Things not really needed

We didn't have favors or programs either and I don't think anybody missed them.

There was just another thread about this, if you search. Really? nothing is needed except you, your witnesses, a license, and and officiant. Everything else is a bonus.

I won't have a limo since the ceremony and location will be at the sand venue. No favors and still haven't decide if I'll programs and menu cards because I really things they're not needed.

Cut anything you can. It is your day. Only have what you can afford, people shouldn't judge you, afterall they are your friends and family. I agree with what Celia said. Anything in addition to that is a bonus.

Things to cut to save money

- colored linens - use the hall's free white ones

- flower centerpieces - use candles or the hall's free ones, if they offer anything

- limo

- programs

- favors

- expensive accessories (veil, tiara, jewelry, shoes, slip) You could get costume jewelry, inexpensive shoes but buy some $5 arch support cushions. Ebay for slips. Borrow any of these items from family members?

- skip on the cake knife/server or just get the $9 one from the wedding aisle at the craft stores

- get a smaller cake - the bakery can make "kitchen cakes" they are the same flavor as the wedding cake, but since they are not decorated fancy they don't cost as much but are the Same cake. You will still have a cake to cut and have on display.

- skip a runner

things to cut out of everyday life to save $ for wedding

- cable

- smaller phone plan

- starbucks

- movie theatre

- smoking/drinking

- drive thru/cafeteria - Bring your lunch to work

Things NOT to skimp on

- photographer!!!!

I agree - the things you really need (besides you, FH, witnesses and officiant) are a great photographer, good food and good music for the reception whether that be a DJ or mixes you put together to play over good quality speakers (just be sure to have someone responsible for making sure the music gets switched out when appropriate).

I'm not cutting these things out to save money but I just think they aren't needed...

favors - I never take them and think they are stupid, unless it's food

programs - my ceremony is only 15 minutes

limo - ceremony and reception are in the same place

runner - ceremony is outside....so a runner would just get messed up

menu cards - they will pick their meal before hand....not like they can order something different or change the menu...plus, I love the element of surprise lol

STDs - My mother said they really aren't necessary unless you have a lot of out of town guests. My OOT guests are in different countries, a phone call will suffice

I cute STD's, programs, name cards at tables, and I am sure there are other things I will cut. Some of it just seems pointless to me.

I'm not having a runner, no limo, no cake knife & server set, no flowers {except bouquet's}, no pew decorations

our hall will have holiday decorations still up, so we will have no major decorations to do..just centerpieces

We bought cheap rings and not the ones we want but we are planning on buying the ones we want after the wedding.

I got lucky with a best friend who makes the cakes.

We also have a few friends taking the pictures of us. We have two because we arent getting a professional one..

I hope that helps.

I had a friend who put her entire wedding on for about 500 bucks everyone helped out on one thing rather then bring a gift.

These are all great $$ saving ideas! I really hate to see all of you forgo the wedding programs though. Many people attending the ceremony won't have a clue as to who anyone in the wedding party is. Guests like to know what is going on and who is doing the solo or the reading...besides, it gives them something to do while they are waiting for things to get started! You don't have to spend a lot of cash on programs, you can get copies made pretty cheap and fold them yourself...they don't have to be printed on fancy paper either!

I'm not having flowers at all. The centerpieces are made with lit branches mixed with real branches, but to save money you could use all real branches that you collect outside! Our bouquets are made from old jewelery I collected from family members and silk flowers made by hand (they look something like this, only in ivory http://realwedding.co.uk/handmade-silk-roses-by-tranzendental-arts).

We saved money by:

DIY just about everything and using Vistaprint for many things we really did want.

I am a hard fit as far as clothes are concerned, but I saved about $400 buying my dress off the rack. I also saved by printing my own invitations. No limo, no rehearsal dinner, a four piece bridal party, etc. you just have to budget and stick to it. Also, clip coupons and frequent sales racks when possible. Trust me, it helps!

@Pan X....just suggesting that you keep the STDs. If you don't want to mail them out, do a cute evite or something else to give people who need submit leave requests a deecnt amount of time to do so. I think the etiquette police say invitations go out like 3 months before the wedding? I think the STDs allow preparation for leave, and the invitations help people plan to get there. JIMO. I'm doing some form of evite.

We aren't having a cake, it's a dessert reception anyway, so why do we need to pay $400 for another dessert?

We certainly aren't renting a limo, as far as FH knows we are just driving his car, and that's fine with him (my BM's father just bought a camero which is FH's favourite car and he said we can borrow it for the day, but it's a suprise for FH hehehe)

We aren't hiring a DJ, MOH's hubby used to be a DJ so we are just putting him in charge, but will probably create a playlist on itunes.

No musicians for the ceremony, we are just using a CD of carefully picked out music.

Here's what I didn't save money on but could have. I'm not crafty so I made our unity candle and that's about the extent of my DIY. I could have saved over $1000 in invites, programs, STD's and candy buffet. I think you can save on just about everything if you work hard enough to.

I chose to do fake flowers instead of real. Even though the fake can be fairly expensive, I found a girl on Craig's list who was selling all of her fake floral, so for $150 I got 21 lighted half kissing ball centerpieces, 6 BM bouquets, extra flowers and floral tape/styrofoam/etc, a ring bearer pillow, 2 FG baskets, and 2 bags of loose petals. They weren't in my original colors, but they are pretty and saved about $1000 from the floral quotes I got (which were just for ceremony flowers no centerpieces).

My STD postcards (including postage) were ~ $40 for 100 and I could have gotten them cheaper but I wanted to modify the design.

Use the free brochures from Vistaprint to do the programs. I think they are important,

http://www.vistaprint.com/custom-brochures.aspx?GP=11%2f6%2f2011+4%3a21%3a38+PM&GPS=2231584644&GNF=1&GPLSID=&rd=2

I'm not having flowers at all.

I'm not doing STD's, I'm doing the 1-800 RSVP service instead.

No limo or fancy car either.

We're having a pizza party rehearsal dinner, cheap but yeah...that's what we're having.

Our wedding is on a Friday night instead of a popular Saturday, saving us thousands!

We are having a Viennese Table with a variety of desserts as opposed to those expensive cakes that we'll have to hire somebody to cut

I'm using Recycled Bride for lots of things, saving a little bit

I have a friend who's a DJ & one who is a photographer (professional) saving money

I'm buying my dress from Ebay for less than $200

Good luck with everything

Rather than think about what to leave out, think about what is really important to you and your FI. As Celia pointed out, most "wedding" stuff is not actually necessary. And the stuff that is necessary is typically not that high priced. So start with the necessary stuff, and add on only things that are important to the two of you. Maybe that means not having a wedding dress so that you can afford to spend more on food and drink. Maybe it means having only a cake and punch reception so that you can invite all the people you want to have there. Conversely, maybe it means having an amazing cocktail hour and sit-down dinner for just your immediate families. Only you can decide what is important to you.

DIY can be helpful up to a point. However, too often people think they are saving money by using DIY, when in fact they don't really need that item at all. Or they end up spending almost as much as they would to just buy the item, but drive themselves crazy with endless work.