Wedding Tips start here...

PrincessDonna2009

Hello Everyone

We are getting married on 1st October 2011 and we cannot wait, we have a £2,500 budget....Here is a breakdown or our budget list and what we have already:

Registry Office - £100 (Paid)
My wedding band - £22.99 (Argos-Cat No 203/1493) (Bought)
O/H Wedding Band - £34.99 (Argos-Cat No 203/2313) (Bought)
Hen Night - £30 (Not yet booked anything, being organised by family)
Stag night - £50 (Not yet booked anything)
Hen Night Accessories - £20 (Need to get)
Veil - £60 (Bought for £49.99)
Alterations - £10
Suspenders - £15 (Need to get)
Hair - £30 (Including trial a week before) (Booked)
Acrylic Nail's - £35 (Booked)
Groom's Suit - £90 (Need to get)
Best Man Suit - £90 (Need to get)
Groom's Shoes - £20 (Need to get)
All Flowers - £39 (Inc my bouquet and buttonholes, artifical off Ebay)
Venue Hire - £100 (Booked and deposit paid)
Wedding Breakfast - £612 (For 50 people) (Booked)
Drinks - £50 (Served by the bottle) (Booked)
Evening Buffet - £330 (Based on 90 people) (Booked)
DJ - £175 (Booked and paid deposit)
Gifts - £60 (Need to get)
Invitations - £22 (Made my own, all stuff from Ebay)
Favours - £25 (Need to get)
Guest Book - £10 (Need to get)
Table Decorations - £30 (Need to get)
Cake Knife - £10 (Need to get)
Bridesmaid Dresses & Accessories - £180 (x 2 bridesmaids) (need to get still)
Hotel Room & Breakfast - £62 (Booked)
Bridal Car - £205 (Booked, but not paid for yet)

Photographer - £600 (Friend who does professional photography, discounted for us and being paid by his parents)
Dress - £400 (Reduced from £1,000 in the sale and bought by my dad, so not included in our budget)
Cake - £230 (Paid for by his grandmother)

Is there anywhere I can cut back on, like suits etc...?

One tip I would give is if you are getting stuff like Bridesmaid dresses etc...get them from BHS as they are very good quality or in wedding dress shop sale's

costcutterkaz

Hello everyone,

Just started reading though the thread (page 38) thought I'd say hi! So please excuse if any hints I can think of repeat.
Been engaged now forever (11 years) and we've decided to FINALLY get married next year, mainly so I have time to plan everything.

:jBought THE dress off ebay for £72, to feel safe I restricted my search to uk sellers and then, when I'd found the dress I loved in my size, bombarded the seller with a million questions about measurements to get the size exactly right and then bidded up to my maximum, which was only £100 but still saved!

Making the cake myself, 2 layer sponge (as no one ate/took much of my sisters fruit cake!) covered in sugarpaste, with ribbons and flowers (prob icing!) Less than £25.

Same with the invitations, buying A4 card, cut in half, so A6 size invite. "wedding invitation" sticker on front with flower design (look for card attachments on ebay), can make card this year and print inner nearer wedding, approx £40 for 100.

Making bridesmaid dresses and waistcoats, loads of cheapish material sites online and as long as the material is ordered together it will match!
TIP:- men wearing black suits (already owned!) :T
Just need 2 pairs of black trousers and 2 white shirts for page boys (both under 5) All which will need to be done nearer for a good fit

Registry office, just been restored and looks great, £110 this year so a slight rise next year.
Hiring a room in a social club, TIP:- If you sign up as a member you can usually hire a room a lot cheaper. The bar is also seriously cheap compare to most places, haven't checked corkage yet though. And you can bring in your own caterer (lots of places I looked at had their own).:D

Just had a look on videojug.com and I can make the buttonholes myself and maybe corsages for bridesmaids instead of bouquets, then its just mine!

Friend is doing hair-dressing at college, so helpful!!!;)
And friend of h2b is a DJ, so ever hopeful!

I thinks thats all I've done so far, now on to questions

How to word the invite? Our parents are not putting anything towards the wedding so I just want to word it from us, u know not the "Mr and Mrs blah ask the pleasure of the company of ... to their daughter " I'm not traditional, the dress is latte!!!

Favours? These are a problem, whether to have or not? then what to have? My sister (no expense spared!) had edible petals made and chocs, although she did get a bit short on cash and made the boxes up herself! Did like the idea of allium bulbs.

Food? For those invited to the ceremony, can we just have a buffet? Really don't think we'll have time to set it all up with place names etc. Altough I'm quite tempted to talk to the fish & chip shop up the road to see if they would cater! (My cousin had "posh" sausage and mash)

Well I'm getting there, slow but sure.

costcutterkaz

ieimimiai[/QUOTE]

I didnt realise just how hard it would be to find a venue thats suitable! its been quite stressful so far and i havent even started yet! Theres been lots of 'its a long way out for people'

iemimiai - my friend hired a coach to get people from the church to her reception bcos it was too far for some, and although they had to find their own way back most people took her up on the offer!

PinkPrincess83

Hi costcutterkaz

I havent worked out the exact wording but as we are paying for our wedding aswell so instead of saying mr and mrs whoever it will just have our names. A google search will bring up some examples, or ebay- as a lot of the wedding invites give examples of the wording you can use.

And yes- you can have a buffet, you can have whatever you want. For our day guests we are planning on cold meats, crusty bread, potato salad, colelsaw, pate, a few cheeses, a few sarnies (which we will probably get from the sandwich platters from sainsburys which are reasonable in price.) etc- all of which will not take us long at all to get ready and we can do for a good price. Oh and the fish and chips idea sounds great.

Favours- completely up to you. Do you want them? If you do have them have something that you want/ like. Dont feel that its one of them things that you must have, we are not having them, Im putting the money towards a sweetie buffet instead as its something I would prefer and something I feel would probably go down better with our friends and family.

And a latter dress- sounds fab.

When next year are you gettng married?

costcutterkaz

Hi PinkPrincess83,

Thanks for all your helpful advice.

Loved your sainsbury's buffet idea, also I went to a bday party recently and they had giant bowls of different cold pasta dishes (3 I think) and I thought it sounded cheap!

We have decided to leave the favours till last so everything else gets priority, if there's some money leftover (doubtful) then I'll go for the bulbs saw some 2day @90 for under £10. It's just having time to make the bags or boxes!

:j Just ordered all the stuff for the invitations and it came to under £30, just but it was under, and should be some left over for thankyou notes afterwards!

Have also been thinking about a veil, not a problem as I can make it, just unsure on the colour, match the dress or go for white? It won't be covering my face.

Also had a brainwave earlier, if I send the invites to the family that live furthest away 3 months before the wedding with a short RSVP date, then I will know how many more I can invite off of my friends list!

Plus, brainwave 2 (will have to lay down in a minute) Having 2 or 3pm wedding so only feed one lot of guests and invite evening to start about 7pm so they'll already have eaten!

When is your wedding date and have you got much sorted out yet?

elgar_2

Wow amazing tips on here. Im getting married on 9th June 2011 in Perth!
Not strictly a money saving wedding as we set a rough budget of 6000, but we wanted to get best value for things.

As Im marrying an Englishman we are having a wedding with a Scottish theme so kilts/tartans and thistles! but quite subtle and I think very understated as we are not fussy folks but like to make the best of things!
So we will get married in church service and have our meal, a Scottish High tea (for 60) at same venue then we have ceildh in church annexe for 80 with buffet. Its quite a professionally ran production line at the church and will look as good as a 5*Hotel! As think church hall might give wrong image! They are doing fab things for us including dvd of wedding and helping with musicians as well as plenty of drinks (non-alcoholic) on table. I actually think for all they are £2500 not bad cost!)

As I dont have much skills as a crafter (or long til the wedding) most things we bought!

Just totalled it up and I expect (including honeymoon) £7192.80! wow I didnt realise we had been so extravagant!

An idea of budget:
Registering costs £70 (paid)
Wedding rings 78 (Mine from tesco direct using tesco clubcard points with points but not sure worth hassle!) (OH argos and was 60!)(paid)
Wedding dress 320, including alterations. (Dress paid for. alterations still in progress £70 as it lots to alter!)
Underwear (needed strapless bra) will need pants and stockings too so probably £100 (got bra £36)
Bridal shoes £35 http://www.lightinthebox.com/Top-Quality-Satin-Upper-High-Heel-Closed-toes-With-Ribbon-Tie-Wedding-Bridal-Shoes-A3039-_p57403.html#bof_reviews I am NO shoe person but LOVE these!:D
hAIR by www.flutterbybridalhair.co.uk £72 including trial (which for the laugh and day with Bridesmaids and my mum was well worth it! (to be paid)
Hair accessories (hair pins, pearl and sparkle flowers) (ebay) 10
Make-up www.designedfeaturesbygillian.co.uk £55 including trial.
Beauty; eyebrow shape ( will be done 3x in prep for wedding/tinting, file and polish (3 times too so can see what want on day only £8 a time) £60 (to be fair I would be getting eyebrow and other waxing done anyway so prob only file and polish and tinting that the extra!)
Groom Kilt hire: 100
Best man/brother of bride/usher kilt hire £260 (half of total kilt hire paid as deposit)
Bridesmaids (one paid her own) £65 from Debenhams in 0% VAT day (paid)
Flowergirl £67 and tiara £8 again Debenhams (paid)
Flowers £500 (mum paid for) includes my flowers, 2 bridesmaids, a wand for FG, 2 corsages for mothers , 8 buttonholes and 3 large arrangements for church/reception)
Venue £2500 (see above for some details) (paid 1500)
ceilidh band £700 (paid 50)
Favours doubling as table flowers (lovely thistles boxes with tablet) fromwww.HighlandFavours.co.uk £134 (30 paid)
Table decs including disposable cameras £63 from internet (paid)
Photographer £900 (£100 paid)
Cars £250 (mum paid for)
Cake friend making as gift
Cake stand £10 (paid plus £25 deposit)
Hotel before wedding (Travelodge) 60 (Paid)
Honeymoon cottage in Uk (week) £500 (paid)
Gifts £150 (paid)
piper friend
minister friend too!

I know Ive went mad on gifts and things and we have invite more folks than we planned but we do really plan on doing this once and to me having folks at wedding more important than money on dresses etc!
We also hadn’t planned a ceilidh or evening buffet but felt as people were travelling so far we had to offer them something!
Wow though didn’t realise we had spent so much…so worrying about paying the remaining £ 2971 left to pay! (don’t worry wont get into debt as I have saved well over the years!):eek:

Just as well we are not ever doing this again!
But it has been fun and I have loved the planning and the details!

sorry for waffle and unintersting post!

PinkPrincess83

CostCuterCaz, my big day is 28th July 2012, so a while off yet, but I do have quite a bit sorted!

I have my dress, shoes (2 pairs so far!:rotfl:), tiara, bridesmaid dresses and a small tiara/ headband each (2 bridesmaids), I have my flowergirl dress,Ive got everything for the invites, ceremony and reception venue booked, flowers we are having artifical and I have picked out and know exactly what Im having, Car and photographer booked, I have my guest book, I have all the glassware for my sweetie buffet and I have a few odd bits like scatter crystals, post box etc.

When is your big day?

WIth regards to what colour veil I would have a google and see if you can see any latte dresses and see what colour veil they have and then decide from there.

That sounds like a good sensible idea about the favours.

Im currently waiting for a man to get back to me who has a jacket potato oven so this could be another option for our day guest food. We are getting married at 3 and then are doing some food for day guests about 5 then a buffet about 8.30.

We are a tight budget so as and when I see bargains Im getting them, or when I get a good quote Im booking things. I would say if you arent putting on any food for the evening guests (which is fine) I would maybe warn people otherwise people may only have a light snack thinking your putting on food.

costcutterkaz

Thanks again PinkPrincess83,

Found one invite that may interest you

"Me and OH
request the pleasure of your company
At an evening reception
to celebrate their marriage
on
DATE
at
PLACE
TIME"

Haven't found one for the ceremony yet but above would be ok if you didn't want to include their names on the invite or include names at the top of the page!

Love your Jacket Potato idea, will look into it for myself!

You seem to have most of yours sorted. I did read somewhere about a digital photo printer and album for friends and family to print out from their camera and add to your book!

Couldn't find any dresses the same colour, all those called latte were really dark coloured and mines lighter more champagne than brown, if that makes any sense!

Must say congratulations to elgar, not long to go now, love your idea of a wand for the flower girl!
And yes those shoes are amazing, thinking of 2 pairs of shoes for myself, some flats for later on in the evening in case my feet are killing me!

Was looking at wooden roses? got the right colours just got to ask my friend if they will be ok to use! Can get 100 for about £15ish and just add some greenery + they could be used for buttonholes etc.

Just need to find someone for a bit of advice about the cake, can make it myself but never done a tiered one before. Pretty sure I will need a stand or something, only two tiers if someone has some idea???

OH thinks we will have to do a buffet for evening as well, have to think about that otherwise we'll be eating the same food all afternoon!

Looking for tiara at the moment, lots of choice!

PinkPrincess83

Oh thank you for that, could come in very useful, although names may be put on to ensure people realise who the invite is for (ie mostly adults, limited children etc)

Well ages ago my oh said he liked the idea of jacket potatoes with different fillings but I didnt think it would be possible, then I found this person on gumtree so will have to see how his quote comes back.

my flowergirl is having a wand. the 2 bridesmaids have a dark pink dress with ivory flowers and the little one has an ivory dress so is having some little pink roses that will be in my bouquet aswell and she will have some butterflies and sparkles on it. I think they are so cute for little ones.

Have a look on the flower sticky, theres some pics of the wooden roses as bouquets/ botton holes etc and they look fab.

I dont think you have to have a buffet in the evening if you dont want one, we are but we are trying to keep the day food slightly different so it isnt all sausage rolls etc.

Jevand

Hi all, Ramada Birmingham North (Cannock) is offering complete wedding packages from £999 to £3800 to include ceremony, room hires, drinks, wedding breakfast and even red carpets and use of a fantastic sports car (sorry can't remember what it is) !
Check out their website for youself
Jevand