5k weddings?!?

We set our budget at $8k and we went way over... $12-13k. I just don't know why but its like you feel entitled to spend because it is a special once in a lifetime thing. If you can do it... do it!!! Don't go into debt if you can help it.

Our budget was $3k. Now it's like $2k. It can be done. lol. Our "venue" is a park, with big event tent, and tables and chairs for 160 were included in the all day rental fee of $450. Most expensive thing is the photographer, and I found a stay at home mom with a side business. Small cake and cupcakes for guests made by my FSIL, FSIL is officiant. Potluck bbq reception. Only having beer and wine, and FFIL is making two kegs of beer for us. My mom is making my dress. Plastic plates, silverware, and cups. Costco flowers. Using mom's stash of mason jars for centerpieces. I designed our save the dates, invites, and insert cards and had them printed at a photo place. making our own program fans.

We didn't set an exact budget, we're just trying to save as much as possible.

Our parents are splitting the cost of the reception as their gift to us, so there is a big chunk. There's a minimum of 200 you must pay for there, we believe we will have around 200 .. give or take. Anyways, for 200 people with 2 meat option (and veg), $800 decoration package, and 3 kegs, it comes to just about $5,000.

Everything else we have to pay for...

My divorced parents wanted to buy my dress, so I let them. lol $900 dress but since I picked it at my 1st appt I got $200 off.

My FH's aunt is a baker and is doing our cake for free as her gift to us.

A relative of my FH does alterations, she said i get the family discount.

Our Pastor only wants a donation to the church.

My friend is a photographer and is giving me an AMAZING deal.

Booked a great low price dj and have heard him before.

We rented a banquet room for $150 on the edge of town to have our ceremony in, I will decorate so its not so plain. Have that planned out to be inexpensive. Then its 3 miles from there to our reception. Going with our rustic/country theme, we are traveling the 3 miles in the country being pulled in a big hay rack behind a tractor. That will be free, since its ours.

Once we finishing paying off the photog and dj, and get the last few things we need .. we will be under 10k, I'm guessing 8-9k.

We are pretty much set, just need a few things still. I have done diy projects for everything and i love it!

So my and my FHs costs will be under 5k.

I have a 4k Wedding Budget! So I'm close..

Having a backyard wedding, FMIL Owns a cabin in the woods and is allowing us to use her place,

Cost =0.00

Booked a family-friend who's a professional photographer to do our wedding, cost to us $300

Our officiant is charging us $150

Food? We haven't decided yet, but we are buying food in Bulk at a local GFS my budget is $200, buying in bulk usually always cheaper..

Invitations, Keep eyes pealed for sales!! I got 100 Invites on zazzle.com for a little more then 50 bucks when it would of originally been 200! I am skipping the RSVP and ordering FREE buisness cards at vista print (paying 10.00 for S&H) including phone number and websites.. I made a quick FB RSVP page, and just got a free domain @ http://www.dot.tk/en/index.html?lang=en

If your not picky picky, Buy your dress of the rack! I only paid 400 for my Davids Bridal gown & I LOVE IT!! I am also letting my bridal party wear their own style of dresses, as long as its in a BLUE color and I am buying the guys ties @ http://www.cheap-neckties.com/

Skipping DJ Hooking up a IPOD with some speakers that are costing us 200 to rent (for the entire month) and having a friend do our music.

Chairs we will rent at a rental store, but we are using banquet tables borrowed from friends/family to help cut costs.. Don't be scared to ask around!

You can do just about anything you want with 5k Just explore options, be smart...

Ours is right around $5000. We are saving a TON of money by getting married earlier in the day (11-3) and serving brunch foods (breakfast food, salad, chicken, pasta, mimosas) because dinner foods tend to be more expensive. We also aren't serving alcohol since we are getting married early in the day.

Our budget is 10k but I'm really hoping I don't hVe to spend that much. I'm planning for a lot of Diy's to save money.

Yay! Thank you brides I loved reading everyones input, goals and plans for their big day! Can't wait to see mine all coming together.

I found a venue that needed basically no decorations. We are at $6300 but 3000 is my venue ($500 is refundable) and 1000 is my dress! BBQ buffet is the menu, a.friend offered to do photos, my DJ is $450 and my fiances parents offered to buy the cake. I was on budget at 5k until I chose a venue $1k over what I wanted to spend!

Our wedding cost us a total of $5200- WE had an all inclusive venue that included decorated venue, 2 meat option meals, all non alcohol drinks, including a coffee bar, 3 option appetizers, D.J, photographer, 2 videographers and a DOC/ event planner. We got a discount for paying 1/2 down. We did not use any of there extras like arriving in a carriage, or having the videos edited. We took that to a local company at a later date for 100 dollars. We also got one set of prints and a disk with all rights to copy pictures, so we used shutterfly to order additional sets for much cheaper than the photographers. We did have to pay officiant, buy cake, (caterers cut it as part of package) rent limo,buy favors, buy toasting drink and any alcohol if wanted. Bouquets and invites. Dress was given to me from a friend who got pregnant before her wedding last year and had to purchase another dress, so just had to clean. Total cost for everything including everything was just under 6K.

They all are very impressive ideas. I am also thinking about my budget. I am too worried. But,now i have a lot ideas to save money. Thanks for the suggestions!!

Our budget is $6000 & I honestly don't think it's unreasonable at all. Our wedding is in South Chicago Land.

We got the venue free. It's a remodeled barn that's owned by the company my sister works for. Use the people you know!

We're having 125 people. We invited our families & closest friends. Skipped the acquaintances from middle school & such.

So far, our DJ is the most expensive at $1500 & that's $1000 off what he normally charges (military discount). Our photographer is a friend of mine who just graduated school & is building her wedding portfolio. We're having a pizza bar for the dinner! Local joint that's serving pizza & salads. We're having a bottle of wine at each table, then providing beer & wine coolers for the night. We are using simple centerpieces (old books) and I'm making the number signs & programs. I found my wedding dress when DB was having a HUGE sale, so I saved $300.

You honestly don't have to cut out everyone or feel restricted. Shop smart & use the people you know.

Our budget is $5000. We're planning a destination wedding in SW VA at a cabin, inviting 20 guests, my ordained parents will be officiating, & everything will be DIY (wedding arch, bouquet, welcome bags, etc.). Guests will stand for the outdoor ceremony near a river under a tree. Perfection!

Our budget is under $3000.00 and so far I am way below. so hoping that we can go on a mini vacation with the leftover money! our ceremony and reception are in the same place. we are having it at the rec center. cost... $95.00 per hour. so 530-11.... $522.50. I am making my cake/cupcakes. we are having an ipod dj ,rental equipment is only $65.00. I bought my dress at a dress sale. it was $40 brand new with tags on. I dont like it anymore because I never wanted a big white dress so I may just get the champaign pinky dress from ebay that I want. we have a pretty big guest list. I am not having a professional photographer my sister in law is taking pictures. and other guests. we are just having beer and wine no liquor. and for food... his friend is a chef wanting to start a catering company. so he is making everything. so that will be prob the biggest expense. since we r buying the food.

Our budget is 10k, but we are coming under that. We cut the guest list, ceremony and reception in the same place for $375, my FH friend is a photographer and will be doing our video, I am doing my own centerpieces (very simple ones) and more DIY's. Most of the budget will go to the food which will be a catered buffet.

Our budget was 5,000 but it will be closer to 6,000. I have 150-200 guests. I have found great deals on catering, venue, DJ, photography, and am doing DIY centerpieces. The biggest thing is not to get caught up in all the little things such as chair covers, table runners, favors, unneccessary but nice items.

Http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bridal-guide/how-to-plan-a-5000-wedding_b_2963649.html

Our budget is about $6500. We are having a beach wedding/reception at a hotel. We have a guest list of 40. I found a nice florist off Craigslist who are doing my flowers for wayyyyy cheaper than a typical floral shop. I found my photographer because she was doing a promo and had 50% for the 1st 3 brides who responded (I was the last one). My nephew is a DJ so that was free! We are not doing alcohol for the sake of my dad (recovered alcoholic). It is definitely possible. Right now we are coming under our budget! So, it is totally possible!!

Ours should end up being around 6500 total. It's stressful though because it takes a lot of thinking outside the box! Somethings I didn't think I cared so much about (like the dress) I ended up caring about. Then we had a financial set back so now our honeymoon has been nixed but the wedding at least is still on

WOW I DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BUDGETS FOR A WEDDING. MY FUTURE DAD IN LAW IS GIVING US 20K WAS THINKING BOUT DOING A DESTINATION WEDDING IN BELIZE MY FIANCE HOMETOWN.

We've already spent about 5K and we still have to pay for the food, flowers, 50% of the photography, and 60% of the band. Yeah, this wedding ain't gonna be cheap lol.