Wedding Tips start here...

LilMissEmmylou

if you buy their normal size chocolate bars, they only work out as 35p each or something equally as cheap. Check out their website store and see if there is anything you like http://www.divinechocolate.com/products/default.aspx
They still sell the minis in their store, its just the normal price of £21 for 200 though

FairyShazza

We are not in full planning mode - have set our date at 4th October this year and are so far doing well.

The best money saving thing I have managed is to win a competition to have our wedding cake made for us. The cake(s) we have chosen would have costed us £800 if we had paid for them and we are having a bespoke design made especially for us too.

Am going to get my dress direct from the USA as they are so much cheaper - worked out that the dress I am thinking of getting is almost a quarter of the price I'd pay in the shop. It is stull a genuine designer dress but would just come direct from a US supplier.

Monstaswifey

I got married in September last year and saved a packet by researching and doing lots of stuff myself and utilising cashback sites and ebay - so here's some top tips which I hope help:-

1. Buy your wedding rings from America - the exchnage rate is fantastic and they are half price compared with here. Ebay seller artebarca( 3502) is fab and ours were perfect and £150 for 2!

2. Wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses - I visited all the high street shops and boutiques, chose what I wanted (combination of 3 dresses) and had a place in the Far East make to our actual measurements! Scarey but I saved £1750 and only had to spend £100 for a local dressmaker to do a few amends over the 4 dresses and they were stunning - email me if you want contacts and pics.

3. Invites - get someone on ebay to do them but get samples and negotiate them to do everything - place cards, thank you cards, invites, husband card for the day etc etc - mine were beautiful and all under £100. Again email me if you want details.

Cake - I cannot cook to save my life so made individual wedding cakes for everyone and bought little boxes off ebay and personalised ribbon (ebay again). Bought cake from M&S, small round cake cutter and iced with black icing (homemade via ebay) and piped on white letters and white ribbon. They looked stunning and taked yum!

Favours and treats - got personalised lollies from ebay for the kids, lovehearts from their shop online (personalised) and individual personalised port - worked really well and gave everyone something to take home as a momento.

Made my decs myself - ordered silk flowers and leaves from ebay wholesaler along with black candles and table sprinkles - all ebay again !!!!

Photographs - big tip - contact your local university to see if they do a photography course - if so email them asking if any 2nd or 3rd year students want to do a wedding case study. Offer a cash incentive and payment of costs - we got everything done including 600 professional photo's for less than £250. The other bonus is you can negotiate to own your copyright so can do what you like with the prints and keep them forever and get re-prints at cost! Saved £100's

I've got loads more ideas if anyone's interested and lots of contacts.

I have a wire bouquet which was stunning with matching tiara she made specially so email me if you want any contact or further info or photo's!!!

I hope it helps and good luck to all you brides - don't get stressed out - enjoy and relish every second because its all over far too soon and your life has a huge void!!!

Monstaswifey

Let me know if you want and help, advice, contacts or photo's
:-)

airgead

Hi,
We got married 4 years ago, and whilst some things we spent lots on, we saved money by
1) Planning well in advance and doing as much as possible ourselves, e.g. invitations done at home on the computer, flowers for a simple bouquet grown in the garden at home (planted by Mum the summer before!), hand-painted shells instead of name cards at the table doubled as favours.
2) Keeping things informal, no M.C., marquee was hired for £100. from local sports club, buffet rather than silver service.
3) Concentrating on what was important to us as a couple rather than what we thought was "expected", which meant involving as many friends and family as possible, people are always thrilled to help out, and just not bothering with things like a long drawn out formal photo session, fancy cars, huge flower arrangements, etc.

Our wedding was fantastic and is still being talked about by friends and family 4 years later. Best advice to offer anyone planning a wedding - it should reflect your personalities as a couple and not be about "show". If the guests truly care about you, they'll be happy what ever you provide. If not - why are you inviting them?!

Monstaswifey

I totally agree with the lady above that you must do what YOU want to for your wedding and fall into the trap of doing what is 'expected' or 'traditional'.

Concentrate on the things that mean a lot to you and your fiance as its the small things and personalisation that makes it extra special. Involving friends is great as they get so excited about your day and love being involved and all of mine had a 'job' or responsibility on the day so they felt very included.

Although some thought our wedding was unconventional and it was small and very personal, we all had a whale of a time and like you say the biggest compliment is people are still talking about it.

Several of my friends have asked me to act as wedding planner too so I can't wait!

Enjoy it girls

mirrorimage0

i have just ordered my wedding rings from a company called smooch, they do home visits and we got three bridesmaids gifts free and a bestman keyring what a bargain and i must say the rings were very well priced i thought
www.smoochrings.co.uk

oh and the bridesmaids gifts and keyring are free even if you dont order from them

fcath

Hi,
Im getting married this summer and have just found a great photographers with a good price. For my civil wedding they are charging 55 pound to attend the I buy as many or as few photographs as I like. And as I don't pick the photos until afterwards it's another expense that I don't have to budget on until afterwards. I think they cover most of the yorkshire area. here is there website. https://www.reflectionsphotography.name

chrissie55

We expect to get wed this year just to obtain legal rights. No frock, flowers, cake, stationery, honeymoon; just a few friends bringing a bottle for snacks & socialising! It looks like the cheapest registry office will be ~ £100 (for a piece of paper! Humbug!) Has any1 had a cheaper quote than £100?

Krystaltips

I think that is probably the cheapest you're going to get, it will be the standard £30 each to give notice plus £40 on the day for the registrar....