How did you afford your wedding?

It can be very expensive. Ours was, but thank god for credit cards. I think our bill was somewhere around $10,000.00.

Well, my mom made my wedding cake. Years ago when we were little she took some cake decorating classes and always made our birthday, christening, shower cakes, etc. They are more lavishly decorated than bakery cakes.....she pays very close attention to detail. So, right there we saved about $500.

Our family is in the photography business so we had a fellow photographer do our photos at his cost and he gave us the negatives. There was another $800 saved.

Another family friend was a caterer (sp?) and he gave us a little discount but we also did not order "fancy" foods. We stuck with sandwiches, fruit, veggies, meatballs, jambalaya and I think a choice of 2 different punches. We also did not supply alcohol, we had a cash bar. The table cloths were provided by the food service people and the tables were providing by the hall we rented.

My dress did cost $800 but it was on sale...originally it was $1200.

We had a church wedding which cost about $150 for the church and then we rented a section of the auditorium for about $250 as opposed to renting the ball room for about $600. My family also cleaned the place after which saved another $100.

On the flowers, I did choose the type that I wanted which were expensive so I had the florist use as little as she could to make it look nice but add in cheaper "filling flowers". We also rented a backdrop or lattace work to go behind the cake table from the florist.

For decorations, I went to the dollar store and purchased little glass bowls added some water and floating candles, placed baby's breath around them and we were done with the talbes.

We made our own little bird seed pouches for people to throw when we left as opposed to buying them...and this can be done months ahead of time.

That's all that I can think of right now, if I think of more, I'll post again.

I wish you luck and hope I've helped some.

Ken and I paid for our wedding ourselves. We paid cash for everything along the way for the 10 months that we planned it. Our wedding cost $10,000 give or take a dollar or two. Nothing was done on a credit card so we didn't have that hanging over us to start our marriage out with.

i was lucky in that my parents actually footed most of the bill (my wedding and college tuition were things they had purposely saved for pretty much since i was born.) i was going to school full time when i got married so even though i had a job, i wasn't making that much. we only had about 2 1/2 months to plan everything, but since it was a march wedding we were able to get some good deals and it wasn't too hard finding everything. i think in total we spent about $12000. we had about 120 guests (we both have large, but close extended families.)

Wow, you guys are going to think I'm really cheap!

Mom paid for the photographer's down payment well before the wedding and before she passed, which was something like $1200. After she passed and we got to the nitty gritty of the planning, Dad gave us a budget of $2500 for the rest of it (medical bills took a real toll on the planned savings account...), and we had to pay for anything above that.

The dress I got at one of those Wedding Shows where there was a serious clearance sale display from David's Bridal. I got the dress for $250. It wasn't the dress of my dreams, but it was gorgeous nonetheless and I loved it.

We got the cake from the grocery bakery. It was still about $200, but it was delicious and gorgeous and much cheaper than going through a specialty bakery. And they did deliver and set up. Part of the fee we paid the church ($150 + $50 for the pastor) included them serving cake at the formal reception.

I bought silk flowers and we made the bouquets ourselves. Actually, that's one of the best memories I have of the preparations...me, one of my bridesmaids and Earl's mother making the bouquets (my other bridesmaid wasn't around). But that saved a ton of money. We also made all of the pew decorations and table decorations.

We saved thousands on the reception, but what we did probably wouldn't work if you're having a big wedding. We had the reception at our apartment. One of our friends worked at a micro-brewery and gave us a keg for our wedding gift. We made food trays (that no one ate anyway) by buying the meats, cheeses, rolls etc. and putting it together the day before. Basically, we had a keg party with our closest friends and family and had a ball!

I think my parents spent a total of about $4000.00 for our wedding almost 8 yrs ago.

We were lucky - both of our families contributed some and we paid the rest. I stuck to the budget. Creating and following the budget is really important. I joined a local wedding message board that was extremely helpful in finding budget-friendly vendors. I cut out a lot of extraneous purchases and didn't let myself get caught up in "wedding madness". The wedding industry is designed to make you spend a TON of money. You have to remember what the real purpose of the occasion is for and only do what customs are important to you and your fiance.

My parents did pay most of the bills but I still wanted to keep costs down. For them AND me, university tuition was much more important than weddings!

I have never believed in large weddings and fortunately neither did my now ex husband (We remain freinds but my career - medicine and politics - took up too much of my time for his liking and even tho I travelled in my volunteer work with Les Medecins Sans Frontieres, it did not compare to his global jaunts). We were both recent grads tho I was still a grad student attending a VERY expensive US medical school. Ever the romantic tho, we were wed at Harvard Memorial Chapel which in retrospect was probably a little too big and expensive for our needs but it will always remain a special place for both of us! (I was rather fond of the movie Love Story at the time, still am!!)

That said, my sister helped me make my own wedding dress and friends and family all chipped in to help with catering the reception. We also had a small wedding - since neither of us grew up in Boston, the wedding party if I dare call it that consisted mainly of family and close friends.

The campus Catholic chaplain - a close friend - offered his services for free tho my mom gave him a stipend anyway.

I recently attended the wedding of a friend's son in Scotland and it reminded me of my own time - college chapel, small number in attendence, wonderful academic setting.

We're eloping next month- so that's pretty cheap. $18 at the court house. However, the wedding we've been planning (and will probably still do in December as a renewal of vows and reception) is going to be very affordable. I really wanted a photographer who costs $2000 for the entire day, plus pictures and album. I don't think we can afford him though. We will likely have my maid-of-honor's husband take pictures with their digital camera and print them ourselves. We are getting food from my employer- the Olive Garden. Just to give you an idea of price for 4-6 people: Pasta with alfredo is $26.95, Pasta with marinara is $20.95, and pasta with meat sauce is 23.95. Salad and breadsticks are 13.95 for roughly six-eight people. So, with 75 guests I figured we would spend $446.65 on food, not including tax or the tip we'll give the ToGo person who puts the food together. I'm not sure if I'll get my 25% discount or not, but that would be nice!! The church and pastor are $150. My favors are under $25 total- basically we bought a bag of bells and some ribbon and made jingle bells. The utensils and plates (all toss-away) cost under 25 as well, since we waited till the party store had a buy one get one free sale. We are using one silk flower arrangement and I'm going with a single flower bouqet from either roses or lillies- which my mom is making for the three of us. A family friend happens to be a baker and is making the cake for about $85. My future father-in-law is making homemade ice cream. My dress was $800 (my mom, stepdad, and grandpa paid for the dress) and my shoes are $30. My future-mother-in-law is making the veil (probably around $30 for the tulle). My hair will probably be $50.

Oh, and a Sandals all-inclusive honeymoon, especially at Sandals Montego Bay is really affordable. I'm all about one price for everything. There are some great resorts in Cancun that have wonderful prices as well. You might want to look into an all-inclusive for your honeymoon. We're actually waiting until the summer after the wedding for our honeymoon- which will be a few days in Vegas, two days in Flagstaff AZ, and two days in Tucson, AZ. Also very inexpensive! Especially good since we are planning a move to the Southwest eventually.

Fazolis has pretty good food as well. When I was an RA at my undergrad college I used to feed 60 women for under $150 for floor parties. Boston Market also has an excellent catering menu. Their prices include food, service, utensils, and dishware. We would have gone with them, but there isn't a Boston Market in my hometown.

the only price i know of is for my dress and thats about 1,000 euros.

I have no advice for you but wishing you the best.

I am very lucky and have mom and dad to thank for saving for awhile and footing the bill for most of our wedding. They've set a budget which we're planning to stay in. I think what is helping to save us the most is my fiancee and I have decided to get married on a Sunday morning instead of the typical Sat. evening affair. We are serving a breakfast buffet which will help cut costs tremendously and we're limiting our liquour to just mimosas and bloody marys. Also because of the casual feel of our wedding I could buy a pretty simple gown which was a fairly reasonable $430.

There are always ways to cut costs and still have a gorgeous day! Good luck to you whenever that day may be.

To be quite honest with you, I don't understand these big weddings ! I'm sitting here thinking about it, and I believe most everyone I know got married at the courthouse! I think I've only ever been to one "big" wedding, a friend of my sister's, and this would have been 25-30 years ago. The lady has since divorced of course .

Cindy

I got lucky with my wedding. We paid about $5,000.00 for the whole affair, give or take some. I decided to get married in a ballroom that was located in a pretty fancy hotel, and the package included catered food, soda, coffee, teas, and punch, and they had people to serve it on addition to someone to serve the cake after my husband and I cut out our first piece. That cost $3,000.00, however I paid the 750.00 deposit on it, paid the deposit on the DJ, and paid on our wedding rings a year in advance. I got the cake on a discount, and they delivered and set it up. My husband and I also got a free night at the Omni, because we had more than 125 guests. I bought artificial flowers at our local walmart, bought bouquet holders, and the tape to hold the flowers together, and me and 1 of my bridesmaids made all of the bouquets in one night, and they were beautiful. And the best part is, almost a year later, they are still beautiful! I made all of the boutineers and corsages for the groomsmen, the parents and the grandparents. My dress was about 500.00. A big helper was the fact that the grooms parents pitched in money to help as well, and that was the best thing that could have happened. They paid off the balance of the DJ, they paid for the invitations, they paid for all of the tuxedos for the guys, including my ring bearer, and they handed over money for I cant remember what else. They really were more than willing to help out. The photography was free, because of my aunt. So, it really worked out. In this day and age where everything is ridiculously expensive, the grooms parents have to help out more than what tradition says to. Whether its a simple ceremony or a lavish event, it still costs money. But you can cut corners and save money by doing a lot of the hands on stuff yourself. I went to the dollar store and bought my taper candles in navy, and the napkins that were red and blue came from a party supply outlet store. So, you just have to be open to ideas, and be willing to compromise on things. Some of these weddings are ridiculous in what they have there.
Good luck with it! When it gets here, that is

I got married WAY bacnk in 1985. I paid for my dress,shoes, etc.....
Mom and Dad paid for everything else. In Wisconsin one has "big weddings" I think mine was on the smaller big of big with perhaps 250 or so for dinner. Prices were cheaper back then I think the meal was only like $6.00/person. Plus for like $1.50 they had sandwiches and stuff at about 10:30. This was at a old fashioned "ballroom" THe meal was prepared my some church groups and in addition to wedding cake they church ladies alway made the best pie (that is one reason I chose that place) I wanted the pie!! We had a polka band-its tradition , photographer, video person. And another unique to Wisconsin open bar at the reception until dinner then "free" beer and soda. Cake was from the bakeshop at a local grocery store. Lots of real flowers for me-some mom and dad grew in the garden decorated the church. No limo I used my grandparents car that had been passed down to my uncle after thry died. (something borrowed!!) So the total cost I don't remember. My dad raised christmas trees for several yrs and this is how the wedding got paid for.

We were married in 1990, and all totalled, had about $1,000 in EVERYTHING! Of course, my SIL made my dress and my bridesmaids dresses, and hub did the cake and all the food, so all that cost there was the actual $$$ amount for the food itself....

Originally Posted by Leli

It's led me to realize that whenever I end up getting married, I'm going to have to sell an arm and a leg to pay for it! These things cost a FORTUNE and it goes up with every guest!

Click to expand...

What a great thread! My only advice is to SHOP AROUND, it is amazing how prices will vary from one vendor to another. I also highly highly recommend shopping at online auction venues if you are comfortable doing so. I saved over $4000 buying my stuff online! Just some of the savings I can share that we had: I bought my DREAM princess gown online for $175US, I bought my flowers online giving the seller my colors and she put together a customized package for me that was only $130 for everything, I bought my shoes online for $30, I bought all my decorations online and made them myself (SUPER easy, the caterer thought they were professionally made and my bows only cost $2 each!), then I bought all my favor materials online and assembled them myself as well.

I also recommend that you ask around to family & friends. Turns out my grandma knew a professional photographer and he followed us around on our wedding right from the time we got up and only charged us $900 (photo's were awesome). We also had a family friend who loved to take videos and they agreed to videotape the wedding ceremony for us and part of the evening too.

All in all, our wedding cost us around $8000 for 120 people which we thought was great!