Ways to save money on Weddings

GobbledyGook

My advice would be to get a list of the things all the magazines say are a "must have" then go through it and pick the things that you really want.

Once you've made that list then stick to it. If you cross out having a chocolate fountain then don't give in when your Mum's Aunty's neighbours daughter has one.


My wedding was cheap in comparison to all our friends at £6k for everything (66 guests in the day and 120 at night). We had a hot buffet which reduced costs massively, but everyone loved as they could have as much or as little as they liked.

I bought my BM's dresses online once we decided what kind of style to go for.

A friend who has a really fancy car drove us as a wedding gift, another friend made the cake as her gift.

I am a control freak so I sorted my own table decorations, place cards and flowers. Having artificial flowers (I have horrendous hayfever) cut down on my budget massively and most people were very surprised to discover they were fake.

The biggest way to have a money saving wedding imo is to have just the wedding you want without all the million trimmings that people and magazines say you must have.

[Deleted User]

OK. I'll pitch in with the cost of my wedding. It was about £600 (no there is not a zero missing off the end).

We got married in a registry office (we are not religious so didn't want a church do), I made my wedding dress, didn't have a bouquet, but a circle of flowers in my hair. I didn't get them delivered, but threw my jeans on and went down to the florists in the morning myself (actually this turned out to be really nice as it was the only time throughout the whole day I was on my own with a bit of peace and quiet). The only other flowers we bought were for the parents. No make up, hairdressers etc. Kept it all very simple.

Mate is a photographer and so he did the photos as a pressie. We had 21 people at the wedding and hired a coach to take everyone around (got it cheaper through in-laws friends). In-laws made the most amazing cake with sugared roses as the decoration, we had sparkling wine not champagne at the meal. The meal was in a private room at a Hotel in the country overlooking a lake. We kept the menu really simply (Sunday Roast style three course meal). In the evening we all got on the coach (great fun) and went back to parents for a buffet. In the late evening the two of us left, got changed and went on around town with friends (this was nice too as we had about 30 minutes at home together on our own just to chat which was the first real chance we had had all day). Left the rellies drunkly singing and eating fish and chips in the garden.

We didn't do a wedding list and in fact told people we didn't want presents, but if they wanted to buy us something then it would be very grateful and they could buy whatever they liked. We were the first in the family to have a very small wedding. We originally only wanted 8, but compromised at 21 people. Many of the people who came to the wedding said it was the best one they have ever been to as it was very relaxed and they got to chat to everyone.

So my advice would be you don't need to spend loads to make it a special day and ask around as people can usually always help with something.

Kit_Kat_Kate

I went to a wedding a couple of years ago and as favours she had perfume bottles! Every time she went to the shops she would pick up FREE SAMPLES (you know the type the little bottles) or makeup. All the ladies loved them and cost her nothing!

keava

Find your dream dress in a shop get teh name and size and colour then google it - I saved 2500 on mine. Ebay for favours esp the wholesale or bulk buy bits

Good luck

VK-2008

there is a wedding thread pop over there and loads of b2bs will give you lots of handy advice!

borokat

Hermia wrote: »

My tips are:

1) Get your talented friends to contribute something to the wedding rather than give you a wedding present. E.g. At my aunt's wedding the invites and place name cards were done by my cousin who has done several calligraphy courses. A friend of mine had a wedding where almost everything was contributed by the guests.

2) Don't buy a wedding dress! My friend got married in a white bridesmaid dress. It was pretty much identical to many wedding dresses in the shop, but cost sooo much less. Another friend got married in the most beautiful white beaded dress that she bought in the Monsoon sale. It wasn't a wedding dress, but by the time she had added the flowers and accessories it totally looked like a wedding dress.

If I was trying to save on a wedding dress, I would go down the preloved route or ebay. Sometimes people sell the dresses unworn because they have changed their minds or got pregnant for example! Monsoon dresses are lovely but for me the difference with a wedding dress is all in the upholstery - they hold you in and hoist you up like no-ones business!

wkdhoney

vezza wrote: »

My brother is a VW enthusiast and we really wanted to go in a VW camper van, the hire costs are around the £300 mark and my bro said that he can get in touch with a friend and sort the transport for us and would treat us to it as well!

Strangely enough my brother has a VW camper van a 1967 splity that we used as it's in amazing condition. We used it at the wedding for free, happy days! He did draw the line at painting it pink to match my theme though..

Kate78

borokat wrote: »

If I was trying to save on a wedding dress, I would go down the preloved route or ebay. Sometimes people sell the dresses unworn because they have changed their minds or got pregnant for example!

Yep, I got my wedding dress off a lass on ebay who sold it (unworn, with tags) as she was a little optimistic with weight loss. She wore the same dress a size bigger for the actual wedding.

Paid half what I would have brand new.

Dress is this one (don't often get chance to show off as we're b*ggering off and not telling anyone!)

Glad

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olliebells

Try searching for unique decorations that have all the guests talking .. They make a big difference at little cost