No Money

View Quoted Comment I can’t postpone, I’m trapped by a couple of things: we’re moving in together after and our parents are both very conservative about that. I also already have the honeymoon booked. (Family is already surprised we’re waiting as long as we are)
And no chance in hell im doing a potluck reception! I don’t wanna eat Aunt Linda’s nasty macaroni salad at my wedding lol.

So people have given advice, but you don't seem to want to do any of it. The easiest way to cut budget is to cut the guest list. Barring that, postpone the wedding. Barring that, get rid of things not needed. For instance, you don't need a rehearsal. Bam, no rehearsal means no rehearsal dinner. Savings. You don't need favors. Done. Do online invitations instead of purchasing invites. Don't buy flowers. Get candles for centerpieces and use silk flowers for your bouquet that you can buy cheap off Amazon. Don't have a bridal party (bridal party means bouquets and thank you gifts).

There are a lot of ways to save money, but it likely won't meet your vision. Frankly, there is no possible way to have a wedding for 100 people with $4,000. Food and alcohol alone will cost that.

View Quoted Comment Okay I already said I got it down to 5k and I’m just stressing? Also the advice I got is already advice I’ve taken (or it’s questioning why my fiancé can’t contribute)

and you know how it is (I assume), everyone expects to be invited and the MIL gave me a 54 person list of the family he has to have there.
His parents already offered to pay for a RD (like I said). I can’t postpone (like I said).
There are a million articles saying what you just said.

It’s just a lot, and I’m sure you’re aware that it’s stressful. Plus the wedding is already half of what I even wanted to begin with.
I just needed some sympathy, something out of the woods that I hadn’t heard yet and some people who understand.

The woman who suggested dressing up a white bridesmaid dress was the one who had an original suggestion that I hadn’t heard yet.

Man I know how you feel. My fiancé’s parents are giving us a $5000 budget for a private beach wedding which is still tough. My family thinks spending money on a wedding is stupid so won’t help. We are getting flowers ordered from a local grocery store. Cake from Publix. Catering from a good friend who is a professional chef. Eating inside the beach house so no tables & Chairs. A dj for only 2hrs, photographer for only 3 hrs. Amazon for some decor and signs I’m making myself. Do what you can do yourself. Compare prices make things diy etc. You can make it happen.

I feel like you could do this on 4K. Maybe make the guest list immediate family only. Try and find a big back yard. Put your feelers out there for what you could borrow (different chairs at tables are so cute), see who's getting married or who has recently got married and if there's anything they can give you. I know a girl who used a family members back yard and then they just rented a dance floor. Everything else they brought and decorated. The grandma even made the cake! You just gotta get thrifty girl! I believe in you!

There are ways to have a wedding on any budget. The trick is diy project, looking for sales and becoming creative. Don’t give up you can find a way.

And for wedding dresses look into renting or going to a consignment store! Don't stress, this is such a beautiful time in your life! You are going to appreciate your wedding so much and it's going to be perfect

View Quoted Comment The thing I’ve got going for me is the DIY, fake flowers, and a cake baker family member: I’m also hiring three amateur photographers that are friends of mine (at least one of them has got to get something good). It’s venue and catering I’m most worried about (we’re having a dry reception and an after party with just close friends after where we’re getting crazy!)

Lots of way to cut costs. Borrowing, making your own, calling on friends, preowned dresses, vintage rings. Not to mention cutting out lots of extras likes favors, gifts for wedding party, make up and hair, etc....
I echo that your FH can/should work. He doesn't go to school everyday all day. He could work nights/spends somewhere.

View Quoted Comment Good luck! I’ve got a giant list of DIY and an aunt on his side who bakes (thankfully). It’s venue and catering I’m worried about now!

I notice that your wedding is next year.. if you only need 1000 more dollars that seems very doable. you have a whole year (if that's date of 2019 is accurate) if you put up 84 dollars a month you'll make your 5000 dollar budget.. keep pushing

Honestly, my future husband and i are saving money by not taking our big honeymoon right away. We both work full time jobs and it's just not in the budget right now.
Our budget is roughly $5000 (everything included). And thats mainly our money (mostly me because he's working an internship for school). Have you talked to your FH about it? Not to see if he can help money wise, but if he's handy maybe you guys could do a lot of stuff yourself! Also, look at buy and sell groups on fb for decorations!

Correction 4000 budget not 5000

View Quoted Comment He is 100 miles away at the moment. We see each other every other weekend. I mentioned before that I really want him to focus on school because of his history and conditions. If he gets a job, even if he juggles it fine with School, i get less time with him.
I’d rather go to the courthouse in my sweats than not see him more than I already don’t.

View Quoted Comment Well $89 is about what my internet is, I’ll just go without until then 😂 lol.
i know it’s not a lot. I just hate being down to the wire and I hate that even if I am down to the wire it’s barely half of what I wanted.
i spent my childhood in holey socks. I wanted this to be special.

but oh well! At least I’ve alrwady got the honeymoon taken care of.

View Quoted Comment I was thinking of getting his help with signage and possibly the backdrop. He’s great with welding.

Ok. Back to being practical. Sunday and Friday are cheaper. You can feed people for $10-15 pp if you choose italian or BBQ. My venue is a state park CCC lodge. It was $1200 for the day. It's actually quite beautiful although a bit rustic.

Gorgeous dresses can be had for cheap on 2nd hand wedding sites. Or DB frequently has $99 sales.

As it has been stated a hundred times, the cheapest way to reduce costs is a smaller guest list.

If you haven't picked a venue yet, I suggest Googling "[your state] state park wedding" and you'll find so many options for venues between $300-1000 where you can control from whom you're catering and your alcohol. Also look at fire halls or community centers. And for food, look into Olive Garden, Chipotle, and BBQ. Hope this helps!

Be honest with your MIL. 54 must haves is a bit excessive for your situation. Let her know she can invite 30 maybe and then be quiet. She may not realize the stress she is putting you under.

View Quoted Comment I appreciate your help and the kind way you said it. I was planning on BBQ. If I go with outdoors I’ll have to convince my FH. He insists that Kansas outdoor weddings suck because of the wind. (: