Question by HMBreest2: How did you save money on your wedding?
I’m a poor college student and am planning on getting married next year. Do you have any money saving tips so I can still have a beautiful day?
Best answer:
Answer by fr_chuck
do a small private wedding, it can be in a park or at a nice location.
Next consider going to a mountain lodge or wedding chapel in an area where they have wedding/honeymoon packages.
For example I do alot of weddings, do them in the park, at at a local hall that can be rented. The family furnished the reception food and it costs almost nothing
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
I got married at age 21. My wife had just turned 20. We were both poor college students. We had a lot of help from family, friends and church. Simple home-made decorations, family (not professionsal) photographer, a friend made the wedding cake as a gift, friends provided entertainment/music. We had friends recite poetry, sing songs, and do all kinds of things during our reception. Our local chapel allowed us to use the facility for free. It was simple, beautiful and in many ways more meaningful since so many people put some of themselves into our wedding. Remember, the best thing is you get to go home, married to the one you love. In the end, that is the only important thing!
Elope
I bought a dress that was last years style and saved 1,000. Then I rented all the pans and burner thingy’s and called and ordered the potatoes and chicken and veg’s from a buffet resturant, picked it all up myself, and saved about 2,000 that way. Rented all the garlands and lights and little things usually bought, from a wedding shop,saved around 500.00. Had a fake cake except the layer that was for us cutting. And then it was whisked away, and sheet cake was in the back waiting to be cut up,saved 600.00 that way. Asked a friend to d jay, saved 200.00 that way. Asked another to sing. saved 100.00 that way. One friend of mine had karoke instead of a band, or a d jay. Have the wedding and reception at a friends home who has a big back yard, or at a puplic park under a shelter. You could save around 600.00 there.Have a couple of friends take the photos & cam cord it,You could save 1,000 or more there,or use the disposable camera’s on each table. I tried anything to cut corners,and mine still cost 6,000 so I feel for you… Just remember its the marriage that counts not how much you spend….Don’t impulse buy…. Think overnight about any purchase, before commiting to buying it..
We had a big wedding in the summer in a state park by a lake. After the ceremoney was a pot-luck lunch. We bought sparkling punch and a baker friend provided cake. Minister friend officiated for free. Musician friend arranged a brass quartet for free (it was wretched but the cake and officiating were great). No attendants. No formalwear–just dress and sport coat. We don’t have pretentious friends, and everyone seemed to like it.
If you want a church wedding, make sure you join the church where it will be. That will save a lot of money.
Theres lots of ways you can save money on a wedding.
To start off, I made my own invitations. It saved us a couple hundred dollars. If you go crafters warehouse or micheals, you can buy the plain white or ivory cards with envolopes for $ 10 for 100 cards w/ envelopes. Then just decorate them however you want. I spent alittle over $ 100 on my cards. It took me awhile to make them, but if you have the time (im also a college student, so I know how little time there is) and patients, they will come out really cute. Plus, I always think hand-made cards have more meaning then just buying those expensive ones.
Also, if you have a relative or friend who has a house, you could have the wedding there in their yard. It could be very pretty, and wont cost anything! You could have the ceremony and reception all at the same place!
Also, if your no picky about flowers, there are places you can rent fake ones. We are going to rent a few flowers from this place online, and the flowers look and feel real! And their soooo much cheaper then buying real ones that will just die anyways.
the website is: http://www.flowersforrent.com
Or if you want real flowers, only get flowers that are local and in season, and arrange them yourselves. If you look online, you can find some really helpful websites on how to make the brides bouqete and what not.
Also, rent any stuff you’ll need. Find a wedding rental place near by, and go talk with them. But look around on prices. We went to one place that wanted $ 3800 for the stuff we wanted (wedding with over 150 guests) and another place wanted $ 1800 for the same stuff! SO really shop around!
If you havent bought your dress, you can always look on ebay for them. Not sure if its your thing, but you can find about anything on there. I bought mine at davids bridal. Sometimes they have those $ 99 sales.
You can also order your shoes and jewlery online off ebay as well.
For brides maids and grooms men, ask them if they can buy/rent their attire for the wedding. This will help out alot as well.
For photography, you could find a college student going for photography, and alot of the time they will do it for free, just you pay for the film and development. Or if you have a close friend who you trust to do it, have them do it.
As far as food, you could just do finger foods you prepare yourself. Or if you want a full dinner, also make it yourself, and do a buffet style instead of sit down and people serve it.
Copy all your music onto a CD so you dont have to have an official DJ.. that will save you atleast $ 500 to $ 1000 there alone!!
And not that m any people notice favors, so if you cant afford it, just dont put any out. If you do decide you want favors, just make a few small things by hand to set out. This could save you alot as well!
Hope some of these tips help! I know when it comes to weddings, just about anything helps!
Good luck and congrats!
The major items where money is spent are the dress, reception.
Covered dish dinner would be fun, if the invitees are a relatively small group.
Dress in a simple white a-line. Sunday AM timing is possible if you don’t mind sharing the day with the church congregation.
Pastors have been through it all. Talk with the pastor first thing before committing to anything.
WENT TO THE COURT HOUSE AND HAD A FAMILY RECEPTION IN OUR AUNTIES BACK YARD. WE HAD A LOT OF FUN TOO.