How to save money on a wedding… any tips?
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I’m getting married in 2012 and my friend just spent 50,000$ on her wedding alone.. Pretty much a down payment on a house. We are getting married in Whistler BC, and are unsure of where yet… My boyfriend wants his EX sister in law to plan our wedding cause hers cost 8000$ but, that’s a bit cheap and it was because she had an unwanted pregnancy and planned her wedding in 2 weeks.. pretty much dollar store stuff and a dress from value village… Im very into designer names unfortunately like Alfred Sung And Vera Wang and Christian Louboutin for shoes So anyone wanna give me some reasonable tips! Thanks a ton for all your answers!
I kind of forgot how to “resolve” a question.. anyone wanna tell me?
Answers see additional comments below.
Don’t mean to be flippant. But it’s only one day. Make it as cheep as possible and spend the money you have saVed on your house etc. Congratulations!
Just remember that your wedding is a very very special memory and it should be all that you want it to be. This means that if you are trying not to blow your budget plan out your expenses. You should plan to splurge on one thing, and then save on another. In example, you could get a pretty pricey dress, but then get cheaper (but of course not crappy) accessories. Obviously not everything has to be top of the line. Just think of what costs the most, like the wedding cake, and don’t be discouraged from searching around for better prices on caterers etc. Good luck! : )
Shop online ebay, ect. No need in spending that much money put the money else where your future like a home or paying some bills off.
i LOVE LOVE bc thats great!!!
ok you should first of all have a consultant with a weddin planner about a budget. you should probably research about typical amount spent on each section such as flowers, banquet food, accessories etc.
theres certain sites on the internet that u can have it pre organized and come up with a budget for ya.
This AWESOME website has a budget calculator, a notebook, and a way to search and store vendors (including wedding/reception sites!)
My PERSONAL reccomendation would be, if you’re trying to save money but still represent your style, just splurge on one thing (i’m planning on having killer shoes, but a cheaper dress). A way to make your dress look awesome but have it be cheaper, is to have your dress custome made by a tailor. Find a designer dress, clip the pic, and bring it to a tailor who is willing and well recommended in your area. They can copy the dress, and you can add personal detailings as desired.
Have a great day!
I’d much rather own a home than have a dress Im gonna wear once and then have it be a really expensive souvenir in my closet.
I watch wedding shows and I just dont get it…..do you realize, not only how much of a house you could buy, but how many poor starving kids you could feed instead of having 8 hours of LOOK AT ME time….
I think in the long run you’ll regret an expensive wedding. But, if its what you want-stop excess shopping, trips, etc. I think 8,000 is pretty decent. Only eat out once a week-pack lunches, no happy hour etc..the money you wouldve spent put it in a wedding account. You’ll have to cut back on things you enjoy…for this one day. Honestly if its something you have to start saving for now (for 2 years)…can you really afford it?
hmm looks like you got to start saving then if u dont have alot of cash
honestly do you really need all of that no one will really remember all that 3 4 10 years down the line they might remember this or that but thats about it no one will remember down to the last detail of your dress ec you will cus its your day but if it isnt its just a blur. case in point my sister can recall her wedding that was 5 years ago i was her maid of honor i went to every dress fitting every step she went i was with her i gave her my dress in hopes she can use the fabric for something but if i dont look at pics i dont remember what her cake looked like heck i made the flowers and dont even recall what was in it and i made it 10 times before her day so i can know exactly how to tie them the day of.
save your money get a nice off the rack dress go on a 5-6k honeymoon dont stop at nothing for it. have a nice 5,000.00/ 10,000.00 remember the more personal the smaller the more affordable it is granted its more per head at the long run but you can prob afford lobster for 50 vs lobster for 200.
but personaly i would rather save and put it on a house or car case in point want to pay your home in 15 years vs having payments for 25???? the more you put down at the start the less you pay in the long run
FIND A WEDDING PLANNER. Tell her what you want to spend on YOUR day and she will make it happen, leaving other important details that you can solve that takes too much time, in my opinion, like finding a dress, tuxedos, the chapel, etc.
Plan is for the Winter! That is the EASIEST way to save THOUSANDS of dollars!
Venues, caterers, limos, etc give huge discounts for weddings from January to March.
We saved $30/person on catering (over $3500 overall) and we were quoted at some other venues that they would waive the room booking fees ($2000) and up to 40% off per person catering if we booked all-inclusive packages for the winter season for our wedding. We negotiated to get the Winter rate in November to save on our wedding. Some photographers also offer discounts (but not as money as limo and venues) that are up to 30% off. We’re getting 35% off our limo rental (some places quoted us 50% off)
Sure making your own invites and bouquets can save you hundreds of dollars, but picking the day of your wedding is EASY and just by picking an off season date you can save THOUSANDS of $$$ by automatic discounts!
We are having 120 people at the wedding so $30 or 40% off catering is HUGE for us!
Good Luck!
I owned a bridal store and whenever I offered a discount on a sample, girls looked at me with horror. Here’s a little tid bit. The “brand new” gown you insist on ordering and paying full price for, has been worn by several models on several runways or lent by the designer to bridal stores for trunk shows and those have been tried on by several people too. Designers DO NOT dry clean the gowns once they are returned, they are spot cleaned and put back on the size rack, where when you place your order.. guess what dress will be shipped to you???? Yep you guessed, the sample you frowned at only now you are paying full price for it. Also if you buy the sample at the store, most stores will repair, alter and spot clean at little or no extra charge. Your Accessories; head piece, veils and so forth??? ALL OF THEM and I do mean all of them are EXACTLY the same quality, unless you are buying real jewels, diamonds, etc. So if head piece A looks similar to B, but B is $50.00 less.. take B.. you’re getting the same thing.
Trunk shows are your friend. Friends who have been through a recent wedding make cheap and great wedding planners. Buy early, buy cheap. A gown (bridal, MOB, BM, FG) almost always ships from China and on average takes 4 months without rush fees. Most shops will tell you 6 to 9 months without rush fees. But some shops if you order last seasons’ pieces at least 9 months before your wear date and you’ll keep the gown with you (meaning they don’t have to store it) they will give you a discount, but you must ask for it. Also, the more gowns and Accessories you order at one shop, the more discounts you get. You can negotiate with the owner to give the bride the discounts instead of dispersing throughout the bridal party.. though it will not bode well for your BM’s friendships with you!
recycleyourwedding.com this is a great website try it out. Big label designers also have trunk shows, check their websites.
THE ONE AREA THAT IS NOT WORTH SKIMPING ON… A REALLY, REALLY GOOD SEAMSTRESS FOR ALTERATIONS ON ALL GOWNS, take some regular clothing to one (preferably ones that need work done on the bust line) and try them out, DO NOT MENTION THE WEDDING until after the alterations are done. A $100 wedding gown can look like a million dollars with the right alterations or like you ripped it off a dead corps with an untalented seamstress. And remember, while it’s stressful to plan the wedding, your marriage is more important! Hope all goes well for you and enjoy it, try to take a step back on your big day and just look around with your new hubby, more than likely that will be the ONLY moment you remember of your big, expensive wedding. You’ll be too busy with everything else.
if your into designer things and you think 8k is cheap then there is no making it cheaper for you.
To save on dinner we are having a buffet and a cash bar with wine free. On decorations we just shopped around and found someone who was willing to work within our budget and also throw in a couple deals for us. We have a friend (who makes wedding cakes) make our cake as our gift. My hairdress who I am close with has offered to do my hair and trials as my gift. My cousin is a makeup artisit so she is doing my make up. The bridemaids dresses are Alfred Sung and we paid under 200 dollars for them. Because we ordered the tux at the same store they gave us 20% off on the dresses as well as no alteration fees. My dress was bought off the rack and is beautiful for 900 dollars and alterations free. Shoes from payless. Our wedding is under 10 000 and its beautiful. It really is just one day. And no one will know you are were designer except you. And you have to ask yourself which is more important. This one day or being debt free entering into marriage.
Hi
there are tips on how to get a fairytale wedding on a shoestring budget here;
http://www.editurl.com/3dy
Have fun arranging your big day!
thx
Ask people to donate their time, or if they kind help out in some other way, instead of a present.
My wedding cost $3000, and it looked so posh, my brother thought he was at the wrong wedding. lol.
Congrats, have a great day.