Search Smart Spending:

A fabulous wedding for under $5,000

Posted Apr 09 2008, 08:13 PM by Karen Datko
Rating:
Filed under: , , ,

When we read about Amy's plans for her wedding at My Daily Dollars, we wanted to be invited. This excellent post explains how you can celebrate in an incredible setting with fabulous food for less than $5,000.

First of all, decide what your wedding means to you. "When I imagined my wedding day, what always got me the most excited was the fact that it will be one of the few times in my life that many of the people I love will be in one place at the same time," Amy writes. "Once I had that in mind, other things started to fall into place."

Base the theme on the location, not the other way around. It takes a lot of money to transform a boring social hall into a special place. Her wedding and a "scrumptious picnic reception" will be at a lodge in the state park where she and her fiance had one of their first dates. She adds, "I'm planning for a hike down to the river in my wedding dress."

Tip No. 3 is: "Ditch the 'it only happens once' thinking." If you can't afford the party you want, you can have that party another day. "When the realities of budgeting came into my planning, I had to give up the very elegant cocktail reception at our local art gallery, complete with a jazz trio and designer shoes," she says. "But you know what's great? I can have that reception for our 10-year anniversary or my stepdaughter's college graduation or any old reason I want."

She also explains how she is splurging on things that matter and cutting costs on stuff that doesn't. Plus, she's involving family and friends. The food at her reception will be incredible because they're helping her make it. To read her entire post, click here.

Back to Smart Spending Digg this | Email this | Link to this
Comments

 

Well... This didn't tell me anything..

Tomi Sue (Posted 04.10.08 10:29 AM ) Report Abuse

Your ideas "It only happens once" in most cases is not so true with all the divorces taking place .  The idea of having a celebration ten years later is great, because you are still married and you'd be most likely more able to afford it, by planning ahead to avoid having to go into debt for such an event.

Big weddings are over rated and seem to be that some families are on the "One upmanship idea"  always trying to do it better or so called better.  No one should do any more than is necessary these days.

After all,  when the wedding is over, you're married anyway and that's what it is all about.

Doing it plan and simple will suffice!!!!

J. C. Getskow (Posted 04.10.08 10:33 AM ) Report Abuse

I had a wedding 4 years ago on Valentines Day and I did it for around $5,000 so I know it can be done. It was for around 100 family and friends and it was fabulous. I did simple flowers for everone in the wedding, I made everything myself. I only had 2 floral arragements in the church.  The church had candles I used to decorate with, and they were free.I did all the table decorations simple but elegant. I saved on the bar bigtime, draft beer and a  bottles of wine, anything else had to be purchased by the guests. The food was a buffet, but still was good food. The tuxes we shopped around for the best price and my husbands was free.  We had cameras on the tables and ended up with some wonderful pictures. It really doesnt take much money to have a beautiful wedding if you take the time to shop around and quit worring about what everyone else will think. That day is for you and your husband to be and that in the end is all that matters.

Danielle (Posted 04.10.08 10:36 AM ) Report Abuse

Well, I actually thought you'd give more ideas. This is really not much help at all.

Harliefiore (Posted 04.10.08 10:56 AM ) Report Abuse

title is misleading, I expected some tips on reducing expenses and ways to substitute higher end wedding expenses with economical alternatives.

Barbara (Posted 04.10.08 11:08 AM ) Report Abuse

When I was younger, I was a little taken aback at the very basic wedding one of my cousins had. However, now that I am older and wiser, I realize that, really, it was enough. It was just enough. It was not much and was extremely simple, but really, you and your fiance are there to get married, not to throw a massive bash. A wedding is about 2 people getting married in front of God, your loved ones and witnesses - and that's all that's necessary. For her wedding, there was a ceremony in her family's church, she wore a traditional but simple wedding dress and held a bouquet of flowers. I don't remember more than 1 person, her sister, as her maid of honor. After they were married, they and their guests proceeded to the church hall across the lawn. Inside the church hall, they had elegant music playing over the speaker system. There was a wedding cake in the middle of the room on a table. There was also a huge punch bowl with cups beside it. Their family and friends stood around the room congratulating them, talking with each other and getting to know each other. Finally, after everyone had stated their good wishes to the bride and groom, they took off in front of everyone to go on to thier honeymoon.

C.J. (Posted 04.10.08 11:11 AM ) Report Abuse

How can you possibly name an article "... for under $5000.00" and then not give actual ideas. This sounds more like a blog and that it was written because someone was forced to and forgot until 5 minutes before deadline. Never once was any money issue mentioned and the entire thing is completely misleading!!!!!!!!!!!

Lookingforactualadvice (Posted 04.10.08 11:17 AM ) Report Abuse

I did my wedding for $12,000 complete with a photographer, videographer, printed stationery and a great florist.  The key is location and catering.  The kicker is I had 350 guests.  The only thing I did myself was the programs and the favors.

Jennie (Posted 04.10.08 11:17 AM ) Report Abuse

I like what Dr. Phil says:  "You can pay more attention to the wedding than you do the marriage".  Keep it simple and hope it lasts, then have a big blowout 10 years later to celebrate.  

dj (Posted 04.10.08 11:17 AM ) Report Abuse

Leave the wedding activities to the Professionals!!! I have been in the buis for 23 years and when I hear we will make the food I just want to cringe!!! For one thing how will you know what to make and how much of...It all sounds like fun until you gather your kitchen crew and then after a few hours all the whining starts!!! How will you transport everything with all the correct keep the food safe temperatures??? It will for sure come across as amaturist the way it will be set up...The NORMAL per son does not have the Catering Flair!! Go stree free and save and then hire the Professional!!

Brian Scully (Posted 04.10.08 11:21 AM ) Report Abuse

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > Last

Send a Comment

Comments must be directly related to the blog entry. Comments with offensive language will be deleted. Your e-mail address won't be displayed.

(please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):