Money Stress

We're on an extremely limited budget. After culling the guest list from A and B to "A+ only," we looked for offbeat venues (we're going to be at a circus school for $200 an hour), decided what we could skip (for instance, we want STDs but we're doing those by email so we can afford paper invitations), and are keeping the bridal party to best man and MOH. We have friends with DIY skills who will help out. For a friend's wedding, she turned making the bouquets into a girls night in: bought the flowers in bulk, then we got together with wine, chocolate, and fun movies to put them together. I don't intend to go bridezilla and impose on my friends but many of then offered to help on their own!

We're setting aside part of each paycheck and cutting unnecessary expenses. I bring coffee to work in a thermos instead of buying it, make dinner at home (and a lot of it is rice and tofu, no fancy ingredients), and blocked my favorite shopping websites in my browser to avoid temptation. It's already starting to add up.

My FH lost his job in the middle of our wedding planning so our budget has had to change a lot. One thing I am doing to cut down on cost is petite bouquets, rose petals instead of flower arrangements on the table, giving the BM the option to pay for their makeup or do it themselves, no wedding favors and a backyard bbq instead of a fancy rehearsal dinner at a restaurant.

@Ceclia, I Have been setting money aside for the wedding with whatever I can out of those paychecks. It makes it hard because I have a car payment that is literally killing all my other spending habits right now. I have tried re-financing but I have to wait another 6 months due to lack of revolving credit- if My payments weren't so high I would have extra money. And My FH has a decent job and he is able to save too. 15,000 works for us, I just can't go past that amount, I was single when I bought my car, so I wasn't planning for the future ahead of me knowing this would happen.

I'm not doing a cash bar. I have a very high opinion on that after going to too many weddings with them and everyone was so pissed off. we are just doing wine and beer. As for centerpieces go, I am making my own, I might have to cut down on flowers which I am okay with! I'm not a big flower person as is. We are DIYing our invites as well. I'm sure it will all work out.

If the wedding is that important to you, sell the car and pay CASH for a 'beater'. I don't know the numbers, but sounds like it would have a big (positive) impact on your monthly budget/spending.

@BtoB I'm not selling my car, I know I can get my payments down in the next 6 months. I've worked to damn hard for that thing haha.

The first thing we have done is take a portion of our income tax check and opened a savings acct separate from our regular account. This account was strictly used for wedding expenses. Every paycheck we would deposit a certain amount into this acct in which we both had to commit to. I created an Excel spreadsheet mapping out an itemized list that also included the cost listed from top priority to least. The next thing I did was shop around different venues, caterers (vendors in general) for the quality of their work and pricing. As the money accumulates and once contracts are set, I would then start paying off the important things first. When you send the invitations out to guest, create a registry that also allows monetary contribution. I had a 10k budget that easily went to 15k. If I didn't save and have a registry I would not have been able to recover from some of the wedding expenses. Hope this helps

Btw David's Bridal surprisingly have great rates on invitations and periodically offer discounts. I tried the DIY invites, maybe I'm just picky, but I didn't find it as plush as I would've wanted them

Candles and vases are also a great cheap option with synthetic flowers

Second job seems like a good option for you. Put everything you earn straight towards the wedding. I know you said selling your car isn't an option, but maybe you should entertain the idea of trading it in for something less expensive.....I'm not saying a beater, you need something reliable......it would probably make a huge difference in your budget & it sounds like that is one of your largest monthly cost, as it typically is.

I thought about trading it in, but with my interest the way it is, it will not help any. Adulting is not fun LOL. I have thought about a second job. Once I get past this month I will start looking!

I really appreciate everyones inputs!

I agree with cutting costs on things like flowers, decorations of any kind, save the dates, don't bother with favors, programs, etc. Look at WW Bride 2 Bride on FB, there are tons of brides selling used wedding items, including dresses and decorations. I recently bought centerpieces for 9 tables for $50 and they are beautiful and exactly what I was looking for. Interestingly enough, lately the majority of the items seem to be from NC and SC.

I second picking up as much work as possible. I try to pick up 2-3 extra shifts a month at work, and that money has gone to pay for anything I need it to wedding wise ONLY, such as my dress I ordered 3 days ago, and I only need 2 more shifts to finish paying off the planning/officiant/photographer service.