I'm getting married! The DFW way of course and need HELP!!

Catw0man

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

guess we can support each other as we go along. I've only been engaged since June so we're trying to save as much as we possibly can. I'm doing some things myself such as stationery. Ok i'm not doing the cheapest way possible but i'm getting a lot more for my money than if i bought it so i looks like i'm spending a fortune. It's getting to be a challenge to get what i want for the least amount possible. I know what you mean about adding the word wedding and the cost tripling, it really does my head in.

It's good to have the support from everyone here!! Lemon Tree - we can share ideas, and tips!! Good luck with your planning, if you need any tips with craft stuff, give me a shout!!
I really wanted a planner book, to keep a note of all my plans, dates, ideas etc, I watched loads on ebay - but wasn't willing to pay what they ended up going for, they have them in tesco for £7.95, but wasn't willing to pay that - got to save every penny!! So I made myself one, a paperbag scrapbook - I'm so pleased with it - it's much more personal, I've done it my way!! I'm now making some more, for various occassions - baby, Christmas etc to sell at the Christmas craft fair - all proceeds to the wedding of course!!

lvu

Congratulations Catw0man

Have you looked attheforums on craftster.org there are some brilliant suggestions if your the creative type.

pandapaws

Just thought I'd say Congratulations!
A lot of our debt (About 10k probably) is still lingering around from our wedding 4 years ago. We did loads and loads of things ourselves to save money, but all-in I think it was still about 15k - though that included about 3k on a complete waste-of-time honeymoon at Sandals which was total crap! Week in Dublin with loads of spending money would have been far better!

You're crafty anyway, which is a great start, but the best tip I got was to go to Asda about 3 or 4 days beforehand and buy loads and loads of flowers there, then leave them in buckets in the lounge, and make them into bouquets the night before - that way they've all opened out in time! I also saved up all our empty Paul Masson wine bottles (the nice vase-shaped ones), and just filled them with Asda lillies and used them as table centrepieces - sounds crap, but it looked stunning!

Good luck, keep us posted on your spend total!

Catw0man

Thanks for the tip about the flowers from Asda, I was thinking about getting a bunch of Tesco Finest roses for my bouquet @ £10 a time it's much cheaper than a florist! And they are beautiful long stemmed roses, the kind that are perfect for hand-tied bouquets!
As for our spend so far, let me see....
Craft items for invitations - Approx. £40 (not the cheapest, but I'm fussy!!)
Tiara - £12.50 (plus £2 P&P from ebay)
Deposit for reception - £200
I think that's about it for now

Catw0man

Oh just remembered, not sure if I mentioned it before, I've seen a couple of rings that I like at around £400!! From Goldsmiths, I have around £600 worth of deal vouchers from Tesco, some of which will pay for the ring, the rest will go towards a few nights away in a nice hotel!

CRANKY40

Have you investigated the costs of having the rings made. My engagement ring (made by my husband) cost £675 for the "parts", but is valued at £2000.

Ok, so your df can't make the ring himself, but surely an individual goldsmith would not be looking at making such a profit?

Catw0man

Would have loved to have an individual ring made - I did think of making one myself with PMC gold as I have made a pure silver ring with this in the past, but being able to get a beautiful one with diamonds and two tone gold from Goldsmiths the Jewellers for 'free' won me over! Originally I wanted a handmade one with a celtic theme, but I guess we can't have everything!
Thanks for the advice though!

Lemon_Tree

sorry to have not posted for a couple of days, OH was here for the weekend he had an interview - i really hope he gets the job. I found i had load of note books so i've made my own planner as well, i keep it in my handbag at all times and obsessively write down everything i spend.
Thanks for the offer of craft advice, i've got the design picked and have started on them but there's a fair bit to do on them but at least i've got loads of time.

Catw0man

Oh good luck for the job for your OH!

RoxieW

Hi catwoman - congrats!!!!

i got married last april so i know how expensive they can be!

my top tips are - flowers - i had all white flowers for the ceremony and day meal - but rather than paying for 2 lits I got the l#florist to come and add some pink/purple flowers to them and colour the water. so for the evening they had a totally different look. I bought my own vases from ikea (cheaper than hiring them from the florist!) I also got a vase to display my bouquet.


I had lots of little cakes - it looked really good. we just let people help themselves when they were leaving.

instead of favours we put individual love heart chocs at each place (bought bulk bags).

hubby made all the stationary.

i bought my dress on sale (reduced from £1500 to £350 as it was a closing down sale).

my friend did the photos (he's a pro!)

above all - we just invited those important to us. we had 40 people for the ceremony and during the day which meant we could give them all an amazing 4 course dinner with wine. we then had an extra 40 in the evening with a hot/cold buffet which placated all the random aunts etc that you never ever see but still somehow have to invite!