Your advice on an OS wedding please?

janeyd2

When my son got married last year his missus got her dress from an e- bay site.
Silk made to measure and beaded cost only £55 inc P&P and was lovely

paddingtondoo

thanks for the tip about name cards Pretz was having a nightmare about how to write on them.

Anyone got any use for 40 squares of card? :rotfl:

ikkleosu

I think the secret to a budget is exactly as pretz said - prioritize. Decide the things you want luxury or the best on. Maybe it's the venue or the dress or whatever.

Then for all the little bits, skimp! I mean will anyone know if your tiara was £50 or £5 from Claires, if it looks sparkly and nice?

Favours can be as cheap as you make them. I am spending around £1 per person and for that they are getting a cello bag filled with retro sweets. The kids are getting a home made lucky bag with stuff to keep them occupied during the meal. Chocolates can be bought for far cheaper than £3 for 2. Buy organza bags, put in a little sparkly confetti and a couple of chocolates bought from a supermarket. It will look lovely.

Also do you have any family members or friends who are offering to do stuff for you? Then ACCEPT their offer. Maybe you have an aunt or a friend who would do your hair or make-up. Someone who could print your place cards for you? These kind of things will all save you amazing amounts of money when added up.

For bridesmaids, don't just think of the usual "wedding" type shops - most high street fashion shops at this time of year have dresses for proms which would look great as bridesmaids dresses - especially if you want your bridesmaids to be able to wear them again.

emay

My sister's just got married, from annoucment to big day in 3 months!!! Not sure of all the costs, but what I know:

Dress - £250 (from Debenhams - Mum & Dad bought it)
Bridesmaid dress - about £30 (also from Debenhams, got it reduced as it was dusty round the bottom)
Photos & album - free, done by me & b/f as wedding pressi
Cake - free, done by friend as wedding pressi
Make-up - free (done by her best mate)
Hair - £40 (wedding pressi from best mate, we were going to do it for her, but she has really fine baby hair and we got scared!)
Table decorations - don't know exact price but end of line bargins from confetti
Table planner/menu etc - didn't have any, she just had 6 large round tables and sit were you like (and a buffet)
Invitations - free (another pressi from me)
Venue (they got married and had ceremony in same place) - about £3000, this was for the 6 hotel rooms fri & sat, hire of the whole place from sat lunch onwards (they had a late ceremony so only 1 reception), and the buffet.