Saving for a Wedding

Gloomendoom

Sassenach_Quine wrote: »

If you're providing your own wine, make sure you check the small print really carefully from your venue. We didn't spot it until it was far too late, but our venue offered 'House' wine (so pretty cheap) at £17 a bottle - or we could provide our own, but they charged £12 a bottle.

We bought our wine, red, white and cava from France. 100 bottles each, £2 for the wine (Oxford Landing) and £4 for the cava. Deals can be had if you keep your eyes open.

ellay864

Head over to the weddings board - I virtually lived there when I was planning my wedding 3 years ago - still pop in for a nosey now and again. Loads of advice, moneywise and generally
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=142

kate87

I got married this year and we saved for it ourselves, and did it on a budget so hopefully I can impart some words of wisdom.

I'm not saying I'm right, but this is my take on it:

1) RINGS
I previously worked in the jewellery industry for 9 years, I would advise against buying your rings on the internet. I'm not saying all online retailers are rubbish, but I've had to sort out so many messes left behind by internet retailers. Remember you're not just paying for the raw materials, it's the workmanship and the service. In the lead up to your wedding, believe me, you will not want the stress!
Don't scrimp on your rings, it's the one thing from your wedding you'll keep forever and wear everyday, if you spend on one thing, it's not a bad idea for it to be your rings.
Having said all this, there is absolutely no need to pay high street prices for your jewellery. I would highly recommend the jewellery quarter in Birmingham, the prices are up to half of what they are on the high street and the quality is just as good if not better.

2) PHOTOGRAPHY
Again, this is one of the elements of your wedding that you keep beyond the day. If the photographs are important to you, it's worth spending the money on a decent photographer. More expensive doesn't always equal better, but if it's too cheap theres normally a reason why. I know a lot of people say this, but your wedding day really does go so fast, and there's so much you miss. It's really wonderful to have great pictures to look back on, mine are worth their weight in gold to me.

3) CAKE
Don't bother spending a fortune. No one even ate ours! (Shame because it was lovely!). We bought ours from M&S and decorated it ourselves. I'm glad we didn't bother going all out with it to be honest!

4) DRESS
I was a bit flukey and ended up falling in love with a dress in the sale, and saved a fortune on it. On reflection I'm glad I didn't pay a a lot for it because it's just sat in the loft now.
However, a friend of mine splashed out and bought her dream dress for £3000. She then sold it on preloved for £2000. So that's another way of looking at it.
There are a lot of wedding dress outlets and sample sales. I went to a Brides magazine sample sale in london, and there were massive discounts on all kinds of brands including high end ones like Vera Wang.

5) SHOES
We weren't that bothered about whether everyone's shoes matched, so we told the groomsmen they could just wear their own shoes, which saved buying them. Our bridesmaids had floor length dresses so they wore their own shoes too, as you couldn't see them in the photographs anyway.

6) MAKEUP
I did my own make-up, but I also went for a bridal make-up lesson at Bobbi Brown. I bought a few products and it worked out a lot cheaper than getting a make up artist in.


7) DESSERTS
Family and friends were kind enough to bake lots of cakes and treats for dessert at our wedding. It saved us a fortune and was a really nice touch.


It sounds like you've already been quite savvy so I'm sure you'll be fine! Enjoy planning your wedding and have an amazing day!

hazyjo

Could make it a sponge (vanilla or chocolate probably), and give the wedding cake out as dessert. Will save a bit...


Jx

tatabubbly

I second the wedding forum! Full of great ideas..

Also, use quidco, and eBay is your friend!

notanewuser

I have never understood the willingness of (most?) brides to spend 4 figures on a dress..........

tatabubbly

I didn't.. Granted mine was in 3 figures but under £500 and I was happy with it!

People have different priorities.. I figure if you aren't in debt and you've saved, then spend your money as you please!

notanewuser

tatabubbly wrote: »

I didn't.. Granted mine was in 3 figures but under £500 and I was happy with it!

People have different priorities.. I figure if you aren't in debt and you've saved, then spend your money as you please!

Mine was very comfortably under £500 and was bought off the peg with no fittings or alterations.

We blew a lot on photography and even more on rings - but they're the bird that last. My dress has been sitting in a box under the bed for the past 10 years!