Complete wedding under 5K! HELP PLEASE!!

Why wouldn't you be able to expand your budget if it's that far off?

My advice is to drop the B list.

5k is doable as long as you portion it out properly. First step is finding a venue. Food will be your highest cost so I suggest a restaurant reception.

2 years is plenty of time to save up more money.

I agree to drop the B list concept and go for a restaurant reception. Decide what's important and what's not. Do your research regarding vendors and find a venue first. You have plenty of time.

Look at parks!

Matheson Hammocks park

The barnacle

Long key nature center

secret woods

robbins park

Greynolds park

theres more but thos are the ones i got from the top of my head

also, check out veranda on ponce

@materantiqua and @SoonToBeMrsKitty I know it's "far away" but we have other priorities like buying a house which is why my budget is so low. I really don't want to spend more than 5K because of the house and I'd much rather have the honeymoon of my dreams.

But thanks

AMW, yes that was my initial thought and I may have to go that route if I don't find a good venue within my budget.

Any suggestions on restaurants?

No B list. Just go with your A list and you'll be fine

Have a beautiful beach wedding, but and off the rack dress and have a wonderful barbecue with fruits beautiful flavored Mamosa and maybe some finger sandwiches and call it a day make your own wedding invitations and do beautiful little favors that is like a cookie or something that you can bake for yourself

Hi,

I think you could really go two options.

1. A lovely intimate wedding at a smaller venue or at a nice restaurant. With this option since you are cutting the guest list you can spend more per person and probably be able to squeeze in your favorite splurges (only A guest)

2. Casual outdoor wedding at a local park or outdoor space for the A/B list.

(with this option you will most likely need to forgo things like an expensive dress, fancy wedding bands, professional hair/make-up, a large bridal party (because of expenses in having a bridal party), fancy flowers, fancy cake (go sheet cake), little things, skip favors, skip STDs)

At this point in planning I wish I would have gone with the 1st option.

Drop your B list

Keep it VERY intimate

Maybe consider restaurants

Try a Friday or Sunday (it's a bit cheaper)

Invite grandparents, parents, siblings & their spouses. Don't have bridesmaids nor groomsmen. Have a romantic ceremony (with a professional officiant) and dinner & drinks at a nice restaurant. If FH already has a suit, he can wear that. If not, buy him a suit that he can use in the future. Find a nice white dress for yourself (consignment shops or a white bridesmaid's dress or DB $99 sale). Simple bouquet for you and boutonniere for him. Simple wedding bands. You can probably do this for $5,000.

We are spending 5 grand on food alone. I say drop the b list. Cut your a list. Get married outside and take your family to a restaurant.... or spend the next two years and increase your budget

Cut the b list! Now you'll have a wedding with 40 guests that you really want there. That's going to cut costs right there and plus, it's rude to do a b list. Look into restaurants to have your reception at, and close by parks, churches, etc. for your ceremony.

I would do a high tea style wedding with no sit down dinner, but do not do it at a meal time. You could do tea, small cakes, and lots of appetizers. It would cut down on catering costs (you could even get the food from costco or sam's club).

Finally, no B list. It's rude.

Don't do the B list. Have a small, intimate wedding.

2nd restaurant or park, on Friday or Sunday if possible. Keep wedding party small, if any at all.

We're hosting about 50 people, full everything at a waterfront restaurant for around $7k. Could have done cheaper if we cut limo, top shelf bar, professional hair and makeup and some other minor things. Its totally doable. Make a budget now and stick to it. Biggest expenses will be venue, food and alcohol.

Here's my advice:

1. remember that, once you have an officiant, a license, and two people who want to get married NOTHING else will make you more married, so for about $300 you can be as married as anyone else.

2. Prioritize your list. Is food important to you? Be prepared to cut back on the drinks, flowers, etc. Is the venue what matters? Then serve your guests pizza and soda.

3. Remember that no one, except maybe Kate Middleton, can afford every single bell and whistle, so be prepared to let some things go. Just sigh and look at point 1 again.

Congrats and good luck!

Thank you all for the helpful tips and advice. The A list consist of immediate family with spouses and just 3 of our closest friends. Hair and makeup I have covered ( my best friend is a makeup artist and stylist) which BTW I can recommend they do excellent work. I have photography covered as well (good old friend of mine). I'm going to do the following myself : invitations, favors, and centerpieces and the cake I have covered. I don't want to spend more than $200 on a dress. And I am definitely considering a beach ceremony.

I'd really like to have ceremony and reception is same place. Which is probably why I'm having a hard time finding something reasonable. Most hotels use their own catering and it can be pricy. I am definitely more concerned with venue and food.

Thank you all again for all the tips.