I see a lot of posts about what people are doing to try to save money and thought I would just throw this out there!
First, I researched what people either regret or are glad they spent money on and EVERYONE said photographer and music are most important with food coming next.
Here is what we cut to get a $10,000 budget:
~Venue: We chose a non-traditional venue (The Magic House in St. Louis) For the wedding, we are not decorating since we're getting married in a beautiful garden. For the reception, they provide only tables with a fee and staff to help direct people around the magic house.
We are asking some young adults to help us set up for a small fee.
~Linens: We are only doing table cloths and napkins. No table runners, no chair linens.
~Flowers: We're not doing any flowers at all, not even a bridal bouquet. When I realized how ridiculously expensive they were, we crossed them right off our list. We decided to have the wedding party walk to the alter together so that it doesn't look weird for them to not be holding anything. I will have both my mother and father walk me down the aisle so that both of my hands are occupied as well.
~Officiant: We asked a family friend.
~Food: We're having a buffet which is less expensive than a sit down
~Plates, flatware: Fancy plastic. We got this idea from a cousin's wedding. We didn't realize that the plates and flatware were plastic until we touched them.
~Centerpieces: We're doing a mini candy buffet at each table (wedding theme is candy). We're getting glass candy dishes at every yard sales we go to and will sell them after.
~Cake: I have Celiac so we're doing one small 2 tiered cake for cutting and for me to eat and then going to Sam's Club for a sheet cake and a half. No one cares what the cake looks like that they eat.
~DJ: We did not skimp here. We wanted to make sure that everyone has an amazing time!
~Photographer: Again, we didn't skimp here. These are the photos we will be looking at for the rest of our lives.
~STD: NONE, it's essentially an invitation for an invitation, it just didn't make sense to us.
~Invitations: Going through Ann's Bridal Bargains for invitations. We are hand delivering to everyone we can to save stamps and we get to see our friends. We have online only RSVPs so no stamps or extra stationary for RSVPs. We were worried about older people navigating our website but we are also accepting RSVP by phone call or text.
~Favors: We are using vintage looking keys that are bottle openers as our favors. They are $20 per 50 on Amazon. The tags that come with them will be used as escort cards.
~Extras: I am learning calligraphy/lettering so I can address the invitations and escort cards myself.
~Programs: We decided to go ahead and do programs but we will be using paper fans as our programs since it will be so hot that day.
~Booze: We are biting the bullet here and having an open bar. But we're limiting what is available to generic alcohol and only one craft beer option.
We are also using an extension called 'Honey' on Chrome, it finds coupons for you. It greatly reduced the cost of our invitations.
Let me know what you're doing to cut costs or if you have any questions!
