weddings under $12,000..... How do you do it?????

By the way... The venue I chose was supposed to be $1900.00 but they gave it to me for $1500.00

Nice.... my advise is to go on the budget tool on this website. Put how much you need to stay under. It will break up your money on how the average person spends their money. You can move the money around to different items. Since you know your hall, put that in. Is that to rent only? How much per plate for food? Do a cash bar, unless it is included in your price quote. $1,000 - $2,000 for photographer. Dress under $1,000 - with alterations. You can cut back on the chair covers to save money. Use the halls centerpieces. Make cookies or something for favors.... I saw an article once, let me see if I can find it.

You could always get a nice venue and have candy buffet!

We put on an elegant wedding (for my daughter) at a local hotel (ceremony and reception) for just under $9,000. It can be done. You have to do your homework. We also had the advantage of my friendship with the Food & Beverage Manager at the hotel and the fact that I know the chef, the Banquet Manager and the Event Planner at the hotel.

Read a little, duh... flowers in season.... well, you can read the rest.

Start coupon clipping. Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and Joanne all take competitors coupons.

http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/the-10k-wedding

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/55534/wedding_planning_on_a_budget_my_wedding.html?cat=23

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-budget/articles/cheap-wedding-ideas.aspx

http://www.brides.com/forums/message.jspa?messageID=284769

Make a $500 - misc fund for things that you forget at first - so when you see something you "must" have, you have the money aside for it.

It is only $1500 to rent, is that bad??? I found a caterer and each plate was $103.26 per a person (I have about 100 guest).... I found that to be much for food I wasn't even sure I would like... I am still shopping around for a caterer but would like to book one within the next 2 months... I also have to have an open bar, that is FH only request... People in our family like their liquor! I also put in the budget on the WW tool... my problem is will I actually be able to find items for those prices???

I think there are several of us on here who are shooting for 10k or less...(mine is sitting around 9 right now, and that includes our weeklong honeymoon).

The big thing is to decide with FH what the most important things are that you don't want to skimp on. Be sensible about it....the last thing you want to do is start your new life together with a mound of debt from your wedding! Also, as others have said, use the budget tool on this website.

Thank sooo much Hayley C!!!

We are doing our wedding for about that much. For me, it was important to figure out what we wanted to spend money on and what we were willing to either go without or pay much less for. For instance, invitations weren't that important to us so we are spending less than $200 with postage (they are still pretty nice though). Having nice tables/food was important so we decided to spend a little more on that. Flowers weren't as important for us, so we decided that we would only go with my bouquet for flowers and a couple of other essentials. We choose what we will do ourselves and what we will pay for. Also, for photography we wanted a professional but couldn't spend too much so we made a deal with a great photographer for $700.00 for the whole night. In general, it's a balancing act.

DIY DIY DIY

Google everything and reqally asking the ladies here really helps to. Definitley shop around for everything. We are shooting for no moer than 12k too, not including the honeymoon. we have a huge family though. Even with 400 guest I'm pretty sure we wont go over. We are using family and friends with free bes for everything we can. Definitely using our own caterer is helping! My uncle is doinjg photography. The BM is also the DJ--lol--It def can be done.

Http://www.decidio.com/local-businesses/catering-davie-florida-s41.html

go to this site. It lets you type in what you are looking for and what budget you need to stay inside. You can search for catering, dj, make-up artist, officiant, etc.

Go to bridal shows. They have raffles that give away free stuff.... flowers, tux, honeymoon - maybe you'll get lucky.

As Holly said, see where you can cut back. Cut back on the photographer's hours. You only need so many pictures of drunk people dancing. What do you think you can DIY instead of paying a professional? Any chance you want to make your own bouquet? There are DIY how to video's on youtube.

$100.00 per person is way too much (from what I've been quoted). Unless I am missing some information about something, it doesn't seem right at all.

Wow! $12,000!! my budget is 3500. three thousand, five hundred dollars. We are planning for 250 guests. we're doing our own food, creating our own stds and invitations, and growing decorations. venue is 150, photos 800, dj 550, dress 200. i guess our tastes and wants are much different, too!

Wow minnow i should be grateful then, which I am... I would love to do DIY projects, but I suck at putting things together myself! I think I am going to try to do something simple and then see how it works out...

My advice is shop shop shop around, and do alot of DIY projects, mainly for you centerpieces and your favors. I wish I could say I only had to spend 12k!! Our budget is $3k, and i think that's what we have to come up with ourself, my mom i think is offering 1k, but my dress and alterations is coming out of that 1k, my dress was 580, and my dress is being altered now. Minnow.. where on earth did you find a venue for 150?!?! the cheapest i've found so far is 200!! I'm doing DIY flowers (silk not real), and basically everything I can possibly handle is DIY. FH's aunt is doing our pictures, my cousin is dj'ing so those two are free thank goodness. I'm trying to decide on if i want family too cook or if I just wanna get a caterer.

I wish 2moro was a weekday... but I am doing some online research as we speak... I have found a few good places & I even printed a few 50% coupons from Micheal's.... I also just bought table numbers from etsy for $8 & an aisle runner for $135... So far so good... My only serious concern is finding a caterer that will give me what I want for $4k-5K....

Here are the table numbers and isle runner.....

Http://www.decidio.com/local-businesses/catering-davie-florida-s41.html

All about Weddings ~ Pembroke Pines, FL ~ 954-937-9073

Basic Package for 100 guests $3,000.00 1 Hour Butler Passed Hors D ourves, 5 hour open bar, Professional Tuxedo Clad Waitstaff, Chair Covers and Sashes with matching napkins, Fresh flower centerpieces, customized modern cake placed on decorated cake table.

http://www.cateringeden.com/events.php

http://www.exquisiteoccasions.com/services.html

http://www.cateringconcepts.info/quote.CC$001.php

http://jakspersonalchefandcateringservices.com/contactus.aspx

By the way Patrice B, you can find the exact same table runners on ebay I found them about a month or so ago. you can find alot of stuff on ebay decoration wise since your on a budget! I got my veil of ebay for 22$ and it was a 90'' veil.. which idk if you've looked in bridal shops or not.. but for a veil that long your going to pay atleast 100$ if not 200$ if you want a long veil.