Your advice on an OS wedding please?

AccyAlly

Sorry just had another thought......

.......most venues/hotels will do reduced prices if you get wed on a Friday rather that say a Saturday.....?? Its always worth asking.

boredofbeingathome

All advice very good, just another one for the pot.
You can often hire halls/clubs for very little cost, a friend of mine hired a church hall, used vouchers for wine, a large roll of white table covering and catering stuff from makro, table decs from Wilkinsons.
Buffet-courtesy of parents and various relatives, cake-(me)
Wedding dress-courtesy of shop closing down, bridesmaids-E Bay
Bag of disposable cameras ( E BAY)on each table and confetti.
Bouquet from tescos on the day, beautiful cream roses, same for button holes-(£10),Second one for bridesmaids, put together my inventive MIL, about £15-spread over 3 bridesmaids.
DJ -free, blagged a relative who did this
Photos from above and various digital cameras(album bought off e bay-beautiful in the end)
Cars-didn't use just bought some white ribbon for famiily cars, which were already nice.
Total was around £800, it's the little things which add up and she reckons it could have been done for less.
It was one of the nicest weddings i have ever been to, so relaxed after all running around and everyone had that lets work together spirit!
PS-If you lived nearer i would do your cake just for the cost of ingredients, the quote for sponge cake is ridiculous. I agree with others as both M&S and tesco do a range of cakes you can put together on the day, both sponge and fruit.
Congratulations and good luck with it all. Bob x

KittyKate

Thankyou thankyou thankyou for all your ideas so far, I really appreciate them and they have given me a lot of food for thought so keep them coming

I am definately going to be looking at Debenhams (hopefully wait for the sale) for the dress. I'd like a theme of white, silver and lilac and will pick up bits as and when - I saw beaded tiaras for £20 at the wedding fair so they'll be cheaper on the net I would think.

My bridesmaids are 33 and 23 so no kiddies! I am hoping to dress them in a simple-ish lilac dress each, seen them in Debenhams at £80 so might hit lucky in the sale. Accessories from Claire's or M&S (as I can get M&S vouchers on Pigsback!!)

I can't get married on a Friday sadly as a lot of my friends work and work together, so they'd never all get the day off. I am willing to get married in September if it's a saving on the venue!

The 4 men I have to dress...the suit I can get at Debenhams (seen some nice waistcoats) but the cravats - can't I make these cheaper (they're just a lilac silk-like necktie) ? They're £20 odd each! (I have a sewing machine for bits but am not confident making a dress)

Also did anyone get a video done? I think my family would like one as a keepsake, but personally I'm not so fussed. Was going to buy a cheapish handycam, could I not just put this on a tripod in the church?! (my 23yo bridesmaid actually films weddings part time and could edit the raw footage into something watchable).

I dunno if all brides start to worry about money but I certainly am (and it wasn't too much of a worry before, ie, had no targets). Bought a new car last week and am feeling the pinch...then there's the honeymoon! (am Pigsbacking like mad and trying to OS my life as much as is humanly possible!)

annie123

my friend asked at her local college where they did a photography course.
She paid £125 had the tutor and 3 photographers turn up and one of the best albums produced I've seen.
Formal and light hearted photos taken and the black and white ones looked fab.

Worth asking if you have a college near you.

Dee140157

Every time I read weddings cost on average £17,000 I shiver.
I get married in 5 weeks time. People keep asking me have I done this that or the other. And often the answer is no. There are so many things you don't have to do if you don't want to. I had a fabulous marriage first time round and it wasn't too expensive. I am lucky to have met someone special again and we are definitely on a budget.

My dress cost £70
The suits for the three men £240
3 bridesmaid dresses - prom dressses from Tammy Girl - £66 total
Flowers £45
Photographer - free- a friend
Cake - free a friend
Make up free - a friend
NO car - no one really sees it
Registrar etc £140 ish
After wedding back to house for champagne and nibbles for 30 - £120
Evening party for 80 £1300
Tcikets to Paris £45
Hotel £400
Rings £400

And that is about it. A few other accessories but will not be much over £3500. And I am so looking forward to it. I will have a great time knowing I have not had to go into debt to get married. It will not make any difference to the strength of the marriage.

So I guess my advice is to not feel pressurised into having all the things that make a wedding "special"..It is the person you are marrying that does that.

anniemf2508

We got married last November and did a majorly budget "do".
My dress came off ebay..a real Maggie Sottero for under £100
the rest of my accessories came from ebay too
Bridemaids came from the Next clearance shop.

We didn;t have an official photographer, just bought a load of disposable cameras and passed them around, got some lovely pics of the day

Flowers were done by my aunt

and we did our own catering for the reception (we only had close friends and family, so did it at home)

Bagpuss1973

KittyKate wrote: »

Thankyou thankyou thankyou for all your ideas so far, I really appreciate them and they have given me a lot of food for thought so keep them coming

I am definately going to be looking at Debenhams (hopefully wait for the sale) for the dress. I'd like a theme of white, silver and lilac and will pick up bits as and when - I saw beaded tiaras for £20 at the wedding fair so they'll be cheaper on the net I would think.

My bridesmaids are 33 and 23 so no kiddies! I am hoping to dress them in a simple-ish lilac dress each, seen them in Debenhams at £80 so might hit lucky in the sale. Accessories from Claire's or M&S (as I can get M&S vouchers on Pigsback!!)

I can't get married on a Friday sadly as a lot of my friends work and work together, so they'd never all get the day off. I am willing to get married in September if it's a saving on the venue!

The 4 men I have to dress...the suit I can get at Debenhams (seen some nice waistcoats) but the cravats - can't I make these cheaper (they're just a lilac silk-like necktie) ? They're £20 odd each! (I have a sewing machine for bits but am not confident making a dress)

Also did anyone get a video done? I think my family would like one as a keepsake, but personally I'm not so fussed. Was going to buy a cheapish handycam, could I not just put this on a tripod in the church?! (my 23yo bridesmaid actually films weddings part time and could edit the raw footage into something watchable).

I dunno if all brides start to worry about money but I certainly am (and it wasn't too much of a worry before, ie, had no targets). Bought a new car last week and am feeling the pinch...then there's the honeymoon! (am Pigsbacking like mad and trying to OS my life as much as is humanly possible!)

Hi

Congratulations!

Re the cravats you can hire them from people like moss bros or get them off e-bay. Also I would look into hiring your waistcoats for the men as well as they sometimes do offers and can be cheaper than buying

Favours - I'm not going to bother most guests leave them behind anyway.

Invites - Just buy some from clintons or somewhere and write or do a simple design on your computer and print out on nice card - remember all they are actually for is to tell your guests where/when/what time etc - most will end up in bin

Cake - Marks and Spencers do some simple ones but to be honest your local bakery might do something just as nice and for no more money

Dresses - check out the bridal shops around January they tend to have big sales around then, although I got my last November for half price.

Food - Have a buffet rather than a "sit down" meal you will save a packet, plus everyone can choose what they want.

Get married later in the day so you don't have to feed everyone twice.

Flowers - if you don't mind go for silk - loads cheaper www.sarah'sflowers.co.uk has some lovely ones and not bad prices either

Bagpussx

Pink.

Congratulations kittykate and all the brides to be. :j

There's a great thread on the Weddings and Anniversaries board where you should pick up lots of tips on having a Moneysaving Wedding:

Wedding Tips start here...

As there are many others who are getting married posting on that board, they will be able to offer advice and support so I'll move this thread over for you.

Pink

pretz_2

well as a wedding planner i would say set a budget and then prioritise the things that really matter to you and your partner the things i consider as not being essential are favours, name cards you can do a table plan with everybodys names on and set it at the entrance this way everyone is still placed at the correct tables but have the choice of who to sit next to, a videographer with this you need to consider whether you would actually sit and watch this again and surely it isnt worth spend alot of money on this sort of thing if you personally aren't bothered but are only getting it for the family as for the honeymoon could you not ask for money as presents to put towards it instead of gifts i have money poems somewhere that you place in the invitation instead of a gift list, i find a lot of clients do this now as they have already set up a home as for food and drinks depending on what time of day it is i would suggest a 2 course meal for the wedding breakfast nobody will even notice its not a 3 course and for the evening a buffet/carvery is the way to go or even a picnic this way no name cards are needed and every body mingles with everyone and provides a lovely informal setting a bbq also works well for this as for drinks i would provide sparkling wine its a lot cheapher than champagne and is actually the same thing apart from it doesnt come from the champagne region of france. for you dress check out ebay and consider hiring the suits as they will never be worn againand alot of places do hire 3 or more suits and the grooms is free, next is good for bridesmaids dress and accessories.
errmm cant think if ive missed anything but feel free to pm me and remember to get plenty of quotes and mention these to your venue etc they will normally come down in price never take the first price on anything and never mention if posible that its for a wedding as the price is quoted at 3 times more then if it was for a normal function
hth
pretz

reehsetin

great thread, i'm getting married in april it looks like, pretty much just decided, so many things to think about!
so many money saving tips here i can't use though, very annoying