$$ budget talks $$

View quoted message Perfect thanks Lisa!!!

Here is a breakdown of what a 10k budget can look like: https://www.brides.com/story/wedding-budget-breakdown-10000-dollars

View quoted message Who ever would have expected that. Glad you survived and had a beautiful wedding, even with the changes that had to be made because of the sun and heat.

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I thought we were going to have a lovely fall day with a temperature between 20 and 25 degrees. What did we get? The hottest day of the year, that's what!! It was 37 degrees and we had to move the ceremony from the gazebo to the covered patio because the sun was so hot. My hair went frizzy and perspiration was running down my forehead. We never expected that kind of freaky weather.

View quoted message I enjoy the cold lol. I've worked many weddings, and have been in many weddings, and have been a guest at a few too. I have many pictures with my hair either being a fuzzy ball, or dripping with sweat, summer is not my friend lol. I love the fall, and winter and if it shows on my day that would be perfect. Just as long it isn't the day after snow, that's when then slushy salty mess happens.

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Huge savings, Carol, when you do things yourself. Just one question; why did you always want a wedding during the colder season?

We are also paying for the wedding ourselves, right now we have 160 guests and are at the $10,000.00 range right now. Our hall includes everything even the DJ. We are having add-ons, fire works for the entrance, photo booth, I've upgraded the linens, but for those add-ons it should be under $1000.00 more.

View quoted message We are getting married in March, and I had some great savings. But then again I have always wanted to get married in a colder season, so the savings were a big bonus. If you are able to do some things yourself that will also save you, Sonja did just about everything herself and the pics she posted were fantastic. She also got a great deal on a photographer.

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I hear you, Ashley. I don't like the cold either but it would be great to take a honeymoon in the winter at a lovely resort down south. Weddings are less expensive in the winter precisely because most people don't use the facilities at that time. The money saved could pay for an awesome honeymoon.

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True but it also depends on what your theme is. Not many people get married in the winter, so yes there is some savings. But really, I don't like the cold. That's why I did a June date instead.

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Yes, Sunday weddings are less expensive. But there are bargains to be had if you have your wedding between December and March. I wish I had know that before I booked it for September.

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Yeah no kidding.

View quoted message Having a Sunday wedding also cuts costs, which must have helped you keep your cost down

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Yeah it will be lots of fun. The big day is June 2, 2018. 8 more months to go!! Getting super excited!!

Ashley....Great DJ thinking! I don't see the point of a candy bar unless dentist are getting married lol... but I know people have them all the time. If you know reason, Please share. In any event, I'm really happy you got the photo booth. Money well spent!I was at a customer appreciation event last year during Christmas and they had a photo booth. I fell in love with it for a wedding instantly. Coincidentally I got engage the following weekend. The pics were instant, 4 printed out in a row just like the old photo booths, they had their company name printed on the photo header and seasons greetings & date. So much fun. I still have my pics, taped to fridge. I think the business owners spent a good hour in the booth having pictures done with guests. I was so excited about getting for my wedding ... taking pics with guests and guest just doing on their own too.... but i can't find at our destination wedding location. Happy for you.. a snap of the photo strip in your photo album will make a nice keepsake too. Hey... when's your big day?

View quoted message Thanks. Our DJ talked us into it. Our orginal idea was a candy bar. But we know there woukd of been a crap ton of candy left over and this is more personal.

Hey Ashley, great idea on the photo booth... wonderful party favour! Perfect example of dedicating limited funds in items that have the greatest wow impact!

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Thanks Maureen!! Were actually not doing favors to save on some money. our photo booth we have has unlimited prints. and that can be the favor if they would like.

Thanks for the advice ladies!

Yes, budget talks... so does practicality. Don't get me wrong here... I love the best of the best and extravagance, but let's put it in perspective. One day vs a life time. My fiancé and I are paying for our wedding. I think we are going to be hard press to spend over 10K.

Dress - many boutiques have a Bridesmaid section. The dresses are gorgeous and so is the price $300 vs $3000. Don't let the colour fool you, they can be ordered in any colour including white and/or ivory.

Invitations - try vistaprint.ca for your save the dates and/or invitations. I also used zazzle.ca for a special event (meet and greet) a couple days before the wedding.

Dinner after the ceremony? Platted is typically less expensive than Buffet.

We are purchasing our Booze from the Government Liquor Store and paying a corkage... any excess can be returned, just keep your receipt. Depending on your venue, they may not charge a corkage.

Favours - shop around and think... would I keep or use this or toss out? Of course it's nice to have a favour for your guests, especially with your name + date, but make sure it's something that they'll use... or make sure it's darn cheap. We are looking at bottle openers with matching wine corks - heart toppers - just one item, nice and a keeper.

Keep it simple. Keep to basics. Less is more.

Okay I get that but it’s 8 months to my wedding, and I’ve already said our invited guests are sitting at about 200. I’m only hoping for 150. But I was seeing decor wise and food wise to cut costs. Everything is basically can’t not be changed.

We did our wedding this past Sunday for under $5500. The venue was a golf club, the food was outstanding, the open bar was great, and the service was excellent. We had a photographer, DJ, classical guitarist, and singer. The best way to cut costs was to limit the guest list. We only had 32 guests.

Thanks for the help ladies!!!

View quoted message I would do the flameless ones just to not have to worry. You can always buy one of each and test out what looks/works best. With what you described, either would make for a really pretty centrepiece.

View quoted message Hopefully. Stuff still adds up super fast though our original budget was $5000 and we blew that one haha so set a new budget at $9000 and we might still be pushing it.

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Sounds like youre going to save lots!!

We are paying for our wedding as well. Hoping to keep our busget below $9000. Here is where we have cut costs for a wedding of about 150 guests:
-backyard reception-self catering (bbq style!) -no cake-bottled homebrew wine and will buy a couple kegs of beer-clearance rack dress-groom will be in dress pants, shirt and suspenders. No jacket or suit. -will drive ourselves around on wedding day-minimal flowers (only boquettes and boutineers) -diy decorations -i have some ideas with wine/beer bottles and mason jars and logs. -diy playlist- no dj.

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I have mason jars I got from a garage sale 30 for $5. and I got twine and burlap to wrap around the jar and filling them.. that's were I have no idea. Should I just do floating candels? or those flameless tea lights. I saw some at the dollar store and thought they might be cute. 4 in a pack for 2$

For decor, it doesn’t have to be anything more than table cloths and a simple center piece. You can do some artificial flowers in a simple vase with a string of faux pearls wrapped at the bottom. Or tea candles in a ice holder. All items you can find at the dollar store and DIY it.

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I'm doing artificial flowers to save costs. I'm just wondering cost wise to cut on décor and what not. We already have a venue. Already have my dress. We're doing to cash bar to pay for the booze. And cant really do a pot luck as our guest list is about 200 so far.

Second-hand or rental dress. Get married on a non-traditional day (Monday through Friday).
If you can do the reception at someone’s house (think big yard), then you can do a potluck style and ask guests to bring a dish to share instead of a gift. You supply the booze, which you can get in bulk at the liquor store. Make sure to pick in season flowers if you want real ones, else go with artificial ones.

Buffet style dinner

DIY decor or renting decor

Don't buy a designer dress

Suit rental instead of purchase (if you're going that route)

Outdoor ceremony