Budgeting

wannabemrs

Hi

My partner and I are working on our moneysaving wedding, and I've done a few rough budgets depending on venues etc. I've recently managed to get the budgt down to £5,000, and we intend to save up £4,000 with £1,000 coming form our parents.
Essentially, I wanted to see what you think about some of the costs I have down.

My dress - £300 (planning on hitting the wedding sample sales or Ellie's Bridal online)
Bridesmaid - £100 (just having my older sister, who is fussy, but if she wants something more expensive she can pay the difference:T)
Flowers - £60 (planning to do them myself, probably silk or foam)
Cake - £100 (M&S decorate yourself ones)
Invites - £20 (will need about 35)

I already have shoes, tiara and a veil from when I almost got married a few years ago before having second thoughts, but sold my dress.

How do these sound to people? I have to try and find out what colour my sister would agree to wear before I can really get going, I already know that pink, green, blue, brown are all out

Very excited and glad I can share on here

bubbles0169

what is the groom wearing?
are you having transport to the church?
the venue/food is the most expensive part depending on how many guests you have can you get the best possible deal?

youngie

don't forget wedding fees registrar etc

wannabemrs

Groom already has his own kilt, so that's sorted.

I have all the other things on the budget plan, like photographer (a friend's OH is a professional so doing it for £100!), transport at £400 for us, registrar and licence fees etc.

The ones I listed are ones I'm not too sure if I am being realistic about.

The venue we are looking at has offered us an amazing deal, including our first night in the honeymoon suite, a DJ, meal and loads of extras for around £3,000 (also includes 5 drinks for guests!)

Idiophreak

wannabemrs wrote: »

transport at £400 for us,

I know it's a bit off-topic, and all personal preference etc, but that seems like quite a high percentage of your budget for transport...

wannabemrs

I know what you mean. I'd really like to get that down a bit, but have a feeling guests might expect a bus to get them to the venue as its out of town. Will see what people think once we confirm venue etc, would love it to be at least half that if possible

bubbles0169

ah right what type of invites do you want? shop bought ready made? if so quickly go to clintonscards theyre closing down so have some bargains left but you should be able to get some from other shops for that price
if you wanted bespoke handmade youd need to up the budget a bit, even making your own will come in about £2 each
vistaprint do good deals for 'flat' invitations, upload your own design or use one of hundreds of theirs
go to ebay for your floral supplies, you might get them cheaper depending on what you want
are you paying for the bridesmaid shoes, hair and make up?

stir_crazy

wannabemrs, if you're in Aberdeen you should maybe try Elmar Bridal in Peterhead for your dress. I got my dress there and as you go in they always have a big rail of sale/ sample dresses for quite a good price.

bubbles0169

im ordering the bus but have put on the price for the guests to pay for it on the invite
i did actually make my own invitations(pic on here somewher) but scoured the net for the cheapest supplies and they came in at about 50p each but it was very time consuming and sometimes frustrating doing them

wannabemrs

My sister will helP make the invites if I decide to go down the DIY route, but shop bought are fine too if DIY is expensive.
I'd not put anything in for her shoes, thanks for that! I've got £100 in for both our hair, the hairdresser has said £40 each and will do trials for free when we get our normal hair cuts
Definitely going to source the flowers online, just need this colour scheme sorted (sister is staying with me next week so can deal with it then) and then I can get buying when I see good offers

PinkPrincess83

You dress budget is doable- shop around and look when bridal shops have sales. Do bear in mind alterations and hoop. My dress was £200 is a sample sale (originally £900) so you can definately get a bargain, and I shopped around on ebay and got my jupon hoop for about £16 (usually £50 new), it just depends if you will need any alterations as this could add to the costs.

You can defnately get bridesmaid dresses for under £100, places like BHS, Debenhams etc would be worth looking at.

Flowers: Im sure you could get your flowers for £60 if you shop about- it does depend though what you mean by flowers- I reckon you could do yours and one bridesmaid and some buttonholes- but if your thinking other flower arrangements if could be more

Cake: Definately doable- but do also factor in costs for decoration, would you need to hire a stand? etc

Invites: I got a pack of 50 pearl a6 cards with envelopes (about £5), some ribbon, pink card for inserts, a butterfly card cutter and some double sided tape and I reckon these came in for under £20- also just bear in mind postage as that could push your costs up.