Question:
Can you sucessfully plan a wedding on a very limited budget?
happy0623
2011-03-09 07:59:47 UTC
Im not sure our EXACT budget but I know its going to be pretty limited to 4000 and below. Im sure its doable but is it realistic? I actually took courses on wedding planning and receieved my certificiate, etc. But when it comes to your OWN wedding..its more overwelming! lol ppl your helping seem to have a MUCH bigger budget than I do lol
Sixteen answers:
Slightly Ravenous
2011-03-09 08:06:23 UTC
Totally doable on $4000 :)



Three things to think about: Keep things simple, keep the guest list down, do as much yourself that you can.



Keep things simple: Decorations, if you have your wedding in a place that is already beautiful (think outdoors or a pretty building), you don't need that many decorations. Keep your food basic, don't get all fancy and over the top with anything.



Guest list: often, the cost is mostly affected by the number of guests. The more people you have, the bigger space you need, the more food, the more chairs, the more favors, the more invitations, etc. All these things cost money. And more things, costs more money.



Things you can do yourself: invitations, flowers, decorations, the cake even. The list goes on and on, think about your abilities and the abilities of the people you know. Do you know someone who is a dj, florist, photographer, etc.? Maybe you can get a discount!



And above all, remember that it really is just one day and the reception is just a big party. It's supposed to be fun :)
Messykatt
2011-03-09 08:31:34 UTC
Sure, you can do this. Just stay focused. By far, the biggest overall cost will be your reception (venue and catering). And the #1 way to keep costs down is limit your guest list. There are also extra costs associated with guests, such as postage, invites, centerpieces, favors if you want them, etc. So this is your big challenge.



I'd suggest registering at theknot.com or weddingwire and utilizing their services. You'll get a comprehensive list of all possible wedding costs (obviously, you won't use all of them). But it will ensure that you don't leave things off like license fee, gifts for bridesmaids, etc.



Chances are you won't be able to do a hotel venue where they do their own catering unless you keep it really small (like 30) and use a small side room. So start thinking of other options. Google your city and "weddings" "bring own catering" or something like this. There's always options that will pop up like museums, arboretums, university banquet rooms, etc. Start figuring costs. Then chances are you can find an inexpensive caterer for the food - barbecue, chinese, mexican, etc. To save costs, get an officiant and do ceremony/reception all at same place.



Also, the venue and caterer are the first things you need to get lined up. You don't say when your time frame is, but places get booked quickly on weekends, especially Saturdays. So this is your second task (the first being your guest list). On the list, I'd start with must haves and then branch "outward". You'll get a better idea what you can do once you start checking costs. If you wanted 100 and you end up realizing this will take $3500 of your budget, then obviously you need to slash at that number.



Also, obviously, lunch weddings are less expensive than dinner weddings. You may find yourself in the position of having to choose between inviting more people vs having that smaller evening event.
coltqueen
2011-03-09 08:37:36 UTC
I had a $1500 budget, so yes it is totally do-able. We married in the church I attended at the time; the reception followed in the church's fellowship hall. We served appetizers & finger sandwiches along with punch & cake. We fixed the food & friends volunteered to serve. We had a 7pm wedding on a Friday night - that is after supper hours in our rural area. My dress was $350 - that was the biggest expense we had. For our rehearsal dinner, it was in the church's fellowship hall and catered BBQ from some family friends. Not fancy but given as a gift & we appreciated if very much. The only thing we skimped on that I regret is not getting a better photographer - I wish we had spent more & gotten better pictures. JMO I have watched those wedding shows & cannot believe what some bride's spend on a dress - one paid more for her dress than I did for my first house (35K)! It can be done cheaply - the most important things of the day are the vows you exchange; not the linens or food or how much the dress cost or what The Jones' spent on thier wedding. Good luck!
?
2011-03-09 08:11:40 UTC
I don't think it's far-fetched. My husband and I got married in May. We were both 20 years old and paid for our own wedding, so we were definitely on a tight budget. The reception hall is obviously the biggest expense. We were very fortunate. My aunts and grandmother catered free of charge, so all we had to buy was the food to be made; my grandfather made lots of desserts and goodies; and my step grandmother made us a beautiful cake, most of which ended up being wasted. We decorated the hall ourselves, and because we were members of the church we didn't have to pay to use it. I was also lucky enough to have a close friend attending college for photography who took amazing pictures and didn't charge us a dime. I made the invitations and bouquets myself, and both turned out beautiful. Instead of bubbles or rice, the guests threw rose petals. It was an absolutely beautiful wedding pulled together in a short time and with little money. Just use all resources available to you. I'm sure there are people willing to help you out any way possible as long as it isn't out of pocket expenses for them.
CDT
2011-03-09 08:08:24 UTC
It's absolutely do-able.



Sure, you probably can't have this huge princess-y wedding. But you can still have an amazing, smaller, intimate wedding (which is the best in my opinion). Remember, the bigger the guest list...the more expensive, as the reception is the most expensive part of the day.



Just budget wisely and you'll have a perfect day. People have had incredible weddings on less.
Heather Swain
2011-03-09 09:01:16 UTC
Yes you can!

I am getting married in June, we will get married in a beautiful rose garden with only 13 people present on a Tuesday, my good friend who is a photographer is doing the pictures for free. The rental for the place is only 25 dollars(will only be there 2 hours) the reception is the following Friday at the Elks club where I got my fathers member price of 150 dollars for the night(6-12am) I have found all the decorations on ebay for about a 100 dollars. We will be expecting 140 people and will be doing our own food which includes, spaghetti, meatballs, breadsticks, veggie and fruit tray and pop and they buy their own alcohol. All in all dress included I will be spending around 1500. Also have a friend who has all the equipment to dj for 150 so it can be done you just need to pull together all your resources
Vikram
2011-03-09 08:07:22 UTC
Here are some tips from an 18 yr old male, lol



So make a list of everything you NEED. and make a separate list of everything you want really badly and another of some of things you wouldnt mind if were canceled. Next find what everything costs and use your budget for the essentials, next start a piggybank system for each item on the elist, it will take time but will be worth it. i hope you arent in a rush because i would rather delay a wedding that i really wanted to be special than go with the crappy one. this only happens once in a lifetime, i hope so for you as well.



just a tip on marriage, if youre going in knowing "well i can always get a divorce" youre marriage will fail



if you go into it thinking that you will work together through everything and make it through life then maybe it will work out, if youre having problems then just stay cool for a awhile and let things fall into place.





If you are the man of the marriage i suggest you look into this for a bit to see if youre ready, this is going to be the only woman you will take to bed for the REST of your life. If you dont accpet that think twice. Cause if that isnt engraved in your mind then i dont know . same for the woman .



also make sure that both of you are ware of this.



and also make sure both of you are healthy.



Good luck on the road ahead, it will be tough but it will be worth it.
anonymous
2011-03-09 08:07:57 UTC
I KNOW it can be done! I'm planning my own wedding right now on a $5,000 budget...it's not easy, but it's doable. You have to decide what is MOST important and then scale down what is not. Also, Ebay is a great budget saver...I got so many things on Ebay, including my bubbles, cake topper etc. Good luck!
CC 9/24/11 Bride
2011-03-09 09:05:42 UTC
Your budget of $4000 makes me laugh. When reading your title with the words "VERY LIMITED BUDGET"....i thought you meant a few hundred.



We are planning our wedding with $1500...40 guests....actually, we are almost done planning.



Yes a budget of $4000 is VERY doable.
krissylyn
2011-03-09 08:28:59 UTC
Of course you can:



Dress & Acessories - $400

Church, Organist, Pastor - $500

Photographer - $300

Flowers (look at Kroger or other grocery store - seriously pretty arrangements - wrap the stems in ribbon that you buy from Michael's for $1/roll) - $100

Reception - Pizza and Drinks at a local restaurant, for roughly 50 people - $2500 ($50/person)

DYI Invitations - any scrapbooker can make them for about $1/invite - $50

Misc - $150
°ℓα∂у2°
2011-03-10 09:34:37 UTC
It's possible for sure. Its the reception that is going to kill it though. You can either have a meal, and very limited guests, or you could have a snack reception, dessert reception or something. It is cheaper. I originally was going to have snack reception with a bunch of homemade desserts. It can be done!!
Danielle
2011-03-09 08:05:02 UTC
well catering will be hard for you to pull off. you're really going to have to limit your guest list and the amt per person for food. I think a full plated or buffet dinner can cost $50-100 per person, and on top of catering there are 100 other things that your wedding budget has to include. so keep your headcount low and maybe just do apps, crudite and cake.
Ashley
2011-03-09 08:13:15 UTC
I did my wedding well under 4000 and it was beautiful. We did our own invitations, wedding favors, bouquets and boutonnieres, it can be done! Also when you do things yourself it makes it much personal.
La Vie Boheme
2011-03-09 13:05:16 UTC
You can certainly do it with a smallish guest list, I'm a big fan of appetizer receptions (more or less like a cocktail party/reception).
Gina
2011-03-09 10:35:28 UTC
CAll these ladies!



www.magicbeyondmidnight.com



They work with any budget! they did my wedding are were phenomenal!!
anonymous
2011-03-09 10:00:08 UTC
YES. It depends on your vision. There are ways to cut costs.


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