what are some good ideas on how to do a beautiful wedding on a small budget?
485108
Reception- All that is required at a wedding reception is punch and wedding cake. You can purchase a small wedding cake and serve inexpensive sheet cake (from Sam's or Costco) to the guests. As long as your reception doesn't take place at a meal time, this is totally acceptable.\n\nPrint your own invitations- You can get them from Target and other similar stores, 40 for $20.\n\nKeep things informal- The less formal, the fewer details, and therefore, much less expensive. \n\nBuy a used gown and have it altered.\n\nInvite fewer guests- Obviously, the fewer the guests, the less it will cost you and you can do more.\n\nInexpensive centerpieces- Floating candles in a simple bowl.\n\nThink "simple elegance"... Find a reception site with beautiful architecture as opposed to fancy amenities. This will add to the beauty of the wedding without you spending more.\n\nHave the ceremony in a public park, garden, beach, etc. or the beautiful home of a friend...\n\nI'd be interested in hearing more about what kind of wedding you want. I'd love to offer more specific ideas! Good luck.
1122751
What's inexpensive for you?  Where are you located? \n\nTry a park, a B&B, a beach, a ranch, a lake, a waterfront area, a restaurant that has beautiful gardens, a winery.  Or, you could always have the wedding & the honeymoon at the same time at a place like Sandals or Beaches or Club Med.  Their weddings are generally free. . .
787752
Well \n\n1.You and your new mate can do the $Money dance $ and have guest pin money on your clothes \n\n2. Get a  bunch of toielt paper and have 4 modles and have 2 helpers for each of the 4 modles and have them create wedding dresses out of the toilet paper. Then have them modle the "wedding dresses". the group picks the best dress and the group wins a gift  Basket.\n\n3. Have a local dance group or company perform
354790
I would suggest a simple dress, maybe a day suit in cream, ivory, or champagne colors. Maybe a cute hat with a small veil, make it more wedding like!!GL;) and Congrats!!
600057
Keep it simple. \n\nThe Venue - you can have this outdoors with a markee or hire out one of your favourite cafes. \n\nThe dress - find a dress you love and get a dress maker to copy it. You can buy the material yourself to even reduce the costs. \n\nThe food & drinks - you buy the alcohol and pick a nice red and white wine with champagnes for toasting. Pick two beers for the boys make one a light. Finger food is a great option do you know a friend or take away/cafe that maybe able to help out.\n\nFlowers - get them from the market fresh the day before and put a relo in charge or helping arrange. Don't ask them for a gift just tell them their help is enough!\n\nCake - surely one of your relo's makes a great fruit cake. If so you can get a cake shop to put icing on top to match your dress material. \n\nCars - you only need two cars, see what resources you have a use two cars in the family. Otherwise hire two cars for the day this is so much cheaper than wedding car hire.   \n\nPool all your resources together, people are so willing to help. Just say to them not to buy a gift in return for their help this will be appreciated and you will find that they will still want to give you a token.
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.
573481
We spent around $300 a person for a five star meal (really) served by a perfect staff (also really!), amazing setting, open bar, tons of paired wine and champagne, free flowing hors d'ouvers during 'the wait' after the wedding, an amazing cake (by a Williams-Sonoma catalogue chef), gorgeous flowers, a DJ, an Oleg Cassini dress, and a few other little frills.  \n\nI have to say that if you do nothing else, remember that your guests are just that, guests.  Treat them as such.  Either have a limited open bar (pick a few theme drinks like a Mojito and Margarita) or have bottles of wine on the tables.  Spend less on centerpieces and 'favors' and instead put it towards better food and a hosted bar.  \n\nCongratulations on your engagement and good luck in your marriage! : )
92326
My wedding coming this September is country themed.  I'm using mason jars with either fresh flowers or floating candles for my centerpieces and my colors are black, white, and pink.  I'm also going to have horse shoes for decorations.  I'm still looking for white wedding boots though.  And if you have can drinks or beer at your wedding you could get a big metal wash tub and fill it with ice and put your drinks in that!   Congratulations!
902373
List your priorities.  What is important to you about your wedding?  Be realistic as you make your list.\n\nGuest list is the hardest part of the wedding.  Lets look at something realistic.  Large family-little money.  Is the family itself large or is it cousins and aunts and uncles?  If it is extended family, then you have a choice.  You can have the small wedding you actually want and save money OR you can have a huge wedding with people you may love, but cant afford...and be paying off the wedding with interest for years.  I was in the same situation.  If my husband and I would have invited more than siblings, parents and grandparents we would have had over 300 people.  No way.  And picking and choosing the aunt that can come and the uncle who cant is a way to have a feud of epic proportions.  So...you need to make your choice.  \n\nOnce you know the side of it all you can go from there.  Dress?  I got my dress for $350.  See if you have a friend that can lend you a veil....that will save money.  A dress that is called a "wedding dress" is more than a nice ivory dress you like.  (generally)  Or tell your wedding dress person that you are on a budget and see what they have.  You wont be the first and you wont be the last to not want or be able to afford a $5000 dress for one day.\n\nPlace?  Esp for smaller weddings, a nice yard is perfect.  It allows people to be more relaxed and have a better time.  What about a campground?  Many have nice indoor/outdoor ampitheaters that also have a bit of shade.  Or a friend's cabin.  I found tent rental to be expensive for here, but price around.\n\nPhotographer?  Is there a college near you?  See if there are any classes for photography and see if the instructor or students are interested.  (make sure you see work first!)  Ask your officiant, they will know of good ones too.\n\nCake?  Culinary school near by?  Small mom & pop's place?  Safeway grocer?  Costco?  All will save.  I found cupcakes to be cheaper and more personal.  You can also have more flavours for people.  A cake stand can rent for $25 or you can buy cupcake trees.  (they can be pricey...see if a cake place can rent a tiered cake thing for less and do the cupcakes on it)\n\nTalk to your hubby to be and see if you can agree on cutbacks.  You dont want your wedding day to be full of dollar signs rather than love.\n\nGood luck.  :)
946939
I'm from the Tampa area originally, and I can't really think of anything that isn't outside that is inexpensive.  If it is just going to be a small wedding, maybe you or a friend has a backyard that you could use?  You could rent a party tent in case it rains.  Sometimes, local parks allow weddings.  My aunt and uncle got married at Manatee Co's historical park.
633812
First of all, buy a dress on sale.  Also, get married in a church. The flowers should be simple. Shop around for bargains.  Instead of a large sit down meal, do a cake and punch reception. You can get a cake from Albertson's or Stater Brothers. They will do an excellent job for a low price.  We had musician friends play at the reception and a friend agreed to MC.  Keep it simple, but elegant.
345651
You have three options:\n\n1. get your wedding planner/coordinator to do it\n2. some caterers often handle decorations of the wedding reception\n3. ask your friends, sibling/s to pitch in
1113321
Have a really good looking business card printed up and take to your local florist, banquet hall etc and ask if they'd display your card, say that you'll naturally reccomend their service. \n\nTake a stand at a wedding show:\n\nGather up every wedding magazine you can find and cut out all the dress, cake, flower examples that you can find and intersperse them with photos of weddings you have been to in albums for brides to go thru and choose from. \n(Naturally don't mention twiced married, even though the success of a wedding has nothing to do with the success of a marriage, some brides are superstious.)\n\nMake examples of table decorations, alter decorations etc. in different styles   \n\nGive both bride & grooms a form to fill in like what's important for your wedding so they can give you all the little details like "Dont sit Uncle James next to Aunt Trudy" or " Absolutely no Britney Spears music" The little attentions will encourage them to tell other people.  WORD OF MOUTH WORKS! \n\ngood luck
349356
See if there's a B&B that will let you rent  out part of the place for a wedding (that's what I did for a small wedding - it's cost me 100.00) small wedding party 25 people.\n\nYou could try a public park - or a relative- who has a large enough area for the wedding.
145933
i would think your best bet is a craft store. They usually have everything under the sun for weddings. I know when i was planning my wedding i spent a good four hours in one
87309
Pretty colors! Why not try a 3 or 4 tier rounded cake. Brown all over frosting with turquoise vines and very small flowers? That would be pretty. But use your imagination. Stick with the feeling you want to convey at your wedding. Good Luck.
216871
Wow, beyond what you have already listed, I can't think of anything really. How about buying each other a gift on eBay (limit how much spent) with the idea that you want to send them something they think the other would truly love.\n\nHow about a mutual blog in planning the wedding? That way when the date is close, you can break out your list with all the flower type, colors, location etc. all ready.