Tips on lowering wedding costs?

**Kallygirlie** · 10-18-2010 12:45 PM

It seems having a wedding that doesn't cost a futune is harder than I thought it would be. I wanted to check with all of you to see if you have any ideas on how to cut down some of the cost. I'll tell ya what I have so far.
The church is no cost (of course we will still donate to the pastor).

The reception hall itself is what is killing us. $3000 is the total for that. The area I live in is not a wedding friendly place. We thought of catering ourselves but have found only 1 hall that will allow this and it will cost close to $2000 just to rent the space. Thats not including food, table clothes (if any), utensils, places ect. The other places in the area charge cheaper rates for the food but add charges for drinks which then puts the price equal with the place we are looking at. I'm still searching locations but still have yet to find one cheaper or that will allow us to cater ourselves.

Flowers we will be doing ourselves. most likely a mix of real and fake. we found a whole seller for the real ones.

Photography, we thought we had a good thing because his friend is a photographer, she wants to charge us more than any of the other photographers we've talked to (some friend)

Cake, My dads friend does this as a side business, i'm gonna contact her. we are going to do a small fancy wedding cake and then make sheet cakes that will be used to serve the rest of the guests.

We've cut our wedding list from 200 to 105 adults. Since the reception all charges 18.95/person (cheapest meal avail), i'm worried my 105 guests are gonna end up adding to the list by bringing extra guests. Have no Idea how to go about doing this.

Upside is the reception hall provides all table clothes, napkins, utensils, center pieces, and some decorations. They even have a staffed wedding planner who will help us with anything we need including setting up and clean up.

Looking at cost right now it looks like an estimated $8200 which is way more than I ever wanted to spend. I'd appreciate any tips you all have. Thanks

**KMonte85** · 10-18-2010 12:59 PM

It seems like the hall is what is going to drive your costs up or down. Do you have to have a reception hall? I'm thinking renting spaces nearby (park pavillions, church basement, even a friend's home)... If you do your own thing you should be able to scale the dinner cost wayyyyy back, even by having more of a cocktail hour as opposed to a full on "dinner" Appetizers are cheap, can be presented as well as any dinner, and can be just as satisfying and delicious for a fraction of the cost.

Look for a cheaper photographer - you were going to go with a friend, but she's not being very "friendly" with her pricing, so feel free to look elsewhere, or ask an amateur (any colleges in your area? Ask someone in a photog class)

**Beautiful Disaster** · 10-18-2010 01:17 PM

Google a site called "Project Wedding". It is a forum and I hear WONDERFUL things about it. Actually, my cousin used it for her wedding, then referred her sister to it when it came time for her to plan hers, now her sister is a mod on the site.

The ladies there share LOTS of ideas,pics, stories, budget weddings, etc. My cousin that is a mod there did a "Budget Wedding" and it turned out absolutely gorgeous. I think you'll find the sight very helpful.

**sourpuss** · 10-18-2010 01:20 PM

How many people actually spend a lot of time looking at wedding photos? If you can get a friend who has a good eye and good camera to take a couple shots of you and the wedding party and a few of the ceremony and reception. I bet you'd have enough for a nice little scrapbook. My brother did that for his wedding, they only had a handful of photos but enough of all parts of the day to make a really nice wedding book for them. I would definitely not hire a photographer, just me though.

I agree, you should just do appetizers and do them yourself. Everyone just mills around with a little plate and picks at stuff anyway. Only the old folks actually sit down and expect a full on meal. Is there a local pub or bowling alley that has a big room you could rent out? I've been to quite a few receptions at bars actually. (maybe we're hicks, I don't know)

100 people is a lot, can you get it down to under 80? Just close friends and family?

**LanaBear** · 10-18-2010 01:26 PM

One thing you can do for photos, place 2-3 disposable cameras on each table, have the guests take the pics then leave them on the table when they leave (obviously leave a little explanation note on the table with the cameras). We did that and the guests had fun with it and we got a lot of good candid shots. We had a photographer too, but we had more fun looking at our guests photos than we did our professional pics.

**LanaBear** · 10-18-2010 01:28 PM

Another idea for photography... Hit up a high school photography class or a community college photography class and see if anybody would want to come take the pics for a little bit of extra money.

**WildChild** · 10-18-2010 01:39 PM

I've forgotten, when are you planning this for? If it's late Spring to early fall, look into an outdoor wedding. I've been to some great ones in a National Forest. You can rent a big tent and have it catered (more casual style) and have a great wedding.
Or how about the reception at the church? You probably won't be able to serve booze but that will cut the costs more.

**pretzel** · 10-18-2010 01:59 PM

Couple of alternatives, maybe?

I don't recommend the disposables on the tables as your only source of pics. Did that with my first wedding and it didn't turn out too well. I wouldn't get an amatuer either, but what you might want to consider is a professional for a limited package, i.e. important church photo's, a couple outdoor scenic, and the important ones at the reception. I know it'll cost more than you may like, but in the end you won't regret it.

Another suggestion is to look at people you know who belong to social clubs. As corny as it may sound, my father is heavily into the local Moose International and their social hall is top notch and very affordable. Having a member reserving the hall is much easier. Also, you would have to order the drinks from them but their cost is much less than any other reception hall.

For entertainment, get a DJ instead of a band.

**Kallygirlie** · 10-18-2010 02:16 PM

Well our wedding will be in April so outdoor isn't really safe because of possible rain. Kinda stuck with an April date because of other occations between our families. I will have to look into the local college, I never though of asking someone from a photg class....hmmmm, sounds interesting. I kinda love this idea because our wedding could also work well for an assignment they need

The 105 guests I'm kinda stuck with as well. No way I can cut it back anymore (i've already cut 100). We are both from large families, that 105 only includes Family, wedding party and maybe 10 friends.

Another problem we have is that we don't really know anyone in the area that has a yard or space for a reception. Our church does not do receptions at all. I'll have to look into possibly other churches. My first thought was a fire hall, I was wrong thinking they would be cheaper, thats who charges $2000 just for the space(no food). Alot of places here say "no ouside food" or "food must be provided by a licenced caterer".
We are def not going to hire his friend as the photographer, not when I've already found one $300 cheaper that offers more.

I'm also milking ebay for all its worth on decorations and other things.