Weddings on a reasonable budget!

Buzzybee90

Gloomendoom wrote: »

If you get them to bring food, people don't have to cost much. That's what we did.

It does probably depend on your family/friends though.

I do agree with this, you could do a massive buffet and home make some great desserts and that'd save you a tonne. Depends whether you're going for the sit down three course in venue or the more DIY route.

katy_ann

Al1x wrote: »

Do you have family members / friends who can help you out (bake cake, make favours, print invites etc) instead of buying you a gift?

Look out for unusual wedding locations, you might find somewhere that doesn't usually do weddings and could save you a small fortune. We were lucky that there is a beautiful barn in the village we had for our reception, it cost less than £200!

Im quite crafty so invites, menus, table plans etc I was going to make myself, my best friend owns her own cake business anyway, I didnt think to ask her but thats a wonderful idea! Thank you

dreamdreamer

One of my best friends recently got married on a similar budget and it was one of the best, fun and most emotional weddings I've been to. They got married in a church (all invitations, orders of service etc were handmade), had about 40 people sit down for a late lunch at a very nice local hotel (I think she said it was £40 a head and the food was amazing!) where there was some Prosecco on the table and then people paid for their own drinks at the bar.

To transport guests they used 2 local school buses! Which let me tell you after a few at lunch and all in big hats was absolutely hilarious.

They had the reception in her in-laws back garden with the help of some hired gazebos and patio heaters, an ipod dock and some decent speakers. They provided a decent amount of beer and wine (probably about £500 worth), and a finger buffet, and people brought any other alcohol with them. Lots more people turned up in the evening and it was an absolute blast.

Because everyone knew it was being done on a small budget (before her other half was about to be deployed - military) instead of gifts they contributed something. Me and her other 3 best mates all chipped in and got the wedding cake (M&S and very yummy!), her mum and dad bought her dress (think it cost about £400) and her in laws sorted the buffet. His best mates turned up with 3 kegs of ale! And her sister organized personalised paper bags of each table guests favourite sweets (she asked in advance) as a little take home souvenir.

They didn't have an official photographer, but they asked a couple of guests handy with a camera to bring their SLRs and had some really lovely shots at the end of it.

I think the total thing cost them about £2500, and the guests probably chipped in another £1000 worth between them. I have to say was a brilliant idea because everybody felt involved and that the success of the day was a real teamwork achievement. 4 months later we're all still raving about it!

Gloomendoom

I agree with the above. In our experience, guests like to be involved. It makes it more of a shared experience.

One thing I don't like at a wedding I to be ripped off for drinks. That's why we had a free bar (with booze sourced cheaply from France or supermarket special offers.)

19lottie82

I got married last week and spent about that. Bought a lovely phase eight dress for £230. Rings from eBay for £130 each. Had ceremony in registry office then hired local bowling club@£200. Sit down meal for 38 + a buffet at night cost £720. Bought own wine and champagne from a tesco online deal for £170 + £100 corkage. Cake cost £150 and DJ £180 plus aabout £300 on flowers and decorations. It was a great day!

19lottie82

PS my brother took the photos and we hired a bus to take people from the registry office to the club for £100

freebiequennie

Also keep an eye on groupon often hotels offer v much discounted wedding packaged.

You could have registery office wedding n pub meal after or party in garden at home or relative home if someone has a big enough garden.

onlyroz

Our actual wedding cost about £500 and the reception cost about £2500. We hired a Thames river boat, a jazz band and laid on a cold buffet. Only my mum complained about the lack of hot food.

74jax

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3811691

This is my 3k wedding thread from the mse wedding board. Have a look over on that board, there's loads of help and enthusiastic bride and grooms to be.

Adora-Bell-Dearheart

I bought wedding dress from eBay for £120 which I was pleased with but was more amazed to see whole rack of them in local charity shop for £20 each! Xx