Cheapskate Social Experiment: Is it a Nice Day for a Wal-Mart Wedding?

The whole concept of a Wal-Mart based wedding sort of seemed like something that well, is filled with things I would just mentally make fun of at a wedding, like what you'd expect to see on a TV show like "My name is Earl". I mean, if there is something to complain about, I can usually find it. I do not really own anything from Wal-Mart, so a Wal-Mart based wedding does not seem like a sentiment people might expect from me.

But you cannot beat Wal-mart's drug prescription prices, so that was originally my only Wal-Mart venture. Even this was a surprise to my friends, who upon seeing me in Wal-Mart once incredulously exclaimed 'What are YOU doing here?". I mean, drugs are drugs. Then I took a look at many of the Wal-Mart wedding related items and found they are a competitively priced reasonable quality item and see little difference between the Wal-Mart wedding item is and what you might get at a local wedding vendor. I believe it often appears to be the same item but Wal-Mart can purchase in bulk and charge less. I have been to $250 per head and up weddings and some do it yourself weddings, and some of these wedding items just do not vary much no matter how much money you spend. Even if you are crazy rich, you may not care to spend extra for something that most people will not notice anyways and instead spend your money on something else they will notice. If you are going to put a wedding together quickly, Wal-Mart needs very little notice for items like cakes and flowers and does not charge you extra. Here are some areas that Wal-Mart can be the vendor for your wedding.

Perhaps one of the most impressive do it yourself savings is the bulk flowers. They have roses, orchids, lilies, calla lilies and other choices in large amounts to do table arrangements yourself at a great price.

If your Wal-Mart has a bakery, the cakes look pretty decent and have a fair range of flavors. I consider this equal to many of your local bakeries or what you might get with a standard catering package, and you can get them on fairly short notice. Decorations are simple, but it does not look different from most cakes and the cake tastes good, the frosting is not too sweet and you can always add cake toppers or buy gum paste flowers separately. A two tier cake for $65 serves 48 people; they have three tier cakes that serve 118 and sheet cakes to supplement. They recommend decorating with fresh flowers. It is common to fill the space between the tiers with flowers now; this would look no different from any other cake and make it look much more expensive. There are about five flavors to choose from on their order form. While they do not have many of the popular cake designs or gum paste or fondant, they are similar to the cakes of the local Mom and Pop vendor, but much cheaper. They usually can pull your cake together in less than two days.

For catering, they have "Cheese Taster Trays", veggies and dip trays, even large shrimp cocktail trays. Other items include various prepared chicken hors d'oerves, meat and vegetable and fruit trays. These would look like any other catered item at a wedding if it is placed on a nicer tray than the one Wal-Mart provides. If friends are helping you to cater your own wedding or you are hiring someone to serve food that just needs to be re-heated, there are lots of frozen entrees & appetizers to serve. There are dinner rolls from the bakery and a great brand name cakes and confections for a dessert table. These options may cut down on how many things you need to get a professional caterer to do for you and save you some money.

Gifts for the bridal party is comparable to stores like Things Remembered with engraved items like Beer Steins and silver plated pocketknives, a monogrammed three initial meat brander for barbecuing and bridesmaids gifts like monogrammed bags, coolers, photo frames and more.

Many of those incidentals that really add up in price include those monogrammed napkins and ribbons for favors at about 1/3 to ½ the price I have seen at other vendors. They have cake knives and guest books to sign. They also have candy in bulk for making wedding favors.

They also have travel services and engagement and wedding rings. Wal-Mart has a whole wedding planning guide online.

More Wal-Mart and cheap wedding ideas and deals at this website.

Did you know Associated Content has an entire Wedding Section? Find more wedding related content for cheap but attractice money saving wedding related ideas.