Planning a wedding on college budget

Holidays & Special Occasions Wedding Events Planning a wedding on college budget

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      Melissa Burnell

      Re: Budget101.com : Planning a wedding on collage budget

      I got my dress at JCPenney’s outlet. My dress had never been tried on by anybody else. I considered renting my gown as well.

      It costs the same amount of money either way in our area.

      Try going to a David’s Bridal to try on dresses – they have lots of the different styles, so you can see what she likes best. Don’t buy it there though – it costs a fortune!!!!!

      We got some videos from the library and made all of the bouquets and buttoneires (sp.)

      The bridesmaids and jr. bridesmaids dresses came from Chadwick’s of Boston. I had several different size ladies in ages 7 – 40 in our wedding party and the same dress fit them all – it was a Spring party dress, not a “bridesmaid” dress, so they got to easily wear it again. It was dry clean, but quite affordable.

      At the time, the dresses were about $50-60 each.

      I had each person wear shoes that they would be comfortable in all day.

      Are you associated with any organizations that could get you a location less expensively? Some people go with Knights of Columbus, your church hall, a high school gymnasium or auditorium, etc. All less expensive than a hotel.

      Some colleges let you use one of their halls if you are a student, alumni or an employee.

      Decorate it yourself with silk flowers, tulle, balloons, streamers, etc.

      Everyone in the wedding party drove their own car. We did not rent a limo. We did rent a nice car (it was brand spanking new) from the rental car company and my parents drove us to the reception.

      We took our own car from my parents home to our hotel after the reception. Much more comfortable for getting into and out of in my wedding gown.

      We ordered invitation samples out of the back of the bridal catalogs. You can also make them yourself.

      I typed up and printed our programs on our home computer, using some decorative stationery from the office store.

      My husband to be and I drove from the local hotels to the church and reception location a few times and wrote down every single turn for our guests. we mailed this with the invitations.

      remember: on the wedding day, do not call the bride or the bride/groom’s family for directions. they are busy getting ready for the ceremony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      it is good to have another person take the directions and follow them to see how clear they are. remember, you live in your hometown. great aunt beth has no clue that you turn left at the third light past mcdonald’s by the old train tracks.
      put it in the directions!

      remember: she can’t call you for help. you will be busy that day!

      i wore regular white leather shoes (pumps) and i also had a pair of white flats. both can be easily dyed later to another color at a shoe shop for daily/work wear. i did not bother with fancy satin/dyeable shoes.

      you can get them pretty inexpensively at your local payless shoe store though.

      we made my purse with a pattern. simplicity and mccalls and butterick have lots of patterns for purses, garters, hankies, etc.

      one way to save money on a reception is to (1) Get married on any other day than Friday night or anytime Saturday and (2) ask a restaurant if you can use their banquet room, esp. if they don’t usually serve crowds during the week. Your wedding will be their “Lunch/Dinner Crowd” that day.

      Also less expensive than a hotel, even with the staff.

      We splurged on our wedding rings, a pro photographer and our honeymoon. Everything else we were as economical as possible. Our rings are still treasured as they should be.

      We wanted real nice photos of our wedding day. We actually hung them up, not just left them stored away in an album. Our honeymoon – we got married in June, but did not go until October.

      (I was in college and went during a break – it was also “off season” and costs thousands less because of it.)

      If you want those little disposable cameras on the table for candid shots, get the regular Fuji disposable ones – not the ones in white “wedding” wrap. It is the same camera, just less expensive because you are not using the “fancy” one. The pictures on Fuji disposables are nice.

      It is good film. They can develop the pics all at once or a couple each month. We asked our guests to take pictures of the other guests at their table and leave the cameras in a box we decorated and left on the gift table.

      It worked out great.

      We chose the verses/poetry/Bible passages for our “Thank You” scrolls and printed them at home as well.

      We bought candies in bulk and little bowls for each table at the reception and filled them ourselves. We also wrapped some for favors. Just buy a couple of spools of ribbon at the local craft/fabric store and spend an evening or two doing that.

      Food:
      (1) Taste your cake samples.
      (2) Taste the food samples/choices.
      (3) Make time to eat at the reception! Don’t be rushed. Those people are their for the couple.

      They got paid before the event most likely. Don’t let them crowd you or rush you. Remember the day.

      Savor it. We did. It was amazing.
      (4) If your daughter and her fiance are not drinkers – skip the champagne.

      My dh doesn’t like it. we had sparkling cider. we did not have an open or cash bar.

      i have also known people who have had champagne just for the couple getting married and the wedding party, and gave sparkling cider to the rest of the guests.

      it has been many, many years. if you need any other ideas, let me know. i will try to help.

      we had a great, beautiful wedding and did not spend thousands and thousands on it.

      herlean

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Holidays & Special Occasions Wedding Events Planning a wedding on college budget