Lets say I gave you a thousand dollars...

Hmmm.

I would have worn my bff's dress which she offered, or bought one for under $100 depending on how much I had left after the following.

fh would have worn the black suit he already owns

$120 for marriage lisence

$160 for city clerk

then I'd have it at the cottage cause there is a building there we can use for free.

We would invite immediate family and friends only. Our cottage sleeps Immediate family. There is also room to camp and many cottages for rent up there.

Tell everyone byob - but we'd provide 2 beer kegs which would be about $200.

We'd also provide a tonne of beef and chicken burgers $200

and some wine, and pop.

Then a special event liquor permit is about $35.

Then we would ask everyone to bring a side dish and a bottle of their favorite drink in lieu of gifts.

A friend of ours owns a music system and many of our friends would play music as they are planning to do at our wedding already.

That'd about do it.

JOP with immediate family and dinner and dessert at Marie Callendars.

Immediate family and extended family, ceremony in the church office and then dinner at a nice restaurant.

Backyard BBQ Wedding! Like the Phil Vassar song says (for all you country music fans out there), "The catering is covered dish!"

Yikes! That is really not a lot of money. This is for my city:

Marriage certificate: $135

Civil marriage fee: $226

Travel fee for the civil servant: $56.50 (to FIL's house)

So, just to get married legally it would be $417.50.

Location: FIL's backyard

Dress: $200

Groom: Suit he owns

Veil: borrowed

Chair rental: $200

Flowers: $100 if I DIY

Photos: By friends and family

Invites: $50 if I use coupons to get cheap box set from Micheal's

Misc (like garter, candles): $32.50

No food or drinks for guest, so it's a BYOB! And I'll use an iPod if guests want to dance. And no money for rings - that can be our first anniversary gift to each other.

Not realistic in my area.

Same here Cavan. It's $200 to have a JOP come to the lodge to marry us. $165 for the lodge, $130 for the marriage certificate, $100 for chairs and for that is $595! My dress was $265 plus atlerations are $230 because I am so short, she has to hem the bottom at least 7 inches. $1000 budget is not even possible here.

Yup, I'd fly to Vegas, and get married at the Bellagio Fountain - no charge.

That's my budget and We're having the perfect wedding!

Venue (beautiful room in historic building) $85 (I knew someone)

Pastor (FI's best friend): no charge but will get him a gift certificate or something

Marriage license $35

Invitations (using Costco photo template 40 I think with envelopes) $8

Dress (DB clearance) $130

FH attire (sports coat/slacks already owned) $0

Shoes (already owned) $0

Hair and makeup (DYI) $0

Decorations (minimal, as we don't want to detract from the building's beauty, already own the canning jars, borrowing mirrors, only need to buy candles, charms, ribbon, etc) $50 using coupons

Music (iPod) $0

Flowers (sister doing them) $50

Cake (by a friend) $0

Photos (friend's brother will take ceremony pics and give me the card and my son-free lance photographer and my daughter-an Air Force photographer-will do reception and editing) $50

Desserts (by friends who are great cooks) $0

Coffee, tea, hot chocolate: don't know yet

Nice tableware etc (Party City online with great coupons) $130

Photo booth (friends run it out of their house so materials only) $40

Wedding photo album with all the trimmings to be used as guest book in conjunction with photo booth $100

Can't remember what else but we're definitely under budget! It's actually fun to work within a limited budget. You have to decide what's really important and how to make do. You get creative! It helps to have friends and family really wanting to be involved. Also, it's a second marriage for both of us. We have chosen to have no attendants and therefore avoid drama.