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kristinatms
Beginner May 2010

Anyone with a budget under $4,000?

kristinatms, on December 3, 2009 at 4:45 PM

Posted in Style and Décor 62

My fiancee and I are on a very tight budget, only $2,000(we are paying for it entirely by ourselves). We are doing EVERYTHING we can think of to cut costs. My uncle is a photographer, my grandmother is making invitations, we're not having a DJ, we're getting the church and reception hall both for...

My fiancee and I are on a very tight budget, only $2,000(we are paying for it entirely by ourselves). We are doing EVERYTHING we can think of to cut costs. My uncle is a photographer, my grandmother is making invitations, we're not having a DJ, we're getting the church and reception hall both for less than $200, we're having someone grill hamburgers and such for the food, but I'm having a heck of a time figuring out how do decorate on the cheap, as well as finding gifts for our wedding party. Does anyone have any ideas for decorations that could be used both at the church and at the reception? Or an idea for a cheap/nice gift for our wedding prty? (we have 10 people, I know we could save money if we didnt have so many, but FH insisted) And what about favors for the guests..we were looking at those personalized mms and those looked good. any ideas ladies?

62 Comments

  • november bride
    Devoted November 2009
    november bride ·
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    TasBro - I used Mayhesh Wholesalers in Los Angeles. If you live near a city, there is generally a wholesale flower market. Good luck

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  • Jessica
    Super July 2011
    Jessica ·
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    I must say I give you a LOT of credit for pulling off a wedding for 150 people for under $4k!!! I've been trying to save money myself any chance I can, but it's hard when we both have such large families, etc. But the ladies above are right.... try the dollar store! You can find a LOT of good decorations there, as well as the little boxes or bags to put your m&ms in. And the m&ms are kind of pricey... one of my friends got them, but what she did was fill the bag with regular m&ms and put a few of the personalized ones on top so they didn't spend as much. Besides people are just going to eat them... no point of spending so much on them. As for party favors... if you really want to you can make your own bookmarks with your pictures on them for almost nothing if you have a good printer, but again those you don't really need. Good luck!

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  • Susan Wright
    Susan Wright ·
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    A lot of my brides use mason jars of fresh flowers. ~ 1.00 each. In May you should be able to find fresh flowers from a grower. 3 Lilac stems would more than fill a Qt mason jar. Or since your color is green just a handful of greenery in each jar. Have someone in charge of moving them from the church to the reception tables. If you have someone crafty tie jute to the tops and hang them on the pews or in the church windows. Try www.ASCFG.org for a local grower in your area. Oh, Walmart has cheap vases too.

    Use your money where the guests will spend the most time

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  • JNAS
    Super March 2010
    JNAS ·
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    Our budget realistically is right at $3500, of which I've already spent almost $2000 of it. We should be able to achieve it. (And no, our rings are NOT included in that budget, were just talking venues, food, decorations, flowers, invitations, etc)

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  • DreamComeTrue
    Master June 2011
    DreamComeTrue ·
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    Great suggestion Shady! Thanks for sharing Smiley smile

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  • Kcarney09
    Savvy March 2011
    Kcarney09 ·
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    We are on a budget too not quite as tight but close...what I'm doing for favors is I'm going to walmart and getting inexpensive sugar cookie dough and using round cookie cutters about 3 or 4 inches around. Icing them and letting it dry and then doing our last initial in icing on the top, my future FIL is helping w/ this. You can go to Michaels and get cheap cellophane packages ($12/100) and put each cookie in one. I'm doing one cookie per guest (115 of them) it's time consuming but with so many in your wedding party you can surely get them to help. But if it's realistically not in the budget then skip them completely. Those personalized M&Ms are really expensive I looked into them as well. As for your wedding party go to the dollar store and get cheap totes and put a few small candles or bath things in each for the girls or frames and put your favorite picture of you, your FH and the person from the wedding night. Whatever it is they will love it b/c you put thought into it! Good luck!

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  • Mary Downing
    Mary Downing ·
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    I have done alot of wedding and nobody really cares about the favors during a wedding. They look around at the scenery of how beautiful everything is. Most people dont go to weddings for the favors just to have fun. I sell alot of bridal flowers and if you are interested I would love to talk to you. 1-712-527-0517

    Thanks so very much

    Mary

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  • Celebrations
    Celebrations ·
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    Have you considered talking to a professional decorator? Even with a small budget, they may have suggestions for you. Tell them your budget for decor upfront, we have many DIY brides that rent centerpieces, backdrops and decorations. I always cringe when I see people writing about buying vases and mirrors when you can rent them at a fraction of the cost. We even rent crystals and marbles to fill the vases. Consider using plastic table cover and skirting instead of linen. You can even cut large squares from a roll of table cover in a coordinating color to use for overlays. We sell rolls of plastic table runner that we even use on linen table cloths at our more expensive weddings. Check with local independent party supply stores, often times they are trained and more willing to help you than the big box stores.

    I noticed in your profile that you're a Mary Kay consultant, how about a nice gift bag of make-up or bath and body products for your maids?

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  • S
    Just Said Yes April 2010
    Stephanie ·
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    I am doing the m&m's but I'm going to add regular ones with the personalized ones to save.

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  • Tassia
    Dedicated July 2010
    Tassia ·
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    November bride...thank you!....3.6.10Bride...thank you for sharing!.....Celebrations......execellent point about renting!....Shady.....thanks for the link!.....DreamComeTrue....georgeous photo!

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  • celebratepaint
    Dedicated April 2010
    celebratepaint ·
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    Yeah, we're skipping out on favors too and scaling down on other items.

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  • JJ
    Master December 2009
    JJ ·
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    You don't need favors or programs. Or just put a fixed amount of favors in a basket or just give them to the ladies or kids. You can also serve plain sheet cakes or cupcakes instead of a traditional tiered wedding cake. And you don't necessarily need a rehearsal dinner, unless you just want to serve appetizers and beverages or dessert or pizza at someone's house.

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  • Martin Motorsports
    Savvy July 2010
    Martin Motorsports ·
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    We're doing it for 2000 also. we have a free venue for ceremony and reception, friend making a cake for us as a gift, friend doing dj for 250. no favors or programs. cake and punch reception, photographer for 600, diy wedding invitations, cutting down tree limbs and drilling a hole in the top to put candles in them for centerpieces, just flowers for me and the groom.

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  • cnmnfe44
    Expert January 2010
    cnmnfe44 ·
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    OMG hi bridalsilkflowers lol i would send you a private message but i cant figure out how lol i am so glad you joined and just so anyone knows she did my flowers (silk) she is wonderful so flexable and willing to try anything for you!!! thanks Mary

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  • Rachel
    Rachel ·
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    You could decorate the tables with a 3" wide table length ribbon. It is a metallic non cloth type of ribbon you can get at the floral shop. Then buy some type of flat type of flower like a Gerbera Daisy. Cut the Daisy at the top of the stem so it will lay flat on the table. Put the flower heads on the ribbon evenly spaced down the table. Then sprinkle with some type of confetti that says just married or something. I have pictures of a table decorated like that if you want me to email. The daisies last all day if you keep them wet or cool between wedding and reception. You can give your wedding party a special picture of the wedding or a picture of themselves. Rachel

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  • Deborah
    Expert September 2010
    Deborah ·
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    Don't bother with favors. Your guests don't care about them. I can't actually tell you what the favors were at any wedding I've ever been to.

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  • Winter Elegance
    Just Said Yes January 2010
    Winter Elegance ·
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    I have a tight budget for my wedding, but I got creative. Do some nontraditional things,which can help you save on cost (no aisle runner, use aisler markers for reserved seating only, use the 40% off coupons each week from Hobby Lobby or Michael's, use Dollar Tree, Consignment stores)

    You really don't have to have favors, but if it is something you really want, got to Micheal's, get the favor boxes that are white; get one of the $1 rubber stamp/ink in wedding color and fill box with bulk candy (Sams). Those personalized MMs are pricey and the bag you get is the same size of the different color MMs at Michael's. Also, Hobby Lobby every other wk have a Bridal Blowout (all bridal 50%) Check their ad each week - This can really save you money on decor. The Bridal Party - You can make your own personalized bags for the ladies (using iron-on transfers from Hobby Lobby & whites canvas bags that come in a bulk). The men get the sock they will wear with tux as a gift. Hope this help

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  • C
    Just Said Yes January 2010
    Carrie ·
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    I'm doing an ocean theme. Bought really cute glass shell shaped dishes at the dollar store in my colors (seaglass Purple and blue) plus sea glass and shells (also dollar store). Goodwill had some fabric we will put down the center as a runner. Costco has great really inexpensive flowers plus nice white table clothes- plain, but the decor on top is what counts. We lucked into having a beautiful church already decorated for Christmas because of the timing. Dollar store had the little bubble bottles we just added ribbon (also dollar store) for favors. We have lots of kids so bubbles make them happy and grown ups don't really care. Good luck!

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  • EmilyandAnthonyHines
    Savvy April 2010
    EmilyandAnthonyHines ·
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    Lets see... I got my gown at David's Bridal for $99.00, you can do a covered dish catering that way the guest fed you. Buy a book and make a fandant 3 tier cake, go to dollar tree and get clear fish bowls or crystal vases buy the colores stones in the candle department at wall mart submerge them in water half way up the vases and top it with a floating candle, wal-mart also sells a bouquet for $20.00 that is really pretty, they have little boxed and draw string bags that you can fill with candy for your favors, and you can buy cute little gifts at the dollar tree or wal-mart.

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  • Jan
    Jan ·
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    Congratulations on your engagement!

    Since you are planning a wedding and honeymoon on a tight budget, my suggestion would be to visit a great website - AGreatAffair.com - and create your wedding and honeymoon registry today.

    AGreatAffair.com is an on-line cash gift registry that allows couples to register for anything, including a honeymoon, paying off loans, a down payment for a home, or traditional gifts like china or furnishings. You can even register for wedding expenses… Once more, AGreatAffair.com is created in a way that is tasteful and fun for the wedding couple, and where it is personal for guests who buy “gift segments” toward particular items on your registry rather than writing a check. You, as the couple, ultimately get cash. If you wish, you may also get a complimentary elegant web page (including RSVP function, guest book, etc).

    I used AGreatAffair for my wedding last year & received enough cash to pay for my honeymoon & some wedding expenses.

    Best to you

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