linens, etc. If it's at a restaurant, they will already have all those things.





You will save, of course, by having your mom make the cake. That will be very special. I would give the pastor a donation of $100. That is the suggested donation where I work (I'm a church secretary). Or, ask your mom what she thinks as far as a donation to the pastor.





I LOVE the idea with the red roses and white lilies....very nice!!





Why not get some inexpensive vases at a discount store, craft store, etc. and put a few red roses in them for table centerpieces. If you are only having about 25 people, you will only need about 5 tables. I don't know if there is a Costco or Walmart where you live, but if there is, they sell beautiful roses! You could buy simple bud vases and put 2-3 roses in each with greens.....very inexpensive and beautiful!





One more thing, even though you are having family only, I would still send out formal invitations. You can buy a boxed set at Target, Michael's, or Walmart inexpensively and then print them yourself on your computer.





Just call around, cost compare, and make your decision!!





It sounds lovely. Good luck and I hope you have a beautiful wedding day!
Reply:That all depends on the restaurant and the florist. Start calling around.
Reply:yes, it seems as if a dress, your flowers, and the food will be your only costs. i recommend to start trying to find a venue first. sounds lovely. i wouldn't think it would cost more than 1000 - 3000 depending on the restaurant and the dress that you choose!





congrats!
Reply:I am not sure if you have heard of theknot.com, but they have a budget calculator there along with lots of ideas.