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

Do it yourself everythinggggggg lol. our budget is 10k and we were able to find our venue ceremony and booze all in one (along with table and chair covers, a memeory brick, unity candle and day of coordinator) we are at 5100 with that stuff alone. our honeymoon we are going to winde up worry about next year (paying for it next year) our biggest thing is that we want to space out our purchases-- all of the big stuff this year, venue food, photog, and then next year worry about centerpieces, dress, honeymoon-- that way if we need more money, we're not out a ton straight out. How maybe people are you planning on?? cutting the guest list and cutting out children has saved us more money than we could have imagined..

Patrice - I'm getting married very close by.. If you're trying to keep it under 12k, drop the signature grand! Check out the Floridian Ballrooms, the location is a little weird at first, but the prices are wonderful and they are inclusive, both ceremony room and reception are on site. They include mostly everything. We're having our wedding for under 6k (venue/food/dj/cake/lighting/linens/chairs/chargers/centerpieces mostly everything!) on a saturday night for 59.95 a person with our specific package. we're inviting 75 people there are DEFINITELY many many many many ways to make it cheaper than 12k!

Anti-bride I already dropped signature grand I just haven't updated my profile yet... we are actually going to have our ceremony & reception at the old Davie Historical school Museum.... Have you heard of it???? We were considering Hillcrest but decided we wanted to go with a place where we could be creative and do whatever we want...

Patrice is possible lol! Mine is 7000 not including dress or honeymoon though but I did a lot of research and call those friends that have something to do with the wedding industry lol. Every time I met a vendor I told them my budget for that specific item and most of them were able to offer me something; sometimes they don't have the less expensive packages in their information so, it doesn't hurt to ask lol. But just a little advise don't start your marriage with a huge debt!! Good luck!

OOOO no we are def do not want to start off our marriage in debt..... I just want it to be nice & special...

It will be!!

Silk flowers are LOTS cheaper than the real stuff. I found boutineers on etsy for $6.00 a piece

The biggest areas for savings are:

1. The number of guests. If you invited only your immediate family, you could definitely have a wedding for less than $12,000. The challenge is to make a compromise between the number of people you want to invite and your budget.

2. The food and drink. You could likely invite everyone you know and keep the wedding below $12,000, if you served only cake and punch. Again, you need to make compromises between what you would ideally like and what your budget will cover. If you want to serve a meal, a brunch or lunch wedding will be less expensive (and will likely require less alcohol, if you choose to serve alcohol) than a seated dinner with an open bar.

Our wedding was under $10,000. You are welcome to check out my wedding planning bio for other ideas.

We're doing ours for under $12k. We picked a date on a sunday morning which saved us about $1500 at our venue! Fridays are cheaper than Saturday nights too. Even saturday morning. It took A LOT of research and visiting venues but we found one, food & open bar 1 hour ceremony and 5 hour reception for an affordable price, and it was my favorite venue by far! . Ummm were making our own invites with card stock and my computer & printer. just divide your budget in a realistic way of what you'd like to spend on each thing, what you both are comfortable spending and what's most important to each of you. and stick to it!!! It is possible. And by knowing you can't splurge on whatever you want, it makes you really realize what's important to you, and allows you to have to decide what you REALLY REALLY want instead of just throwing away money on thinks that you just "kind of like." In a way, it allows your wedding to be more personal, and more you.

Oh, and we're planning between 120-150 guests, and we don't exactly live in an inexpensive city, and we're finding ways to mkae it happen for a good price. Actually finding a lot of things I really love for cheaper than I expected.

Now i dson't feel so bad my buget is about the same as some of your post , i was just thinking the same thing thouhg mines is about 7k

Patrice - I have heard of it, but I haven't heard anything good/bad about it. We never ended up visiting there when I went on my venue searching. Check out field of flowers for your flowers! SUPER cheap!!

We're doing ours for $8k. My dad is catering. The ceremony venue is free (Memorial Gardens on Capital property. All we had to do was reserve it) and all we need for the ceremony are chairs and some decorations. Reception venue including tables, chairs, table linens, bartenders, and liquor license is about $2000. Haven't figured liquor out completely, but thinking of getting a keg and plenty of wine and have mixed drinks and such be cash bar. There are a lot of online stores you can buy from that give you awesome prices. Like our Save the Dates. We ordered from Vistprint and got 200 postcards and a rubber ink stamp w/ our return address for $26 including shipping. You just have to try to shop around.

Shop, shop, shop. I saved several thousand comparing catering quotes, florists, transport, dresses, and decor prices. $103 per plate is insane for catering. We got a 2 choice entree, open bar, cocktail and appetizers, hall, all tables, linen, servers, set up, take down, Dj lights, chair covers, a bridal suite, the hall, for $71.00 per person. We were quoted upto $175 per person, without open bar.

Patrice - ALSO check out the sunrise civic center, if you know someone who lives in sunrise, the venue is FREE. you just pay for catering! It's EFFING GORGEOUS!

Wow!! 12K, thats the price of vehicle!! I couldnt imagine lol My budget is $5,000 and I think I'm coming in under budget when I'm done. Your wedding can still be "budget beautiful"

Here's what I'm doing to cut corners:

1. Silk flowers instead of real; 2) rented a beautiful venue so, there's very little decorations to purchase 3)Printed our own invitations instead of ordering 4)buying discontinued wedding gown for discounted price 5) Outside catering will be done by Applebees or Texas Roadhouse for less than $20 per person 6) Wedding favors bought at party store on sale for about $0.41 per person 7)Lots of DIY projects (card box, thank you cards etc) 8) Many supplies from Hobby lobby and party stores are so much cheaper (my isle runner was $20, why spend too much on things like that? you'll never use it again) 9) NO DJ, letting the ipod play on huge subwoofer speakers; 10) Not buying real jewelery, going to the nearby boutique for pure cubic zirconium

Our wedding should be under $9300; a really nice and meaningful venue, catering, dress (which is being custom made), his ring, band, flowers, booze. Of course, with us self funding the wedding (i.e. no parental support), we too are on a tight budget. We even thought about eloping. But, I got crafty and proposed a trade with one of my vendors in exchange for marketing services (which is what I do professionally). Also, I work at a winery and was able to score a tremendous deal on fantastic wine which of course also cut down on the budget. My last tip is to really reevaluate what is really important to you. Start getting estimates from vendors to get an idea of how much things cost and then negotiate. Three vendors gave me estimates on the exact same supplies and the price varied $200. Anyway, keep telling yourself that all things are possible and start thinking of ways you can make things happen with your means. Trade, price negotiations, boycott wrapping chairs in ribbons, DIY, etc