Where did you save money on your wedding?

I skipped all that and bought two all inclusive packages in Las Vegas 60 guests 7000 for everything in two v

ery beautiful locations . With shuttle and limo . I was so stressed at all the different vendors so I cheated and went the easy way out . Now I'm stressed free and feel so good !!

I decided on doing flowers from a farmers market. They have very large bouquets for 10$ that could go a very long way. I only plan of spending 200$ on flowers. Plus it will support the local businesses. Big save.

Bought my dress from azazie.com, they have gorgeous dresses all for under $400.

Found an all inclusive venue that has a great ambience, DoC, catering, and photographer for less than $6000

Found a florist who works within my $500 as long as I told her the colors, and the rest she can get creative with. She has free reign as long as it is in my budget. I have no idea what it's going to look like, which is exciting to me. Adds to the magic in my mind.

Found a DJ for under $1000.

DIY Decor aside from what the venue offers (the venue decor is included)

So far, we're looking at around 55-65 guests

Chelsie - that's what I'm thinking...less decorations because the scenery will be more than enough in Hawaii!! And yes I'm thinking 55, maybe 45

I'm getting mine once everything is paid for it'll be around 15,000$ for 150 people

I'm not doing alcohol no menus or programs cuz they're not necessary I'm also saving money by having a family member who owns a restaurant cater and one of my best friends is a photographer so she's doing it really cheap for our engagement photos our wedding photography and videography were paying 500$ and my centerpieces are simple ...mason jars with baby's breath and rustic lanterns on tree slabs I'm also saving money not gonna have to pay at the hair salon my mother is a hair dresser and my aunt owns the salon and a lot of my family works there so lots of people to come do our hair for free I also have a small wedding party just my maid of honor 2 bridesmaids my flower girl the best man 2 groomsmen and the ring bearer also skipping the transportation as the venue is not far and I don't have a lot of people coming from out of town I have like 4 people coming from out of town it's my aunt uncle and 2 cousins from new your but they'll be staying with my grandma

It simply amazes me how many people don't think alcohol, in any form, is 'necessary".

I'm doing vistaprint invites and no programs. Honestly, I looked on craigslist and asked around BIG TIME for my vendors. My photographer typically runs $1500 for 8 hours of photography and I was messing around on craigslist one day and he had a deal on there for only $500 dollars for all day photography! And his work is AWESOME! And having asked around in my family, we're saving money on the catering because the caterer is going to be a family friend and is cutting us an alright deal! And, honestly, I'm saving money on the cake by getting it done somewhere like Costco. Just a small two tier and the rest is going to be sheet cakes. I figured why spend a poop ton of money on a huge elaborate cake that's all going to get eaten. My moms best friend does interior design and is wonderful with finding things on a budget...she's going to be doing a lot of our decorations.

And despite what people say, we're not doing an open bar or anything for the wedding. We will serve wine and thing for the toasts, but if the guests want anything else alcohol wise, it's a cash bar. Reason being because its so expensive to have an open bar and because it's been too much of a headache to deal with.

Yuck. No alcohol or cash bar = shitty guest experience.

Eh, I've been to plenty of weddings with cash bars and still had a good time. We cannot afford to give an open bar.

Still gross.

No programs, no place cards, no floral centrepieces, no sparklers, no uplighting, no photo booth, no videographer. We ordered our invites through VistaPrint, and did email RSPV's instead of paper. Our bouquets and boutonnieres were made by a grocery store florist, and I was very happy with the results.

I bought my dress at a sample sale, so it was down from $1,200 to $550. My veil was made by a local seamstress and was $40. I used a coupon to get my shoes, so they were around $40; my earrings were about $20, and my mom made my necklace. DH got some sort of discount for his suit that he won at a wedding show. I made my own garters.

We didn't try to save, but rather found the best and paid whatever the price was, for: officiant, photographer, DJ, venue. We were lucky enough to find a country club with affordable prices, but we made sure that dinner was top notch, and also served cocktail hour appetizers and a midnight snack.

Traded my modeling fee for the photography was a big one.

For us, it was by Gods grace. Haha! We just have a lot of hook ups. My parents know and are loved by everybody in town and we've got some great deals. Also, my brother got us free invites AND flowers because the business owners owed him a favor! So if you know the right people, don't be afraid to ask for help. Just make sure to give them raving reviews!!

If you want programs DIY thats prob the best option. Thats our plan for the wedding. We are still in the planning process but we DIY Engagement and save the date invites. We did them on shutter fly and then did the addressing from our printer they came out great!

Honestly on the flowers the normal going rate is about $1,500-$2,000 i am seeing. What we are doing is only doing flower arrangements on a few tables but the other tables doing sea shells, candles and beach lanterns. Might be a good idea to look at some DIY ideas at a craft store for your centerpieces based on your theme, just you will have to set it up since now your not hiring someone to do that for you.

Also keep in mind thats the vendor cost of your wedding, you still have your honeymoon, bridal party gifts and wedding favors! I found some affordable ones on a site i found if you would like it

Saving $4000 plus on the venue by having a Friday daytime wedding.

Minimal flowers.... only bouquets, boutonierres, and corsages are coming in at just under $600.

Cupcakes with a cutting cake means we're not having to pay a cutting fee. We will have a pretty tiered stand with laser cut filigree cupcake wrappers, but the cupcakes are actually cheaper than cake per person, even having multiple flavor combos.

Most of my family doesn't drink, so we're paying for alcohol by consumption instead of a package. For us with our venue prices, we'd end up paying more with a package per guest per hour than by just picking up the tab as we go. When 40 of your 80 guests don't drink, and most of the rest don't drink much, it's silly to pay as much as we would for the open bar package.

I splurged on my dress, but I picked a dress that needs minimal alterations and minimal undergarments. If you want a dress that might need more, doing the sample sales and looking online is an option.

Vista print invites, online rsvp!

Hope that helps.

Love this thread. Following.

Centerpieces can be a very fun DIY project. Especially if you don't mind fake flowers, we watched for Hobby Lobby to have a 50% off floral sale and went then.

I was just giving my input. We are on an extremely tight budget, my parents were helping pay for the wedding and backed out and we are getting through a rough move and I had to buy a new car because mine broke down and couldn't be repaired. Our wedding is in St. Louis with our families and I have spent a lot of money traveling back and forth to plan so no one had to travel to Georgia for a wedding (I live in Atlanta), so I'm cutting corners where I can and we were quoted several thousand dollars to have an open bar and we cannot make that. We just can't. Everything we've done for our wedding has been on a deal and really cheap ($400 dj, $300 dress, $500 photographer, $1000 for both the decorations and the flowers, $60 dollars for invites and rsvp cards, $75 tux rental, etc). I know you all think it's tacky and boring, but this is my wedding and I CAN'T afford an open bar. I don't want to be bashed for what I'm doing with my wedding, I was just here replying to a post that said "where did you save money?"

Besides, I thought the marriage was more important than an 8 hour wedding....

Personal opinion, rather have $1000 towards a limited open bar (wine and beer only is fine) then any flowers and decorations.

Or get another job so you can properly host.

My cousin is getting married and she ordered a tiny decorated cake for pictures and a sheet cake for guests. I officiated a wedding in May and the bride had 3 cupcakes, 2 for pictures, 1 for their 1st anniversary and an icecream bar for the guests. Another friend of mine did a BYOB and the guests left it with the bartender until they were ready. I've even seen some venues offer a limited open bar. 2 hr open bar 2 hour cash bar.