my budget wedding - have i missed anything?

pretzelnut

We are planning on getting married in may 2010 (waiting date confirmation)

Although we have no problem with putting the date back if its not avavilable.

I dont want to waste money i just want to have a great day.

Having been to wedings that are over the top with bells on and low key weddings - we have always had more fun at the low key unformal do's.

SO that is what we are planning.

Today i found the perfect venue (hallmark hotel carlisle - check out the ballroom)

We dont want a sit down meal, and are planning on getting married later in the day about 3.30, mainly as i have 3 kids and dont want to feel rushed.

We are hoping to have a civil ceremony at the hotel and are getting married on a thursday.

From the ceremony we will have a few drinks, snacks and photo's with guests. We will then go and sit down for the speeches and toasts, cut the cake, eat our buffet or hog roast and relax for half an hour.

Then we will have our 1st dance and enjoy the rest of the evening celebrating with our family and friends.

The hotel do an evening reception package for £20 per head which includes, room hire, accodation for us, DJ, linens, buffet etc. We have 75 guests.

So the only extra cost would be the registrar fee.

We wont need cars either.

I am getting my dress from landy for about £150 depending on which 1 i choose.
Invitations will be made by myself.
Rings will be from goldsmith using our tesco vouchers.
Cake is being made by my mum and iced by DF's mum, for free.
Hair is being done by my friend for free.
Venue decor is being done by a friend for free.
Photo's are being done by my uncle for free.
I already have a massive and shoe collection so no expense there.
1 bridemaid dress from the high street.
Bouquet for me and DD, button holes for groom and witnesses only.

bits and bobs i will get from ebay as needed.

Is there anything major i have missed.

Which means i could probably do the whole wedding for £2500

Lexxi

Do you need to book any rooms to stay over or has the hotel included those in their price?

aliasojo

princesswoo wrote: »

We dont want a sit down meal, and are planning on getting married later in the day about 3.30, mainly as i have 3 kids and dont want to feel rushed.

One small comment which may or may not be relevant depending on your kids..........the build up between getting up and the 3.30pm time is going to be quite intense over that period of time. The kids may be well wound up by then? I know my lot were always worse the longer they had to wait or hang around for something.

I suppose that depends on the ages and characters of the kids though.

laura2481

princesswoo wrote: »

SO that is what we are planning.

Today i found the perfect venue (hallmark hotel carlisle - check out the ballroom)

We dont want a sit down meal, and are planning on getting married later in the day about 3.30, mainly as i have 3 kids and dont want to feel rushed.

We are hoping to have a civil ceremony at the hotel and are getting married on a thursday.

From the ceremony we will have a few drinks, snacks and photo's with guests. We will then go and sit down for the speeches and toasts, cut the cake, eat our buffet or hog roast and relax for half an hour.

Then we will have our 1st dance and enjoy the rest of the evening celebrating with our family and friends.

OMG you just described our ideal wedding (except we want a Sunday, not Thursday) but can we find anywhere round here which will do that?! Aaaargh

I would suggest for flowers have a look around for good silk flowers. Good quality silk flowers look real, cost less and you get to keep your bouquet forever..if you want

shellsuit

I've got 3 children too and our ceremony time is 3pm.

The older 2 won't be any bother as they will be 14 and 12 ~ the baby will be 17 months, but Grandad will be here to entertain him while I'm running about the house like a loon lol

We're not having a sit down meal either, we're having drinks and canapes, until the evening reception which will start at 7.30 with the buffet open at 8.30.

Then we're having bacon and sausage baps at midnight, yum yum!!

The bar doesn't close until 1am so I thought it best to let everyone soak up the alcohol with the baps before kicking out time..


I'm still in 2 minds whether to go for real or artificial flowers. I probably won't decide until the month before lol!

pretzelnut

My kids are 7, 2 and 4 months old. My 2 year old DD thinks its her who is getting married and goes on more about her bridesmaid dress than i do mine. My 7 year old son wants to be best man, lol. Im sure we can find him an equally important job.

They are fantastic and never whinge. There will be plenty of family around to keep them entertained.

We arent booking rooms, if family are staying they will book there own rooms. Were we are getting married is surrounded by 5 or 6 different hotels all with different pricing levels so there is a room suitable to all budgets all within walking distance.

I supppose we are lucky. Neither of our families expect anything. They dont expect free drinks, they dont expect their accomadation to be paid for them, people dont expect us to pay for their suits and dresses. We have a very easy going family.

A local lady who has a teeny flower shop is going to do my bouquet, and button holes. I prefer fresh flowers as im having star gazer lillies and the scent is fantastic, which means that in the future when DF buys me my favourite flowers and i smell them, they should remind me of our big day.

Im so excited. doing it this way eans i have very litle to organise as its all in 1 place. But it still leaves me with a few little things to do and keep me occupied.