Florists food ideas anything where do i start ? when i want it simple beautiful but very affordable i mean $500 for a 3 tier cake is way to expensive and $250 for one bunch of flowers is not my idea of wise spending. If anyone can help me with wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses flower girl dresses the whole package, what i cut out etc HELP HELP HELP.
I need some cheap wedding ideas.?
My husband and I did a budget wedding and it was BEAUTIFUL and elegant for 125 people.
Things we skimped on:
Invitations: We purchased simple invites from Target for less than .50 an invite and printed them using pretty calligraphy font on a computer, everything down to the envelopes. They came out GREAT and no one knew the difference. Also, instead of including response cards with postage to mail back, which can get pricey. We included an email address for online replys and two phone numbers. We got a lot of response online and it was a big hit as it saved us money and everyone else the time of filling this stuff out and sending it back via snail mail.
Location: we rented an empty ambulance/fire hall and decorated it to our tastes and it came out better than most fancy reception halls. The GREAT thing was, because they do a lot of weddings they had things we borrowed free of charge such as tables, chairs, a wedding arch, a mailbox for wedding cards, a cake table, et. Invest wisely and make sure you can get the most for your buck out of the location. (We did "winter wonderland" and got married in january so a lot of snow and things were half off, that helped a lot. And it turned out BEAUTIFUL.)
Alcohol: If you want a really cheap alternative, don't serve it. But if that won't fly with your guests you can do what we did. We served only beer, wine, margaritas (most people pick one specialty mixed drink, that was just our choice) and we made it self serve. Invested in a wine fountain, Beer Keg and Margarita machine (rented of course) so the need to pay a bartender did not exist. If you are having it at a hotel hall you can opt for a cash bar where the gyests pay for drinks but many people consider that bad taste. If thats not an option either, cut down the amount of time in open bar.
Transportation: My husband and I were very active in our local ambulance squad so we rode away with our bridal party in an ambulance and everyone thought it was great when we pulled in lights and sirens. Be creative. Do you have a friend with a vintage car that you would look awesome in driving away? Can you use something creative? Like our ambulance idea. Or does it really matter to you to have it at all? Also a cheaper option is renting a cool car for the day and having a friend drive for you and have the bridal party arrive in regular vehicles, I assure you, its your day, they shouldn't care.
Photography and videoography: We asked a friend who studied video production to do that for us. And for photography we asked a photographer from a local paper to photograph our wedding, and it was at least half off. But don't skimp on these things if you can't get lucky like we did, these memories last a lifetime.
Cake: We asked an experience culinary student (graduating and we sampled her work beforehand) to make our cake and it turned out wonderful and was also half off. Students do these things for grades so they are very careful and much, much, cheaper than traditional bakeries.
Attire: My husband wore his army dress greens, but a good alternative is to wear a suit instead of a tux, all our attendants did and it looked just as good.
Flowers: I picked "in season" flowers and went with a smaller bouquet instead of a larger one and it was beautiful and elegant. And carrying that for a while when its heavy can get on your nerves anyway. Also, for any child/ junior attendants, get carnations, not roses, they hold up much better and are cheaper. I didnt use roses in anything but picked in season cheaper flowers that looked really neat in my boutineers. For the bridesmaids: My bridesmaids carried a single white rose with a purple tip trim and it looked very elegant and the floral shop jazzed it up and added stuff so it didnt look so plain. But your girls wont care what their flowers look like.
Favors: If you have a theme, go practical and go cheap. Our theme was winter, as I said. So I found porcelin ornaments for less than .50 each online, and I ordered custom ribbons off an ebay sellar with our names and wedding date and hot glued it to the snowflake, they were a huge hit and looked expensive when they weren't. Another option is a "candy buffet" look those up online, they can be neat. But if you do that get smaller bags/boxes so the candy lasts.
This and that extras: I bought my disposable table cameras online from ebay from a woman who didnt use them at her wedding, same with our bubbles and cake cutting knife and I found a beautiful authentic crystal headpeice second hand for $150 less than in the bridal shop in excellent condition. We found our "unity candle" and ring bearers pillow and white basket at a craft store for 60% off what they were in the Hallmark store. Look online, its a realy great resource.
As for food, never skimp or not have enough, thats not in good taste. We really wanted an evening reception s we just picked less options and less expensive options. Like 2 meats, 2 starches, vegetable, bread and salad and that was it and people had plenty of selection. And we did it buffet style which can be hit or miss because you eliminate the need for staff to serve them but you have to over estimate food since people serve themselves a lot more than a waiter would. We also got our own appetizers and desserts. we got cracker trays and shrimp cocktail from sams as well as some hot options a friend threw in the oven right before the reception and it cut down our costs. In addition to our cake we bought cream puffs (which were a HUGE hit) as well as some bakery cookies and it cut down our costs significantly.
Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate: We had our cater throw in a carving station and table linens in at no charge, work with them, haggle and see what you can do.
Another option: My friends for their second marraige had a "pot luck" where guests brought a dish and it was CONSIDERABLY cheaper. But only consider this for a informal wedding.
Another option for food: Have a breakfast or brunch reception, its thousands cheaper and gives you the day to celebrate with your signficant other just to yourselves. And if you do that you only have to serve champange for alcohol for the toast.
We borrowed a lot of things from friends, enlisted their talents and looked around the internet and looked second hand before buying new. I even found my dress more than half off. (I payed $300 for a $1500 dress because it was "last season," well, it could have fooled me, it was beautiful and white so what did I care...) Suggestions: For little things you need, search dollar stores or walmart or sams club before going strait to a wedding store. Dinner mints in white packages that would be $3.00 for 500 at walmart are now $5.00 for one hundred because they have a wedding bell on them. Shop away from wedding sections as much as possible. There is no difference. we even did things like asked the ambulance hall if we could clean up ourselves and took money off the rental.
Entertainment: Never skimp on entertainment if you would like your guests to have a good time. An option to consider if you are having trouble affording it is to make the reception shorter. But get an experienced DJ that will match your tastes in music and will do the whole thing for you, you don't wan tto have to tell your DJ what to do on your wedding day, get an experienced person whether it be a live band or DJ. Some DJ's charge less in the "off season" (thats why we got a discount on ours) and some bands will work for considerably less also during the off season as the amount of wedding gigs are more scarce.
Which brings me to my last option: Have a winter wedding. Or a fall or "off season" wedding. (Not spring or summer) You cna usually find everything from your wedding dress to catering and entertainment at a discount.
By the way, the girls should be paying for their own bridesmaid dresses and they went to JC Penny's and bought matching prom dresses for under 80 each but I've seen them as low as $40 if you are going less formal. Flower girls parents should be paying for her dress, and just as an idea, my girls and guys wore black and white (Black dreses with a white strip on top.) and the flower girl wore a cute little white lace topped dress and black satin bottom that she could wear again. For the flower girl, honeslty just tell the parents a certain color and style and make it something that they can dress her in again. It doesn't matter what color, the kids are so darn cute either way.
Hope this helps, have a happy wedding!!
Reply:Lets start with the flowers. You can make them easily yourself by going to a craft store or even a dollar store and get flowers at a cheap price. Next you can make your own 3 tier cake by simply buying 3 different size pans. I would then go with the fondant and cover the cakes and make a simple 3 tier cake. There are a lot of ideas and how-to's on the internet also as for you the wedding dress and bridemaids dresses, they have them on the internet as well, instead of paying thousands of dollars for a wedding dress you can beautiful gowns on the internet for up 75% less then a bradal shop. Now a days anything can be found on the internet by typing in a few keywords. Good Luck.
Reply:Try EBay to start with. As for the cake ask someone to make it for you like a friend. Why buy a wedding cake, the rage these days is a pile of cup cakes on a stand ! ! ! they are small enough for everyone to get a bit. Flowers buy the basics like carnations and a few Lillie's and then open your back door and see what you have growing in the backyard ! ! any green leaves will look nice and they fill up empty spaces. For your bouquet why not get you and your bridesmaids round for a small flower shower ! ! ! This is where you use artificial flowers from a craft store and make your own bouquets, apart from all the wine you will all drink doing it and the food you will eat. I expect everyone will have a good time ! ! ! !
Reply:You just have to research and go see a lot of people. I'm spending just over $300 for my 3 tier cake and right around $600 for my flowers.
I went to David's Bridal for my wedding dress. That plus all the accessories that go along with it, tiara etc. was only $1000. And my bridesmaids dresses were relatively inexpensive. I'm not doing the flower girl or ring bearer, but I would go somewhere that doesn't specialize in wedding stuff for their outfits if I was using them. I'd go to a children's dress shop and try to find a pretty dress in my wedding colors for the flower girl.
But essentially just look around and ask for quotes from multiple vendors. If you find someone you love, but they don't fit inside your budget tell them that and see if they can work with you. That's what I did for my florist.
Reply:it is really easy, i did a 10,000 dollar wedding style in under 2000. Oriental trading company (internet) for decorations, local seamstress friend, laptop or computer, windows media player, some preselected music organized in time to the celebration and some very good speakers, the cake was made at home and all the flowers bought at a local grocery store from their best selection and arranged at home while the cake was baking. the most expensive thing that i paid for was the after limo. also pick a day that falls close to the end of the week if you can. mine was a thursday in late june. Parks are cheap and makes picking the backdrop really easy. and you wont need hundreds of flowers with a view like that.
plus you can rent your space for the day and have the reception right there.
If you need alcohol. see if any local major grocery chains have wine stewards. they can recommend great cheap wines. or you go NA gasp, then you won't have to worry about how everyone got home. and you won't have to worry about the clean up as much or buligerent behavior, but your best man toast won't be near as funny.
need more help, let me know.
Reply:start with friend ask them who what they , about there wedding you can just buy yourself a silk bouquet and a single rose/carnation for you bridesmaids. go walmart for cake check out last years dresses or go to consignment store and find a used dress a lot of women go and find a prom dress to use. im sure someone in the family takes pictures buy several disposable cameras and set them out so guest can take pictures they would love to be apart of the plan just talk with different ones in your family for the main pictures go before to jcpenneys /walmart to their protraite shop
Reply:Instead of a cake, do a cup cake tower like this http://www.cupcaketree.com/
dresses http://www.bridalexpressonline6.com/disp...
Bridesmaid http://www.houseofbrides.com/product.php...
flower girl dress http://www.houseofbrides.com/product.php... (although, you could look at your local retail stores for first communion dresses)
flowers http://www.fiftyflowers.com/flowers/DIYW...
Reply:FREECYCLE!!!
There is a gropup now called freecycle in most areas and you do the 'green' thing people offer all sorts for free but you are expected to as well from topsoil to bathroom cabinets to wedding things! It is great just type freecycle and your town area name into the freecycle box and sign up it is free.
I kept wedding costs down on my second wedding by.
just carrying a single beautiful flower - Big Lily or Big rose it looked beautiful.
You can also have just a tied bunch of flowers for bridesmaids.
Take you brides maids to a high street store that does all sizes of dresses and get them to find a dress they all liek that you think is good and Go for it! It also helps with flowers at a venue as you can just put lots of toied or open bunches around teh venue/ house and its beautiful.
I had Daisy's and Gerberas - big S. African Daisy' sthat were in oranges and pinks - beautiful.
Wedding cake . Find a relative who makes excellent sponge cakes and ask them to make your wedding cake. Anothe excellent thing that keeps it cheap is to have a small cake and lots of single 'bun' sized cakes with 'Wedding cake ' ready made logos on the top.
Do not book a venue ask a relative who has space if you can have a party in their home....honest they will enjoy it.....or just book a local hall and get live music in... it is much more friendly than a stuffy hotel and then you can get outside caterers to do some food it is always cheaper than hotels.
But don't miss out on Freecycle - even eBay for things!
Reply:Check your local "everything for a dollar" store for flowers. It's not hard to make a pretty bouquet from silk flowers. (lots of vids on you tube for instruction) I even learned how to make my OWN wedding cake from looking at you tube vids. (I'm doing a small cocolate fondant covered cake, and then cupcakes....very trendy and MUCH cheaper) Instead of buying bridesmaids dresses at a bridal boutique, check local department stores for "prom formals" (especially AFTER prom season) Use all of your reasources, talk to your friends %26amp; family and see who knows how to do what.
Good Luck!!
Reply:Im getting married later this year and am on a very strict budget. My fiances parents have paid for the reception venue, catering and a DJ as their gift to us. We are getting married in a registry office (UK) I have bought a lot of bargains off ebay - accessories, silk bouquets, bulk lots of balloons for decorating the reception etc. I am going to tie together bunched of helium filled balloons as centre pieces rather than forking out for flowers. I am buying my dress a month before so that I don't waste money buying the wrong size! I am making my own wedding cake, I decorate them as a hobby anyway. We have asked anyone who has one to bring their cameras, and a friend is going to record the ceremony on our own camcorder. At the reception we are going to leave disposable cameras around so that guests can take photos for us.
A good idea is to speak to close family/friends and see if they can pitch in in any way, and that can be their gift to you.
Good luck!
Reply:Wedding/Reception site - most churches charge about $500-$1000 to rent the hall and the church for the amount of time you need.
Flowers - make your own. Look online for directions and practice with your MOH one afternoon. Also single flowers for the bridesmaids will work too.
Cake - make your own. go to the craft store and buy round cake pans - you can make several using one 9inch pan then arrange them on the table. Bake them with regular cake mix. Have your MOH come over and help bake and ice them. Put flowers all around the sides. Cost should be around $100.
Dress - David's Bridal. They have some really nice smiple dresses. Also, check clearance racks at designer stores. I saw a dress that was $150 but it wouldn't fit into my theme.
You don't have to buy the flower girl's dress nor the bridesmaid dresses.
Hope this helps.
Reply:Just have a best man and maid of honeor. right there it cuts cost. People will understand. They should generally pay for thier own attire, you have to buy gifts. Flower girl is optional but if you have a little one lined up then thier parents pay for the dress. Any department store would have cute dresses.
Find a cake you like and bring the pic to a few bakers, includng the grocery store bakery. See who can do similar for less.
Reply:I have found artificial flowers great. Or flowers from a friend or families flower garden.
Go to the craft area in wal-mart,micheals, or the dollerstore.
I found stuff for my bouquet,cake topper and decorations.
I made my own cake.
If you dont want to make your own find a private cake decorator and their cakes are usually cheaper and taste better.
Reply:I have a great idea: go to college, learn something that makes money then get married, or marry a wealthy man or just go to Tijuana and get married in a cheap chapel.
It happens that weddings are not cheap at all. Wake up please.
Reply:get a used dress on ebay or other sites
get a cake made of styrofoam that is decorated but serve sheet cake instead
make your own favors using supplies from a craft store
prowl funeral parlors for centerpieces LOL..I was just kidding on that one
Reply:Try ebay or a dress - very cheap and very nice too. Maybe a Court House wedding and the reception for a few people at home. That's what I would do.
Reply:If you just want cheap, try the JP.
Reply:Ohhhh u hav 2 do Court Marriage,,it's very cheeap,nothing will require that u asked above.....he he he
Reply:These are not the greatest ideas, but I hope they help.
1. If you have family members with talents in baking, sewing, decorating, etc. ask for their help. At my wedding everyone that was a part of the party contributed to the wedding from food, flowers, dress, decorations and cake.
2. You can try to find a place where you can rent the dresses, instead of purchasing them.
3. You can have a simple bouquet of real flowers or have you thought about artificial flowers? The type of flowers and the size you select will also determine the cost.
4. You can go to a hall that caters weddings and they have a list of local businesses or people in the community that provide these services. When you call around and they realize that they are competing for your busy, they are willing to negotiate. Using this idea, I was able to locate a lady who baked cakes out of her home. For my daughters quinceanera, she made a cake with 3 tiers in the center with a water fountain, two tiers off to the side with staircases and the dames and the gentlemen...I mean it was beautiful for only 100.00 and it fed well over 100 people.
5. Also, if you go to the following website http://green.yahoo.com/earth-day/find-a-... and select the area you live in. These are groups/clubs of people who recycle items by giving them for free to someone who can use them. Maybe you will be able to find items that can help you economize your wedding.
6. I don't know how many states have it, but I live in TX and the area I Iive in they have virtual garage sales (over the internet). The items are free as well, they only thing they request is if you take items for free that you donate items for free. Sometimes, people even trade during these virtual garage sales. Really wish you lived out my way, because I would refer you to so many places/people. Sometimes the more simple weddings are the most beautiful weddings. Remember, this is your special day....everything should revolve around you and your husband. It's not about pleasing and wining and dining your guests. This is about the moment you and your husband make your eternal commitment to one another. Wishing you the best of luck.
Reply:Inexpensive wedding... Florist, try fake flowers... shop around Michaels for inexpensive ideas and crafty things you can put together yourself. If you have your heart set on real flowers, then choose flowers that are in season for the area that you live in and they'll be more inexpensive then more traditional set ups. Also, price check many different florists to find the cheapest prices.
As far as cakes go, find somone in culinary school... generally they will make a great cake for you at a much lower, if not at cost price for the experience of being able to say they did a wedding... same for dinner foods at your reception.
Check out this place for bridal dresses under 199.00 http://www.bridalonlinestore.com/Collect... Also check out david's bridal... reguardless of horror stories you may have heard about them they do sell some dresses relatively inexpensive!
As far as bridesmaids dresses, the bridesmaids should be purchasing that themselves so let your maid of honor pick the dress or allow them all to get together and pick a dress that they can all afford. Google is your BEST friend here!!!! The only dresses you should have to cover other then your own is the flower girls dress, and the ring bearers tux.
Tux's for the men can be found for rental cheaper if you have a chance to get them in advance!!! If this is not an option... start making the phone calls to the local places you have available to find the best prices.
Ebay is a great place to find the rings.
Invitations can be made by hand far cheaper then you can have them printed out... Find someone artistic in your family to help you out there.
As far as places go, if you know someone with a large property, do it in their back yard, if you're not that lucky usually you can contact the city and do your ceremony at a park for a $50 deposit/clean up fee.
Do NOT skip out on your reception!!!!!! This is where the most fun of your night is going to be had, so find a place you can afford by all means but make sure it's the right place for you.
If you don't have someone to marry you, you can always make a donation to a church, and with a few counsilling session have someone marry you.
Photography is going to be HUGELY important to you on this day!!! Find an aspiring photographer to come out to your wedding, someone who is willing to give you all the pictures they took on CD which you can have them printed out at a local Walgreens with the photographers written consent. Most photographers will either do this for the experience of doing a wedding party with a minimal fee or for free in the exchange that you allow them to use their photo's as examples of work they can do.
And put 2 disposable camera's on each of the tables at your reception!!!! this will allow for ALL sides of your reception to be covered taking a lot of work off your photographer. Request that they get a picture of everyone sitting at that table at the very least.
I litterally have tons of ideas for weddings, and if you need more help feel free to drop me a line any time!!! :)
Congradulations!!!!
Reply:If people can help then use them i.e. can someone bake the cake, can someone arrange flowers.
If not and you are on a budget, the best thing to do is not to try and look like you have 10 times as much to spend. It just looks worse...so if you don't have enough to spent on flowers don't bother. If it is in the day try balloons on the tables (they are about 90% cheaper than flowers). Im not suggesting you carry a balloon bouquet down the aisle though...just make sure you pick flowers that are in season:
http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingflow...
Another option is to have the wedding latter on in the day...candles are always very romantic, and plus they are inexpensive, provide a nice centre piece for the table. In addition having it later on means people will have already eaten and you can provide something lighter.
You could also try having it outdoors..in a nice garden or park for example. Since nature will be all around there will not be a need for you to buy additional flowers.
For wedding dresses try sample gown sales. You can also have a gown made often cheaper than the store price. Look for a designer who takes measurments near you but has the dress made in Thailand or Hong Kong. Another option is to try and negotiate a deal if you buy all bridesmaid dresses from the same place you get the dress. You could always try and find a second hand dress. If you don't mind doing so, buy one size up and have it tailored to fit. This will save you a load and at the end of the days its only been worn once before.
The other option is to trim the guest list- this is really down to the type of wedding you want. Some people want a BIG wedding, but others would prefer a smaller one. When inviting people ask yourself- would they invite you, if not don't bother inviting them.
I hope you have a great day whatever you decide to do.
: )
Reply:here are my tips that i have passed on to many buget concious brides... hope you can use some of them.
first off- shop after holiday clearance sales at craft stores, michaels and ac moore, and places like walmart, target and kmart. i got things on christmas clearance for 75-95% off- votive candles in glass holders for $.40 each!
i can set you up with a great lady who is making my invites. she does package deals (any size you will need) and a la carte - you will save tons with her. i'm getting 75 invites, evelopes, thank you scrolls, rsvp postcards, folded thank you cards and evelopes and address labels for under $90
rings- shop jc pennys when they have sales, look for coupons...
or ebay and craigslist. really don't be afraid of ebay. shop sellers with 99 or 100% feedback only. i'm getting my ring for under $25 (stainless band that matchs my engagement ring) and his for under $50 (tungsten).
transportation- use a relatives nice auto or use your own. you DON'T nee a limo, you can even rent a big suv for the day for near nothing from most rental co's (budget hertz alamo) or call around to classic car clubs and see if you can rent a classic car for an hr or two... might be really cheap to do that
dress- shop consignment shops. my dress cost $150 and is awesome. look on craigslist and ebay too. what ever size you end up being (i have faith you will lose weight!) you will find a beautiful dress!
bm dresses- these have dresses under $100
http://www.bridalsassique.com/index.asp?...
http://www.bridesonlinestore.com/
you can also try looking at prom dresses and homecoming dresses in macys and jcpenneys. most of them look like bm dresses anymore, it will increase your selection by looking for those 3 types instead of just bm dresses
guys clothing- they don't need to tux it up. they can wear white shirts and tan slacks. or white shirts and dark slacks and a tie... make sure they are all bought at the same time so they match.
flowers- you can shop local flower stores or grocery store floral dpts (make your own if you like) bring pics of what you want to guide your florist. shop rite has a full service flower dpt and they offer wedding planning help too. or you can go the silk route. afloral.com has great flowers. that's who i went to for mine
centerpieces- i like the tall vases with topiary style arrangements on them. i love gerberas so i think using them is a great way to punch up color and keep your budget down
you can also get different vases (walmart super cheap) and have different looks on each table.
ceremony location- i'm all for outdoor weddings. i think being surrounded by nature is just beautiful and makes for awesome pictures. plus most are free or really cheap.
i'm getting married in a park and it only cost $5 for the application fee. no charge to bring in chairs tents etc...
reception locations- you can have it at a vfw, moose/elk lodge or fire house banquet hall. they are nicer now that ever... they realize how much revenue they generate so many/most have been updated in the last few years.
we are using the banquet hall of the fire house where we are memebers. it only cost us $275 to rent. $500 for non members. (they do open bar. cash bar. cater. or let you diy the food)
cake- look at bjs and costco, even walmart does wedding cakes now. don't forget grocery stores. most do wedding cakes and are rather tasty cakes. you might not get all the flavor choices of a bakery but most ppl go with white or chocolate anyway.
we are getting our cake from shop rite ($1.75 a serving compared to $3.50 someone else quoted me) i love s/r cakes and have had many a b-day cake from them when i was younger.
favors- you really don't need them if you are trying to save money. but... you can do organza bags filled with candies. shop ebay for the best prices, seller ideabus, has the best prices and selection
or try dipping the ends of pretzle rods in white, dark or milk chocolate. then roll the ends (or sprinkle) with jimmies, colored sugar crystals, crushed nuts, mini marshmallows... or what ever else floats your fancy. put them in celophane bags and tie off with a ribbon to match your colors. super easy and people love things they can snack on on the way home from the reception.
stick to edible, anything else are 99% dust collectors or trash can fillers
photographer- look on craigslist for your area, under services, type in photography and see the results. i found a great gal for mine $300 for 6 hrs. some places charge wayyyy more but you should be able to find a good one for under 1k
i also found someone who wants to build her portfolio so she's shooting the whole day for free. if we like any prints we can order a la carte for super cheap.
you might be able to find a dj service on craigslist too. or just call around for a good rate from someone with referrals
our wedding for about 100 ppl will run us about 3500k.
most important thing about a wedding, budget- STICK TO IT
oh join your local yahoo group freecycle and post what you are looking for. i got lots of wedding things for free. (esp after june!)
post on craigslist for your area too, and search for wedding things too. many ppl have left overs they want to unload after their weddings and sell at below lowest cost!
oh ck out this site too
http://www.cheap-chic-weddings.com
BEST OF LUCK
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