Can anybody help bring costs down?

Trixsie1989

So me and the OH are planning our wedding for jan 2015 and our budget plan has come in at 5k. I have over budgeted for the main things like venue and photographer but does anyone have any ideas on how to get costs down on them? Especially the venue, as its off season how would I go about negotiating a price? We are making the following things ourselves - invitations, place cards, table plan, flowers, button holes, cake, sweet buffet, evening room decorations and centre pieces to help with the price of everything.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Sxx

Princess_Kitten

Hi Trixsie,
Midweek weddings can be about 25% cheaper that weekend (Fri-Sun) weddings (obviously depending on your venue).
With the photographer, think about the photographs you really want and see if they could be taken within a few hours, i.e. reducing the time you'd need the photographer. Also, hold off on ordering any wedding albums. You can always print out a few from the disc the photographer will give you but albums are a huge expense. Perhaps think of getting one for your 1st year anniversary?
For our wedding, we're expecting our guests to photograph the reception after the photographer goes (inevitable in our group of friends really, iphones constantly snapping pics) and we plan to have a hashtag so if they share them on instagram we can see them. Also, we'll ask people to upload them to snap print or other such services so we can print which ones we want.
We're also not doing favours, thankfully in Ireland (where we're getting married) they are not expected but I've been to loads of weddings in the UK where at the end of the night the tables are full of forgotten favours!

Hope this helps

Elizabeth_71

Hi there, I'm planning a wedding too for May 2014, were having an informal small do at home with close friends and family and a good roast. Budget £3500!
I would agree with photographer in some respects but this is your wedding day and you'll never get it back, make sure you have the memories. We thought we'd get loads of lovely photos from friends at my son's baptism but we were VERY disappointed as we couldn't find one that was good enough to frame
Also have you found the wedding dress warehouses? I'm planning a visit to one in Manchester
Good luck xx

Trixsie1989

Hiya, thanks for your replies. I am going wedding dress shopping with my bridesmaids and MIL2B in a few weeks, gonna see what styles i like and then either try and find a sample sale or order one off ebay.we are looking at a Friday wedding as the registry office has a special offer on prices for some reason, hopefully with it being out of typical wedding season the venue will let us make a mix n match package, their cheapest package was 3k which is way over what we want to spend so fingers crossed on that one :-) you both make really good points about the photographer but I can't guarantee with our family's that anyone will take photos, we were thinking of putting disposable cameras on the evening tables but I've read alot of posts about them not turning out so that seems like a waste of money? With it being a small wedding in the day (around 30 people) I didn't no what to do with regards to a photographer being there all day or half day so hoping I can get in touch with a few to ask some questions but what did you girls do? We're not doing favours either as we are doing a sweet buffet and putting bags with them so people can take some away if they want to. The last few weddings I've been to haven't had them and noones missed them. Thanks for the help :-) xx

gadgeteer_2

I think the fact that you are getting married in January will help you out here with regards to photographers (and also other suppliers).

It's not peak season at all so ask them if given the time of year for their best price. I'd be surprised if they didn't come back with a better deal. I doubt many photographers are busy in Jan.

Get a digital only package so you can go print off photos elsewhere and/or get an album made up. They probably won't be as good as a professionally designed album but they can be eye wateringly expensive.

Consider shorter coverage. Do you really want all day and someone photographing bridal prep? Can you live without that and just get the main parts photographed such as ceremony until after speeches? In my experience if you time it right you can fit that into a half day package which many photographers will offer.

Have a look on Facebook wedding groups. There are many photographers on there whom compete on price. Be warned though that many are starting out so whilst you can get a cheaper price....that may be at the expense of experience and ability. Make sure you check them out thoroughly.

Trixsie1989

Does anyone know of any reasonable venues in lichfield. We have found one we like but would like another couple of options. There's just nothing with a reasonable price at all.
Have found a lovely photographer who is very reasonably priced for the whole day including an engagement shoot so very pleased with that :-) were not having an album as I'd rather make my own.

Thanks, sxx

Cooliogti

It might be worth speaking to your guests to find out how many would actually use a disposable camera, or whether they would probably use their own digital camera or phone or ipad etc. (don't tell them about the disposable option as many people will say yes at the thought of a freebie - not that I'm casting doubts over your guests morals lol but I'm sure you know what I mean).

If the majority would use their own then you could use a website like wedpics.com where everyone can upload their photos and you can view everyone's in one place.

If there are some who would use a disposable camera then at least you can buy only as many as you need. Pointless buying 60 if only 5 would use them...

It might be worth looking out on eBay for some cheap digital cameras, so that maybe the 5 that don't have one already could borrow those.

Just a thought, hope it helps
Vici

Cooliogti

Or instead of eBay, you could sign up to freecycle.org in your area and put out a wanted advert for a few digital cameras. As the name freecycle implies, things are free, people who don't want or need things anymore advertise them on there and if somebody else wants or needs it they they get in touch and pass the item on to a new loving and needing home.

kacie

preloved.co.uk also has a wide range of wedding stuff, things that others have used for their weddings and are now selling on

burtons_angel

Hi there Trixsie, when you do look to make your own albums look out for lots of great offers on websites like photobox for story book albums. I had so much fun putting our wedding albums together, we had one for the ceremony and one for the reception and I got them half price!

Trixsie1989

Hi all,

The digital camera idea is good, il have a look at the website, didn't no there were things like that out there. I've heard of photo box so will have a look on there and normally groupon have some offers on them which would make it cheaper. Is preloved any good? And freecycle? I live on eBay but electricals tend to get so expensive xxx