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help needed for wedding - blackpool

hi everyone,

i have been engaged since i was in labour with my DD (3.5.09) and unfortunately our savings were used to buy a house rather than spend it on a wedding. now with everything - mortgages, childcare etc we are finding it very hard to save enough for a wedding.

What i am looking for really is some advice on where to look for a cheap but nice venue in blackpool or surrounding areas, i only intend on getting married once and want the whole church wedding with the trimmings but at a price we can afford without going into debt. We have decided that we may be able to get married in 2014 if we save like mad, i want to be as crafty as possible - i will be making my own cake, my own invites, favours etc, looking in to making my own flowers, can anyone else think of anything else to help cut costs.

my parents have exactly said as much but i think they will try and help by giving us some money towards the wedding.

Sorry for the essay but i have been trying to look for venues and everything but the prices i am coming up with are the in the region of - £12,000 -something which we wont be able to afford. Our weddings cars wont cost anything as H2B's friend runs a wedding car company.

If anyone give me any tips / suggestions i would be really grateful.

Thanks
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Comments

  • floss2
    floss2 Posts: 8,030 Forumite
    We got married in Blackpool last September (because we live here!) for just under £7k, including quite a lot of accomodation costs for family guests.

    We bought our invitations from Clintons - mainly because we wanted very simple ones! We had our service in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall - look on the council website for the photos of the room & staircase.

    Then we hired a tram to take everyone from there to the reception at the Imperial, we had their "wedding in a box" deal - £2,500 for 4 course meal for 40 including wine, plus buffet & evening reception for 60 and including DJ & photographer.

    Flowers were from Sonja at The Wedding Place on Church Street, cake was from Enticing Cakes in Cleveleys (£210 for 2-tier inc delivery). Suits were from Debenhams formal hire, other bits & pieces (confetti & favours of Just Married rock) were from Ebay, name cards & table pna were done by the hotel as part of the dela & the table names (which were old photos of the various attractions like the Piers, Winter Gardens, Pleasure Beach etc) were printed by my employers at cost.
  • rubysmummy_2
    rubysmummy_2 Posts: 292 Forumite
    oh thanks ill have a look now, i never thought of there. i live in Blackpool too, weve not been to many weddings so im pretty unsure about where to look. Plus because we havent set a date i feel a bit silly just ringing up and asking to have a look at the place or is this the norm?
  • xtinkersx
    xtinkersx Posts: 355 Forumite
    floss2 wrote: »
    We got married in Blackpool last September (because we live here!) for just under £7k, including quite a lot of accomodation costs for family guests.

    We bought our invitations from Clintons - mainly because we wanted very simple ones! We had our service in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall - look on the council website for the photos of the room & staircase.

    Then we hired a tram to take everyone from there to the reception at the Imperial, we had their "wedding in a box" deal - £2,500 for 4 course meal for 40 including wine, plus buffet & evening reception for 60 and including DJ & photographer.

    Flowers were from Sonja at The Wedding Place on Church Street, cake was from Enticing Cakes in Cleveleys (£210 for 2-tier inc delivery). Suits were from Debenhams formal hire, other bits & pieces (confetti & favours of Just Married rock) were from Ebay, name cards & table pna were done by the hotel as part of the dela & the table names (which were old photos of the various attractions like the Piers, Winter Gardens, Pleasure Beach etc) were printed by my employers at cost.


    Can I jump in and ask how you hired a tram and approx cost?? We're getting wed at the Savoy and everyone is coming from south shore/marton way so its a bit of a trip my oh keeps mentioning a bus but this would be better as it stops right outside!

    To op i too am from blackpool and get wed next May at the savoy. Have you seen their deal for all their hotels ?? (The Savoy, Norbreck castle and metropole)
    get wed this year and its £999 or next year is £1500 and you get:

    • 3 course meal for 50 (inc coffee after)
    • buffet with 7 items for 100
    • room
    • red carpet
    • linen
    • menus
    • toast master
    I loved the savoy when i saw inside (donjt like outside) i love all the old features and it has real character and for the price we couldnt moan as others like the carousel and de vere wanted £3 grand just for food!!!! :eek::eek::eek:

    we are keeping ours low budget too with us making loads of extras that make it a bit special. our centrpieces/tablke names are named after rides on the PB as thats where we met :) Im cake making and all my stationary and (not to blow my own horn) but I make cakes and have some very good packages (I havent upped the price at the word wedding lol) im on Facebook: Every Little Cupcake.

    Hope ive helped a little xx
    Marrying the love of my life May19th 2012
    ** 52lbs Down!! 32lbs to go**
  • Queen_B_3
    Queen_B_3 Posts: 503 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Hiya, don't feel silly, when we were looking round at venues we hadn't set a date at that point. Sometimes a venue can decide your date/time of year for you.

    I've heard really good things about the Imperial. :)

    Are there any wedding fayres locally, these can sometimes give you ideas and you may even stumble across your perfect venue.
    I :heart2: saving money
  • ians5
    ians5 Posts: 79 Forumite
    If your looking for an MSE photographer in Blackpool maybe I can help. I've done a number of deals for MSE brides in the past. Just get in touch for a chat.
    ;) Hiring a wedding photographer? Remember to check out their samples and previous work before you book ! ;)
  • thanks for everything, i love coming on here, everyone makes everything seem so much simpler. Ive just drawn up my guest list and we have ....200 guests!! If we decide to have a sit down meal it will be for 90 and then 200 at night - we both have massive familys. if we decided on just having a buffet (was thinking maybe a late wedding service) would you still do a seating plan and have a top table? what about the speeches etc.

    Sorry to be a pain with all my questions but as you can probably tell i am very new to the whole wedding planning business

    Thanks again everyone for all your help
  • rubysmummy_2
    rubysmummy_2 Posts: 292 Forumite
    Also if you have it on a Friday is this a lot cheaper

    THanks
  • dtaylor21184
    dtaylor21184 Posts: 869 Forumite
    I'm from blackpool too and hoping to get married next year but haven't decided whether to do it here or abroad yet so will watch this thread closely
    Make £11,000 in 2011 challenge - £120/£11,000
  • floss2
    floss2 Posts: 8,030 Forumite
    edited 8 March 2011 at 2:57PM
    xtinkersx wrote: »
    Can I jump in and ask how you hired a tram and approx cost?? We're getting wed at the Savoy and everyone is coming from south shore/marton way so its a bit of a trip my oh keeps mentioning a bus but this would be better as it stops right outside!

    We just rang Blackpool Transport and asked - it was a heritage tram, green & cream double-decker one (see my avatar). I can't remember how much we paid, I do know it was booked about 12 months before we got married though.


    Don't forget to check that the trams will be running again when you get married.....
  • Ive been in contact with Ribby Hall, they emailed me thier prices through, im hoping for 70 for the wedding breakfast and 150 for the buffet at night and if i have done my sums correctly i am looking at around £4000. Does anyone know if you have to have a drinks package or is there a cheaper way round this maybe just having a bottle of plonk on each table? Also does anyone know the costs of churches? We have seen a lovely church on the way to OH's parents called St Nicholas in Wrea Green which looks lovely.
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