Wedding Suggestions please

[Amia]

We are hoping to get married next year and we're in the very early stages of planning. We don't want to spend a huge amount on the wedding .We definitely don't want a sit down meal we are thinking along the lines of a hot or cold buffet so this should save us money. We are also thinking to have more of a party than a reception as we don't have many older relatives so it could be quite lively. Does anyone have any suggestions of things to do to keep the cost down for a wedding? Also does anyone have any idea as to how much marquee hire can be? Or has anyone been to a wedding recently and can give me any tips! Sorry if this is in the wrong section but can't seem to find anywhere suitable to put it! thanks in advance x

[loobie]

Hi Amia,
My sister had quite a small wedding last year but it does depend on your budget. I think she spent about �5000. She got married in a gorgeous registry office which was beautiful as it's a listed building and had lovely scenery inside and out. I think she got married at about 2pm. She then hired the function suite in a small local hotel and had her reception which was a buffet and a disco. It was only close family and friends that were there and it was lovely and intimate!
She also managed to get a wedding dress which was in the sale at Debenhams. It was meant to be �450 and she got it for �135!! Only cause it was last seasons dress but it was absolutely perfect. She had a basic cake that was simply decorated with red roses to match her bouquet and as I was the only bridesmaid, there wasn't too much of an expense there. Good luck and if i remember anything else I'll let you know!!!

[newtron]

My wife and I spent about $600 total on our wedding. We planned it at the last minute, and decided to keep it very simple. We had a justice of the peace meet us at a nearby wilderness area with beautiful red cliffs in the high New Mexico desert ( a popular rock climbing area). He married us in about ten minutes. Then the party began! We errected a tent-like structure, where the food was kept. A couple of days prior to the wedding, we emailed all our friends and told them all to bring some food instead of presents. The result was amazing!! There was so much great food. A friend of mine brought about 20 pounds of meat and cooked it on the grill. Other people brought anything from a variet y of good cheeses to expensive wine and champagne to vegetarian lasagne. We also had a keg of good beer. It was the best food and drink that I have ever had at any wedding. It rained a little, but nobody cared. There were actually three parties going on: the adult party, the kid's party (they were all playing in the mud and having a grand time), and the dog party (we told everybody to bring their dogs). The party began in the after noon, with mostly family and ended very late with a younger crowd, clomplete with drinking games and drum circles. It was a great time!!

[pmorley]

How about getting on Sat 4 November and having a fireworks party complete with hot potatoes and bonfire, find out about hiring a field somewhere with a barn it would be great fun and everyone could wear wellies

[Hellion]

Hi Amia,

It wasn't quite the same question but see my answer in this thread.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion276234.html

People still say to me that mine was the most fun, relaxed wedding they had ever been to, and I wouldn't do it any differently if I did it again now.

My cousin and my siter both did their weddings intimate and cheaply too. Cousin had a cream and gold theme and used Christmas decorations bought in the January sales and you would never have known, the room looked stunning and not in the least 'Christmasy'

I think the key to fun and keeping the cost down is keep it simple and keep it intimate. Genuinely close friends and family only, that way it doesn't matter what you do your guest will have a great time.

Friend of mine went to a 'second time wedding' where there were quite a few little girls, daughters, cousins etc. they wanted a fun, informal wedding and decided rather than choose a couple of bridesmaids they'd buy them all a fairy out fit and they went down the aisle at local registry office accompanied by 12 fairies!!!

[spudqueen]

I went to a wedding earlier this year where the wedding cake was made of chocolate - the dessert after the meal was a slice of wedding cake served with berries and creme fraiche, and very nice it was too.

When I got married (16 years ago) we had a cheapish wedding. We got married in a registry office and had a meal in a local restaurant for about 30 people then in the evening we hired the local cricket club, got a DJ in and as a wedding present someone did the buffet for us. We had a fantastic day and as it was quite informal was quite relaxing compared to some weddings I've been to.

[hartley]

Some friends of mine who recently got married reckoned that they could have almost halved the cost if they had got hitched on a Friday rather than Saturday. Venues, cars, caterers etc all charged less for a weekday rather than weekend. Also churches, registrars, venues get booked up at least a year in advance so depending when you want to get married you might find it lots easier to get somewhere on a Friday.

[Amia]

Thanks so much for all the answers so far! It's so good to hear that it doesn't have to cost the earth. I love all the ideas. Getting married on a Friday seems like a really good plan too. Please keep them coming if you can! x

[paulakea]

I am in EXACTLY the same boat as you :-)
No sit down meal, just a buffet and a party and was looking into marquees :-)

[Amia]

No way Paulakea! We will have to share ideas, when are you planning on getting married or don't you know yet?

[paulakea]

Yep way!! Wanna get married asap but the money just aint there!!
Gonna get debenhams dress and bridesmaid dresses..thats as far as ive got - nightmare!!!!

[Hellion]

Pauleaka and Amia - remember all you need to get married is two people + a vicar or a registrar. Everything else is a bonus - or a hinderance depending on which way you look at it !!!!

[lucyshandbag]

my friends mum and dad own a burger/butty van and they were asked to go to a wedding and just serve their food there. they didn't charge much and they said it was a fantastic day. just a big party in a marquee with loads of beer and wine and them serving the food from their van. when i get married i'm definatly doing that, and karaoke to entertain us all. good luck.x

[joko]

if you are already living together and already have all the toasters you need, you could ask the guests to bring food and drink to the buffet instead

create a 'gift' list but with a list of various dishes for people to choose to bring, and all should abring a few bottles or a crate or whatver

or ask a few relatives or friends to organise the food as their wedding gift.


make all the stationary yourself. make your own invites on the computer. find and download a template or make your own.

get lots of cheap dispoable cameras and give them out to the guests - let them be your wedding photographers, instead of paying for one

dpending on how creative you are do the table decs and balloons and all the other stuff yourself or ask an arty relative to donate their expertise as their wedding gift

for the music, create a few mix cds and play them on a loop, but change the disk every hour or so. if you have an automatic changer that takes many disks then all the better. just ask some one close to keep an eye on it

[druiaghtagh]

Newtron, that sounds as though it was fantastic, how unusual

[alexhobbs]

talk to http://www.3dmarquees.com
as they are leaders in wedding marquees and can tailor their creation to your budget and style and are really lovely people too

[swapnilmore]

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