Wedding Tips start here...

kimbodia0

wow this thread is amazing!

me and my partner of 8 years got engaged two weeks ago, planning to have the wedding next may, are having a register office ceremony for approx 30 people, followed by a meal at our favorite restaurant (have done a deal, got a private room at no cost, and two courses for a tenner for 30 people!) then in the evening having a massive party at our local rugby club for about 150 people, buffet ranges from £4.50 a head to £15.

we aren't going to bother with photographers, going to ask various people to take lots of pics for us! already got my dress off ebay, a brand new monsoon dress with tags still on, cost £180 new i got it for £50! also getting my bridesmaids dress from ebay at some point.

have decided to go for cupcakes instead of a traditional cake, have found a lady who makes beautiful little cakes for 90p each in all different colours and flavours, and i have found some beautiful stands - again on ebay - cant you tell i'm an addict!!!

need to have a think about the flowers and favours, want to try and keep my costs down - any ideas?

we have a budget of about £3000, so far its looking like we are going to come in well under this amount!!

thought it would be very stressful, but so far im really enjoying it! but ask me again nearer the time.

pixiesmum

Hi Kimbodia, and congrats on forth coming wedding!

You've done really well with your meal.. i am so jealous lol!! Its probably the cheapst meal on this thread!! Me and my OH have also been together 8 years, and now finally taking the plunge - although aug 2010!! Needing the time to clear a few debts and save up as we will be paying for it, budgeting 2k for the wedding.

If you look on here, there literally are loads of idea for favours - some people also say not to bother with favours because people dont seem to expect them nowadays. Although if you want favours, the besst ones i have heard of are :

Making your own- you can get hold of favour boxes of ebay (50 for £2.95!! i saw the other day) and fill them with what you wish. Or you can get 2 squares of material, fill them with what you wish and finish them with a little bow. Ideas for things to use instead of sugared almonds; Thortons chocolates, mini lovehearts sweets, mini 'booze' bottles. These are to name a few, search this thread, you'll get plenty more ideas!

I found that other people have had shot glasses with the date of the wedding etched in, some people have had vases of various sweets on each table instead of favours, this way, you know they will get eaten!! Like i said before, just search the thread and theres bound to be a few idea that stick in your head!!

As for flowers... you could use fresh flowers, if so, you need someone to arrange them for you. This could mean a florist or a really creative friend! Go to large flower markets where you can get flowers at a much better deal for your money. If you stick with a florist, choose a small independant one. Arrange a price with the florist, and stick to it!! See what she can offer you for that price. Visit florists on a weekday when they aren't so busy, they will have more time for you.

You could also choose the silk flower route, which are long lasting, hard wearing, and you can use them again! Ebay does great prices on silk flowers, a few local shops do great silk flowers at great prices. Again, find someone who will arrange them for you. If there's no one you know, look on the ads on your gumtree site... if you can find what your looking for, then make an add asking for flower arranging servies.

Other people have also not bothered with flowers as a centre piece on tables, but used things such as glass bowel with water and lily heads in, pebbles from their beach surrounding candles with ribbon around them, sweetie bowls (as mentioned before) Tall vases with a simple spray in them... honestly, the list is endless!

Right im gonna end it there as this is one hell of a long reply lol!! Let us know what you decide.. all the best

Jen

*starla*

Jen,

Some info on the cost of our venue - £150 for the room hire for the ceremony (Registrar is £230 to come to the venue). Then for the reception, room hire is free with a 3 course meal which is £25 a head, we think we'll spend about £6 per head on a drink for after the ceremony and the toast. Then £5 per head for an evening buffet but we won't be catering for the full amount of people. This is for a Friday wedding.

They've also got a PA system wired up so we don't have to spend on a DJ, and accommodation is a bargain - they have wooden lodges which are £150 a night for a 4 bedroom one!

We've got a pretty good price as far as venues for the whole day go (most hotels were more), and they are so flexible so we can have whatever we want. The place is stunning and really modern, it's just open so I reckon after a while they'll become an established wedding venue and start charging a bit more!!

I think we've decided on favours - we're gonna have wham bars!! I love them and it'll be something a bit different that everyone will like! And only 10p each...

Ooh and a good friend of mine who is very creative has just offered to make cakes - I am so pleased that we will have something personal as I was going to buy from Tesco and decorate.

Does anyone know where I can get details of local flower markets? I want to make my own bouquet, something simple, with calla lilies, and I definitely want to do a practice run first!

Natalie

roxalana

starla,

where are you getting married? (PM if you don't want to announce!)
It sounds good!

*starla*

I am happy to announce - we are getting married at a new golf club called KP club, which is just outside Pocklington near York. We looked at two other hotels, one which was very traditionally decorated and felt really stuffy, and one that felt like somewhere you'd go for a conference... KP is really modern and bold decor that suits us much better - when we went to get shown round we both came out with massive grins on our faces because it was so perfect!

roxalana

Sounds great!

shopaholic1373

happy to annouce stapley water gardens cheshire(sorry picture so big)

shellnapier

can i ask a question, on the budget idea i really want to get married in family members gorous house! but i live in scotland, does any 1 know if you can getn married there etc, i dont understand any of the licensing thingf?

shellnapier

amyk wrote: »

My wedding is in August and I was wondering if anyone had a solution for cake stands? I love the cup cake ones but they are not quite right for what I need. My cake is going to be three tiers of cake from The Cheesecake Shop (two mud cakes and one banoffi pie - weird I know but these are our fav!!) and I have decorations but I am looking for a cake top (a figure of a groom and bride, something like that) for under £10 and also I really need some ideas for the cake stand. Does anyone have any advice about hiring them? I have tried ebay but they are £20+ and online I can't seem to find any for £30 or less. If someone had one I could borrow for the day, that would be ideal!! Otherwise, does anyone have any other suggestions - I was thinking to stack the cakes using pillars but I don't think this would be appropriate for mudcakes/banoffi pie!!! Thank you!!

have u tired the wire seprate ones??? would be good as nothing on top of each cake, but i dont know where ud put a bride and groom, let me show u

ragz_2

Of course you can go and get married in Scotland, plenty of people go to Gretna Green every year and that's in Scotland (just). You have to give notice at your local register office and they will tell you what to do. If it's in someone's house you have to hire a registrar and you will need paperwork etc, they will tell you what you need at your local register office if you phone them up.
Hope you have a great wedding!
PS are you getting married in August THIS year? I'm getting married in September and I haven't spent much at all, proabably because I've done barely anything except buy a dress and book the register office (the 2 important things!)