Just Engaged, Need Tips!

I would say prioritize the things that affect your and your guests’ experience.



For example, we were happy to splurge on things like photography (will last forever), food and drinks (will make our guests happy), a beautiful venue (will also make us and our guests have a lovely time), but not so much on things like flowers, centerpieces, etc.

Also congrats on getting engaged! I got engaged during college too (right before my last semester) it can be super overwhelming adjusting to post-college adult life and wedding planning, so if it’s too overwhelming you can always just wait to start planning after you graduate and adjust a bit.

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much for your advice! I really appreciate it )))

Congratulations on your engagement! I agree with pp you need to figure out what you want the most. For me food was most important so everything else I honestly didn’t care much for. Keeping things simple also is a good tactic for keeping it more inexpensive. Also don’t be afraid to borrow things aha - I borrowed a lot of stuff from my friends that way I didn’t buy it myself.

Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you! I also got engaged in college!

I think the first thing is a budget of all the money you have to go towards the wedding. Then you can make a list of your biggest priorities and divide the money accordingly. The next steps would be a guest list and a venue.

As far as saving money, we saved the most by booking ahead (guaranteeing current pricing for a future wedding so you avoid the price hikes), negotiating with vendors (we saved money on both on photographer and DJ for about $850 total savings), finding an all-inclusive venue, and never actually buying something that isn't from a vendor unless it's on sale. It's so easy to go online and just buy everything you think you'll need, but if you plan ahead you can find it on sale. We just bought about 85% of our stationary last week, even though our wedding is still a year off, because there was a 75% off sale.

Congrats! Best advice is to budget! Utilize dollar tree, Amazon, Walmart. Cutting back on a guest list helps, the smaller amount of people the less money. For food, we got party trays from walmart with cheese n crackers & a lunch meat tray. We ordered food from a soul food restaurant which only cost us $370. We skipped out on favors. And I agree with previous people, dont be afraid to borrow things!

If you can make it yourself, do it. I watched YouTube videos if I didn’t know how to do something and I have made everything for my wedding by myself except for attire and food. I saved so much money! Don’t be afraid to recruit help! If aunt sally is great with flowers, ask her to make your centerpieces or bouquets. If your sister has a cricut, ask her to make your welcome signs. You get the idea. Congratulations and have a fun wedding!

Prioritize what’s most important and create a budget!
Also consider alternatives like getting married on a different day of the week or time of the year. Vendors and venues offer reduced rates for non peak dates.

Congrats on your engagement how exciting ,

here is some ways to cut costs

have your wedding on a off month typical april,novemeber, December, January,february

have your wedding on a week day

host a beer wine bar only will save you on alcohol

italian and bbq are great options for food that are appetizing as well as affordable

You can get some great stuff on Etsy if you like the handmade look but don't want to overwhelm yourself with trying to DIY. I ordered a white bridesmaid dress ($168). It's a simple dress but a blank slate for accessories. We're eloping in the backyard of a VRBO with a view of Seattle and beach access. My stepdaughter and I are gonna bake and decorate the wedding cake. (Since we're eloping, I don't have to worry about impressing guests. Lol).

But I definitely recommend splurging on a good photographer, and on the venue. Memories of the day will fade but your photos will be so special!

Congratulations!! I recommend ordering your dress on Azazie or Cocomelody, where they have options to try on your wedding dresses at home, their dresses are really inexpensive and good quality, I only had to spend $323 on my dress.


I also recommend hiring vendors that need experience, for example, instead of hiring a photographer with 10+ years of experience don't be afraid to hire a photographer with 2 years of experience. It will save you money in the long run, we only had to spend $995 on a videographer that was just starting out, and we saved so much money in the long run.

I got engaged while finishing college, as well! Congratulations, beautiful!! Our wedding is in October, so I am still planning and that means we are still budgeting! My best advice:

- DO NOT make impulsive decisions when it comes to choosing your venue!!!! ($$&dollar

- DO use fake flowers for everything other than your bouquet.

- DO use a rental service for your decorations! They will come set it all up for you, and then take it away at the end of the day. Saves SOOOO much time, money, and you won't end up with all these crazy little knick-knacks that you most likely will never use again.

- DO splurge on your dress. You deserve it.

- If you are having an open bar, only offer beer and wine, and let those guests who want to drink liquor, pay cash! (We have saved over $1,000 by doing this!!)

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

If you live where ports are you should definitely do a cruise wedding for 50 of my gas unlimited food alcohol a ceremony and reception photography decoration and officiant a wedding coordinator and beyond it all cost at $4000 well you can also do is get married at interstate so you can ask someone who is very wealthy that is really powerful in our house and you can see if you can use it as a venue or get married at a beautiful park and have a lot of decorations personally the cruise thing it’s the best especially with them trying to get more So if you book your cruise wedding for 2023 or 2024 you will definitely get a big bang for your buck

Congrats! Here are a few tips I have:
1) write out your budget first. Have open and honest conversations with anyone who may be involved with providing money. (For example, my MiL wanted to pay for photography, so we had to sit down and discuss what she thought that cost would be for me to budget)
2) STICK TO YOUR BUDGET. 3) try on dress styles at a place like David’s Bridal, then use that knowledge to order online- go for a second hand option (you will be the only one who knows unless you are like me and brag about fusing your dream dress for 100)4) Amazon had silk flower bouquets that are 1/10 the price of live floral (flowers were not top of my priority list)5) talk to local unions/ clubs about using their space. The Knights of Columbus here have a wonderful hall as does the Firefighters Union. 6) keep your numbers smaller- for all of those bonus friends from college that you really want to invite, have a party with them for your engagement- or a party at a park after to share your pictures and retell stories from it an your honeymoon 7) don’t rush. Set a date a bit further out, you will get a better price and have more time to save the money8) remember (especially when you see something extravagant that looks awesome) that this is one day. You want to set up your lives for success, not debt. The most important thing about the day is that you commit to each other in love. Focus on that part and the rest will feel right.

Decide what is most important to you. Skip what isn't.

Have your favorite local restaurant cater. You will get a ton of food that you know you already love at a fraction of the price that a wedding caterer will charge.

Utilize etsy.com (change the search filter to US shops only)

A factor factor is definitely the budget, then how many people on the guest list and securing the venue. Based off those, then you can blend the theme, decor etc off those

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much! This helped me so much♥️

View Quoted Comment Thank you!!!

View Quoted Comment Yes thank you! I love Etsy🤍🤍

View Quoted Comment I’ve never heard of a cruise wedding! I love that idea! But my fiancé gets so seasick