how are you saving money on your Disney wedding?

[pintradingwedding]

I really want to have a Disney wedding, but I have a lot of people to invite (my boyfriend has a big family) so it's going to be expensive! I"m trying to think of where I can cut corners so I'm not in debt the rest of my life.

Like instead of a bouquet, I might carry a small vintage white Bible that I bought on ebay for only $10.

And the sheetcake strategy that InTheKnow posted is an excellent idea! I can't really afford an $800 wedding cake!

Does anyone have any other thoughts or creative ways to save money?

If so, please share!

Thanks!

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

I believe that you said that you are having your wedding at Japan. If so you are saving money right there. Alot of people have this strange fascination with the wp. No offense to those, but it's not that pretty, takes alot of decor and I've seen prettier churches. But with an Epcot ceremony, you really have no need for pricy decor, because the location is complete! God I love that! I also am trying to cut every corner out there. I am not sure where you are having your reception, but find a location that is complete enough to where simple, inexpensive centerpieces are the only decor needed. Honestly, I can't afford the expense of a full blown DFTW, so I have made sure that every aspect of the wedding is fabulous with no added expense. Flowers are beautiful, but they get expensive fast. Also the food. Becuase we're having an epcot wedding, the reception is at 11am. I am having a simple diverse brunch menu, a small cake, and some extra deserts. I know not everyone eats cake at weddings, so why pay all that money for that extra cake. Good luck! Have fun! And enjoy! Also we're using coral as our centerpiece for the Living Seas, and thats our only decor.

 

[JonetteA]

One thing that I did to help save for our wedding is put money back every paycheck in an ING account, and I did some of the decor myself.

 

[JandJ]

We saved by having an Intimate! We made our decorations (bows for the benches and silk bouquets in vases that I got at Tuesday Morning), went with the rose wand for $35 instead of a traditional MOH bouquet for $90, got the Disney Dining Card to save on rehearsal dinner, brunch the next day, all dinners, and we made our own wedding announcements to mail to family and friends.

Still, for the same wedding with the same number of guests, cake, champagne, favors, etc. at a local hotel it would have been a couple thousand less than Disney. But I wanted a Disney wedding and DH wanted a small wedding, so we both got what we wanted

 

[hmgolden]

We saved money by:

1. Picking a reception venue that didn't need much (if any) decoration (ADH)
2. Cutting the desserts off the reception dinner menu and only serving cake at the reception.
3. Hired an outside photographer (Randy Chapman) - more time, more photos, less money.
4. Kept ceremony floral to a minimum. We had our ceremony in the WP, and only had used an alter arrangement. Our guests were so busy admiring the view of Cinderella Castle, they didn't notice any lack of flowers.
5. We didn't hire a videographer
6. We didn't do welcome bags, newletters, etc. Even if you make them all yourself they still cost money and time. None of our guests knew they were missing.

 

[JJClemson]

I am always looking for ways to save money too! My wedding is still a long ways away, but I have done a few things so far.

I have my heart set on a DFTW so we cut down our guest list as much as possible, and limited to only immediate family and a few close friends, still about 50 people (I have a huge family). Then we are having a very laid back BBQ in my hometown and another where we live in SC for all the people not invited to our wedding.

We are making our own centerpieces. Our reception is at Ariel's so we are getting huge candle holders, putting a white candle in it, filling them 1/2 way w/ orange sand (our color) and putting little beachy things like shells in it too. We got the idea from Pottery Barn. It will cost about $20-30 per centerpiece, which I can imagine is very cheap!

I have wanted this beautiful Nicole Miller gown for awhile now, but cannot justify spending $2000. Also, it is very heavy. I am getting a similar dress made, that weighs less, for $470. I am very excited about it!

I am also open to any more suggestions on how to save money

Jen

 

[cryssi]

let's see...DIY things we did to save money:

-made my own veil (material cost about $50 vs. $200 for ready-made)
-made favors - candy and DVD (material cost less than $5 per guest, I think)
-made programs
-bridal party floral was wedding gift from cousin and assembled by mom, aunt, sister, and cousin

other decisions we made:
-only got raw footage from videographer
-did crudites, dip, fruit, etc. for pre-reception (no fancy hors d'oeurves) so we could have the fancier dinner
-no bar
-asti spumante instead of fancy champagne! (tastes better anyway!)
-couple of days in Vegas vs. big honeymoon (opted for disney wedding instead!)

of course, a Disney wedding is a splurge, but a hotel wedding in so.cal would have probably cost just as much, although we would have been able to invite a lot more people. We had to cut some family from the list and only invited a handful of friends and co-workers. We had about 125 guests...

we often thought that we should have just eloped at WDW with an intimate, and then had a big party when we got back...LOL But really I probably wouldn't change a thing (well, maybe some minor things! LOL)

good luck!

 

[Gabby&Sean]

We to are having a morning epcot ceremony!! We love this idea as epcot needs minimal floral & already has the wow factor!!

We too are having a brunch reception at Ariels after the wedding, & are making our own centerpieces. Very much like the ones JJClemson described but we got our idea off The Knot (gotta love em). Plus Sean was going to be a Chef before he changed majors, so he might get the job of making favours for our guests lol.

One last thing we though of to save money was instead of having M&M attend our reception, we would pay for everyone to attend a character dinner in the evening before our dessert party.

 

[Sunkissed]

One last thing we though of to save money was instead of having M&M attend our reception, we would pay for everyone to attend a character dinner in the evening before our dessert party.

That's a great idea, but unfortunately I don't think it is feasible for us b/c of the size of the guest list...Will keep it in mind though; Thanks!

 

[allisonswonderland]

I agree if you are using an Epcot location you are saving money since the fee is approximately 1000 less than the WP, though I do disagree that the WP needs tons of floral to look good , I like the fact that it is near the beach and the castle is right there through the window. I would have prefered to be married at the castle, but since the min is now outrageous (it was even before they added the other 0), so for me that was the next best thing. Also I remember whne it was being built and I told my mom that I would get married there someday!

 

[Sunkissed]

Came across a DIY for rose bouquet balls, using either silk or fresh flowers. I was only going to have my niece carry one as the flower girl, but after seeing pics, I might have her and the two bridesmaids carry them. They're around $50/each if you use silk flowers. Sure beats the $150 I was looking at on Wishbook!!

 

[happylalagirl]

Thank you for asking this question and thank you to all of you who have responded!!! I am looking for ways to cut corners and the more I think about it, the more I think we should make our own centerpieces... I like the candle idea. We are not going to decorate the ceremony area... we are gettign married at SBP. Our reception is at the Living Seas. Not a whole lot needed, it's so relaxing and beautiful anyway. We are going for a winter wonderland theme... subtle theme... candles, some evergreens, holly, berries, and snowflakes... I think I might be able to pull that off myself. The hard part will be getting it there... hmmm.... we'll find a way.

 

[disneylover71]

Discounted wedding invites and accessories from http://www.capturedmomentsboutique.com[/url]. They are a website online and I believe they have the best prices. Looking for castle place card holders....Found them....Thanks for all the help!

 

[JonetteA]

I reused all of my floral at least 3 times.