The cost of marriage!

[Deleted User]

sophscottx wrote: »

Yes definitely need something for a toast! Good point indeed.

There will be kids there so colouring books are a good idea! Will add that to my list too! My nephews are obsessed with little toy matchstick cars so that's something!

So wedding videos may be the better option?

All depends on what you want and what you like. As someone said, they hate the idea of a video. We had quite a lot of speeches and it is nice to listen to them again. We love our video. We hardly ever look at our wedding album, but we always watch our video on our anniversary.

BUT - to get them done well, it's going to cost. With all of these things, I think you should be proportional to your overall costs.

As another idea.. get a video camera on a tripod, and position it facing a plain background. Then get people to do little video messages to you. We had this as people were leaving at the end of the night (so they were a bit drunk and more amusing!)

maman

martinnathalie9 wrote: »

Some great advice on here. One thing I'd add is that there are some great winter wedding venues out there. The cost comes down a lot once you get out of peak season, so that's another way that you can make savings. I know you're in the northeast, but I oddly just saw that my wedding venue just posted about budgeting tips. Might be useful! http://theorangerymaidstone.com/news/budget-big-day/ Sounds obvious but the best way to make savings is to do as much of it yourself as you can. One of my artistic friends even did my flowers for me as her wedding gift. I also went to a DIY wedding in a country house where all the family and close friends contributed to the venue rental and everyone brought their own alcohol. It was super relaxed and a great atmosphere.

It looks like a lovely venue and how sensible of them to market off peak weddings in that way.


I think the DIY wedding would be a step too far for me. I know it's traditional for parents to contribute but the idea that loads had chipped in would make me feel like the poor relation and spoil my day. Just my view, each to his own.

sophscottx

That looks like a beautiful venue! Love their little guide!

Looooove the idea of people talking to a camera, I can imagine that's heartwarming but funny too, I'm sure someone in our family will have a a camcorder, so maybe get people to video bits and such and have a photographer to do photos, seems like the cheapest and most satisfying idea!

We're a small but close family so can imagine just like everything else they'll all want to get involved, DIY wedding seems right up my street, I love things like that, can't say we're all artistic however!

ani*fan

Congratulations on your engagement! :beer:

I agree with what everyone else has said. You don't have to spend much at all if you don't want to and the main thing is, do not buy into the hype. Weddings are a massive industry with everyone trying to persuade you that you need to spend a fortune on the most frivolous things. You don't. Just decide what's worth it to you, and what's not.

I hope it all goes well.

sophscottx

Everyone's so lovely!

Thank you ani*fan! If I could invite you all I truly would (L)

ALIBOBSY

sophscottx wrote: »

Yes definitely need something for a toast! Good point indeed.

There will be kids there so colouring books are a good idea! Will add that to my list too! My nephews are obsessed with little toy matchstick cars so that's something!

So wedding videos may be the better option?

Aldis champers wins awards all the time or just a nice presseco or other "fizz", doesn't need to be alot and alot of shops offer dicounts for bulk buying.

Ali x

ALIBOBSY

We are 3 wks off our 19th anniversary and I can definately say we are glad we had a small family wedding.

Just close family at the register office then to a local restaurant for a meal-we had the festive menu and pulled crackers at the table lol. Dress was crushed velvet with a jacket, hat and shoes, under £100 for the lot, think the charge at registras was around £30 ish and she was a lovely lady. Meal was split by my Dad and new FIL but think the bill was around £300 all in with drinks etc.

We then went back to my parents and a few other friends dropped by, we did a buffet between us, mum made the cake and her friend who had worked decorating cakes when younger did the icing for us. Had a lovely day all about us and close family for under £500. It also meant we were able to sort a deposit for a house so much more quickly to get our first house.

Go with the wedding YOU and your spouse to be are happy with and try not to worry about people complaining about what you do or who is or isn't invited, there will always be someone not happy whatever you do.

TBH the only thing we might have done differently would have been to have hired somewhere for more of a party at night, but that would just have been a hall and possibly a dj (if a mate couldn't have done the music), would have still done buffet ourselves.

Best wishes OP marriage is much, much more than one day, like children it can be challenging, is not always easy, but can bring you the happiest most joyful moments in your life.

Ali x (with one hubby, 4 kids, 2 cats, 1 puppy and 3 chickens )

Trina90

I'm getting married in May. We've sort of set a budget of about 10k - 15k. It is all going to be in a local hotel, not having a fancy car, about 50ish day guests, and 30ish guests arriving in the evening. Not sorted a honeymoon, we'll be having a delayed one.

maman

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Aldis champers wins awards all the time or just a nice presseco or other "fizz", doesn't need to be alot and alot of shops offer dicounts for bulk buying.

Ali x

Aldi do a lovely Cremant du Jura at £7.49 which is every bit as good as many champagnes. As you probably know everyone who'll be having the toast well I'd offer a choice of drinks including beer. I love champagne (and the Cremant ) and it makes me miserable to see people taking a sip or literally just raising a glass and wasting it.:eek:

Lily-Rose_3

I agree. There is no 'set cost' for a wedding (I assume the OP means wedding and not marriage?) we spent less than 1.5 grand in the early 1990s, (I guess that is about 4 grand now?) And it was the best wedding I have ever been to.