Help! Money issues..

[JJClemson]

My future MIH originally said she's pay for 1/2 the wedding. Now, she is not paying for any of it! We were planning a custom w/ about 70 people. Does anyone have any tips on how to save money? Thanks so much for your help!

Jen

 

[ead79]

I’m sorry to hear that! First of all, the quickest way to save the largest amount of money is to decrease the guest list. Assuming invitations have not gone out yet, then you could take a hard look at your guest list and really pare it down to the people you and your future husband really want to be there. Also, look at your budget to see if there are any extras that you could live without. Then recalculate your estimated total to see if it fits in your budget. Hope that helps!

 

[happylalagirl]

I agree with Elisabeth. We are paying for our own wedding ,but we knew that from the beginning. I ended up taking out extra student loans to pay for our wedding. I'm starting grad school in the Fall, so that was a great opportunity for me to get low percentage rates. See what you can live without and see if you can cut down on the guest list... that's your biggest expense... $100/plate min. Good luck and keep us posted - especially if you have other questions.

 

[JJClemson]

We are considering decreasing the guest list, but that won't help too much, I have 37 people in my immediate family! It wouldn't be possible for us to get the list below 55, so we're having a tough time.

I was thinking of taking out extra student loans, actually. I am finishing my Master's right now and still debating on getting my Doctorate. My FH is is Med school now, but luckily he does not have any loans. I would just hate to be in debt b/c of a wedding!

Thanks for all your suggestions! I really appreciate them! Keep them coming!

Jen

 

[Laurafoster]

There are other ways to cut down, you could have a morning wedding with a brunch reception as it is only a $75 pp minimum as opposed to a $100 minimum.

You can cut down on the amount of floral that you have or use an outside vendor fo it. The same with Photography/Video if you were planning on these.

There are penty of ways that you can cut the costs down but it all depends on what things are really important to you.

 

[pintradingwedding]

you can always spend the rest of the night in the parks or at the Boardwalk or pleasure island.

i think when you have a disney wedding, you don't really need lots of decorations. I'm just having a bouquet for me and my (one) bridesmaid.

find a friend who is really good with the videocamera and another friend who takes great pictures and have them be your wedding photographers instead. it's INSANE how expensive wedding photography is.

i found out i can borrow against my 401k so that's probably what i'll have to do!

good luck!!!

 

[JJClemson]

Thanks for all the great ideas! My unlce is actually a sports photographer and we did not even think of using him for our wedding. I am definitely going to ask him!

We are doing an a.m. wedding and brunch reception, we had that planned from the beginning (we're all about saving money!)

Thanks again for all your great ideas!


Jen

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

I am not sure if you have picked out a venue yet, but pick something that is already themed, for instance Living Seas. Im having a brunch at the LS and need no decor other than centerpieces, and since the ceiling is low, I can get away with just simple, small centerpieces. Thus, less money on floral. Also most ceremony locations need no dressing up, so cut back there as much as possible. I am, too,trying to save money anywhere I can, Good Luck

 

[JonetteA]

Keep in mind something about park weddings. If you have a morning wedding let's say in Epcot like us, it has to be before the WS opens and you have to provide transportation for your guests. This adds on (depending on how many people come) a nice chunk of change. Your best bet is to have your ceremony outside of the park and then have a reception close. I would say like the Yacht Club Gazebo and then Ariels. I think that this will help you save on the money. It was suggested to me by my planner when I was trying to cut costs. I really did not want to give up my location though, so I sucked it up with the money.

 

[JJClemson]

We're hopefully doing the ceremony at SBP and the reception at Ariel's. We just love beachy locations, so that is why we picked them. I did not even think about saving the transportation costs. Yay!

We have been planning out our budget, and we think we are going to be ok, and can still have the wedding at Disney I am just afraid there will be all these "extra" costs that we're not aware of. Oh well, I guess that is part of planning any wedding!

Thanks so much again for all your ideas! You're all so sweet & helpful

Jen

 

[pintradingwedding]

Thanks for all the great ideas! My unlce is actually a sports photographer and we did not even think of using him for our wedding. I am definitely going to ask him!

We are doing an a.m. wedding and brunch reception, we had that planned from the beginning (we're all about saving money!)

Thanks again for all your great ideas!


Jen

Disney apparently has some rule where you can't use an outside professional photographer. or maybe they just charge you a fee or something. when i told my disney wedding planner i was going to have my friend do our photography she asked if he was just a friend and not a professional photographer "he doesn't do that for a living right?" so IF you have a friend or uncle doing your photography, just tell disney he's not a professional. or is that too underhanded? luckily my friend is NOT a pro -- just really good! GOOD LUCK!

 

[Codie]

All the ideas are great...another thought, I think Disney Visa gives you 0% interest for the wedding for 12 months...I'm not 100% sure, but something to check. We did ours at ADH so that we didn't have to pay for decorations. Also--do your own centerpieces instead of using disney floral...If you also make them your guest favors (maybe a circle of tealight holders) then catering will set them for you and there is no setup fee. Good luck!
Ohmigosh...I just forgot the best way that I saved money--I eliminated the cake!!! I know that sounds insane, but if you and your fdh can deal with not cutting cake, it is a lot cheaper to just get a real nice tasty dessert and eliminate the cake! I saved about $1800 that way.

 

[pintradingwedding]

And thanks for the Disney Card tip. what does ADH stand for?!

 

[Codie]

And thanks for the Disney Card tip. what does ADH stand for?!

LOL--that's what my dh said when I told him how much the cake would cost. WE did do one at our at home reception--for 300 people it cost $400 compared to the $1800 for 70 people at disney!! ADH is the Atlantic Dance Hall...it'd be nice for a small group because they could all be on the dance floor..

 

[allisonswonderland]

I laughed about the cake.....I am having a home recepetion the cake cost here is 1.80 per slice...vs 11.00 per slice at Disney. I think Ia m still doing a disney cake though