Well I think we're going to book our wedding - v. low budget

flower24

We've been engaged for 3 years now, and we have 2 lovely children together, I think the next thing to do is get married!

We're on an extremely low budget, unless I can get winning some comps :rotfl:

Anybody else on a low budget? At the moment I'm thinking registry office, and no reception as such, just a meal in a restaurant afterwards.

madmumof2

I'm on a very small budget. We don't want to spend more than 2k in total for everything. If I were you, I'd write a list of everything you think you'll need, go through and take out the things you really don't need, prioritise the things that really matter to you, then go through the list again and take more out that you really don't need lol.

My dress is being custom made in China and is costing less than £100. Suits (4), flowergirl dress and bridesmaids dresses (3) we're buying from china and ebay (new), totalling £200, getting fake flowers from a very good seller on ebay, the whole lot for less than £100.

The castle is £300, registrar is £350 and reception is £640! The last three are essential so couldn't skimp on those lol. Totalling so far £1690. We need nothing else apart from invites which we're making ourselves, decorations which we have already bought cheaply and rings, which will be £100 for both of us.

We are doing the food (buffet) ourselves and a relative is making our cake. My friend had a wedding last september so we'll be able to borrow the cake stand/knife etc from her.

Since we're still under budget I'm considering splashing out on a photographer though! We were going to get a friend to do it originally, but looking at a thread on here there is one near me that charges £545 for the whole day, bride getting ready, ceremony, reception, speeches etc, over 2000 pics with the cd and dvd included and copyright, plus there will be two photographers so hopefully no photo opportunities missed! I may be tempted if I can work a little harder over the next few weeks loll.

pretzelnut

The only neccesary thing for getting married is the legal bit - everything else is personnal choice for you.

Sit down and work out exactly what you want.

We started off wanting a budget wedding, then the more we talked about it the more we said well we would prefer.......

In the end after talking about it a small cheap wedding wasnt for us.

I didnt want to spend money on the day, i have better things to spend it on, but DF did saying we will only do it once so we better do it right first time.

Then things start to snowball, and this is where you have to be really strict with your budget.
Dont listen to other people and what they want as it wil sway you. We are constantly told that if we do that so and so wont be able to come, to which i reply, they dont have to its not compulsory or illegal if they dont it's our day not theirs.

I was eating in the toby carvey a few months ago and in walked a bride, groom and about 15 guests, they'd been to the registry office and got married and decided that the toby was more than enough for what they wanted. The bride looked lovely and the groom had a really nice hired suit on. The guests had all nipped into the ballon shop and got a few helium balloons on weights for their table. So they managed to arrange a wedding venue and decor on the way back from the registry office.

My mum said well i feel like im gatecrashing someones wedding day now!!!

shellsuit

princesswoo wrote: »

The only neccesary thing for getting married is the legal bit - everything else is personnal choice for you.

Sit down and work out exactly what you want.

We started off wanting a budget wedding, then the more we talked about it the more we said well we would prefer.......

In the end after talking about it a small cheap wedding wasnt for us.

I didnt want to spend money on the day, i have better things to spend it on, but DF did saying we will only do it once so we better do it right first time.

Then things start to snowball, and this is where you have to be really strict with your budget.
Dont listen to other people and what they want as it wil sway you. We are constantly told that if we do that so and so wont be able to come, to which i reply, they dont have to its not compulsory or illegal if they dont it's our day not theirs.

I was eating in the toby carvey a few months ago and in walked a bride, groom and about 15 guests, they'd been to the registry office and got married and decided that the toby was more than enough for what they wanted. The bride looked lovely and the groom had a really nice hired suit on. The guests had all nipped into the ballon shop and got a few helium balloons on weights for their table. So they managed to arrange a wedding venue and decor on the way back from the registry office.

My mum said well i feel like im gatecrashing someones wedding day now!!!

How do you know? Did you ask?




OP, if you and OH want the reg office then a meal, go for it! It's your day, so it's about doing what the 2 of you want, rather than what you think you should do. xx

NikkiTony

I was looking on a thread on another board about weddings for 50 guests for £999, it looked really interesting to me, becuase although I would like a fabulous wedding I am not really into spending £10K+ on my wedding day.
The most important thing to me is my marriage and by starting that in loads of debt after we've just finished clearing it all and saving a deposit (which is still going on) would put so much pressure on our relationship, that will therefore prob not last very long afterwards!

We have been engaged now since July 2009 and have not yet set a date as we're buying a house first. When it does come round to setting a date I would like to spend as little as possible but still make it lovely. I already have my own ideas, like pulling in favours from family and friends, which can double up as wedding gifts to us, cake, hair, make up, stationary. Also my mum has offered to buy my dress. I have a few other money saving tips and just found this board which is great for tips - will be having a proper read later!

But the venue cost is so terrifying it can be so much money, so anyway when I saw this link I got a bit excited and showed a few people at work. I was then told by one of them when they looked at me dissapointingly ''you really don't want to get married there it's just a pub you'll be dissapointed, where would you have your outside pictures and no no no it would be awful''. To which I thought, WHAT A SNOB!!!!! I was hurt by what she said in all honesty I have a small budget and don't intend to spend alot of money but want a perfect day with all my friends and family to watch. Yes they are a pub chain, but who knows what they are like inside - not her!! So I will no doubt still visit it as don't want to just write it off totally, the one I was looking at has a ballroom to hire which I'm sure would be lovely for a wedding.

I can't add the link but look on oldenglishinns . co . uk/gettingmarried.php and let me know what you think - would you write them off immediately with a small budget?

There are loads of these if you google £999 weddings - could save you heaps on your venue with your small but sensible budget!

frannyann

http://www.oldenglishinns.co.uk/gettingmarried.php

That looks really good, I know the pubs in my area are all 'nice' thanks for the info it will help someone!

floss2

Also, look at Holiday Inns. They also do a £999 deal.

blondie81_2

what seller are you getting your suits from

madmumof2 wrote: »

I'm on a very small budget. We don't want to spend more than 2k in total for everything. If I were you, I'd write a list of everything you think you'll need, go through and take out the things you really don't need, prioritise the things that really matter to you, then go through the list again and take more out that you really don't need lol.

My dress is being custom made in China and is costing less than £100. Suits (4), flowergirl dress and bridesmaids dresses (3) we're buying from china and ebay (new), totalling £200, getting fake flowers from a very good seller on ebay, the whole lot for less than £100.

The castle is £300, registrar is £350 and reception is £640! The last three are essential so couldn't skimp on those lol. Totalling so far £1690. We need nothing else apart from invites which we're making ourselves, decorations which we have already bought cheaply and rings, which will be £100 for both of us.

We are doing the food (buffet) ourselves and a relative is making our cake. My friend had a wedding last september so we'll be able to borrow the cake stand/knife etc from her.

Since we're still under budget I'm considering splashing out on a photographer though! We were going to get a friend to do it originally, but looking at a thread on here there is one near me that charges £545 for the whole day, bride getting ready, ceremony, reception, speeches etc, over 2000 pics with the cd and dvd included and copyright, plus there will be two photographers so hopefully no photo opportunities missed! I may be tempted if I can work a little harder over the next few weeks loll.

crazydee

Hi & congratulations.
I believe I am the queen of low budget!!
We have been together forever already with 2 kids and always said when they get older we would get married, NOW is that time!
We get wed may 22nd 2010 at our local registry office. £60 to give notice then £120 on the day (As its a saturday it is slightly more expensive but I wanted that Saturday.) We are going to a local pub for a buffet, room hire is free< I can decorate. Buffet is £6 head. We are only inviting family and close friends so probably about £175. We are taking our own cds so free music.
I have been bargaining hunting in £ shop, bubbles, deco etc all cheap, kids favours are bags and gifts from home bargains, biggish bags 39p and multi-pack sweets and other toys.*more to keep them entertained and quiet My OH is getting dinner suits from asda. I bought their ties in the sale £1.50 each. I contacted a local web forum regards to a photographer not a pro but at uni studing towards qual! He is free!!!!!
My biggest expense so far is my dress which i fell in love with as soon as I saw it. That is £315.
So my advice go for it, hunt around buy things when you see them and have a great time. Best of luck Dee XX

angel13

madmumof2 wrote: »

The castle is £300, registrar is £350 and reception is £640! The last three are essential so couldn't skimp on those lol. Totalling so far £1690. We need nothing else apart from invites which we're making ourselves, decorations which we have already bought cheaply and rings, which will be £100 for both of us.

wow where have you found a castle for that price? I am in south east but looked in south west too and I cannot find a castle at that sort of price.

madmumof2

Hey, it's Oakham Castle. It doesn't look like a traditional castle but it's hundreds of years old and the big big of the castle has gone now lol. It's this on http://www.rutnet.co.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?IDType=Page&ID=3628