£2500 for our wedding possible?

maggie111

smiler34 wrote: »

Thanks for all your advice you have given me a lot to think about. xx

I'm pleased that you have considered these things - I just want to reiterate that yes, you are talking about getting things cheap, ebaying, making your own etc, but these things still cost money and must be budgeted for. As I said, the individual £20s here and there will come from somewhere.

You're doing your own make-up - do you own everything you want to use? Your nan is making dresses, are you buying her material? You may get your uncle to photograph for free, but are you getting prints made? Albums done? Your making your own centrepieces with candles (I assume you've checked these are allowed) but candles aren't that cheap (Ikea have the best prices I think).

Catering, you need to work of a per head price and cost it out properly. I've just had a look at Sainsburys - the cost for everyone to get 4 sandwich triangles (1 whole sandwich) is £200. What time are you thinking of getting married? If it was at 3pm this way everyone could have lunch beforehand and then you just need food for dinner, but you still could spend a lot of money with just the platters if you don't want people to go hungry.

This may sound like I am telling you it can't be done - it can, but I am boring practical person who tries to think of all the little things.

Everytime I try and cost up our wedding at the top of my head I am always £1k short and get cross - why am I spending a thousand pounds on something I can't even think of!! And when I check the budget I'm like, noo, need that, must have that etc!!

u751904

I don't know how old your parents are but my parents generation didn't spend that much on weddings. Main reason was expectation was different. Our expectation is for more. So for example I have been to loads and loads of weddings which have been in big hotels and they have been dull to say the least the food is the standard hotel package and it was often poor. I was left thinking I could have done better than this. The best weddings I have been to was done on the cheap. People especially older generation always used to do their own catering. Outside catering could provide some say 50% of the fair and your folks could add to the buffet. So you get a bill for 60 people in terms of catering not 120. Also its a family affair where people contribute. You'll find they'll love it. It gives people something to do. Draw up a list of food / drink items which you want to be at the party like sandwhiches, mulled wine etc and get people to write their names next to them. Relax you can do it. And it will be something everyone will love a lovely celebration.

missknixon

I created a spreadsheet for our wedding spends. I couldn't use any of those I found on the internet - they didn't work the same way as my brain did! I have written down every penny that we have spent - the odd £1 here and the odd £2 there - it has soon mounted up! To cater for the numbers you are looking at you will need to be very practical and organised - no point being shocked when the credit card bill comes in at the end of the month - Really I have spent that?

Normally I would have sneaked a couple of purchases in but not this time. I have a list of all of the receipts - in case anything needs to be returned - and the amount on there tallies with my budget plan. Some areas we have spent more than we planned but in others we have saved a lot of money! Anything is possible!

ailuro2

I'd hire a village hall, get family to do the catering, let people bring their own drink and hire a sound system and gather music people want to listen to on an ipod. Hire or persuade someone to be a general host / MC to keep things organised / announce the buffet.

Get an outdoor BBQ going and feed them bacon and sausage rolls halfway through the night ( lots of people will be celebrating bonfire night anyway, so the BBQ will not be out of place) Google smores for the older kids.

Let people know you'll be having a casual reception and welcome kids along, encourage people not to buy a new outfit etc, tell them you don't want to have a posh do, you want a good old fashioned family shindig that won't cost the earth for your guests either ( paying hotel prices, taxi to the venue, childminding , new outfit and accommodation on top can cost many hundreds even before they buy a gift - #I bet your guests will breathe a sigh of relief)

Shopaholik

Hi,

I'm currently planning my sister-in-laws wedding reception in West Yorkshire & she is on a tight budget so I was looking for inspiration when I stumbled across this thread!

I mainly agree with what a lot of the others have said, but just want to add - don't panic, it can totally be done.

It all just depends on what feel you want to go for.
I was totally like you & had to have a Church wedding, think we paid about £500 in all, which included the organ, but another wedding I went to the Bride had one of her friend playing her ipod at the back of the church (you couldn't see her) & that was really nice, it only cost her pence to download the music she wanted from itunes!!

Transports really not that important, no-one will see you arriving apart from your bridesmaids as they will all be in the church, so maybe an uncle with a decent car & buy some ribbon to trim it up?

Bridesmaid dresses I agree with the others - look for cheap dresses in the January sales, or failing that whoever is making your little ones dresses, can they not do a simple adult design - Bombay stores in Bradford is the best place in West Yorkshire for cheap material - you will also find some amazing shoes here really cheap too. (Although shoes arn't important as no one will see them either if you have a long dress!)

When we got married we got suits for all 17 attendants from Slators mens wear in Leeds only £50pp including shoes. Don't be afraid to ask the men that are wearing the suits to pay for it themselves - my hubby has had to on a few occasions & never batted an eyelid about it!

Your reception is your major spend, but as I said depend what kind of do you want - some local hotels offer deals for under £1K for up to 100 guests (usually only about 80% of people you invite will actually come) This included food & welcome drinks & for the toast etc.

The reception I am planning she is having in a marquee so having to supply all our own things. Got a hog roast for 120 people for £490.00. A portable bar that we just have to pay the licence fee (£21) for & then guests pay for their own drinks.

Sorry - I am rambling now - hope that has helped a bit!! Good luck & enjoy planning it!! x

VK-2008

have you thought about band/dj

csh_2

Don't forget rings. And fees to the registrar for marriage certificate.
As previous posters have said its the little bits here and there that cripple a budget.

LEJC

Mark....I am sure you intentions are good but im afraid that you are not allowed to advertise your services on the MSE forum boards...its considered as spam and will be removed ..sorry

Jane81

He's spammed five threads now, and I have reported all of them! He obviously hasn't read the forum rules before registering...