What are some ideas for a cheap, yet beautiful wedding?

We are thinking about getting married in October, but we don't want to have an expensive wedding. Any ideas for decorations, flowers, where to get the dresses/tuxes, invitations, ect for a REASONABLE price?

What are some ideas for a cheap, yet beautiful wedding?
try getting married outside or in a place with a great view of fall folliage, there are few things more beautiful than fall colors, then you can have natural- themed decorations, which won't cost you anything
Reply:We're planning our Sept. wedding AND reception right now for a guest list of 125 for less than $1,800.00





1-NO SITE FEES- Now, with "us", we're having the ceremony and reception both in my parents back yard. I purchased 4 party tents (the white ones w/windowed side walls) off ebay for about $500. Even if you have your ceremony at the church, you may still want to entertain the idea of a backyard reception. Yeah, we're $500 out of pocket up front, but afterwards we plan on selling 3 of the 4 tents to re-coop some of our $$, still cheaper than renting out a hall! (plus we'll actually OWN one of them!)


To decorate a church inexpensively...just do a runner-if the church doesn't have one available,oriental trading has them for $25 and you may even find one cheaper off of ebay. IF you must decorate the pews, just do simple tuelle bows-forget the flowers, they can run up the tab and the bows are just as nice...who really pays THAT much attention to it anyway????





2-NO RENTAL FEES- Tables and chairs are being borrowed from our church for just a small donation. Again...cheaper than renting!





3-NO CATERES- We're doing a "Family Favorites" buffet. In lieu of gifts from certain family members, we're having those members supply "those certain" dishes that they are known for making so well. Then I'm going to print out little table tents saying who made what.





4-NO FLORIST/DECORATORS- I'm just going to carry a single red rose tied w/a ribbon and streamers, my maid of honor a white one. Making my own centerpieces, which I have TONS of ideas/designs that can all be done for less than $5-$8 each, feel free to email me for ideas if you'd like!





5-DON'T ORDER INVITATIONS- Cheaper to print your own...utilize your local discount stores...I found wedding invitation kits that will make 40 for $2.99 per kit at my local Ollies discount store. They also had kits for Thank you cards that make 80 for $4.99. Basically I only spent about $11 for all my invites and Thank You cards.





6-NO D.J. NEEDED- IF you want to avoid the cost of hiring a DJ, download your favorite songs onto a laptop, mp3 or ipod..hook up some speakers...there you go! I've seen it done at 2 other weddings and it worked really well. You can even purchase your own "disco ball" complete w/motor from Oriental trading as well





7-As far as your gown..if shopping locally, check consignment shops and even some dept stores bridal selections. There are even a lot of bridesmaid dresses fancy enough to pass for bridal when ordered in white or ivory...and at a MERE FRACTION of the cost!


If you're wanting to search online, check ebay of course. You can also do searches w/keywords such as "discount bridal" and/or "clearance gowns"








***THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVICE!***


8-KEEP AN OPEN MIND!!!! Don't get "stuck" on certain ideas/patterns/items....you'd be amazed how much EASIER it all falls together if you just sort of "roll with it"...it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to sacrifice anything, just be willing to bend.





I have TONS of money saving ideas....if there are any certain areas that you need or would want some suggestions for...and especially when you get your colors/theme/style picked out feel free to email me for centerpiece ideas!
Reply:DIY the small stuff. If you make your own centerpieces, place cards, favors, tables numbers, etc. You would save a lot of money. In addition, think of doing DIY invitations.





Have your bridal party buy their attire. It's a nice gesture to pay for it, but if you can't afford it; that's OK.





I would go cheap on the thinks I mentioned above. However, I would find a nice dress, try to get the one you want. You'll be looking at your wedding photos forever. Don't ever regret your dress.





As the the reception, I would definitely not skimp on that. Never feed your guests bad food or let them go hungry. Regardless of the event, if you do this, you're a bad host.
Reply:Local restaurants sometimes have rooms that they rent out, and to keep it cheap they will let you decorate. (try a local VFW, or bar) Also go the florists and tell them you are working on a TIGHT budget, they should understand. and to save even more, just tell them the types of flowers you want to purchase and put them together yourselves. Sometimes a cheap place to get dresses and tuxes is a local bridal store, not the traditional davids bridal, because more local places offer discounts if you get everything thru them...like tux, bridal gown, bridesmaids, flowergirl etc..
Reply:When my daughter got married, my husband and I didn't have alot of money to spend, but we ended up with a beautiful wedding anyway. Thank goodness my daughter isn't one of those spoiled girls, and she really helped make it special. We went to a bridal shop and she bought a dress that was on the rack. Cost was $240. It just happened to be her size, and it was long and white with beads and everything - very pretty. We rented a banquet room in a restaurant and did the decorations ourselves. We made all the favors ourselves as well. The food was good, but not expensive. We had mostly pasta dishes, not expensive meats. A friend of our daughter's was the DJ and we ended up having a blast.





Our son is getting married soon. He and his fiance are getting married in a hot air balloon. They have wedding packages where they take you up and you say your vows at sunrise. Then we're having a party here at our home. We're having some food brought in, but making some ourselves. We made the invitations ourselves on the computer using a kit we bought at Michael's craft store, and they turned out pretty and professional-looking. And again, we're doing the decorating ourselves. My daughter has a digital camera and will be the photographer. If someone really wants to have a nice wedding, but funds are short, there are alot of ways to cut costs.
Reply:Hope This Helps!! I'm a wedding planner from California and for some brides I give them a list of web site so they can plan at home on there own. Some brides just need the right tools. Hope a couple of these help! Congratulations!!!





http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_wedding...





http://www.cheap-chic-weddings.com/





http://www.westchester-weddings.com/chea...





http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingflow...





GOOD LUCK
Reply:A little money can go a long way, if you know how to use it. You can print your own invitations for a fraction of what it would cost for a calligrapher. As far as flowers and decorations go, talk to the florists in your area to see what locally grown flowers will be available in October. The less exotic they are the less they will cost. Tux rentals are not that expensive, and dresses don't have to be either. You'll just have to look around to find the bast deals.
Reply:Take your time and shop around for what you like at the most reasonable prices. Go on-line for ideas and watch magazines for even more ideas that you can use. Enlist in the help of family and friends to help you defray some of the wedding costs, such as having someone take pictures for you, someone else to make decorations, some one to make your cake, etc. You can save a lot of money that way and still have a wonderful wedding. Congrats.
Reply:My sister and I used this site to help us while we were helping our other sister help plan her wedding a couple months ago.





it's great because it lets you do two versions, a "cheap" wedding and a "expensive" wedding. You pick what kind of theme you want from the lists they give you, and they have ideas for gowns, favors, invitations, etc to match your theme.





http://choosers.ivillage.com/weddings/Th...





good luck!!
Reply:I once saw on TV that a couple getting married wanted a really beautiful wedding cake but was on a budget. What they did was they had a "fake cake". It was shaped from Styrofoam and it a slot where they stuck real cake at for when the bride and groom had the first bite. It was decorated beautifully and looked real, but when it came to the guests eating cake they used a sheet cake or round cake that didn't cost as much.
Reply:Invite nice and fun guests, this is what makes wedding beautiful!
Reply:use theatre lights which u can rent for about 10$ you would only need about 6 or 8 and have them against the walls with beams of light shooting up ...use your wedding colors. it adds great atmosphere and decorates the walls beautfiully.
Reply:A friend of mine got married last October on the shore of a Lake with the beautiful fall foliage as a backdrop. It was gorgeous. They had minimal decorations, because, who needed them. What they had was browns, yellow, oranges. They used live goldfish in bowls with floating candles for centerpieces and had, get this, candy corn scattered on the tables and in little bags as favors. It was very unusual and very gorgeous at the same time. It has to be one of my favorites.
Reply:Oh sweetheart you have come to the right place!!


October weddings can be really awesome depending on your likes and dislikes. I planned my sister and it turned out great!! To begin with, it is fall and a fall theme is most appropriate, no not scarecrows and crap but think about sunflowers, chrysanthemums, toad lilies, fall colored greenery, for the tuxes you could have burnt metallic orange bow ties and cumber buns or strictly go black. You could also do the same metallic burnt orange for extra dresses...flower girls and so on. Just remember fall colors are generally orange, red, yellow, and purple, they are also generally darker than what you would think of when you think of these colors. Oh as for a great place to get started, I am not sure if you have one in your town, Dollar Tree! They have bunches of false floral, nick knacks, and party supplies and everything is a dollar. Just pull out your decorative flare and I know it will be beautiful!!





Oh as for invitations, just go to Wal-Mart in the craft section, they have beautiful make your own invitations that you just put in your own printer and they are pretty cheap! That or you could go to your local craft shop and buy some fancy paper and make them yourself.





To get more ideas or to see pictures of some fall flowers go here.


http://www.greystoneg.com/pages/Sept00.h...
Reply:Grocery store, Walmart/Target, Dollar Store, and Sam's club.





Fruit and veggies from the produce asile can actually make extravagant centerpieces for 1/3 cost of flowers.





You would be absolutely amazed! at what you can do buying only from those stores. (With the exception of the dress. Target has them but I've seen them and I'm not a fan)
Reply:KUDOS to secret_oktober_girl


Your ideas and wedding sound awesome!
Reply:Hobby Lobby runs a bridal sale, were everything 50% off. So wacth for sales. Ebay has great stuff, just wacth feedback scores. I got my dress for 80 dollars on ebay. Flowers are the only thing really can not cut cost on. Shop around, maybe do your own. I going to use silk flowers because of the colors I choose.





My biggest suggestion is when you see something, do not buy. Look else were and see if you can find it cheaper.


I printed my invitation and the look great.


Good Luck
Reply:theknot.com has alot of budgeting tips.


i work in a restaurant and bridal shop and weddings are cheaper on fri and sun than on sat!(almost half the price)


and


if you are an"average size girl you can get a good deal on a sample or discontinued gown.


and then have it taylored to fit you perfect!


most bridal shops get all dresses in 10s or 12s so unfortunalty if you are any size bigger this is not a bargining tool.


dont be afraid to get a couple estimates for everything. and ask for throw ins . mention that a couple of your girls or guests are engaged or might be getting engaged soon!


sounds tacky but saves money and buisness like the referals


happy planning
Reply:I love the words cheap and wedding together.. I am a complete look for the best deal person..





* seriously... walmart makes some amazing wedding cakes..


* check out the sites below


* shop around.. Dont settle for the 1st thing you see..


* when you find something you like.. google it for directions and see if you can make it yourself


* instead of a dj.. burn nonstop cd's of songs..
Reply:If you are creative then DIY. You can order flowers anywhere and put them together the way you want them. Try to login on the theknot.com and you will great ideas also try orientaltrading.com for the small things like bubbles and champagne flutes. Make sure you recuit someone very responsible to help you. Also go to your area arts and crafts stores like Micheals or Hobby Lobby they have alot of great ideas
Reply:Get BRIDE magazines curren issue I saw on the cover where they had dream receptions for budgets from $5,000 to $10,000. Its all about negotiating with vendors, bargain hunts, and DIY projects.