Wanted: Wedding tips for the financially challenged

[sniffles]

Find other couples getting married, have different weddings and the same big reception

Now that's an interesting idea!

Some of the things we're looking at:
No flowers except bridal bouquet - I don't care and he's allergic.
No bar, no alcohol - nobody we know drinks.
No band - nobody we know dances, either.
A friend is making my dress.
No pro photography - I hate posed photos. I'm a photographer myself and I'll be perfectly happy with casual snapshots.
Limited guest list, maybe 40 people?

There's a botanical garden that I'd like, but it's still several hundred dollars for the space, and when I mean tiny budget I mean less than $1,000 if possible. I didn't want to ask my friends to do a potluck (I wanted to be able to treat everybody to a meal), but maybe that's the way to go. One friend does keep offering his house, which has a nice yard and deck, but I didn't want to put his wife out - she's a clean freak and would go insane getting the house ready. I'll have to suss him out on how hard it would really be for them to do. Or look at the botanical garden and a potluck.

You guys are full of great ideas!

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Now that's an interesting idea!

Some of the things we're looking at:
No flowers except bridal bouquet - I don't care and he's allergic.
No bar, no alcohol - nobody we know drinks.
No band - nobody we know dances, either.
A friend is making my dress.
No pro photography - I hate posed photos. I'm a photographer myself and I'll be perfectly happy with casual snapshots.
Limited guest list, maybe 40 people?

There's a botanical garden that I'd like, but it's still several hundred dollars for the space, and when I mean tiny budget I mean less than $1,000 if possible. I didn't want to ask my friends to do a potluck (I wanted to be able to treat everybody to a meal), but maybe that's the way to go. One friend does keep offering his house, which has a nice yard and deck, but I didn't want to put his wife out - she's a clean freak and would go insane getting the house ready. I'll have to suss him out on how hard it would really be for them to do. Or look at the botanical garden and a potluck.

You guys are full of great ideas!

If you decide to go with some kind of catered event:
- Look at doing a lunch rather than a dinner, it is always less expensive for lunch.
- Go with a buffet style rather than being served individual plates. Cuts the cost of serving staff.
- For locations, check out local Elks clubs, VFW posts, American Legion halls etc. They are not the most elegant of locations, but they are usually inexpensive.

Sounds like you already have done a lot to cut to cost. Good luck. In the end, as long as you have the people you want around you and you enjoy yourselves, the day will be a memorable success.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I didn't want to put his wife out - she's a clean freak and would go insane getting the house ready.

Would she be open to you hiring a maid service for before and after the reception? That'll be roughly $50 for before and after, so $100. That's going to be cheaper than any site fee.

 

[sniffles]

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that, BiggusGeekus! I'm not sure she'd be willing to have a stranger clean her house, but it's a good idea.

 

[devilbat]

A pig roast for 40 friends should run roughly $200, maid service for friends house is $100. That gives you plenty of play room.

 

[der_kluge]

My other suggestion was to just offer to help clean up the friend's house yourself. But the maid option would be a good one, too, if you wanted the extra expense.

 

[Hijinks]

I didn't want to put his wife out - she's a clean freak and would go insane getting the house ready.

I was going to suggest a maid service also, but instead, why not throw a bridal shower there the day before the wedding, and then afterward everyone can pitch in to help clean the house. Most women I know wouldn't mind helping in that way, and it would save you $100. Or maybe it wouldn't be worth it if she would freak out so much =\ I know I would choose something else if the home's owner would freak out.

 

[Hypersmurf]

My SO of 15 years and I decided last year that we would like to make it legal.

Oh!

The relationship is 15 years old. On first reading, I thought it was the SO!

-Hyp.

 

[Dagger75]

My brother and his wife spent the largets part on the reception. Nice Dinner, open bar (We drank ALL the Hieniken) They had the wedding outside.

A friend of mine did his wedding on a cruise ship. Not out to see, still docked. They had the service and the reception right there. They take ID of all the guests and make sure those who aren't staying for the cruise get off the boat. They stayed on and had there honeymoon. I think it was under $5k but he had a larger wedding and flew some parents down.

Hope that helps.

 

[Aeson]

Oh!

The relationship is 15 years old. On first reading, I thought it was the SO!

-Hyp.

The money then would have to be used as a legal fund.