extra money--what would you do?

[april2011bride]

So we had budgeted for about 105 people at our wedding...turns out only 45 are coming! so....we have extra money. What is somthing you wish you had done...or would do if you had the money.

 

[CityGirlLost]

Characters or the coach. Better food.

 

[DisneyShamrock]

So we had budgeted for about 105 people at our wedding...turns out only 45 are coming! so....we have extra money. What is somthing you wish you had done...or would do if you had the money.

That's great about the extra cash, not so much that people can't come.

You could splurge on a dessert party, get Cindy's coach, add confetti cannons (depending on your location), more photography . . . the possibilities are pretty much endless within the confines of your budget.

Or, if you can't find something wedding-y to spend it on, save up for a house, go on vacation, buy a new car, or just hang on to it for some time in the future.

 

[girli565]

I'd save it. Spend what you planned per guest (the same meal, favors, DP) and pocket the rest. I know I would have liked a little extra money hanging around those few months after the wedding. We paid for the wedding ourselves so things have been tight this past year (nothing horrible just had to cut back on frivolous extras like vacations and eating out).

So I vote for saving it! Sounds like it would be a good chunk of money.

 

[leonix8238]

Spend it on yourselves whilst on honeymoon!

In all honesty I'm a saver, so personally I'd save as much of it as I wanted and spend the rest enjoying our honeymoon.

 

[ChocoKat]

We splurged a bit and saved a bit.

We got the string quartet and upgraded floral a bit.
We could have gone and gotten more characters, confetti canons, tulle canopy, runner, petals for the WP aisle, etc etc, but in the end we decided to bank that money we are sooo happy we did!

The string quartet was divine, Mickey and Minnie were more than enough for our size reception (54) and no confetti canons were needed nor tulle canopy, the room was breath-taking on its own with our floral and decor. And the WP was beautiful with just our amazing altar arrangement (later moved to the reception to our sweetheart table).

We ended up being $2,000 under budget, plus getting back over $4K. We were nearly cartwheeling on the hallways when we received the invoice back. No idea how we did it, but we wouldn't change it for the world.

 

[Jilian]

I'd say to save at least half. Use some to add a dessert party, I have yet to hear ayone say they regret doing a dessert party. Maybe if you save some you can use it towards coming back for your 1 year anniversary? Or you can use it to go out to a fancy restaurant as newlyweds once a month until it runs out.

 

[princesswendy720]

Add a welcome party or going away brunch.

 

[april2011bride]

alll great ideas!!! I would love a desert party but since we get married during spring break that week is blocked off to them! Boooo! We bought a new house and car last year....and as a few of you...we are paying for this ourselfs!! Im thinking maybe a tour or somthing special in Disney durning our 8 day stay, or somthing special on our week cruise after. We are crusing on Carnival, any good ideas for that??? Df is so upset so many people cant make it....But I kinda think its a blessing! lol Any good ideas to do somthing special for him?? oh...and we are having Mickey and Donald at the reception...that was a MUST from the begining!

 

[sambycat]

there are plenty of things you can do, but honestly, if you've met your minimums, save the money!

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

alll great ideas!!! I would love a desert party but since we get married during spring break that week is blocked off to them! Boooo! We bought a new house and car last year....and as a few of you...we are paying for this ourselfs!! Im thinking maybe a tour or somthing special in Disney durning our 8 day stay, or somthing special on our week cruise after. We are crusing on Carnival, any good ideas for that??? Df is so upset so many people cant make it....But I kinda think its a blessing! lol Any good ideas to do somthing special for him?? oh...and we are having Mickey and Donald at the reception...that was a MUST from the begining!

I know this might sound really bad...but I kinda hope this happens to us. We invited about 105 people (just sent out invites a couple days ago, eek!) and if only 45 people are able to make it, I'd probably be doing cartwheels too, just because of all the money we'd be able to save. It's not that we don't want everybody to come, but the less money we have to spend, the better. I personally would maybe splurge on 1 thing and save the rest.

 

[One_Song]

I'm with PartofDisney'sWorld, I hope that four months from now I'm in the same situation! If we have extra room in the budget I want to upgrade the reception decorations-- maybe draping, the tulle canopy, better lighting, bigger centerpieces. I would really like to bring in couches and chairs for a kind of "lounge" area, if we have the money.

 

[weedee]

I would save it, but I understand wanting to use it since you've already put away for it! You could try out the new Wild Africa Trek at the Animal Kingdom! I saw it recently on TV and it looks really cool!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/wild-africa-trek/

 

[KristiLyn]

I agree! I would save it and do some extras on your honeymoon!

 

[pezaddict231]

I would probably save most of it for another trip to Disney.... or maybe buy DVC depending on how much I was saving!

Are there any things you cut out that you really wanted? I would add those things. For me, it would have been confetti cannons and a welcome party. I was really sad that we weren't able to host something extra to thank our guests for coming and I just think it would have been a great memory for everyone.

Maybe provide transportation for the guests if you aren't already? You could upgrade your hotel room. We really enjoyed staying CL the week of the wedding. Maybe dinner at V&A's, a fireworks cruise, or the Wild Africa tour.

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

I vote for buying into DVC (but since I'm a member I guess I'm bias). But seriously it was the best "investment" we've ever made.

Tell your hubby-to-be to forget the folks that can't (or won't) come. Let him focus on it being YOUR day (his & yours).

Same thing happening with us for our VR next month. We had a list of 18 and everyone was so excited about coming, then when the invites actually went out and the RSVPs started trickling in...well, we are now down to 4 coming (plus us making it a total of 6). DH's whole family is NOT coming, which were the majority of invites (and we offered to use our DVC points to have them stay at Disney so we could make it a "family reunion" type thing). They even missed our "first" wedding 20 years ago! I think that we and the 2 couples that are coming will have a great time.