Young Couple With No Money!! Please Help!

My fiance and I are both very young- he is in the military and 21, and I am an 18 year-old full time sophomore in college. Needless to say, we have NO MONEY! Our parents will help, but his don`t have much money to spare (4 kids left in the house!) and mine are spending all of thier money on my education. I need some cost-cutting ideas for a simple, but elegant daytime wedding next May. I don`t even know where to start! How much are churches? Reception sites? Do we HAVE to have a meal catered? Or could we just do snacks (and fancy them up a bit, of course)? I don`t know anything about planning a wedding, and his parents and mine both eloped! (Which is a possibility that we are not ruling out!) Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
Posted by Lauren; updated 09/12/03

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I went to Dillards, and bought a white evening gown under $100.00 so that if I choose later to shorten it to a tea-length for another occasion I can. My Martron of Honer chose the color for me as to what she looked best in. NO Brides maid. No flowers at extra cost for them and no Ushers. Went to the local food store that has a florist and bakery and orderd those items that where needed. As far as food we cooked for two weeks ahead of time dishes that we knew family and friends would enjoy.If the bakery was too much you can look in books and or take a cake decorating class and do it your self ahead of time. Local craft store will have smaller items that you can accent your table with. Small candles and silk greenery are the best. If someone in your home town belongs to a Moose, Elk, or Eagles club cost is much less and they serve dinner there daily. And they do have entertainment at those places also. No cost to you but the dinner.Were I live there is a place called Party City where you can buy isle runner for under $15.00 FOR 100 feet and use for you to walk on and for table cloth. The color that you choose you can accent the table with ribbon and pearls that would match your gown. Good Luck
Posted by pam; updated 09/12/03

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Hi lauren, I just got married this past July in a very thight budget, please e-mail me and I will be happy to help you.
Reme.mattice@moody.af.mil
Posted by Reme; updated 09/26/03

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Hi,

Check out this website for unexpensive wedding items.
Http://www.caketopheaven.bizhosting.com
Posted by Lounise; updated 09/26/03

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Did you find a gown yet. I have a brand new, with tags 2003 Moonlight gown size 8, and I will sell it to you for 100.00. I paid 899.00 for it on sale it retails for over 1,000.00 and i will also ship it to you, so let me know, k. I am only doing this because I am very nice, there is no catch and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the gown AT ALL. I just want to help a fellow sister out and give my dress a good home. We decided to have a beach wedding in Jamaica instead. Let me know, k to view the dress go to www.moonlightbridal.com and click on moonlight jewels collection and then click on jw3027 it is on the fourth page. It is a halter, ivory dress, not yellowy ivory either, expensive off white ivory, like ivory should be. It can be altered up or down, so let me know, k. Tinaseutz@aol.com
Posted by tina; updated 10/07/03

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Where will the wedding be held?
Posted by Meredith; updated 10/09/03

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Im almost in the same situation except that Im older and so is my fiance. We have cut cost on just about everything. We dont go out to fancy dinners anymore and we put about 200.00 a week in the joint savings. He is the only one working while i attend college. We are getting sponsers to help us out with guest books, cake,photographer,Dj. About the food you can either get a hall that allows you to bring your own food and higher someone to serve the food. You dont want anyone from the part actually serving the people. We have been saving so we can afford the hall decorations party favors and other things . I suggest that you might wait so you can afford the things you want. Another thing to save money is buy actually saving up your pennys,nickels,dimes, and quarters. That might sound funny but it helps. We have been doing that for 2 almost 3mths and we have 300.00 already plus the money in the savings. You can do it you just cant expect to have a very fancy wedding. Also you might consider having about 150 to 200 guest the more the people the more your going to spend on food . You might want to add some party trays after the food is gone if your expecting more people.
Posted by Sylvia; updated 10/11/03