$5k Wedding

Yes, weddings are so expensive today. Just focus on what you really care about and looking back on it, those were the only things that happened to matter. The guests will have a great time and will be happy u r happy!

I live in NYC are you looking for venue or will you guys have a dinner after the ceremony?

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Make sure you can hosts your guests well with food and alcohol. Maybe a ceremony and a reception at a local restaurant for your immediate family?

I’m not sure yet. We have many guests, between 30 and 40. I’m still searching what’s the best option, either a restaurant, or a small venue.

View Quoted Comment That’s one of my priorities. I might extend the budget a little to make sure everybody will be served. I have family coming from Brazil for the wedding, as well as my fiancée has people coming from Greece. Maybe I can cut the list from 40 to 30, but I don’t know it that would make much difference.

One of my must haves that was above budget was a photographer! But that's what was important to me, people remember food the most maybe make that a priority.

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I don't really care about the photographer. Of course I want good pictures, but considering the budget, I feel like I should prioritize other stuff. I'm thinking of just get an affordable photographer there for about 1 hour, just to take the pictures of the 2 of us and our family. And leave the registration of the ceremony and the party to our guests.

I'd say a nice restaurant would be cheaper. Get your dress from Macy's,JC Penny's ect. Is $5k total budget?

Be careful. This might mean a courthouse wedding, but I’m not sure about the area.

Your photographs are all you’re going to have when the wedding is over. In my opinion, a photographer should be one of the top priorities.

You and your FS ceremony is the important thing. Then comes hosting your guests. Suggest a restaurant with a room.

I would look on opentable private dining to find a reception space. Most just have food/beverage minimums and that would take care of food, drink, venue, and linens/tables etc. I would personally just get married at a courthouse or in one of the parks so you aren't spending much for the actual ceremony. This is going to be a tight budget no matter what you do, though. I would keep the guest count as low as possible.

In NYC, to feed and provide drinks and dessert for 40 people could easily cost $4,000. I don't think your budget is realistic.

This may be possible but, you may need to make a lot of cuts. We originally budgeted $5K for 20 people in a much lower COLA then NYC and we have since upped our budget to $7K so we can host to the standards we expected.

A few things I'll recommend:

1. Look to book off-season (you may need to give up on July)

2. Considering holding a brunch or lunch reception. This will be much cheaper and you can save on an open bar by only offering beer/wine and possibly a mimosa or ceasar station.

3. Look into untraditional venues and consider hosting your reception in a private room at a restaurant.

4. Consider buying your dress off the rack, on consignment, or at a department store instead of a traditional bridal boutique.

5. Do not skimp on photography this is one of your only ways to capture the memories and you will likely regret it later.

6. Skip the "extras": No favors, no programs, only have non-floral centerpieces, no photo booth, no videographer, etc.

7. If you have a brunch reception at a restaurant you can go for a "dinner party" atmosphere and skip the DJ. Just hook up an iPod with some background music.

8. Do not have a wedding party, or only have a maid of honor and best man.

Good luck!

You will be hard pressed to be able to pull off a wedding in NYC for 40 with a budget of 5k for everything. Your first order of business is to find a venue. Perhaps a brunch would be more affordable.

I'd also suggest connecting with some of the art and music schools in the city and hire grad-school students for ceremony music and photography. lots of people starting up that would love a gig like this. for hair/makeup - glamsquad all the way. used them at my apt in hell's kitchen, nyc and they were fantastic and with referrals or specials, it's a cheaper route to go if you do want to get done up.

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Everything Happy Hedgie said with extra on numbers 6 and 8. #6 no one cares about favors; #8 no bridal party is way less stress, less drama and less money. Look up "Bridesmaid drama" and you will know what I mean!!

Definitely start by pricing restaurants, venues, food. New York City is expensive!

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I completely agree with you in everything you pointed. And I really appreciate the tips!

The only thing I can't do is giving up July, because the only reason this wedding is happening this year and not the next is my family which I don't see for 3 years, including my mother and siblings, are coming all together from Brazil to Ny at this time. I have no idea the next time that would happen. Plus, is a good time for some of the close family of my husband to be to come from Greece. I feel like the universe align itself for this wedding happen in July.

We might be able to stretch the budget to 7k if both of us work more and spend less. But not much more than that.

I'm not looking for a classical wedding on a fancy ball hall, the only thing I want is celebrate our love with our loved ones, and that everybody enjoy the time. Something intimate and nice.

We are trying to cut the list down to 35 people, but we would have to leave people who really helped us on our journey here behind.

I really don't know what to do, or where to cut.

And I don't know many restaurants with a room in nyc that are not extremely expensive.

This is how our budget looks like right now. Any tips?

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Well I need a photographer more affordable than the options they have here on the website. This might be a good idea. What schools should I search first? What schools did u use and how did u contact them?