Have a Beautiful Wedding for Under $5000

Weddings can be very expensive. The cost of cake, food, decorations, clothes and everything else that is included in the "typical" wedding can really add up. When I had my wedding in April 2007 I was determined to not spend an ridiculous amount of money on my wedding, but I still wanted it to be nice. I was able to have my dream wedding with 75 guests, two entrée choices, a big beautiful cake and everything thing else for only $4500! That is for everything, my dress included! I will share with you my secrets to having a successfully cheap wedding.

A Place to Have the Wedding
"I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance, A church filled with family and friends. I asked him what kind of a wedding he wished for, He said one that would make me his wife."

The easiest way to save money is to have the ceremony and the reception at the same place. They may charge a fee for having the ceremony there, but it is cheaper then renting two places. With this you also don't need to worry about getting transportation from one to the other. That saves a bundle right there!

There are several great places to have a combined ceremony and reception. Banquet halls on golf courses offer beautiful views. Some restaurants offer a room to have both in and you can have your catering done through them as well. So do some searching for an area large enough to accommodate your guests that allows you to have the ceremony there as well.

The Food
"There is no love sincerer than the love of food."

Food for your wedding may be the most expensive element in your budget. Some places require you to use their in-house catering which can be good and bad. Look into their menus and determine if it is worth it to use them. Keep the costs low by only have one or two entrée choices. Stay away from steak or prime rib as they can be expensive. When giving your final number to the caterer, give them a few less than guests you are actually having. There will be a few people who may not be able to attend at the last minute, but you still need to pay for them. Also, if you have children attending your wedding, do not include them in your head count to the caterer. They will not eat much and it will be a waste to pay for a whole plate of food when they may only have a few bites. This will save you so much money as most caterers charge a per person fee. Another way to keep costs down is to not have alcohol at your reception. That is completely up to you though. Alcohol bills at weddings can really mount up to hundreds of dollars, sometimes up to a thousand or more. That is a lot of money!

The Cake
"The most dangerous food is wedding cake"

This was something I did spend a bit more on. It was a beautiful three tiered cake with raspberry filling and live flowers on it for decoration. It was made by a private person, not a bake shop. It can cost anywhere from $1.50 to $5.00 a slice for cakes. Some places will charge a flat rate for cakes. The is another thing you should tell them less when ordering. Not everyone will have cake so it would go to waste. There is a wedding tradition that you take the top layer of your cake home and save it for your one year anniversary. Well, imagine eating cake that has been frozen for a year. It won't taste very good. Instead of doing this, use the top tier to serve guests. It will cut your costs down as some cake makers give you the top tier for free.

Another money saving idea is to have a very small cake made for pictures and the cake cutting ceremony and have sheet cakes made to serve your guests. They can be kept out back and cut by the kitchen staff when it is time to serve them. Sheet cakes can range from $0.50 to $2.50 a slice. A better bargain! You can also have a friend or family member make your cake to cut costs, but wedding cakes are different to make then regular cakes, keep that in mind.

Wedding Decorations
"Happiness is the atmosphere in which all good affections grow."

Some reception halls may need some decorations and some may be fine with out any. These are the ones you want! The less you have to do and spend the better. The only decorations I did were the centerpieces on the tables. I made these myself. I went to a local craft store and bought all the supplies and but them together. Each centerpiece was different but followed a similar theme and color scheme. It looked so beautiful, everyone love my decorations. I paid $150 for 10 tables. After the wedding I told the guests to take what they wanted of the centerpieces. They were nice keepsakes and no clean up!

The Dress
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."

There are so many different types and styles of wedding dresses out there and so many different places to get them. Wedding dresses can range between $50 to $50,000! Some places to look for a cheap but beautiful wedding dress would be online on sites like eBay, craigslist or search for bargain wedding dresses. You will be surprised what you can find. Also check at second hand shops, alteration shops, the newspaper and check bridal shops for sales they may be having. There are good deals out there, you just need to find them. If you know someone good with a sewing machine you can have a dress custom made for cheaper then you think. For your other accessories like shoes and undergarments, you don't have the have specific "bridal" wear. Things from Wal-Mart work just fine! If you want to be more comfortable, get a pair of ballet type slippers to wear under your dress. No one is going to see them and they are very comfy! Craft stores sell veils that you can decorate how you would like. They have different styles and lengths to choose from.

You can ask the female members of your bridal party to purchase their own dresses if you find something nice they may be able to wear again. Again with bridal gowns check online, check bridal stores, even dress shops with have some nice dresses that would go well with the wedding for a cheap price.

Hair and Makeup
"The hair is the richest ornament of women."

The easiest solution to keep this cost down is to do it yourself or have a friend do it. You can go to a salon and have it professionally done if you so choose. The price can vary depending on where you go. Depending on the style and the difficulty of it will determine what you should have done. You want to look nice in those wedding pictures, not all shiny with puffy hair. The same can go for the females in your wedding party. Figure out if you want them to have their hair in a specific way and if you want them to have it professionally done.

Wedding Invitations
"An invitation to a wedding invokes more trouble than a summons to a police court."

Another part of the wedding that can be costly. There are several ways to get around this though. If you are computer savvy and know some work processing programs you can buy invitation kits and print them at home. They can come out beautifully! You can also just print one and take them to a copy shop and have them done there. This will cut the cost of invitations more than half. Plus, it is all handmade by you. That can go along way, and it makes you feel good.

Wedding Photography
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The photos from your wedding are going to be the memory you keep of that special day for the rest of your life. You want them to turn out good! Now a days, everyone has a digital camera. I had so many pictures from my wedding at all different angles thanks to the many family members that took them. My photographer was a friend of mine that gave me her services for a wedding gift. I just paid for the cost of the film and developing. You can find someone who has maybe taken a photography class to do the same for you. Or call around to local schools and see if they have a class and the professor can recommend a student. Make a list of the pictures you want and tell them how you would like them.A photograph is neither taken nor seized by force. It offers itself up. It is the photo that takes you. One must not take photos."

These are some tips to help you keep the cost of your wedding down. I planned my wedding in four weeks since my fiancé (now husband) was in training with the Air Force. It was beautiful and I don't have a single regret. When you are deciding on things for your wedding, stop and think about the alternatives. Think if you can do it or you know someone who can. It pays off in the long run!

Now join hands, and with your hands your hearts.
- William Shakespeare