What is the best advice from newly wedded brides that you can give to a bride to be?

I want to plan a wedding under $15,000. But, I have over 300 guests. I would like to find out what the best deals are on invitations, cakes, reception halls, caterers, photography, and flowers. Do you have any do it yourself ideas? i want an elegant but with in budget wedding. HELP!

What is the best advice from newly wedded brides that you can give to a bride to be?
Begin your wedding preparations at least a year in advance. Do some research on wedding planning. The least expensive route for your research is your public library, which will have numerous books, and maybe some recent bridal magazines, you can look through for free. Talk to your future spouse about everything concerning the wedding. He may tell you to "do what you want", but you do need to let him know what is going on.





My mother made my dress and veil for my first wedding. (I was 18) The dress was a beautiful soft white satin with a built-in train that could be hooked to the back of the bodice after the ceremony and during the reception. I was married for 25 years. I don't have the husband anymore, but I do still have the dress, which I hope will pass to one of my granddaughters.





I spent thousands of dollars on wedding gowns for my two daughters. The dresses ended up at the thrift store or a consignment shop. If you have someone in your family who is a seamstress, consider asking them to make your dress. It will mean so much more to you years from now because the dress will have been made with love, not produced on an assembly line.





Involve your family in as many details of your wedding as possible. Your family loves you, and will be thrilled to help you. Save on photography costs by asking a family member who has some experience in photography to take pictures before the wedding and at the reception.





Of course, you will want a professional photographer to take charge of the "portrait" pictures.





The reception for my eldest daughter's wedding took place at a local hotel that had facilities for receptions. The hotel provided a choice of foods they could offer and the price for xxx number of guests. This was a buffet, not a sit-down dinner. Expect to pay twice as much for a sit-down dinner.





You, your future spouse, and your family and his, have many decisions ahead of you; but, with advance preparation, you will be able to walk down the aisle without any stress. Even with a few minor mishaps, which will inevitably happen, I have never seen. or been a part of, a wedding that was not beautiful.
Reply:you can save some money by making a bunch of the center pieces and decorations yourself.
Reply:Book early........(reception hall and place of wedding)......save money by having the wedding and reception at the same place...........cakes - well, see if the caterer does cakes as well - he/she may give you a better deal if you use both services.......flowers, caterers, photography - it all pretty much is determined by where you are getting married......bigger cities tend to be bigger prices....and if you want a professional photographer, prepare to pay anywhere from $1500-$3000 for their service......
Reply:here is what I did to save money...we had a much smaller wedding though:





get your dress from the discount rack at a bridal store. they are just as nice, but the design has usually been discontinued. I got mine for $500 marked down from over $1000. my mom made the food for my wedding herself so we saved big on the meal and everyone loved it because there was alot of variety. we got our wedding cake from a grocery store which only cost us $25 or you or someone you know could make one. we paid for mice flowers for myself and my wedding party, then got carnations in colours to match my wedding and used them to decorate instead of buying huge bouquets that cost alot of money. you can make your own centre pieces for pretty cheap if you go to a craft store. they can probably give you tips too because they get alot of people asking about them. we had the wedding at my parents house so that saves us on a hall, but some halls are pretty cheap if you call around. try looking for a hall that does the catering as well. usually get a better deal that way and some will let you bring in your own food. we didnt have a photographer at our wedding. we just got family to take lots of pictures then we went for pictures just the 2 of us a week after the wedding and it was $100 for a big package with whatever poses and backgrounds we wanted. I've seen professional photos and they are no better then the ones my friends and family took at the wedding themselves. you can buy a kit to make homemade invites on the computer too so that can save you money on those. I did my wedding for under $4000 so its possible for you to do it under $15,000.
Reply:15,000 is a little to work with for 300 guests... I had 130 did all the stuff on my won and paid with flowers photographer video guy, dress, limo.. 15... you have 150 more guest!!! OUCHH.. well do the centerpieces your self,. plan a wedding during the fall.. cheaper! here is a site to get alot of wedding stuff that is sooo cheap. orientaltradings.com.. try and count out all kids as well.. they never eat! lol and just have a great time is all i could say but sit down and really calculate and see if yo may have to cut the list. rem not everybody will show.. also ask family members (that are close) to help you pay for certain things! congrats
Reply:Get real.
Reply:Most party supply stores and office supply stores offer do it yourself invitations. That would help a lot. As for catering buffet is cheaper then a served dinner. Get a wedding cake that you will serve for desert. You wont have to buy both in that case. Do not get a friend to do your photos. My parents did that and regret it 25 years later. They do not have beautiful pictures to look back on. For alcohol buy it yourself not through the hall or caterer if possible. They usually charge a fee to supply it for you.
Reply:WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT AREA? IF YOU ARE IN THE SJ/PHILLY AREA , EMAIL ME AND I WILL HOOK YOU UP!
Reply:you need more money for 300 people if you want it to be elegant. For 15,000 will cost you for food alone!
Reply:Do an early morning wedding so you can have a breakfast or bunch for the reception because with 300 guest it's going to be hard to keep it under 15,000 because the food is so expensive and for dinner it's about 30.00 per person but for breakfast its about 10.00 per person.