How to Make Your Wedding Special On A Shoe String Budget

Let's face it, weddings can be expensive with the average weddings going from $15, 000 to $ 30,000. But they don't have to be, if you are on a shoe string budget you can still have an awesome wedding. With a little determination and imagination, you can have a wonderful and memorable wedding on a shoestring budget.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A Bride, a Groom, a Wedding Party, an Officiant and some guests!

1. First determine what kind of wedding you want to have and the time of year. Will it be an outdoor wedding or an indoor wedding? Make a list of the things you would like to have your wedding to include. It is okay to make your list extravagant but remember to keep your budget in mind and the fact that you will probably have to pair down the list or figure out how to do what you want more cheaply.
2. Vintage new gown purchased from Ebay for under $25.00 Wedding Gowns: They are expensive and if you don't have an heirloom gown or a hand-me-down to use and have to buy yours, then consider checking out Ebay first. There are some beautiful gowns both new and used that can be had from as little as $20 and up. I was able to find a new gown retailing for $700 for my wedding for $125 including shipping. Saving over $500 on my wedding budget right off the bat, so it really does pay to shop Ebay! Ask the local wedding shops for returns or sales plus any shoes that were ordered wrong or not the right size for another bride. They will usually sell them at a reduced price to get rid of them and you can get the perfect pair for a really cheap price. Also asking them if they have any sample gowns or sale gowns for the bridal party may also work for you and your girls get a great gown at an inexpensive price. Also shop the classifieds and yard sales for gowns, tuxes, decorations, party favors, etc.
3. Rentals: Renting a hall, or tables, chairs, tents, etc. can be expensive and you never know exactly what you are going to get for quality with some places so it pays to shop around. If you are going to get married in a church you can usually do so for free or for a donation or for a small fee. But if you want to have an unusual wedding elsewhere, try the local town hall or club and decorate it yourself. Or try the local park, garden club or someone's backyard if you want an outdoor wedding. Most places can be rented for a few hours for a small fee and are easily decorated if you get your friends and family to help you. When it comes to renting tables and chairs and linens etc, try renting the cheaper ones and cover and decorate the tables yourself. Use a roll of plastic tablecloth cover to cover just the tops, tape down the plastic to keep in place and then decorate with lace, streamers, flowers (silk or real), etc. Use your coordinating colors and your imagination.
4. Wedding Invitations and Programs: Make your own wedding invitations and programs with a home computer and vellum or card stock. There are many free graphics on the web that you can use to create your own design or use a template. You can either purchase a box of blank cards for the invitations or make your own with card stock or vellum paper in your color scheme and motif. Write your own poem for the program or ask a friend or family member to write something for you. It will make it all that more special and your guests can keep it as a keepsake afterwards.
5. Wedding Favors: There are many ways to make favors inexpensively. Check your local Dollar Store for these items. Most of them have a section of wedding supplies and you can usually find the tulle round packages or tulle bags to use along with mini flowers, bows, ribbons, etc. and bags of candy. Check the party section for coordinating curling ribbon in your chosen colors and simply fill the rounds or bags with candy, tie on a flower or two with the curling ribbon and place in or around each place setting or set them out in coordinating baskets along the tables. If you can get the bubble favors place them around the tables randomly to save on purchasing so many. Mostly people will just take them home as favors and not usually use them anyway. Instead of rice use tulle rounds filled with birdseed and tie with a slipknot ribbon to make it easy for guests to open to throw. Put in a large basket by the door or have friend or family member pass them out.
6. Table Settings: If you can't find the flatware and plastic tableware to use at the local Dollar Store, try the local discount stores or ask at the local party goods store for sale items. Go with a neutral color to get them cheaper and add your color scheme with balloon or silk flowers or real flower centerpieces to pull your colors in and around the tables. Oriental Trading is a great place to order glassware for the head table and plastic ware for all the guests. Also they have a wedding catalog that you can find many great items but they are usually neutral in color. Order their bride and groom glasses and decorate them with ribbon, flowers and netting for a more custom look. Getting the wedding party glasses for each member is a good idea and they can keep the glasses as their thank you gift if your budget is really tight.
7. Decorations: Use lots of solid colored balloons in your wedding colors and a few wedding printed balloons to decorate around the hall or yard for a great inexpensive look. Tie groups of either helium balloons or non-helium balloons with coordinating curling ribbon and keep all the balloons looking the same for a custom look. Buy or make balloon weights and set groups of them around everywhere. Use crepe paper streamers to decorate the ceiling and hang down groups of balloons with long trailing curling ribbon in your colors. Try to keep it all looking even and neat for a custom look. Check local discount stores for wedding party accessories and decorating items to get cheaper pricing. The decorations can add up if you aren't careful but are a lot less expensive than using so many real or even silk flowers. Buy only a few real or silk flowers for the tables and use balloon groupings on weights for the centerpieces on tables. Just be sure to leave the helium balloon centerpieces with plenty of ribbon to raise them up so your guests are not looking into them, blocking their view of other guests across the table. Use lots of curling ribbon hanging down for a festive look.
8. Consider asking family and friends for any excess decorations they might have stored around, or craft items that perhaps you can use to save you even further. You would be surprised at what a lot of people keep in storage and may never use. Check out the local garage and yard sales for wedding and decoration items.
9. Cake created by Student Catering and Cakes: One way to get your catering on a shoe string budget is have a potluck buffet and ask family and friends to bring different dishes to share with everyone. Or if you want it catered, find a caterer that is new to the field and looking to break into the market and settle on a set price for them to do your meal for you. Check with the local colleges or cooking schools for someone who might be interested in doing your wedding. Also the same advice for your wedding cake. Lots of schools can help with finding someone who would be willing to do your cake for exposure and referrals or a small fee to cover the cost of the ingredients. Just be sure to see pictures of their work and let them know what you are looking for and set your price in the beginning and promise to pass around their name to family and friends or let them put out their business card next to the cake or on the buffet table.
10. Hand crafted Bridesmaid silk flower bouquet Veils and Flowers: Make you own veil or headpieces or ask a friend to help or do it for you if you are not crafty. Check different wedding sites and Ebay for ideas and purchase your materials on sale at the local craft or fabric store. It really is easy to make a veil or headpiece and so much less expensive then purchasing one from a wedding shop. Make your own bouquet out of real or silk flowers and those for your wedding party and reception. Make them simple or elaborate if you are crafty or ask a friend or family member to help you. It will save you a lot of money by doing it yourself and the time spent with family and friends can be quite rewarding.
11. Renting needed items like gowns, tuxes, shoes, dishes, tables, chairs, etc. instead of buying them can be a cost effective way to do things and ask for help from family and friends for making things such as favors, food, decorations etc. If renting items, shop around, not all rental places are created equal!
12. Photography: Ask a college student or two that is in a film or broadcasting major or class to do your photograpy and video. Offer them the price of the film and the referrals and work from there. Tell them you will develop the film yourself for the photographs and just give them a list of the photos you would like to have taken and let them do their own thing. Let them wander around the reception to get candids after your basic photos have been taken. You will get great photos for a cheap price and see moments with family and friends that you may not otherwise see. Let a student do a video for you and give them the wedding party list of names and the guest list to add to the credits, it will make a memorable video for you and you will be able to know who was there on your special day every time you watch your video. Also, you might be able to get it done for free or for a small fee by using a film or broadcasting student and they may be able to use it for extra credit in their class.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your imagination and don't be afraid to do it your way. Making your wedding unique will make it memorable.
• Don't be afraid to enlist help from family and friends.
• Call local colleges and schools for referrals for photographers, videographers, caterers and cake designers.
• Draw out a sketch of your reception or wedding to help visualize your special day and to help make it all work.
• Don't be afraid to say no to something you don't want and say yes to something you do want!
• Don't be afraid to use a student or a newbie in the field for your catering, cake or photography.
• Try to give yourself plenty of time to make decorations and party favors well in advance of of your special day.