Comments on: 5 Tips for a Wedding under $5,000

By: This Is What Frugal Looks Like: Amy Reads — Almost Frugal- a frugal blog

This Is What Frugal Looks Like: Amy Reads — Almost Frugal- a frugal blog — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:49:14 +0000

[...] Tips for a Wedding Under $5000 Play nice: Share with others! [...]

By: mydailydollars

mydailydollars — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:00:13 +0000

Hi Anna,

Impressive! It sounds like your wedding will be perfect for you. I can tell you a year later, I’m so happy that we stuck to our budget. It was a wonderful day. . .and it was all paid for! I’d hate to still be paying it off now.

For our flowers, we struck a deal with a vedor at the farmer’s market and supplemented it with flowers from our backyard and a nearby open field. I love that as those flowers bloomed this year, I remembered how they looked in my bouquet. If you’re doing your own flowers, mason jars make great “backyard/picnic” vases. I would recommend splurging on nice wide, silk ribbon from a craft store to wrap the bouquets. It’s a little more expensive, but really makes any grouping of flowers look ready for a wedding.

Enjoy your day!!

By: annaeb67

annaeb67 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:14:01 +0000

Here, here!
I am about 50 days from my wedding day. I set a budget of $3000, cash only. We decided to have the wedding in our backyard and invest some of the money in our home and yard. We have rented tables, chairs and table clothes for about 80 people. We plan to cook the food ourselves. I found deals on plastic champagne glasses on ebay, a nice cake knife and server that I can always use (no ingraving) on ebay. We will use a nice set of or own champagne glasses (again, no ingraving). By having my wedding at the end of August, many of the “summer” items are now going on sale and I can save even more on last minute purchases. I also found my tent/canopy online at the best price I’ve seen anywhere, after much searching. My wedding gown cost less than $100 (from J. Crew) and my sister’s dress (the maitron of honor) cost less than $20. I found it on clearance on Target.com (leftover from last year).
I will buy my flowers from SAMS Club and will make due with whatever is available on that day.
This whole planning experience has taught me so much about what is really important.
Good luck to all!

By: MJ Molas

MJ Molas — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:35:49 +0000

so true! you go sista

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:10:53 +0000

I agree with my brides, I tell them they don’t have to spend a lot to have a lot on their wedding day. There is always a way to cut cost and get the most important things. The most important thing is a couple should never start out in dept for a wedding, always make sure your wedding works within your budget, and keep the focuse on what you as the bride and groom want and have a great day and lots of fun.

By: Cliff B

Cliff B — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:19:10 +0000

My wife and I budgeted exactly $5000 for our wedding and we made our budget (this was nearly 8 years ago so it might cost a little more in current dollars). It was a relatively small wedding (around 80 -100 close family and friends, I believe). Through personal contacts, we found a photographer for $700 and a DJ for $400. The photographer was not a “pro”–just a recreational photographer–but she did a great job. We had the reception in my mother in law’s back yard. My mother in law catered (we paid her $1000 for the food and she donated her labor). We bought a bunch of liquor at a club store for around $200. Chair and table rentals were around $300. My wife’s good friend handled decorations (we spent a few hundred dollars on materials). My sister in law handled planning and coordination issues. We went without the expensive flowers–I really don’t think anyone even noticed (we still had tasteful but affordable decorations).

The best part was that everyone had a great time! People stayed as late as 3 am dancing and talking because there was no particular reason to leave (if you spend big bucks to rent a hall, you will need to vacate at a certain time)! The DJ stayed late, we had plenty of drinks and everyone was having fun dancing! Many people told me later that it was the most fun wedding they had ever attended. The bottom line is that no matter how much you spend (or don’t spend) you will always have great memories. Don’t try to impress people with your wedding–just make it fun!

By: Confessions of a Frugal Bride « My Daily Dollars

Confessions of a Frugal Bride « My Daily Dollars — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:34:45 +0000

[...] my terrible financial habits. I’ve already blogged about how my transformation has led to a paradigm shift in my wedding planning. Now, with seventy-four days until the blessed event, I’m ready to confess all the ways [...]

By: mydailydollars

mydailydollars — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 06:36:37 +0000

Thanks Bryce! It sounds like we have similar ideas about weddings. I’m glad to hear that you had a lovely outdoor ceremony. We’re really looking forward to ours.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 06:15:10 +0000

Hi Amy,

I wholeheartedly agree that a wonderful wedding does not have to put you into debt. Your #1 tip is very good. Our wedding was an outdoor gathering at a local county park. Our wedding reception was a large picnic-like gathering with many family and friends. Just what we wanted our wedding to be.

I also agree with Nikki. Over half of our wedding cost was for a great photographer. We got an engagement photo shoot with several enlargements, some large wedding prints, an album of wedding prints, and all negatives as a package deal for $1600. We actually just had a family shoot with him a few weekends ago, 8 years since our wedding.

By: mydailydollars

mydailydollars — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:39:42 +0000

Good advice Nikki. I agree, it’s the big impression that will stick with people. Thanks!