Weddingbee Blog

This weekend I did something dreadful. Yes, that’s right folks, I sat down with my mother and we went over the wedding budget - dum dum dum!

It was actually a very productive two hours. After adding up what we’ve already spent, and estimating what we will be spending on things we’ve yet to book, I was shocked at the total! Peeps, we have spent a little over $9,000 of our $10,000 budget- EGADS!

Now, this total could possibly go down if we’re able to cut a couple of corners, but basically our money is spent. I’m shocked at how quickly it flew out of our pockets!

But, on the other hand, I’m thrilled with what we’ve been able to accomplish with so little. For $10,000 we are getting:

- A delish meal for 120 of our closest friends and family
- A beautiful ceremony site and reception hall
- A freakin’ fantastic photographer
- Live guitarist for the ceremony
- DJ who will keep the party hopping
- Custom invitations
- My gorgeous dress
- Flowers, flowers flowers! Including lush centerpieces for every table
- A yummy cake

What’s my secret? Creativity mon ami, along with a healthy dose of using our talented friends and family for everything they’re willing to donate!

Here are some of my best tips for saving some cash.

1. Cut down the guest list.
This one, I think, is fairly obvious. Fewer people equals less money spent. Now, before you go and heartlessly slash your guest list (Aunt Milly is out out out!) you probably want to think about the delicate balance going on here. We could have had a five-course plated dinner for 50 people in the most expensive, ritzy hotel in town, but that would have meant cutting out people who are important to us. Everything in moderation. Does Aunt Milly need to attend your wedding? Or should your mother’s bridge partner’s cousin stay home? You catch my drift.

2. Don’t give up on flowers, just get creative!
I entertained the idea of candles, or some other form of alternate centerpieces, but in the end I couldn’t give up those gorgeous, petaly blooms! So instead of scrapping them, I got a little crafty. Roses, peonies, orchids and the like are all very veeeery expensive. But greens and filler flowers are cheap! Our gorgeous, full centerpieces for every single table? Baby’s breath. That’s right, 1980s ugly filler flower baby’s breath actually looks GORGEOUS bunched together! And costs about $20 for a huge centerpiece (and I’m talking HUGE). Fab, no?

3. Use your friends and family
I’m willing to bet that you’ve got some people in your life with mad skillz. Take me, for example. Sister Powder Puff is a talented graphic designer. Mr. Powder Puff’s aunt bakes wedding cakes. So what does this mean for the wedding? Well, you better believe I asked my sister to design our invites, and Mr. PP’s aunt is baking our cake for us at cost. Easily, that has saved us over $1000, maybe more.

4. Try new vendors
We were able to score a fabulous photographer without having to promise her our firstborn. How? She’s relatively new to the industry. Now, this can be a gamble, so you have to be selective, but it can turn out AWESOME! She’s doing all of our photography for less than half of what others in our area are charging.

How are you saving money on your wedding?

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