Summer 2013..On a budget of 2k...

threemuttleys

Hello all.

OH and I have decided that it is high time we got married (one child, and lived together for 4 years...:o:o:o:o but hey ho!)

We have a teeny tiny budget (around 2k, maybe be more depending on what we can save. I may be able to buy bits as we go) There will be around 50 people there for both the wedding and the reception

We live in a little Kent village, so I do think we will have a church wedding, and then probably hire the local village hall. (very cheap, around £100 for the whole day)

I did look into having a bar company come and do drinks, but this option is very expensive, both for us to pay for the drinks, or for our guests to. So our decision is that we will provide the drinks to our guests (probs will use the supermarket deals on wine/lager/ale/cider and just get some ice buckets) that way our guests can chill and enjoy themselves (and not think OMG £10 for a g and t!)

My concern is food. Any suggestions for this would be very welcome...I am wondering whether we should do a M and S run and get loads of sarnies, quiches etc, and hire a hog roast to go with...or whether we should hire a catering company (the prices :eek::eek::eek::eek:)

Also, anyone else with a teeny budget...what did you do for flowers (again pricey!)

I plan to use this thread as part of my planning, and add to it. I am also going to read through the epic Mrs Thrifts thread too (that make take me till 2013 tho!)

Thankies ladies (and gents)

spoonymoose

Some real flowers are very expensive...

I decided against bouquets for my bridesmaids (I'm having four) and went for corsages... The florist advised me against real flowers because of all the hugging that goes on the flowers may get damaged so I opted for foam flowers and got four bridesmaids corsages for just under £17, compared to one quote which was £60 per bridesmaids posy (which is the cost of the bridesmaids dress!)

With regards to a hog roast, I did enquire about this and it is quite expensive, probably more so than a standard buffet. You could go to wholesalers like Bookers or Macro and buy food and then enlist some people to help cook it (you can cook the quiches etc. the day before and have a cold buffet.)

Hope that helps a bit

Debbiecatal

We have hired a village hall, and we also looked into a bar company to do the drinks. They were very expensive, but we went to the local pub and they offered us two choices, either they would come for nothing and set up and add the set up costs to the price of the drinks, or (and this is the one we have chosen) we can pay them for the licence, transport and the wages for 1 barman for 6 hours - a total of about £100, and they will charge normal pub prices. We think this is fair for everyone. You could ring round a few local pubs to see if they would do this perhaps?

Regarding food, we are doing it ourselves, and having a hog roast in the evening. The hog roast is £450 for £150 people and during the wedding reception itself we are doing a fork buffet with hot chicken, fish or veggie tartlet portions, with a hot jacket potato and a selection of salads to make it as simple as possible. We have a couple of friends who have offered to serve for us. We hope to do the whole lot - a fork buffet with drinks for 70 followed by a hog roast with a veggie option for 150 for about £1000 - costs out ok so far - you should come in a lot cheaper than that with 50 people I would think

threemuttleys

Thank you for your replies.

I am considering (and this may sound odd) growing pots of herbs and lavender (and maybe some other easy/cheap to grow and look good plants) to use on the tables. I thought maybe we could use Balloons instead of so many flowers.

Debbiecatal

Great idea - I went to a fantastic wedding a few years ago where the bride had bought nearly everything on ebay, including her dress, and she had a lavender theme. She made invitations that included a sprig of lavender on the front, she had baskets of lavender to throw instead of confetti at the church, had pots of lavender on each table,and she made place name cards by tying a napkin up with a luggage label, with a sprig of lavender through it. She also got married on Friday 13th because she got nearly everything such as catering etc up to 50% cheaper as no-one else wanted the date! It cost her very little, and she was even more canny because she had a 12 month old daughter, and they walked back down the aisle to the font and had her christened at the end of the ceremony - two ceremonies and celebrations for the price of one!

It was lovely and one of the most memorable weddings I have ever been to

sazzy6

My sister is at a wedding today (as a bridesmaid) and they are having an afternoon tea theme. Cake stands at each table with sandwiches, cakes, scones etc... and old fashioned teapots and china. She has done this on a tiny budget with lots of borrowing, charity shopping, auctions (boxed lots) and ebay. She sent me a picture and it looks really amazing.
Hope they are enjoying themselves!!

sazzy6

Should say they spent a whole day making Cath Kidston inspired bunting - again very cheap but looks ace!

PinkPrincess83

This is definately do able. First I would find out how much your church will cost, this will then give you an idea of how much you have left for everything else. Then I would write a list of everything that you want and rule out things you arent fussed about. Also have a think of if you know anyone that has any talents- ie cake making, flower decoration, nice car, handy with a camera etc. It is very important when on a small budget to shop around, dont just book with the first company you get a quote from.

I found from researching myself that hog roasts can be quite expensive (unless you diy so if you know someone who wouldnt mind doing it for you you could save some money). Also I looked into getting ready made party platters and Sainsburys were by far the cheapest I found so if you have a local one pick up a leaflet from their deli to get an idea of costs. It may be worth asking in local sandwich shops aswell but dont say its for a wedding.

With regards to the bar I personally think it would be acceptable to provide a few drinks (maybe something if you wanted a toast) and then in the invite just say its a bring a bottle event and so everyone can bring thier own drink- this would save you quite a lot I reckon- and its going along the principal if you had a pay bar you wouldnt be providing everyones drinks. You could still provide ice buckets for them to keep their drinks cold.

BustyB_2

We are spending £3000, Our date is in June 2012. (We are also getting married in Kent)

Ways we are cutting costs:
We arent having flowers, I am having a lollypop bouquet (not a traditional wedding at all lol) . Maybe if you are set on having flowers you could use fake ones or grow some and make your own. The only place we are having flowers is on the tables in jam jars (but my Mum is growing these, so free for us)
Mum is making my cake (use family and friends with talents!)
Our Bridesmaids etc are all buying there own outfits. Im not paying for them to have there hair done or make up done.
We are having the reception at my families home (so free)
We are having fish and chips for the day meal (from a local modern fish and chip shop, they are doing us a good deal!) and then buffet in the evening (we will be doing the buffet)
We are having an Ipod for the disco in the evening (so free as we will use OH's and my Dad has speakers)
My dress isnt an actual Wedding dress - I didnt want one, but the one i have chosen is perfect. And not white!

Remember if you are hiring a village hall they might not provide seating and tables, so you migth have to hire these.

Hope this helps a bit!
xxx

double_mummy

hiya

i would look to the local colleges as many students (that i have talked to) are happy to an even such as a wedding for a bottle of something nice and pictures of their work (and occasionally a reference from you) look for level 3s in the area that you want hair & beauty/ catering/ hospitality/ event management

then you could pay for ingredients and a bit of travel and beer money and still get something top class

also dont go for a wedding dress - i know it sounds stupid- go for a white prom dress or whatever colour evening dress

i would also say add stuff into your weekly shop if you want vases for the centre pieces then buy one or two each week and spread the costs of things

cake again look for students to make and decorate or family members

flowers - i have a wonderful woman doing mine and 3BM bouquets and all my buttonholes for £60 (PM if u want a contact)

also if you or the OH have any skills try trading with independant sellers (eg someone good at websites could offer their services for 6 hours in return for something to do with the wedding) and therefore get it for free - just some time

love the ipod ideas

students again for hair and makeup

maybe even fahion or textiles students to make a dress

go to your local scrap store, charity, 2nd hand stores and make sure you make friends with them ask them to give you a ring if they get something like a wedding dress (etc) in the right size

look for nice cars in your area and slip a little note underneath asking whether they would be willing to take you to the wedding in return for pics of their car

for cheaper rings go for something like titanium or silver

for veils and tiaras and stuff ask the family ask friends ask people on here when they post their wedding pics

and dont pay full price for things, always haggle

im sure you can do it good luck and remember to ask on here for anything you need !!!!!!

smiler34

Hi, our budget is also around 2k and we are getting married in April 2012, the main thing for the caterers has just been searching and searching again, getting the price as low as poss, if you are happy with a cold buffet the sainsburys platters are nice. As for the flowers I am buying fake ones from ebay. I am having a simple bouquet £10, my 2 bridesmaids are having wrist corsages £6 each and the flower girls are having ivory heart shaped wands which were £5 each. I also got 10 plain ivory rose buttonholes for £5 off ebay.

Sam x