Living pay check to pay check it seems impossible, My two children, My fience, and I have lived together for a year or so now (to save on bills and put money away for the wedding) and with the way that prices have soared I have watched our savings for the wedding drop from decent amount a month to litterally nothing. I already work two jobs and he works a full time job just to keep it all together. Is it even possible to have a wedding for under $10,000.?
I am like most women in this world I want a dress and flowers and a reception. I have waited a long time for "my day" I was a single mom for 7 years untill I met my Fience, and now I am afraid I will not be able to have what I have dreamed of since I was a child.
HELP! I want to have the wedding I always dreamed of, How can I afford it??
OF COURSE it's possible to have a wedding for under $10,000!!! My wedding was amazing and we spent under $5,000.
I have a friend that spent over $35,000 on her wedding, because she thought she NEEDED a big wedding. My hubby and I don't have that kind of money, and we DID NOT want to go into debt for ONE DAY of our marriage.
There are LOTS of ways to cut corners without cutting class. Look for sales. Opt for fake flowers at the reception instead of really pricey real ones. Shop locally. Oriental Trading Company!!! I got LOTS of stuff there. Opt for a buffet style dinner versus a sit down dinner - lots of money saved there. Get a local "grandma" to make your cake. The smaller individual cake makers are much cheaper than the stores (the stores wanted to charge me $450!! I found a local lady to make the SAME cake from scratch for $150!). Have family help you.
Reply:You can definitely have an amazing wedding for under 10k! Especially if you keep your guest list small. Think simple %26amp; clean, elegant, and you wont go wrong!
Some ideas: Dont be afraid to book a beautiful location even if its more expensive.. youll save in the long run because you wont need to "decorate" or rent anything to spruce it up, and you wont have to purchase a lot of flowers either. Keep your budget concentrated on what matters (the location, food, drink, music) and dont waste money on favors and a limo.
Reply:of course it's possilbe. i did mine for about 7 grand. i made the bridesmaid dresses... i'm not that great at sewing but i had help... i bought the material with coupons and on sale... got my dress for $115 and asked my m.i.l to redo the top for me since she is wonderful at that stuff... did my own bouquets.. my girls carried hats covered in fabric and flowers with ribbon... did my own flowers...had the ceremony and reception in the same place... you can cut corners and still have it beautiful. it takes a lot of shopping around and comparing prices.
Reply:Totally do able with time. Start by looking on craigslist for affordable photographers and other vendors. Make your own centerpieces and look for the dress that you want on for sale websites like ebay and the wedding bee.
Reply:Well it depends on what state you live in, and how many people you intend on inviting. It's not impossible, but it's not going to be easy. There are a lot of ways to be crafty and save money, you just have to do a lot of research. Good luck!
Reply:Definately. My parents only spent $3,500 and their wedding was great. There are so many ways you can cut down on costs. Take a look at http://www.theknot.com. They have articles that give ideas on how to cut down on costs.
Reply:you work 2 jobs and he works 1 - wow thats new.
face it. your not going to have your dream wedding because you did things backwards. your just going to have to deal with it!
Reply:Yes you can have a wedding for $10,000 alot of things you can do to save money. First you can make your own inventations (they have really cute ones you can just print from the Wilton brand you can get them at Micheals and JoAnns and when you buy them use coupons because they always have coupons), you could also keep the decorations very simple...i think that simple is elegant..also there are caters out there that have resonal prices (or you family can make the food) these are just a few ideas you can use to save money for you wedding..i have a ton becuase i am a bride on a budget..
Reply:I know what you mean, but if you really think about it, spending loads of money (and even worse, getting into debt) on a wedding is a bit crazy. Just think, the guests come and make a big mess and get drunk, and you pay for it all! Rather invest the money in your home, really.
You could be creative in this way though: Think of all your friends. Think of everyone you are planning to invite... Surely you have a few contacts there who could make a dress, make jewellery, do flowers, make cards, make table decorations, supply a venue, etc. etc.?! Now, approach these people and ask them if they could supply or contribute or offer at a reduced rate these things that you require as your wedding gift! I think they would!
Best of luck. It will be special because of the love, and nothing else, believe me, I know.
Hope this helps.
Reply:I bought a wedding budget book at Border's to figure out how much I'll be spending on mine, and how much goes to what. It's very helpful. Plus, I found this website that custom makes designer wedding dresses for under $300! It's 1koo.com Just make sure you ask for the lace up back (they will custumize it for you if you ask) dresses so you can tighten or loosen up the dress in case your weight changes (hopefully lossing it!)
My $7K wedding budget looks like this (according to the book) Use it as a base and add as you see fit.
Ceremony(5% of budget) $350 /Wedding Attire(10%) $700/ Photography (9%) 630/ Videography (5%) 350/ Stationery(4%) 280/ Reception(35%) 2,450/ Music(5%) 350/ Bakery(2%) 140/ Flowers(6%) 420/ Decorations(3%) 210/ Transportation (2%) 140/ Rental Items (3%) 210/ Gifts(3%) 210/ Parties(4%) 280/ Miscellaneous (4%) 280.
I included the percentages of what is typically used for each thing. Use it to adjust your budget.
Reply:You are absolutely justified in wanting a dream wedding, and there are certainly ways to cut corners without sacrificing too much on the quality and the overall enjoyment, but in the grand scheme of things, a wedding is just a day.
You will have an amazing time and incredible memories to take away with you no matter what, but if you break the bank, you will only cause yourselves stress and strain for months after.
Here are some tips to keep wedding costs down:
- Keep the guest list to close friends and family only. Sometimes when you invite someone you're not very close to, it's awkward for them also. Plus it's expensive!
- Try to look for reception halls that are already ornate so that you don't have to budget much on decorations
- Try to pan your wedding for the off-season (not May-September when the competition for everything wedding-related is the stiffest).
- If you plan a wedding that's earlier in the day, booze doesn't need to be a major focus. This can save you some cash.
The idea of the wedding of your dreams might require some creative thinking and rethinking, but that doesn't mean you can't still pull off a fantastic event.
Good Luck!
Reply:yep, im pretty sure my wedding will be at the most..3000 by the time we are done. i understand you want a dream wedding. who doesnt? but, dream does not always mean big and elaborate. sometimes, the small intimate weddings are the ones people remember the most! cut back-forget the limos...the fancy photographers (you can always have someone w/ a digital camera take pictures..if the person knows what they are doing, they come out really good!)...the favors that noone really wants (use candy)..the huge centerpieces..(a few gerbers in a vase w/ candles make cute centerpieces!)...forget the dj (make your own music cd for the reception)...dont torture your bridesmaids...(.give them a specific shade and have them buy their dresses at the mall dept stores)..and forget the caterers..(do finger foods OR just desserts)
the things you shouldnt skimp on much are your dress and attire..and the venues..those are important...the pics will be around for a looong time!
Reply:Oh Shann, I believe you are a tad bit materialistic. Of course you can have flowers and a dress. Why, you have to wear a dress, don't you? But, you can wear a simple frock, or a million dollar designer gown. And, you can have a pot luck, or cater it from the Waldorf Astoria. If you remember it is love and joy that you are celebrating, not worshipping a huge cake and fancy reception, you can have a simple party with your loved ones, and have the wedding that you have always dreamed of. It is the love you share you are celebrating. Invite your friends, family, and share the love. And, love does not have to cost an arm and a leg, only a big heart.
Reply:Hi. It is totally possible to have a wedding for $10K. Some on this forum have done their wedding for 1/2 of that....and some 1/4 of that!
It's all in the planning and letting go of all the ideas. That doesn't mean that you cannot have a dress, cake, invites, flowers and a reception. It just means that you may have to scale back the guest list to family and close friends.
Ways to save include:
~ Having small guest list;
~ Having a small bridal party;
~ Looking at places like David's Bridal for a gown (especially during their $99 sales!);
~ Getting your flowers AND cake from a grocery store that also has a florist and a bakery;
~ Doing your own food.
There are endless ways to save. You can get so many good ideas from this forum and others. Again, it is totally "doable." but you may have to scale back a bit.
Reply:First off, my wedding (in 9 days) is only costing about $8,000. We're having about 65 guests. So yes, it's possible.
That said, you already have 2 kids. Your desires for a shallow and vain party are, at this point in your life, horribly selfish. You should be putting every extra cent you earn, and every extra minute of your time, toward raising your kids. You're the one who decided you were "grown up" enough to have sex out of wedlock, now you must be grown up enough to accept the consequences of your decisions and be a mother. Stop acting like some spoiled teenager and be responsible for goodness sake. You should just go to the courthouse today and have a quick ceremony so at least your kids have a father of some sort.
Reply:it really isnt as hard as you think to have a wedding for under 10k
you can put together something pretty simple yet beautiful for that amount, you just need to search out more affordable options.
there are plently of ways to keep cost down.
weddings on sundays are cheaper then friday night or sat.
weddings that are in a park/garden or soemthign like that will be far more affordable then a church type.
dresses don't have to cost 1000, 2000, 3000 dollars. You can find many beautiful dresses for under 500.
keep the guest list as tight as you can, invite who you want but don't be over the top.
Reply:Nobody except the extremely wealthy get the wedding they dreamed of as a child. It will help you a lot to keep the focus on the relationship aspect of your wedding. Its about becoming the wife of your fiance. If you keep it special and meaningful, that will really make you happier than having a lot of "stuff" to celebrate.
I'd go back and peruse the resolved questions, because I have seen some of the most creative, excellent, well thought out answers on here, regarding that same question.
You'd have to spell out, what your dream wedding entails and people can help you with how to cut costs and still have that. Also, depending upon how much help you can get from others, that may make all the difference. If you live near everyone you'd most likely invite and have close friends and family who understand your financial situation, the sky is the limit usually to creativity and making it special.
There is no difference in the beauty provided by a $3 bunch of lights strung up w/ $25 worth of tulle and silk flowers around a $15 white arch, as done by a willing friend, as there is to the beauty provided by a $500 wedding planner created altar display. BTW, silk flowers are not always cheaper, they are just easier to work with and will look the same way consistently, from the moment you set them up until you take them down. Real flowers are more fragile, can break and can bruise or wilt, but if you work carefully, and have time, there ARE things you can do with them.
Reply:maybe just wait a little longer and save up money..just put the wedding money if a diff account and don't touch it for nothing and then you can have the wedding of your dreams..its possible for having a wedding under $10,000..because we are...our total wedding is going to cost us about 5,000 if that..but also i'm not having to pay for catering, cake, or reception hall..and using fake flowers which was only like 30-50 dollars...and we are making our own center pieces which is going to cost about 50....and then we are getting a discount on the photographer(family friend) and then a discount on a dj(family friend) so it really depends on what you want to do...and also how many guests..we are having about 175-200
Reply:Cut down on the wedding party. don't have to have one at all if you don't. Have the ceremony at the recption hall. Skip limos, get a towncar instead. Have the wedding during the off season and on a off day. Sunday afternoon and thursday nights can be cheap. Go buffet. Forget flowers on tables. . . candle arrangement and/or balloons. Get the photographer only and skip the video . . . have a few friends videotape it.
Have you ever thought of being a little devious?..I have always wanted to tell a florist, baker, etc. that I am having a big birthday party for my grandmother and need stufff . . . think about it ....how often do they jack up those prices because of the magic word "wedding"?????
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