wedding savings ideas....

ellies_angel

jacksma wrote: »

OK - I'm a definite lurker on here, and have been reading a lot of the information on here with great interest, and have picked up some excellent tips and ideas.

We are getting married in Stirling on May 28 and have a budget of £4,500, but after finding my partner might lose his job in April, we are trying to get it below the £4,000 tag....

So far this is where I'm at....

Got/Booked/Paid for
Venue - free
Drinks - no idea what to do here. Can't decide to offer drinks during reception or just offer tea/coffee, or whether to offer drinks during meal. We only have a budget for this for 60 adults of £250.thats aprox £4 a head, you might be better to offer a glass of wine with the meal or just have jugs of juice on the table.
Canapes - £150 do you really need canapes
Meal - £1800
Evening buffet - £150
Invitations - made myself
Table plan, order of service, etc... - making myself £40
DJ - £100
Photographer - £300 thats a great price
Hair/make-up for me/bridesmaid - £120 - I never make an effort with how I look, and I've been really working hard at losing weight, and I really want to look my best on the day and surprise my OH, so this is something I don't want to lose. have you shopped around for this
Wedding transport - free by father in law to be driving his nice merc.
Cake - sister in law making for free (I think...)
Humanist Registrar - £325 is that not expensive ( I have no idea)

Still to organise
Wedding Dress - looking at a couple of online places in china, so under £200 my step daughter went to a bridal sale and got one £1400 down to £300, but there were loads around the £100/£200 mark
Bridesmaid Dress - spotted one I like on ebay from china for £34
Shoes - I saw a beautiful pair on ebay that are handmade sparkly shoes but they are £125 which is really expensive.... but I never dress up and find it really hard getting shoes that fit - so made to measure ones sound ideal.... bridal shop sale. Rainbow shoes really expensive, fit like a glove, again step daughter got a pair £75 down to £10.
Kilt - probably will hire for hubbie to be, and think my sons kilt is being hired by my dad - but not confirmed. Was maybe just going to buy him an outfit for £100, but know he can hire for around £70.
Flowers - getting fake ones and doing myself - 2 bouquets, 6 buttonholes - prob bout £100.
Decor - wasn't going to do anything apart from some candles and sprinkly table confetti - keep it simple - but was hoping to maybe get some coloured balloons to tie in colour scheme and then kids can get them later to take home. Would also like some candles for outside in little lanterns or similar so they don't blow out in wind... Again don't have much budget....
Live Music for reception - looking for a guitarist/duo to play for under £200.
Rings - seen loads on ebay shops 2 palladium bands for £220, or 2 white gold for £180, or do I go for titanium or tungsten? not sure.... but like the look of weddingringonline for their rings and feedback score. My engagement ring is 18k white gold. OH wants 6mm and I want 4mm court shaped.titanium or tunsten nice for the men and a lot cheaper, white gold can need replating so not always cost effective.
Mailbox - think seen some for about £15 as we have asked for cash gifts for our honeymoon.
Passport - me and my little boy need passports so think that about £100 think passports are around £80 each, although childrens could be cheaper
Legal docs for wedding - no idea!! wedding insurance is a good idea and at around £35 not to be missed, licence

Good luck with your wedding x

Muffin86

Hiya good luck on on the wedding... it can def be done... my wedding cost around £3000 for everything

I had a limo for a wedding car (which I also got at mate rates) my dad and I travelled in the limo along with the bridesmaid and my mum, made it cheaper than having a car for us and a car for them.

My sister in law made our cake for free

Our friend who is into photography took our photos of the day for free - although we did buy him a bottle and put £50 in a thank you card!

I also had candles as centre pieces instead of flowers

and the flowers I did have I got from a fruit and flower shop as opposed to a "wedding florist" so my bouquet, 3 bridesmaids, 4 button holes and 2 corsages were £120

I made my own table plan / order of services etc

my invitations i bought from a car boot

i bought my place cards and table numbers from ebay

flower girl dresses from bhs in the sale

shoes i got from debenhams sale, altho as soon as i was at the venue from the church i put flip flops on!

my friend did my hair and make up

we just had an ipod playing in the back ground of the meal

and the venue we got a grand wedding for a grand which including room hire, dj, 3 course meal, a drink per guest for toast and one for meal!

Think thats everything - hopefully something may help you xxx

sparklylime

I am also on a very small and tight budget - looking at your costs here is what I would suggest:

Dress - be very cautious and do your research if ordering from china. My best friend got hers this way and it was lovely but my cousin did this and even after a lot of chasing around her dress never showed up and she had to get a last minute off the peg dress. One tip I'd give is perhaps look at bridesmaids dresses in a style you like as many can be ordered in white/ivory.

Canapes - personally I'd ditch them.

Live Music for the reception - again wouldn't bother as people tend to be mingling and chatting.

Flowers - I'll be making my own with fresh flowers from a supermarket. I'm only budgeting around £60 for this so perhaps something to consider.

Hair/Make-up - Does your local college have a beauty salon? They are often ridiculously cheap. My cousin went along to her local college on her wedding morning and had her hair done in an updo and make up for about £20 and she looked beautiful!

Shoes - £125!!! I imagine your shoes will probably be hidden - have a good hunt around for something cheaper that is comfortable. The sooner you look the more likely you are to find something. Try different width sizes as well if your struggling to find a comfortable fit.

Good luck with the rest of your planning hun, I know it can be tough on a tight budget but your day will be all the more special for all the time and thought you have put into it.

Swinstie73

Hi Jacksma, sent you a wee PM yesterday, did you get it?

bubbles0169

RE the legal docs, you will need a marriage certificate, not sure how much they are in scotland but here theyr £3.50 and you will need to pay to give notice
then youll need to pay the registrar fees on top that depends on the registry office you will be getting married in(the legal bit)
this differs from office to office some being as cheap as £30 just to go in and say the words, sign your names, in an office with 3 chairs and a table
is this the building you'd use?
http://www.stirling.gov.uk/wedding/weddingregistrationoffices/stirling_office.htm
the smallest room looks like it holds 25 but they may just have an office if you explain you only want the legal bit
ive found these fees but theyr a bit confusing!
http://www.stirling.gov.uk/index/life/registrar/civil_partnership/fees.htm
its best to give them a ring i think

the humanist celebrant will also want paying and again this differs between celebrants
http://www.humanism.org.uk/ceremonies/fees

RainbowDrops

Another vote for ditching the canapes & swapping the guitarist for an ipod.

I originally had my heart set on a Harpist to walk\down the aisle to then play afterwards, but it was going to cost £300 for the first hour alone.
Plus I've been to weddings with string quartets, and yes the musi is lovely, but unless you're looking right at them, it could just as easilly be coming from an ipod.

Also, if your dress budget is v.tight, I'd be nervous to risk any of it on a copy from China. As already mentioned, Monsoon & Debs do nice dresses, as does Littlewoods & BHS. At least they have returns policies!

Shoes - although some are saying skimp, you're going to be in them all day, so get something that will be comfortable & you love.

jacksma

Thanks for all the great comments!! Some good points there.

Dress - I've got tickets to a wedding dress sale next saturday and dresses start at £99 so hopefully I'll find something and I've been on preloved and seen a few I like too - so think I might avoid the china idea - getting cold feet now after the comments....

Venue/drinks/canapes - our venue doesn't allow corkage as they don't charge to hire venue. Think might have an afternoon tea/coffee and cakes instead of canapes and drinks to lower costs. We are not having a big 3 course meal, instead having a BBQ and cold buffet, which is why we are offering food earlier. Also having a mini dessert buffet after the BBQ. Will probably just put out a bottle of red and white on each table and that will do.....

Think I might scrap the music and just go for my ipod - I'd rather have the money to spend elsewhere!!

Shoes - might just go for cheap and cheerful I think!! I love the sparkly shoes - but realistically - I'm a jeans and trainers girl, so I would probably never wear them again!!

Passport - mine ran out a couple of years ago, so I need to get one and son doesn't have one either, so these are necessary costs. Will cost me just under £140!!!

Legal docs - I am getting married at my venue as our humanist celebrant is licenced to marry us there. Our costs for marriage licence docs and registrar costs for processing is just under £100 so I know that now.

Now just looking into costs for making my own flowers - as an ebay lady has quoted me £65 for 9 buttonholes and 2 bouquets, but didn't want to spend that much - although look really nice!! Maybe if I cut costs....

ldm74

A new joiner here, i've read all the above post, and i would definitely recommend looking online for locally sourced handmade items, particularly in terms of weddings favours etc. You can get a lot of good bargains out there.

codemonkey

Never underestimate ebay for bargains of the wedding variety.

Sammy85_2

jacksma wrote: »

Got/Booked/Paid for
Venue - free
Drinks - no idea what to do here. Can't decide to offer drinks during reception or just offer tea/coffee, or whether to offer drinks during meal. We only have a budget for this for 60 adults of £250. How much are they charging for wine? I would maybe go for a couple of bottle per table if you can stretch to it. If not then i dont think people would notice if you only provided fizz for the toasts. Dont go for champagne, the cheap stuff usually tastes cheap and the expensive stuff, well... its expensive!! Cava/Asti type drinks are usually a good choice.
Canapes - £150 Do you need these? What time is the ceremony and what time is the meal?
Meal - £1800 Have you tried to haggle this?
Evening buffet - £150
Invitations - made myself
Table plan, order of service, etc... - making myself £40
DJ - £100
Photographer - £300
Hair/make-up for me/bridesmaid - £120 - I never make an effort with how I look, and I've been really working hard at losing weight, and I really want to look my best on the day and surprise my OH, so this is something I don't want to lose. Have you shopped about? Do you need to pay for the bridesmaids?
Wedding transport - free by father in law to be driving his nice merc.
Cake - sister in law making for free (I think...)
Humanist Registrar - £325 No idea if this is good or not.

Still to organise
Wedding Dress - looking at a couple of online places in china, so under £200 Dont do it! Your budget is such that you would be strapped if you had to buy another or alter that one. Mine came from Ebay - 2nd hand. Its stunning and cost me £125. My first dresss (yes i bought two!) cost £100 and is also gorgeous, but i fell in love with no2 dress more. Both were in excess of £800 new. If you are happy with a preowned dress i would go that route, afterall, its only been worn for a day!
Bridesmaid Dress - spotted one I like on ebay from china for £34 again i bought second hand off ebay. £20 for two full length gowns. If you're looking for one or two dresses in fairly popular colours there are plenty on ebay for sale.
Shoes - I saw a beautiful pair on ebay that are handmade sparkly shoes but they are £125 which is really expensive.... but I never dress up and find it really hard getting shoes that fit - so made to measure ones sound ideal.... i would just go for run of the mill shoes, noone will see them. Try debenhams/bhs online, mine were £25 and you know you can return them if they dont fit right.
Kilt - probably will hire for hubbie to be, and think my sons kilt is being hired by my dad - but not confirmed. Was maybe just going to buy him an outfit for £100, but know he can hire for around £70.
Flowers - getting fake ones and doing myself - 2 bouquets, 6 buttonholes - prob bout £100. half that probably
Decor - wasn't going to do anything apart from some candles and sprinkly table confetti - keep it simple - but was hoping to maybe get some coloured balloons to tie in colour scheme and then kids can get them later to take home. Would also like some candles for outside in little lanterns or similar so they don't blow out in wind... Again don't have much budget.... ask around, many mums/grannys have cupboards full of candles collected up over the years - put them to good use! noone will notice that the other tables have slightly different candles!
Live Music for reception - looking for a guitarist/duo to play for under £200. Its very expensive, i would guess at more than you have budgeted for. My band is £100 per person (5 piece)

Rings - seen loads on ebay shops 2 palladium bands for £220, or 2 white gold for £180, or do I go for titanium or tungsten? not sure.... but like the look of weddingringonline for their rings and feedback score. My engagement ring is 18k white gold. OH wants 6mm and I want 4mm court shaped. You shoudl get the same gold as the engagement ring, otherwise a harder metal will wear away at your 18ct ring over the years. These will be your lasting outward sign of your marriage for the rest of your lives so i wouldnt skimp in this area.


Mailbox - think seen some for about £15 as we have asked for cash gifts for our honeymoon.
Passport - me and my little boy need passports so think that about £100 Double it
Legal docs for wedding - no idea!!

No idea what I've missed out - probably loads....

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!! As at the moment there is no room for error in costs....

your Jewellery, underwear.
Gifts for mums/bridesmaids/best men etc
Fake tan, manicured nails etc.
Bridesmaids shoes.
Favours.
Hotel for wedding night?