Wedding dress cost - how much is too much?
373329
I think the average cost of a wedding dress is around $1500. I spent $350 on mine at a JC Penny outlet store. David's Bridal often has $99 specials on wedding dresses. Some dresses go up into the 10s of thousands and some middle class families are willing to spend that amount on those dresses.\nWhat are you willing to shell out? I'd rather save the money for a house, retirement or a REALLY nice vacation.
76985
How simple?\nYou can get married at the courthouse for the cost of the license and maybe a small fee to the judge.\n\nAdjusted for inflation, my wedding cost $1400 dollars.  That covered the chapel at a local church, the minister, organist, our rings, some flowers and the "reception". The only people that attended were our immediate families, 12 people. It was an early morning ceremony and afterwards we all went out and had brunch in a private dining room at a local restaurant. My wife made her own dress from a pattern. It was simple -- resembled a monks robe with a cowl. It cost her the price of the material and her labor. We were students, we paid for it ourselves, so we had to keep the price down.\n\nWhen you start having receptions, massive flowers, bridesmaids, DJ's, open bars, then the cost is going to climb.
45075
Etiquette dictates that you spend the amount of your plate. So you figure the average wedding is about $125 per head - that's the amount you should give or spend on the couple. So that they either get their money back to pay for the reception dinner or either receive something of equal value. If you can't afford to cover the cost of your plate - then do the best that you can. The couple probably knows that you can't and isn't expecting you to.\nMuch Success!
54889
Of course you can try Davids Bridal if you want something everyone has right ? I would suggest e-bay I know sooo many girls that have done this and saved hundreds on original dresses . I really would also suggest small bridal boutiques if you can afford a little more they have beautiful originals also . Good luck and congrats !!!
1097283
My husband and I were in a similar situation and we had a very nice wedding for cheap.  Your best bet...do it yourself.  We had the reception at my parents house.  40 people in the basement and living room and it was great.  everyone had so much fun and it was very memorable because it was once of a kind.  my mom did the food all herself and we got some KFC chicken because my husband is supervisor there.  If you decide to do the food yourself you can contact me through this site and i could give you some ideas and tips no problem.  i got my dress on sale at a bridal shop because the style was no longer made.  it was only $500 (with cleaning, steaming and alterations) marked down from $1000.  There are also alot of prom and brides maid dresses that resemble wedding gowns that you could go for as well.  a plain wedding band can be as little as like $100, then later on in life you can renew vows and give a different ring(thats what we ae doing) and you can make alot of decorations and favours and flowers yourself or get them cheap from like a dollar store.  we got balloons and streamers in pink and silver for the decorations from the dollar store.  under $50 to decorate and you'd never tell we spent so little.  keep the guests minimum and that way you could do an open bar too.  for the 40 guests we bought 5 cases of beer, bottle of vodka, rum and rye and some wine.  it was plenty and everyone was happy not to have to pay for booze.  it was great and such a wonderful day.  we got married a a wedding chapel for like $250, but you could look into doing a ceremony at your home or something for cheap too.  just keep in mind everything that needs to be done can most likey be done yourself for half the price.  dont give up and dont wait if this is what you want to do.  its no impossible and trust me, if you love him that much, its a day you'll never forget.  also remember, you can always renew vows some day and do it the way you want when you have money.  thats my plan. small the first time, then big party when we renew.  best of luck to you.
1069222
check out this website:\n\nwww.confetti.co.uk they have lots of ideas about keeping the cost down.  I am sorry I can't advise on a venue for a cheap wedding in the UK but this site gave me lots of ideas on how to do a beautiful wedding on a tight budget.\n\nThe greatest expense is the venue hire and catering, is there any way you could have this at home or at a friend's house?  Ask someone who has a back garden that you could perhaps use if the weather is good.  Instead of gifts, ask your guests to bring a food item for a buffet, or ask them to make 5 fairy cakes each and then stack them up as your wedding cake.  Borrow a dress or hire one.  Make your own invites.  Keep the flowers simple, perhaps 3 cala lilly stems, they look very elegant and simple.  Scatter rose petals over the tables instead of having centre pieces, or use balloons, they are cheap and readily available.
320901
It sounds like you have a good idea. It is up to you and how much you can afford and what other people will pitch in.  Typically the brides family pays for the wedding ceremony/reception and the grooms family pays for the rehearsal dinner.  The dresses are paid for by the bridesmaids.  But you can do whatever works best for you and what your family wants to pay for.  But the more they pay for the more they will want a say in things.\n\nHere is a traditional list http://www.usabride.com/wedplan/a_whopays.html\n\nHere is one you make on your own (very good)\nhttp://www.weddingdetails.com/planning/qt_budget.cfm?\nprint=yes
623629
I am 21, when I got married my mother and my fiance's parents split the cost. Neither could afford the whole thing on their own. I got married at a chapel that offered in house photography (which is the most expensive and the most important thing about the day in my opinion). It hurt that I couldn't have the the huge wedding because there simply wasn't the money. My advice would be to definitely do what you can afford and only that. But do what you can afford. No less. No matter how frivolous you may think it is, you should offer to do all you can for the most important day of your daughter's life. That being said, there is no need to do ridiculously lavish things like fireworks at the wedding, or a 10 layer cake. Pick your battles here. The dress is going to be expensive, when she finds one she loves, let her have it no matter what the cost but make sure she knows the budget. If the budget is $10,000 and she wants a $5,000 dress she needs to know how much that leaves her. My fiance and I made our own invitations with a computer kit we bought. It was $25 at walmart and they turned out beautiful. \nHer fiance doesn't need to be pressuring you. If he wants more than you can afford tell him point blank he will have to get it somewhere else. Money can be an uncomfortable subject but you have to be upfront about how much you can afford. Ask what kind of wedding your daughter has in mind, a simple beachfront wedding, a huge cathedral wedding,etc. That can also help you figure out how much you will need to spend. Before you plan a budget, discuss the things that are most important and the things that could be simplified (invitations, the ceremony site,etc). Look around at different locations and offer help where it is asked for and make sure your daughter knows you are willing to help her in any way needed. The grooms family is supposed to pay for the rehearsal dinner so if he wants to impress friends tell them they can go all out then. The wedding traditionally falls on the brides parents but nowadays its up to whoever can pay. Bring both families together to discuss payment. And only pay what you can.\n\nAs to the other suggestions here: the brides family typically pays for the wedding. That includes flowers and liquor. So don't be petty about those things. You don't need liquor at the reception as that can drive costs through the roof. If you want liqour there have a cash bar instead of an open bar, or not at all. Depending on where you have the wedding,they may not allow liquor to be served.\n\nAs for an elopement, please don't encourage this. Your family will hate that they weren't included in the wedding amd couldn't see their neice/cousin/grandchild get married. As will you. Don't you think you will wish that you got to see them get married? Don't encourage that.\n\nYou didnt say whether or not your daughter has a career or not, so if she does and can afford to pay for the wedding I agree she should help out but as a gift to the married couple,it would be nice if you were to help out. But sometimes it takes a little longer to get a career together, so if she doesnt have one you should definitely help. But if she does have one and you choose to help, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Even if she was 40 and you were paying, there is nothing wrong with that.
1136422
Congrats on engagement!!!  A nice wedding for 100, can run from about $8000 to $60,000. Look for wedding dress sales or eBay for bride who changed mind - remember dresses run really small most of time. You can take it in but it is hard to let out. My daughter is a 2 & we bought a 8 to fit bustline & altered. To save money have buffet, sit down meals are pricey. Start looking for place to hold it, reasonably price ones book up a year to 2 yrs in advance. Good luck! It was fun helping with both of my daughters, I did not enjoy paying for them but they were beautiful.
968952
Emily has to find a dress whose cost is such that, when you add 5% of the cost, you get $30 total.\n\nAn easy way to get 5% of something is to move the decimal point one place to the left and then divide by 2.\n\n(a) can't be the answer. The tax on $30 would make the total cost greater than $30.\n\n5% of 29.50 = 2.95/2 = 1.475. Round this to 1.48, and the total tax makes the cost greater than $30. (b) can't be the answer.\n\n5% of 28 is 2.80/2 = 1.40. The total cost of a $28 dress plus tax is $29.40.\n\nSince choice (d) is less than choice (c), and choice (c) is the largest answer that works, choice (c) must be the answer.\n\nActually, the dress could cost a little more than $28, but that is the best answer of the choices given.
1125832
It's DEFINITELY up to the bridemaids/maid of honor to pay for their OWN dresses. You shouldn't feel guilty at all for having them pay for their own dress. I know I got married last October and all these thoughts go through your mind what if they don't agree with me but you know what at the end of the day it's YOUR DAY, YOUR WEDDING. People are always going to be opinionated. Don't worry it will all fall into place.
848800
I think it's a wonderful idea.  Not only are you wearing a dress that was special to someone else, it's saving you a bundle on expensives.  So, I would consider it lucky.\n\nIf you love the dress, and feel beautiful in the dress, then please by all means wear it.  You have the most happinest and most wonderful weddings of them all...\n\nGod bless us all....................
129119
You can do all the flowers yourself. You can make the cake yourself. You can make the invitations.  These three things alone will save you hundreds of dollars.  A wedding is not "made" by how much money is spent.  What matters is that the bride and groom are happy and everyone had a good time.  If you know anyone with a nice sound system of their own you could ask them if they would be willing to do the music.  Why hire someone that will charge you an arm and a leg when you can just use a nice stereo system and ask everyone you know for different CD's.  Depending on how many women are in the wedding party you can either make the dresses if you know anyone that sews, or ask them to pay for half the dresses themselves.  Depending on location and if you want alcohol instead of having an open bar have it so that they have to pay. That way only the people who want to drink can and you are not paying for drinks that are not going to be consumed.  Small Weddings are great because you can limit the amout of people.  I hope some of these tips help.  Good Luck
73085
I'm unsure of the price but there is a woman on weddingexpress.com that says she can get a discount on any style MS dress. Just email emma_toomey@yahoo.co.uk with dress details, when you need it, and she will do her best. Good Luck all the websites I found you had to call for a quote. Also perfectbridal.com has a form you can fill out online and get a quote for the dress you want.
680922
How do you know it's $70 per person?  Are you talking about giving a gift, or contributing towards the actual expenses of the wedding.  Typically, how much the wedding costs the wedding party has no bearing at all on the value of the gift that you give.  The gift should be of the appropriate sentiment that you want to convey to the couple.
693477
you CAN def. do this! it will take a bit more time- so you need help. friends and family. \n*draw up a budget ASAP. $7000 total (probably $3000 will be for food and drink) reception location $500. flowers $1000. $250 dress - $900 dj/music etc.  \n*keep the guest list to a min. If you have a guest total of 75- you can get decent food at $30 per person and the rest for drinks.\nAlso keep the bridal party small. \n*host a cocktail and light buffet reception instead of a full meal. this can come off really swanky- like a high-class uptown loft party.\n*skip the party favors. go for candy treats your guests can eat. most of the time the little frames and bells etc. just get thrown away by guests anyway.\n*ASK questions. When you call a vendor- let them know you are on a budget. Oftentimes if they can't help you- they know someone who can.\n*Make your own centerpieces out of a candlescape. Florist centerpieces run about $50 per table. You can do them yourself for around $25. \n\n*Oh- one thing I wouldn't skimp on is the photog. Your photos will be the only things left after the wedding is over. the flowers will wilt. your dress will be stored. the cake will be gone etc. but the photos will last a lifetime.\n\ngood luck! and remember to have fun w/ it. planning your wedding should be half the fun! :D
1067078
Everyone in a wedding is responsible for their own attire.  It would be nice if you didn't expect the groomsmen to spend $200+.  Since the kilts are $50 more than the tux maybe you could pay the difference if you really want the groomsmen to wear them.  Has anyone talked to the guys, are they willing to wear kilts?  $100 for a bridesmaid dress is really reasonable.  I got married 12+ years ago and the dresses cost $135.  If you do contribute to the cost of the wedding party clothes, I would make the thank you gifts inexpensive.  Good Luck.