Looking for some Suggestions

[Desiree]

I have about 5 months to plan a wedding, and although I have a lot of help from family and friends, I'm having problems making this wedding fairly cost effecient. I'm not saying I want some thrown together deal, I want it nice, but I don't want to have to go in the red either. Any of you ladies who have gone through this, I could appreciate some suggestions on how to possibly cut some costs.

Thank you,
Desiree

 

[Didymus]

Keep the weding party small. maid of honor best man and two ushers--I had one guy and my sister--she refused to be a brides maid.

look for a never worn gown at thrift shops and want ads.

skip the tuxes--suits are fiine.

cut down on decorations.

no booze--i saved over 200$ that way 25 years ago.
I planned my wedding in two months by the way.

ask friends to provide the music as their gift to you--mine were happy too --i had poor but talented friends.

pick flowers that are in season. one of the church ladies took glass sugar bowls and cream pitchers from the church kitchen and filled them with flowers from her garden as she knew i was poor and wanted the table to have flowers .

have a frien play cds . who need a dj.

hope this helps

 

[Desiree]

Thanks Didymus, I'm already doing some of the things you mentioned. Keeping the guest list small is unbelievably hard, especially with a big family. The main area I'm having problems with is the food.

 

[hollygirl]

Food. Would you believe that a few of my mother's friends put all the food at my wedding together within a couple of hours of the wedding. Instead of a sit down dinner we did a buffet style "snack supper." They set up about four table, boxes under the white table clothes (that were borrowed) and set the trys of food up on different levels with fresh flowers mingled around the trays. There were different kinda of fruits, lunch meats, cheeses, veggies, rolls, crackers....
Buy the food and flowers in bulk. Mom got my flowers (in season) from a wholeseller close to where they live. The food was bulk stuff from Costco. You know. Those huge loaves of cheese and meat, huge boxes of rolls and crackers. It was amazing. I'll load some pictures for you. Maybe you can get some ideas from that.
Oh, and mom made the cake. And the brides maids dresses (all two of them.) Both of those things saved quite a bit of money.

 

[Memory's Flame]

I am not married; but am watching several friends plan their weddings... and here are some tips I've gathered from them

Like HollyGirl said; have your mom and some friends or relatives make the food... my friend had a wedding last year that was about $200 per guest!! Think of what you can save by making your own food!

Another thought is to buy a cheap, simple dress and then find a seamstress to do your additions! Usually they will do most of what you want for under $100!!

 

[hollygirl]

Okay, there's a cople of pictures now. Just click on my gallery button.

 

[LAMan4Him]

Exactly, be a good steward.. I remember when I got married, I think we spent more than we needed to. Looking back, I could have saved alot of money and kept it alot more simple.
Some other ideas are invitations, keep them simple and do not spend a bundle! If any of your friends are crafty, they can make some directions or table setting/flowers for your wedding gift... use there gifts.. Good luck and God bless.