Wedding costs? this $$$$$ or this $?

I'm currently planning a wedding on a budget for $3,000 so I could give you a bunch of tips. First off have your family help out with little things instead of hiring a professional to do it. If someone knows how to do anything floral let them help out and you can learn. That is a huge money saver right there. A good money saver for cake is to go a bit simpler. Or even smaller. You can serve most of the people from sheet cake in the back and they will never know the difference. $350 for a wedding dress is a great deal! And that $80 for bridesmaids is a great steal, since they more then likely won't wear the dress again anyhow. You can make most of the things you will want to buy for about a 50-75% discount then you would buying it in a store. If you purchase online shoot for free shipping because after you figure in the shipping that $10 saved from buying it in the store might not be worth it. Have someone sew the ring bearers pillow, and someone cover a wooden basket for the flower girl. Both can look the same as that pricier one in the magazine but for a lot cheaper. So those would be my suggestions. Just keep in mind that everything you do yourself will save you money!

Congratulations! You are off to a great start and it is possible to do. I set an $8000 budget for my own and I'm going to be under. Try shopping consignment stores for centerpiece glassware. Cd of your favor love songs or wedding music make wonderful favors. They're inexpensive and easy to make. You could put him in charge of making them. After all he needs to help. With Valentines day just around the corner, you might be able to find great red and white things on the clearance rack. Check the clearance items for invitations too and print your own. There are so many ways to save money. You're off to a great start with the bargains you found on your gowns. Good Luck!

I think the dress prices are very reasonable but I think your guest list could be trimmed, You can't count on many of them not coming. Churches usually have flowers already there for their week end services so i wouldn't worry about that. You could always stop in on a day that you have chosen for your wedding to see if they have bouquets displayed on a regular basis.The amount of money you mention sounds like more than enough but now as to how to trim costs. I had 2 weddings and neither of them cost very much. The first one, I had a new white wedding dress but my mother was a good seemstress and made the 2 brides maids dresses. I was married in a church and I didnot have to provide flowers for the church. The reception was held in a large recreation room of a family friend so i didn't have to rent a hall. My parents provided food for the reception which was buffet style. My cousin was into photography and took the wedding pictures as his gift to us and they turned out beautifully. Everybody contributed all kinds of music from their collections and took charge of playing dance music. Other than the dresses our personal flowers, wedding cake and food, I had very little expence. My dad paid for the alcoholic drinks served and my mother took care of the food. My second wedding cost even less and was just as nice. I purchased a used dress at goodwill. They have some beautifull gowns worn only once and very cheap. My future mother in law held the wedding and reception at her house, my sister in law did cake decorating so she as her gift to us made a beautiful wedding cake, my other sister in law was a notary and performed the ceremony, my 3rd sister in law did great flower arrangements so as her gift to us , she took care of all the flowers and they were my brides maids, my daughter was the flower girl, it was very nice with lots of guests and it only cost me my dress.

that sounds like a good price to me! i got my dress at davids for 400, $80 for your maids' dresses is not bad at all!! lol we are also doing the apple red and white, along with silver. mine is going to cost around 7500 all together or so, but luckily, our parents are contributing some money towards it all.

a reception that is 4 hours long is typical, and as long as you can find a caterer that will serve food at around $7 a person, you shouldn't have a problem keeping within your budget and allowing money for everything else to be very nice. it helps to find photographers and djs through people you know that have recommendations. if you go with the big names who advertise online, in magazines, and through bridal shows they will be more expensive.

i also recommend getting things done as early as possible... it relieves a lot of stress. good luck with everything!

Don't go Polish. Go Vegas or Gatlinburg or the easterners.

you are off to a great start -

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