HELP!! NEED INEXPENSIVE IDEAS FOR WEDDING

Jeri
Here are some tips I can share. Check out Your Local dollar stores in the area. Watch the Clearance Aisles at Wal-mart, Meijer`s & Target. Be savvy & Creative. Look at Any Discount stores you may Have such as Big Lots. I made 64 Centerpieces for our Wedding for $80.00. Also check your Fabric stores about once a month I got our Ink Pen there for $3.00 & added flowers for a total cost of around $5.00. Something I did was go out & just look to see what I liked & what was priority. Watch Hobby Lobby for their Specials they have EXCELLENT specials on their Silk Flowers up to 66% off at times & Wedding Items up to 50% off. If your Looking for ideas just go online & search different topics. Thats how I located the design for my Cake which a lady I work with is making for us. Also watch for Patterns to be on Sale this is a Inexpensive way to do your Veil I bought my pattern for $0.50. I asked a Family Friend to make my Dress as well as my Bridesmaid & maid Of Honor & Flower Girl Dress. I think I spent $3.50 on the 4 Patterns we needed. Also check out www.hobbylobby.com they have aUnity Candle that you can Make yourself. As well as Favors & Centerpieces.
Hope I was helpful. If you have any Questions Email me.
Tami @ tksavon@ Yahoo.com

Remember to have your wedding in an off month or off time (Thurs. Evening, Sunday afternoon). You`re probably not going to be able to do a full on sit-down dinner but you could easily do an afternoon tea or cocktail reception. Where do you want to get married? I`m getting married on the lawn of an historic home...just so happens to be a restaurant as well. They`re renting me the afternoon (ceremony at noon, have to clear out between 4 and 4:30) for $500. That doesn`t include food and bev, of course. She offered it to me on a Sunday afternoon for even less ($250, I believe). Shop for dresses and then have it made. The dress I want is your budget alone! No way can I afford that! Remember to look for "Informal dresses" and even bridesmaid`s dresses in an ivory or white. I haven`t even thought about my centerpieces yet. I`m at a bit of an advantage because I know my vendors (DJ, Limo, Photographer, Flower Arranger, etc.), but there is a great book out there (can`t mention the name on here) that guarantees to save you at least $500 on your wedding. I`m sure your library has it or a bookstore. It`s a great resource. Best of Luck.

One word--- EBAY! There are so many great bargains on wonderful items on EBAY for weddings. I got an entire set of silk flowers---bouquets, bouttenieres, flower girl basket, etc., 30 pieces-- for $60.00 and they are gorgeous. I also got the most unique set including the guest book, pen, champagne flutes, and photo album....all for under $30. You name it...from dresses to disposable cameras to personalized napkins...they got it.

I agree with Di! I have found ALOT of bargins on eBay.
I found 175 feet of tulle for 4.00! Alot of bargins. I got my dress and its beautiful and never worn AND its a plus size for 237.00!!

I agree go on e-bay!No credit card or paypal account don`t worry most of the vendors except checks and money orders.and also go to dollar tree they sometimes have things for weddings and dollar stores

Jeri,
When are you getting married? Where? Do you want an indoor or outdoor wedding? With these specifics, we can all give you even more tips on how to have an elegant wedding on a budget. Good luck!

Thanks for all the advice! I`m getting married Feb 21 and it`ll be indoors. I want a simple yet elegant wedding. Thanks again for the ideas!

I am getting married in march and this is what I am doing for my cake....I am going to buy a whole sheet cake at costco...and decorate it myself with fresh flowers and beads...my friend did that for her wedding and she had 300 guests and it turned out lovely....

Good luck....

Hi, Jeri --

Walter & I married in a Moroccan restaurant that we found by accident, a site already elaborately decorated (so, no extra cost for a florist), & at a price of $25/guest for a 7-course meal. The restaurant`s capacity was 80 guests, which limited our guest list in a reasonable way.

We have lots of ideas for budget weddings. Please write me personally at for some more of them. It`s do-able!

Regards,
Bon

Have near by businesses sponsor your wedding and then on each table have a little card telling about the business. My friend did this and she recieved over 3,000 dollars.

Well, I planned my wedding for under $3000 so I`m sure you can fit within your budget. First of all: enlist family and friends to help out! A lot of stuff is being done by my family and friends. I shopped for months for my dress and finally got it on sale for $150! There will be no limos at our wedding--my uncle is a big fan of old fashion cars and he has gathered some friends of his cars for transportation. My bridesmaids are wearing something they feel comfortable in--their own clothes. I know tradition may have it for them to match in fancy dresses but neither of them felt comfortable doing so. I don`t care because it`s just important that they`re there. Two family friends are doing the photography/videography. My family is well-known in our area and so my dad was able to rent the local fire hall free of charge. We;re getting married on Thanksgiving Day so we decided not to decorate the church (it will already have some stuff), and I made the flowers out of silk flowers already. We got the centerpieces for the reception at a flea market, for favors we`re doing scrolls with our favorite love quotes and a thank you message, my cousin is DJing the reception, and we got Boston Market as a caterer for $7/person. So We did well. I hope you do, too! It`s possible if you just remember that frills are not the most important thing: getting married with family and friends with you is!

Talk to a represenative about how you can buy everything from guest books to renting chair covers in a package deal email abbimaiden@hotmail.com

Visit our page for more info: Abbi - Chair Covers Rental

I agree with one of the other girls that said check hobby lobby. Go to their website www.hobbylobby.com you can look at their ad every week. They have half off sales all the time. I got glass jars their for my centerpieces for $.33 a piece. I filled them with water and added a floating candle (I found them 4/1.00 at a dollar tree) Check on E-bay for your bouquets you can probably find them there for cheaper than you can make them yourself. Shop for your dresses at an outlet store. I got 4 bridesmaid dresses at Jc Penny Outlet for $10.00 each. I would suggest just having a cake and punch reception unless you are looking at a small number of guests, food can really start to add up and most of it will probably go to waste. When shopping try to stay out of the wedding aisle. Anything with the wedding on it is almost 3 times the price. Use lots of tulle as decorations it is very cheap and very pretty.

The one thing I will tell you not to use the cheapest person you find is your wedding photograper. I just got married 2 months ago and I used a lady who had done pictures for my family before, she turned out to be a nightmare. Really check out someone, ask for names of previous customers of theirs and check into them. I never thought of this before but ask to see their equipment. I never did and the lady I used showed up at the church with camera that looked like she paid $100 at Wal-mart for. Needless to say I paid $600 and have terrible pictures and she never took any pictures of me and my husband. And them most important thing to remember is get a contract have them put in that contract every little thing you can think of even if at the time you don`t think it will be important, include it or you`ll be in the same boat as I am right now, fighting to get your money back and you don`t have a contract.

Buy flats of spring flowers... Pansies, Johnny jump ups, marigolds etc. Separate each section, wrap with tulle, tie with ribbon (with or without printing) and place around candles in the center of each table. Each couple or person then takes a flower home with them to enjoy all summer long! Very inexpensive for a spring wedding and can be used as a centerpiece too!!

Go to ikea for some of your centerpiece ideas they have tea light candle holders for 4 for 1.99 and if you are looking for other services look to www.craigslist.com and there are multipiudes of people out there that work on a tight budget. If you live in LA go to the garment/fabric district....everything is cheap there and you can bargain when you buy in bulk. I bought beautiful fabric for 8 bridesmaids for $150.00 and it`s satin back taffeta (the thick kind) Any other questions or concerns let me know...I`d love to help.

I am trying to plan a simple elegant wedding myself. I wanted to elope in Vegas but because I have 2 small children, we have decided it is important to include them in the ceremony. I am getting great ideas from lots of people about weddings they have been to that they thought were just stunning that included...bridesmaids holding single red roses with ribbons, lots of greenery borrowed from neighbors and friends from their homes and less floral arrangements..(flowers are unbelievably expensive and can kill a budget quickly). My 12 year old neice likes to play dress up and I could not believe she had a wedding dress that was simply gorgeous and flawless that she had talked her mom into buying for her from Goodwill for $35 (No doubt it was once purchased for over $1000). My engagement has only been announced for 4 days and I already have great ideas, everyone is eager to help (and they are going to be guests..so you know they won`t criticize.) Be sure to enlist the help and talents of family and friends for reception foods and cake baking, musical talent and such....you`ll be suprised what comes out of the wood work.