Want to have a wedding but can't afford it

The simple truth is that you save what you can and have a long engagement if you can't afford it. Some people have a 3-year engagement or longer just to save money. Put a little money aside every paycheck and it will grow. Also, what kind of wedding do you want? If you want a big wedding on a weekend night, expect to save for longer than if you want a weekday afternoon wedding.

Keep the guestlist small, and use non-traditional venues for your reception and/or ceremony. Some restaurants have affordable options.

You can google both of these and get a ton of results, but really you should have the wedding you can afford. Long engagements are also fine, if you really want to have a wedding but can't save as fast as you'd like!

I would first suggest a budget. Take how much you both earn, and how much of that you use. Make sure every dollar has a purpose! You don't want loose money just sitting in your account, that burns holes in pockets. Maybe set up an online bank account, that way you don't see it connected to your regular bank account and it's harder to get your money from (generally takes about a week for transfers to go through) or maybe open an account at a different bank. Try to just set aside a little money each paycheck, even if it's just 5-10 dollars. It will take a while!

How to have a wedding with little income is a bit difficult because I don't know the cost of things where you are, but your date says you were married his past year. If you are doing a vow renewal, you can talk to vendors and they might give you a bit of a discount. I can't help much there though.

Just have the party you can afford while being a proper host! There are tons of posts on these boards about etiquette, and budget weddings. Google and WW are your friends.

But according to your info your already married.....

ETA: it's like beating a dead horse...just have the wedding you can afford.

Save money until you can afford a big wedding or have a small ceremony. But... According to your info, you got married this summer so is this a moot point?

Have it at someone's house or a local community center that lets you bring in your own food and alcohol. Try bridal consignment stores for a dress and whatever else. There is two by me and they have TONS of stuff. You can get hair and make up at local beauty schools, you might be able to find a photography student that will give you a good deal in order to help build their portfolio. If you really want a wedding I believe you can make it happen you just have to get creative and be willing to do a lot more work and research.

Your inalienable right: the pursuit of happiness! But of course, this doesn't mean "right to happiness" only to seek it! Life isn't fair. Some brides get big wedding paid for by their families, while others struggle to scrape their pennies together for a nice family celebration! Before the 60s and 70s, wedding "receptions" were held in church halls or parents back yards! The 80s have created the wedding machine that exists for all today! You can be married by a notary. Choose a nice location (park, beach, public flower garden, etc.) = free! Have a "reception" with really only your closest and dearest at someones house. You're only out the cost of food and refreshments. You can HAVE a wedding for $0. You cannot have an extravagant wedding.

Have a long engagement and save up. Thats what most of us did!

Wait until you're making more money. #priorities

Your profile says you are already married. Are you?

Check out the Wedding thread posted yesterday. Tons of great advice there

Have you started saving? What have you cut out of your budget? How much are you putting a side from each paycheck? Money doesn't save itself.

Start by putting aside a certain amount from each pay check. Then Start cutting things from your budget, ex Cable or internet. Consider a 2nd job. there are a lot of ways to save. Keeping your guest lists small is the easiest way to cut costs wedding wise.

There was a great thread yesterday titled "weddings" with lots of helpful tips

Seriously though, either do something small or wait and save up. Don't get stuck in the mindset that you need a wedding that looks like what you see on Four Weddings or other TV shows. You can upgrade from the court house without going huge.

Last year I attended a wedding with 15 guests. There was a short outdoor ceremony then they hosted us all at the hotel restaurant. They did have a cocktail hour with drinks and then provided wine with the meal, but there was no dance or bar. It was one of my favorite weddings and did not cost the couple a fortune.

Ignoring the already married part. At the risk of being a Debbie Downer, even your $5k-$10k estimate is low if you're picturing a traditional wedding at a venue with 100 or so guests. In my area of the country (northeast), that's easily $25-30k. I did it for $20k at a nontraditional venue and got creative with a lot of things.

You can have a lovely wedding if you work backwards--you, your (future?) spouse, the officiant, and the license. Then add other "necessities." Invite immediate family, go to the courthouse, and follow with a nice dinner, and I think you can get out of the whole thing for about $1500.

Longer engagement to save money slowly is always a good choice if you have something specific in mind, that's what FH and I are doing.

The biggest cost driver in wedding planning is your guest list - the most guests the more cost. If you keep that down it's good. Prioritize your needs - for example, do you really need flowers? If flowers aren't really something that you care about and you would just get them because you think, "Hey it's a wedding I NEED flowers!", then it can be axed from your budget - depending decisions like that can reduce your budget by $500 to $5000.

There is also the option of simply getting married at a courthouse and maybe going out with some friends/family to a restaurant after to celebrate and then when money isn't as tight have a vow renewal that mimics a traditional wedding.

The church or someone's home will be your best bet. If you're a member of a church they probably will allow you to marry in the sanctuary for free, although you might have to pay an honorarium to the pastor. You can just serve cake and punch in the church's reception hall.

Invite your immediate, as in parents, siblings.....to a nice little restaurant and have a small sweet ceremony with a nice meal afterwards.

In my area? Less than 1000.00

I don't think this is a real person. It is too similar to yesterday's thread. Look at the date she got married.

There are lots of expensive things I want... so either

A) I don't get them

or

B) I save my money

Do you know anyone with a nice yard? Rent a small tent, DIY everything, only invite 20 or less people. You could save lots of money by finding someone who caters for cheap and buying your own alcohol. By your dress second hand or on sale.