Can anyone help me out with my wedding budget?

Floss

Does the venue have any table decorations, and would you really "need" ballons etc, as they take up space where there will already be glasses, cameras, phones, favours, bottles of wine etc. We had candelabra on our tables, so no need for anything extra as the room was quite ornate (old hotel). We didn't bother with chair covers as the chairs were all newly re-upholstered.

Kayalana99

No I don't think it does, but I was planning on doing sweet trees for center pieces that I'll make myself now, they do have round tables but the dining room where we will be eating are 4 chair tables that are square...so I think we'd be looking at not much space on the table.

mrsHall2b

look on ebay for chair covers and maybe just buy a few for top table? as thats where most people are going to be looking?

or you can get bows for the chairs (which are really just a strip of tuille/fabric tied up) and may just add a little touch to tie in with your colours?

favours/gifts- do you really need to give them all bits? the bridesmaid/flowergirl will get to keep their 'props' maybe use a photo from the day to get personalised gifts made? vistaprint and other photo printing sites often have offers where you just pay postage on photo gifts.

make up your own photo booth type station? use cheap sheets to separate off an area, and use an ipad with different apps or if someone has a camera on a tripod you could put up on a timer? and print off photo props.


hair & make up, not sure what day your wedding is on but some colleges do wedding make up which is usually pretty cheap (they have a tutor watching so dont panic you wont look like a clown!) but make sure you tell them if you dont like something! they are not mind readers and are trying to learn! or makeup counters in places like boots & debenhams will do free or reduced brial makeovers. or dont say its for your wedding some just do free makeovers, you may end up buying cosmetics from there if you like it!

decorations- make paper hanging ball thingys (oh my god i cannot think of a better way to describe it!) you can always use shimmery paper or glitter added to this. table cloths, if your able to do your own just get plain white throw away ones (or reduced christmas cloths) if you really want balloons buy bulk packs from online party suppliers and see if you can hire a helium canister from anywhere near you (our bowling alley has one for birthday parties and allow the use of it for a minimal cost) or they arnt too expensive online.

ive forgotten what else i was going to suggest, ill get back to you when i remember...

Kayalana99

Found another place that's a good possibility without the price tag - not to far from where we live but their aren't many photos of the room ....it's more of a party place but same time as much as I would like the 'posh' sit down meal that the £2,500 would of got us at the place I'm still waiting for a quote back on.., I don't think it's really us.

I am quite excited for some reason I feel like I've got my 'spark' back

Going to see it today cross your fingers for me XX

celticcurl

Kayalana - you need to broaden your search if you want to lower costs. Hotels do some good package deals. But the extras tend to be expensive. Alcohol in particular. Look at village halls, social clubs, theatres etc. You could also consider getting married later in the day so you only need to offer one meal. We are doing this and offering cheese boards at about 9.30pm. Our main meal will be a buffet but there will be a number of identical buffet tables around the room to reduce queueing. It will be knife and fork food not finger food. We will still have seating plan and linen tablecloths and napkins, and crockery and metal cutlery. This way we can invite everyone to the whole event without compromising on style.

Going tall sally - chocs will be a mix of things like choc buttons, maltesers etc and homemade chocs made by myself and a few friends who also make chocs. I have lovely bowls and platters to serve them in and tongs and scoops. There will be cellophane bags and guests help themselves. I won't do favours as they often get left behind at the end.

piglet25

I have seen favours made of soap a fair bit, they can be different colours and shapes to suit and they are about 30 - 50 p each - how about one or even two in an organza wrap with a bow on?

Kayalana99

Thanks guys, the place we went to see was great and being re done so will look even better....but they don't bloody have a kitchen!! Would be ok just for the evening.

I've been sent a quote for £2750 but is a bit over our budget for somewhere I emailed a while back but it's a *really* nice place and you get quite a lot included;

room hire
Late bar
Table cloths
Chair covers with sashes
Centre pieces
3 course sit down meal
Drinks package - bucks fizz on arrival, cava for a toast and wine on tables
Handmade fudge favours
evening buffet

- Just don't know what the menu is although it's only for 50 people in day and 80 at night so it would limit us for the evening a bit & no DJ with that.

A lot to think about as its lovely but our budget would be shattered, saying that I am going to suggest to OH that we don't have a honey moon till later on in the year as we both would love to go to centre parcs but going in June is like £800.

Floss

Work out how much each item would cost separately -then you will see if its a good value package.

And don't forget to ask if they could throw in a DJ to make it have everything you need.

piglet25

Definitely split the package down and price it separately, maybe get back to them and ask if they provide a 'bare bones' package? You might find it cheaper to buy the other items yourself, and you won't get hit with a bill for breakages or losses after the event, plus you can sell them on and put the money towards your honey moon

Kayalana99

They do the bare bones is £425 just for the room which I think isn't bad considering the place itself need to think about this :-)

I think we will sort the cars out somehow ~ Don't know if I mentioned it but thinking of asking my Dad to just take me in his (that said he might not have it next year lol he's always changing) but if my OH would want anything on the day he would ask for a decent car...so...see if we can find a friend if not may have to put the money down.

Don't know any photographers as yet.