Wedding budget $6000. Is it possible?

Local wedding Facebook groups for used decorations

@Beth a friend is MAKING bridesmaids dresses?? WTF? Why would you do that to someone?

Well, we're hosting 80 on a budget of about $8000 (includes parent contribution of $2000). However, I work for the restaurant that is catering our wedding, and I'm getting a huge discount because of my high work performance. We're paying $6.50 a plate (no that's not a typo). So it's possible, but very dependent on luck and who you know.

You're not going to be able to have a free wedding. I don't know anyone who was able to have that. You can have a wedding that doesn't break the bank but you need to adjust your expectations accordingly. You're not going to be able to have a Saturday night 220 person wedding at a fancy venue with all the frills. As others said, have a small guest list. Also get married on a Sunday, or during the week. Get married at an elks club/VFW/public park. Forget flowers/decorations/programs/photo booth/favors. Get a non wedding dress. Forgo having a bridal party. Go with cheap catering. If you go with a public park you can bring in sandwich plates from Costco or Walmart. Chipotle is cheap. (I heard) Don't have a photographer or videographer. If you do have a photographer then don't have one for the whole reception or even ceremony only. Have an iPod instead of a DJ. So yeah, there are ways to have a cheaper wedding but they all involve you giving things up not people giving you things for free.

As far as free, go to a bridal show and enter contests/giveaways. I won a $100 gift certificate from an association of vendors. Do NOT count on free stuff when you're budgeting but it can help you upgrade or supplement. We were able to upgrade our cake to premium flavors with the certificate.

Some ways to cut corners: no programs, no save the dates, no favors. Less people in wedding party (so less bouquets and boutineers, less people to host for the rehearsal dinner, less gifts for you to buy). Don't have a rehearsal so you don't have to have a rehearsal dinner. For the bar, open beer and wine and non-alc drinks bar instead of full open bar. Skip boutineers and corsages.

Those are some ways to cut corners but the absolute only way to remain under $6K is a small guest list like 25 ish people.

Cut the guest list, no STDs, favors, menus, & programs. See where you can cut flowers, like smaller bouquets, no floral centerpieces/decor. Beer & wine instead of open bar. Inexpensive dress, do consignment shop or off the rack during a sale. Negotiate & price compare major vendors.

Oh sweet summer child. It's possible with an extremely small guest list. I thought I could do it for $10k...wrong.

It's definitely possible if you don't invite too many people and don't worry about extra things like favors or a bunch of decor. I put the area you listed on your profile into costofwedding.com, and it looks like that budget is very doable for you if you keep your guest list under 50.

It depends on your location and your guest list.

I'm in your boat guuurl!

From my research, I've gathered that taking a hands-on approach will save money. Embrace some DIY. Im trying to be strategic in picking my theme and venue to suit a small budget. But at the end of the day I fight with myself over what I really want and what I can afford. Small budgets mean lots of compromises. ...

Also, don't always believe the general "they said" talk about what's expensive. Example: sometimes a custom wedding dress is cheaper than buying off the rack. (My logic told me otherwise, but my research proved it can be cheaper)

You got this girl!

These threads always bring out some of the weirdest ideas I've ever heard, and I've been in the biz for 35 years.

questions; I have questions

Free. Do YOU work for free?

Do you want to be stressed out about money from now until you walk down the aisle?

Do you want to suffer third degree glue gun burns from glueing burlap or fake petals to everything in site?

Have you ever done any DIY craft projects beyond the macaroni frames you made for your mom in second grade?

Do you REALLY think that 150 guests want to participate in the cheapest event that it is possible to produce?

Do you REALLY think your friends and family want to/will/are able to cook/decorate/bartend/officiate/take photos? (the answer to that one is a resounding NO)

Do you think that spending the least money possible on people you theoretically love is a proper way to host them?

Do you want people talking about your wedding, and not in a good way, for years?

These threads, (the 'can I have a wedding on XXXX amount of dollars) always have the same trajectory. Most people say to shop around so you can see what catering/venues cost, cut the guest list merciliessly, cut out all the extraneous crap you don't really need (STD's, favors, etc), have your small, beautiful party on an off day in an off season. Four people will come in and say, "sure, I did 200 people on 3000.00 and it was fabulous". No, maybe no one died, but simple economics will tell you that fabulous is not possible for 200 on a budget that will barely cover photography and a DJ. There is usually potluck and friendor involvement, family paying for things that somehow don't get included in the estimate and cheerful championing of the "SURE YOU CAN, DON'T LISTEN TO THEM" variety.

Cut your list. Figure half of your entire budget will probably go to food and alcohol (and no, you can't do a dry wedding or cash bar....) and build your list from the immediate (as in parents and siblings) out.

That's the way you have a 6000.00 or 4000.00 or 5000.00 wedding.

It's doable. Sales sales sales. Also tons of research. We're doing a park wedding and banquet ceremony. Our banquet allows outside food so we were able to have our favorite local BBQ restaurant (we live in a small town) cater for us. Also, we're expecting around 130 to show to give you an idea.

Small guest list, intimate reception/ceremony venue. It can be done!

For decor maybe ask around and see if anyone has things (lanterns, vases/glassware, etc. depending on the style you want) from their wedding that they want to sell for cheap or would be willing to let you borrow. I've seen posts like this on Facebook before. Maybe you have some friends or family that recently had a wedding who could help with that. There are tons of simple centerpiece ideas on Pinterest that you can DIY, especially if you use fake flowers you can do them in advance and not the week of. Another thing could be to use your bridesmaids' bouquets as centerpieces on some of the table. Don't get discouraged listening to all of the negative people, it can be possible you might just have to get a little creative!!

Depending on where you live and the number of people you are hosting and what kind of wedding you want..then yes its possible...we are spending around that on our wedding.

Beth? Seriously?

Calling in favors and having friends and relatives work for free and parents give you money does not count as part of a mingey budget.

No amount of saving on decor or coupons will help you enough if you simply do not have the money to have a big wedding.

And steer clear of Hobby Lobby.

Absolutely! My SIL just got married last weekend. She had over 200 guests and she paid less than $5,000. He wedding was absolutely breath taking. Use your resources

You can do it because we are. Keep list light. Go through a restaurant for catering. Find a hall you can bring in outside catering and decorate and includes beer and pop and buy your own wine. If you are a part of a church most weddings are free. Just donate something ??. Rent a fancy car for a day instead of limo. Find a photographer that will work with you ( by the hour). Look for packages with hair and makeup. If people ask to help take it. Don't do a big cake. Get a small cute cake and a sheet cake or cupcakes for guests.

We spent about $5000 for our destination wedding for just the two of us. It's a tight budget but I agree with PP & cut deeply into the guest list.