Where did you save money on your wedding?

Decorations, Programs, Individual menus, Ridiculous expensive dress.

If you skip those, you will save money!

I know I'm really trying to be careful with the dress. Currently I'm finding ones around $1,500-$2,000 and I know that's not factoring in alterations so I'm going to continue to look around!

Okay so no programs and be creative with the decorations...got it!

Same as swin for me, plus invites.

I only did bout and bouquets for flowers. I used a local florist with a small shop and his prices were great.

Buy stuff second hand from other brides, its been a big source of savings for me.

Did you buy from people you know or online? That's a great idea!

Also, just be smart on the LITTLE details.

I planned a wedding for 150 for a little less than 10K, my SIL planned hers for the same amount of people for 25K. We both looked over our plans and realized it was the little stuff that added up to such a huge difference (and the fact that she was in CA and I was in UT). Basically, if you need stands for something, look for the CHEAPEST. If it saves you 50 bucks, hey that's useful!

Also, you are doing a DW?! I think so, at least. That should mean that you probably won't even need decorations. My venue was super beautiful and green and our only decorations were the centerpieces, cake, and stuff like that!

Hey!! Same here. I am spending twice your budget for 100 guests. Not sure where are you located but in SF bay area everything is so expensive. I have cut all the guests I can and for sure some of my friends will be upset. For savings, I am cutting costs on flowers for sure. I did a lot of research on what flowers will be available in my wedding season and ask specifically for those flowers. My quotes were 1200 even I have a 2000+ budget. Also, don't try on any dress above your budget. You will find yourself increasing the budget overtime.

Here's some way we cut costs:

- sample sale dress

- skipped Save the dates, favors and assorted paper goods (programs, escort cards)

- elopement package for photographer ( skipped boudoir and engagement photos)

- very simple wedding band for me (thin rose gold band)

- simplest invitations ($40 for 80 w/ envelopes) used vistaprint

- online RSVP option only (saved stamps)

- skipped bouquet toss, garter toss

- doing my own makeup

There's lots of ways to skip a couple of things and not cut down on guest experience.

We are still having a caterer buffet and booze!

I fed and entertained my guests (DJ), got pictures, a few flowers and my dress. Aside from the invites, we didn't add many other frills. STDs were not a thing back then (18 years ago) nor were programs, I didn't even think about centerpieces but a friend threw glitter on all the tables (probably cost her $5). I would have had a sheet cake, but my MIL offered to pay, so I splurged on a tiered cake. Grooms cakes were also just NOT a thing back then, so we didn't have one of those, or a photobooth, although they were becoming more common. No table runners or chair covers..... when you keep in mind that none of it makes you any more married at the end of the day, and guests won't notice 99% of it, it's easy to just skip it.

Venue- We saved lot of money in this department. Having our wedding in Orlando is already expensive and I wanted something with a beautiful lake view. All the venues that had my vision was way past our budget, so I had to change my mindset about the venue and we ended up getting a decent place for 1200 dollars. No there no lake view, but we'll be taken pictures at a gorgeous lake. Centerpieces- or centerpieces are wine bottles, I got 60 of them for free at a local winery, and we ended up spray painting them and decorating them. Flowers-Are definitely fake! These are just some ways we've kept the cost down.

We just sent our save the dates from Paperless Post via email. We paid around 30 cents a card, but there are also free options on the site. The cool thing about using Paperless Post is that it has an address collector feature.

- Keeping an eye on sales on papergoods (using Vistaprint for our Save The Dates) saved us about $300 on paper goods (went through zazzle)

- Using Thumbtack saved us $200 on our photobooth and about $1k on a photographer

- Using in season flowers (tulips) - got my quote down from florist A(for asswipe) from a little over $2000 to just under $600 from florist B(for best florist ever!)

- Finding an all inclusive venue with no venue rental fee (just need to meet their minimum.) this only works if you're having a large enough guest list to where you know you can meet the minimum.

All in all our wedding for 160 guests is coming in at right around $20K with a cocktail hour, 3 hour reception with open bar and live band.

I'm planning a $25K wedding (all in) for ~180 guests. Here is how I have saved money so far:

-Beer and wine rather than full bar

-Sample sale dress (2,100 price tag pais 700)

-No favors

-No programs

-Invitations printed on Vista Print

-DIY bouquets and centerpieces

-No MUA

Good luck!!

We're having a Thursday wedding instead of weekend to save on cost of the venue. Also, doing our own flowers and no programs.

I work for a catering company some, she's the best around. I've been there for several years and she's donating her time as a gift as well as another lady who works there. This is a HUGE cut for us. I'll tip her generously of course.

I have a lot of people offering to help and my family has always helped with weddings and I'm told, if someone offers you put them to work. Obviously don't take advantage of it and I want them to enjoy my wedding.

We are also cutting alcohol due to diverse beliefs of family members. And FH and I aren't big drinkers. We can party it up on our honeymoon.

Angela, I really like you! You seem super sweet, but I would definitely think long and hard on that decision on alcohol.

Even if you don't drink, if your guests do, they deserve to be properly hosted!

Yes I'm having a destination wedding in Maui

Thank you all for the help

So, because it's a DW, I'd recommend still doing STDs so people have time to plan and make arrangements!

Don't use thumbtack as it's unreliable.