Wedding Fundraiser!!

I'm going to try to head this off at the pass and give you the benefit of the doubt. By fundraiser, you don't mean like having other people pay money to help you have your wedding, correct? We can give you tips on how to save money and cut costs, but unless "fundraisers" are popular in your area, this is NOT, I repeat, NOT a good idea.

See this post: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/wedding-fundraisers/9db58df8fefa5780.html -- don't want to be this bride? Let's go back to square one and figure out how YOU can afford the wedding you want (or how to have a wedding YOU can afford.)

Budget your money according to how much you want to spend. ie. If you want to spend $20K on your wedding, you would save about $850 per month so that you could afford it.

A savings account is a fantastic way to raise funds! Just set a little money aside every month

You have over three years, so simple things like brown bagging lunch, planning your routes to save gas, cutting cable and other unnecessary subscriptions, etc. will help you save money.

Having non-Saturday non-dinner receptions (I did a Sunday brunch) can be just as elegant and fun and a lower cost. Non-floral centerpieces are another way to save, and wedding cakes from a grocery store (Publix is delicious!) are another way to save.

I hope you will stick around and update your avatar (the rings) to ANY unique pictures from Google we can more easily recognize. This post tells you how to do that: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/welcome-to-the-weddingwire-forums-please-read-if-you-are-new/b433c40c1a62b96a.html

I agree with Just Reenski.... IT would been a horrible idea... A kidney YES... A wedding NO

Save, save, save... Have a small wedding in the off season. Try to buy some stuff used, don't make people pay to fund your wedding, that's just tacky. Not to mention your guests are going to have their own attire, accommodations, travel, and gift expenses. If you really want to save money, elope.

I never heard of fundraising for weddings until getting on the board. I've seen some women say stuff about Jack and Jill parties with raffles? But I think that's Canada.

Welcome to WW and Happy Planning.

Welcome to the WeddingWire Community!

So what we did is set up a savings account and had a little bit of money every week transfer into that account. Even just $10 a week can add up quick! Also, we booked our venue for a Sunday night and got a great deal...usually they run 2 weddings at once but for Sundays they let you use the entire space and the price is $20 less per person! Also, we booked over 18 months in advance and set up a payment plan with the venue. They even said they've had couples that would send $25 or 50 a week to them and that was fine!

Start using coupons at the grocery store. Packing lunches for work/school. And try finding free/less expensive activities (if you usually go to the movies, stay home and stream a movie offline!) Just cut back on little things and it will add it!

I do not agree with fundraisers for weddings. I agree with Reenski, with that being said here are a few ways FH and I cut cost to have money for our wedding. We stop eating out, our date night now conceits of a movie, pop corn at home and snuggling on the sofa. I have not had my nails done in over a year. We ride our bikes to work ( we live a mile from work). On B-days, Christmas V-day, etc, we will pay something on the wedding instead of gifts for each other. We cut the cable to basic cable. I have a phone at work and a house phone, so I let my cell phone go. There are lots of ways to save money and you have plenty of time to save.

Please do not ask your friends and family to pay for your wedding.

Welcome! I hope you find the forums really helpful! I'm kinda new too, but there are PROS (been there and current brides to be) on this site that can really give you pointers on how to save and deals online. Good luck girl!

I agree with Reenski, read that girl's forum. I would really stay away from fundraising. Have something you can afford and don't go into dept just for a wedding.

some great ways to save DIYing and doing tons of research. People will tell you that you won't be able to find a vendor for the budget you have, but you can it just takes more work. Week day weddings are also cheaper, so you could consider doing that or a day time wedding.

Smartypig.com

Thanks, every one for posting to my discussion. I agree, asking family and friends to pitch in with wedding funds is GHETTO. However, I had a friend that recently got married and to save money she washed cars and sold dinners. It's awkward to do so. But I just wanted other's opinion. I'm gonna SAVE.. Save... S-A-V-E!

Thanks again!

I mean, in that vein, you can do something like having a garage sale of anything you don't want or selling items on Craigslist or eBay -- that kind of fundraising is all right. You can also sign up with marketing research companies to make a bit extra from time to time.

Best of luck with your planning, you have a good amount of time, so I'm sure you'll get it done. Happy planning and don't forget to update that avatar!

I'm with the other girls as far as the fundraiser goes, but I hope you have so much fun planning and wish you the best of luck!

Washing cars and selling dinners, to pay for a wedding - no.

A garage sale, or selling your own items on eBay or Craigslist - fine.

Weddings are not fundraising events. Leave those to the non-profit organizations that rely on those events to continue to do business.

You need to set a realistic budget. Then live within it. If your dream wedding does not fit your budget, then you need to scale back. All a wedding truly needs in an officiant and a few witnesses. Everything else is extra fluff.

I'm sorry, but this is worse than asking people to "sponsor" your wedding. Save your money, sell things on eBay/Craig's List, but do not raise money for your wedding.

Horrible idea! You have two years. Work for your money to pay for your wedding. Sorry but I think fundraisers for weddings are beyond tacky.