A wedding with 200 guests for $3000

I really want to hear other peoples' success stories. Maybe it will make me less stressed to hear that other people have succeeded in what I am still attempting to do.

I's right with you - I have fewer guests, but also a smally budget (if you can believe it!) I did a lot of the same things you did. here are some of my great bargains: venue: free. (Our local board of education is actually in a castle, adn since I granduated from the school system I can use the grounds for my outdoor wedding for no charge! I've always wanted an outdoor ceremony, and I think the castle will make a great backdrop for our photos. Plus, since it's on the historical registry, the landscaping always looks good!) Reception hall: $150.00 (local Elks lodge - dad is a member). Dress: $200.00 (including alterations! - I got a GREAT deal). Food: $400.00. I have about 80 guests. My caterer is doing the main meal (buffet) and we are doing appetizers, veggie tray, etc. on our own. The caterer is a friend of the family and is giving us a deal also. DJ: Free. My FH plays guitar in a band. They offered to play at the reception, but obviously I dont' want him playing...

...guitar all night, and they don't want to use a substitute, so our lead singer (experienced DJ) is going to run the reception for us as his gift to us. Photography: Free. Another friend - semi-pro photographer wtih wedding experience. I could probably go on and on. Don't get me wrong - it was a lot of work to plan everything with such a tight budget, and I'm forever grateful to my family and friends that are helping out. Still, you can have a really nice wedding and reception without spending a ton of money. Our first priority was to stay out of debt during this process. With 5 weeks to go, we have everything we need locked in and paid for - great feeling!!!!

Glad to hear that there are other people on tight budgets. Me and my FH are wanting to save for a house so my parents are giving us 5,000 to work with. I would still like to keep it under 3,000 so we can use most for the house Down payment. So far my Dress and stuff is a total of $245.00 the hall is $375.00 because were doing it at the Legion kinda like a VFW. Parents are doing the food. Photographer is $250.00 just getting a photo edited CD with all pictures taken. She will be there all day. We are buying most of our decorations from thrift shops or craft places and doing them ourselves. Flowers my FH coworker is doing them at a discount. Ceremony having outdoors of the legion under there outdoor patio so no extra cost there. The DJ will hopefully be a family friend so that is free. My biggest cost is food and Liqour for 100 guest.

My budget was under $3000, and we had the most beautiful day, my dress was bought off the rack, hall was cheap,you would be surprised at how beautiful some of the older halls are even vfw places like that can be fixed up beautiful. found a local cater that will go to the hall of your choice.did my own flowers,center peices,bought all my linins on line...best thing going to resell them so there is some of the money back.sister did cupcakes, found a not so popular dj and he was amazing.family member did pictures and so did everyone else, you would be surprised at what great pictures you get from random shots. dollar stores and wal mart, gotta love the deals you can find. did beer and wine and my parents had so many bottles of liquor we didn't have to buy any but i still only took a few bottles, didn't want to many drunks.and there is nothing wrong with throw away stuff....no one really cares...

and most important i didn't do all the extra stuff that we all think is important...