how do i make my wedding inexpensive?

Some things that will help save money:

Instead of paying someone to make flower arrangements for you, buy bulk flowers from costco (they have all types and are very beautiful) and make your own.

If you want a nice cake you can just get a very small cake made for pictures or whathave you and then make or buy a large sheet cake to serve to guests.

If you have friends that know how to do hair or make up ask them if they could help or offer to pay them a little bit of money (although most friends would gladly help for free).

Get disposable cameras for the tables that guests can take pictures with and have them leave them on the tables when they leave so that you have a bunch of pictures and there is no need to hire someone to take them for you.

If you are going to have an open bar buy the alcohol in bulk from sams club or costco, my cousin did this and saved a lot of money.

You should be okay with just 46 people. Have you called around places? There are some restaurants that do catering.

You can do a lot of things yourself if you have the time and patience. Just remember about David's Bridal $99 sale that it doesn't include alterations. So you may end up spending $300 on a $99 gown.

I would suggest buffet style for an outdoor wedding with that size. You don't want to hire servers.

yes if you're taking pictures for an hour after the ceremony, the guests will adjourn for cocktails and some appetizers. you don't have to go overboard with the food during the cocktail hour, fruit, cheese and crackers is fine.

for an outdoor wedding a buffet would be easier than a served banquet style dinner. ask your caterer which would be easier for them to serve the guests, based on where the kitchen is in relation to the seating. if you're in a field under a big tent, it's easier for the caterer to set up a buffet out there or have food stations. if you're outdoors but ajoining a building where the kitchen is, they may be able to do a served dinner. caterers can give you estimates based on all those scenarios.

the catering will probably take up most of your $5000 budget, and then renting tables, chairs and linens will cost you even more. keep in mind you have to provide meals for the DJ, photographer, and other vendors who will be around (limo driver?).

wow, ok a ton to answer here:

lets start with your dress: have you tried ebay? freecycle? craigs list? oncewed.com? you might be able to find something cheaper than $99-$175

freecycle: join your local group ( I'm not sure where you live ) but, it might help you a ton. Sometimes people are willing to get rid of wedding related stuff they are done with rather than throw it out.

Cocktail hour: my suggestions, keep the "drinks" to a min. limit the types of liquior you are having. Try "mocktails" or a signature drink...a mocktail made with the right combo of juices/soda would be awesome tasting and friendly to a crowd of all ages. (Not to mention inexpensive). Do you know of anyone that can cook or prepare stuff for you? Since, you are doing the outdoor type of back yard wedding you have a lot more room to use help instead of caterers. Fresh fruit platters/veggie platters ( whatever is in season) can be arranged nicely and would be a great addition. You can pick up serving plates/trays and fancy glasses at dollar stores, yard sales, good will. The great thing is this can be prepped days before ( well maybe 2). You can make a very good fruit dip as well.

This depends on what kind of time you have to devote to shopping/sales etc. Keep an eye out for triple coupon sales at your local market. Sometimes you can get small finger foods cheap.

Main food : cheapest thing would be buffet...and could still be classy. How about pasta with a choice of sauce? garden salad and bread?

a carving station ? with a few side dishes?

cake etc : www.cheap-chic-wedding.com has some good ideas

decor : keep in mind that backyard weddings receptions could end up costing more just depends on how fancy you want to make it.

Also, you might want to try your local votech/technical school for hair styler, cooks, photographer, even artist the may help with invitations or something cheaper than a professional. Some local colleges as well.

For makeup / papergoods : check out walgreens or cvs for cheapo's with coupons ( also, I've gotten free makeup using their store money).

Oh yeah! You can do that budget just fine!!

If your only inviting 46 people... have you considered asking some family members to help cook a home made meal?? That would cut down cost BIG time... or maybe just do heavy hor douvres? That would be even cheaper than a meal. I am telling you... $5000 is MORE than enough for a backyard wedding.

Well then I suggest looking around at different places for cheap catering... I think you would be surprised what you could find! Would some of your family be willing to help set UP the food... sometimes the caterers will just drop off the food or have you come pick it up and then it is up to you to set it out etc. It can be a LOT cheaper that way.

Look for little ways to save. For example, make the invitations yourself instead of having them made. My good friend bought a kit and a few extra things like ribbon and made adorable invitations.

Also, look at websites or books (that you don't have to buy) and pick out flower arrangements that you like. Buy the flowers, but put the bouquets and the center pieces together yourself.

For food think of doing your reception at an inexpensive restaurant. You can do a sit down dinner and they will take care of the food and the location all in one. If not, you have friends right? As them to help you cook instead of just your family. What about the grooms family? Can they help?

One place I think you should splurge is the photos. Make sure to get someone who will do a good job because that's what you'll look at in 40 years from now. If you have a friend, that's even better...but don't forget about a photographer because that is one of the most important aspects in a wedding.

omg 5-8 k great budget for a wedding

the 99 dollar dress sale at times will make u have to get bridesmaid dresses there also 175 great price get it and start alterations. alot of 99 dollar dresses are as is and are overstock or even dresses off the racks so u need to dry clean and fix zipers ec.

cut cocktail hr no need to spend money on that

get two kegs for alc. and a few bottles of soda.

look at table linnen rental and look at jo ann fabric an see if making your own will be cheeper

why not look at a vfw.? may be cheeper think it will be aced eletic and they will clean up a tent rental is going to cost 300.00 or more?

so look at local vfw moose lodge ec. they may throw in kitchen use coolers and warmers. and even tables all things u dont have to rent also they may let u use linnen if u get them cleaned.

also concider a friday wedding might be cheeper for rentals

one thing u should spend money photos and video

get a small wedding cake and do sheet cake in the back for guests

or do cupcakes or cookies.

if not doing the wedding in a church look at doing it at the hall or your god mothers yard. or local park

rent a cool car vs a limo u can rent a converdable for 100.00 a day vs 400 for a few hrs of a limo. i also bet if u talk to a friend they will drive for you

do wedding music cds u will spend oh 50 to 75 cents each if u do it yourself.

have fun

and use oriental trading company for alot of things.

tables line with candles alot cheeper and more sexy then flowers that cost alot.

1. Borrow, borrow , borrow. Mismatched chairs and tables are fine.

2. Trim you guest list and keep firm control over it. Invite every guest by name, even if the guest is an infant in arms. Do not beg for trouble with this lazy &guest or &family stuff. Do RSVP by phone to be sure there is no misunderstand about who is welcome and who is not. A significant other with a name and address is welcome. A "Gee I dunno I might wanna bring somebody" is not.

3. Unless the DJ is a personal friend, you should not be inviting his wife. When you have your hair done, you don't take your your hairdresser's husband out for lunch, do you? (Yes, it is gracious to provide food for the professional vendors, but you do not put them on equal footing with your guests.)

4. If you can give a birthday party or holiday party without it, then you can give a wedding without it. Resist advertisements for nifty items like save the dates, RSVP cards, programs, special ring pillows, etc. You already know how to give a party without buying a lot of extra junk you will only use once.

5. Buy NOTHING with the word "bridal" or "wedding" attached. A white plastic hair barrette from the 99 cent store with some sequins and lace glued on and "For the Bride" on the box isn't magically worth $40.

6. Look for a corporate caterer instead of a wedding caterer. Weekends are their slow days. Some low price examples are Panera and Boston Market. Also try calling fraternal lodges like Moose, Elks, VFW, etc. Some of these groups have a cook out trailer for outings and good volunteer cooks. (You pay, but the organization gets the money, not the cooks.) In some states it is legal for these organizations to supply bartenders as well.

7. Skip that ghastly "cocktail hour" stuff. You may have photos before the ceremony, during the ceremony, and during the party, but you may not have a party and not be on hand to welcome your guests as they arrive. You may sacrifice your own convenience, you may sacrifice superstitions about the groom seeing your dress, you may sacrifice your dreams of professional posed photos -- but you may not sacrifice your guests' feelings by neglecting them and purposely late to your own party. Besides, poeple eat and drink their heads off during those things.

Order your main dish from a caterer, get fruit trays and other appetizers and sides from Costco and put them on nice platters. Buffet style is almost always cheaper, also remember that you get to sample all the food they will serve before hand, so pick something you like. You can save HUGE money by doing the flowers yourself if you are comfortable, again Costco is great. Your budget should be just fine for that size wedding, I am doing one for 120 on the same budget.

I knew a Baptist preacher when I was gunsmithin', and he did a wedding for me for a $20 donation. My son was the best man, his band was the witnesses, but I can't recall where we went after that to eat. Some Bohemian bar-be-que joint, I reckon.