Tips on budgeting/saving???

[disneygal922]

Does anybody have any tips on budgeting and saving for a disney wedding? i'm majorly stressing out that we won't be able to afford it. we are hoping for the wedding pavilion and living seas on monday april 19, 2010. we are inviting 66 people (all of which i'm sure will come). i have a savings plan of action in place but want to know what other brides have done to save and cut costs of their DFTW... anything will help!!! TIA!

 

[MistressOfAllEvil]

All I can recommend is reading LurkyLoo's PJ & TR. Her and Patrick kept there Wishes wedding right at the minimum. I think they went 70 some odd dollars over (is that right Carrie??). I don't know if there's been anyone else to manage that.

I wish I could help you better than that, but I had an escape wedding. I think the biggest budgeting tip is decide what is *really* important to you and stick to it. Don't go overboard with the other stuff. Especially if it's not a priortiy on your list!

As far as saving, every little bit helps! Start now. Open a seperate savings account. Pay it first and regularly. You'll be shocked at how fast the money will accumulate. If you've got $40 to eat out vs. making dinner at home. Go home. Put the $40 in your savings!!

I'm a simple girl, this is how I do things. hope it helps!

 

[Tabetha]

I'd start by figuring out how much you want to spend on your wedding.
From there, I'd divide how many months or weeks you have - providing you with a per week or per month amount you need to set aside. That's what I did.

Setting up a strict household budget and writing down everything you spend is a good idea, too. I tend to go through money like water - forgetting how often I go to the bank machine. Once I set a strict "get out money once a week" rule, it got easier to save.

 

[ElleBren]

Also find a high yield savings account for the money you are saving. It will make the most for you in the long run.

 

[lurkyloo]

All I can recommend is reading LurkyLoo's PJ & TR. Her and Patrick kept there Wishes wedding right at the minimum. I think they went 70 some odd dollars over (is that right Carrie??).

That's about the size of it!

It seems like there are two things to consider here: 1) Ways to cut costs on your DFTW, and 2) Ways to save money for your DFTW.

Here are some of the ideas I've compiled - I know not all of them may be possible in your situation...

Ways to cut costs on your DFTW

Major things:
- Fewer guests
- Move event before 2pm
- Shorten reception
- Pick a reception venue that doesn't need as much decoration (ie, not a ballroom)
- Brunch instead of dinner
- Use rehearsal dinner menus instead of reception dinner menus
- Don't serve alcohol
- Cut down (or cut out) floral: altarpieces, centerpieces, smaller bouquets or rose wands for attendants
- Move ceremony floral to reception (if move fee is less than separate floral for reception)
- Use outside vendors for photography and videography

Smaller things:
- Use items from the dinner/lunch/brunch buffet as your pre-reception food instead of ordering extra
- Serve half glasses of Champagne for toast or eliminate Champagne toast all together and toast with drinks in hand
- Chair covers instead of chiavari chairs
- Provide less transportation for guests
- Ride your charter bus to the ceremony site before it picks up your guests instead of having a limo/Rolls/etc.
- Eliminate chargers under the plates, gobos on the walls, and other things no one will remember

Ways to save money for your DFTW

We did a lot of little things that really added up. We have a change jar for any cash we get (and we transfer it to a high-yield ING savings account), I do Sunshine Rewards surveys and offers for money, and we're earning Disney Dollars with our Disney Rewards cards.

The other things we do: product rebates, signing up for a Wachovia checking account (they gave us $125 for keeping it open five months), recycling (everyone teases us about collecting all the bottles and cans at parties) and eBay - we've sold a ton of stuff, little and big, and it all adds up to more money for our trip!

Here's a thread with some more ideas: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1470352&page=2

 

[Malefi_Stitch]

If you have Wachovia or Bank of America, you can do a Way2Save or Keep the Change program too. I have Wachovia and do the Way2Save where they move $1 from your checking into a high(er) yield savings account every time you use your check card for a purchase or when you pay a bill through their BillPay. They'll match the total for the first year up to a certain amount (I'm pretty sure about that last part but you might want to double check). Although the money isn't in your checking account, you still have access to it and it's earning more interest than a regular savings account (for Way2Save anyway).

You could also put some money in a CD or money market fund (although, the MMF might not be the best idea because of the market fluctuations now).

Personally, my DF and I saved our bonuses from work, tax refunds, asked for money for birthdays/holidays and just put all of that into our savings account to help with wedding costs.

To save while in the planning stages, I'm making all of my bridesmaid's necklaces and paper stuff (invitations, programs, place cards, table cards, menu cards...) and it's amazing how much money you can save! All of the girls on here have been more than inspirational by showing pictures, sending templates... They're fab!

I hope this helps!!!

 

[twiu]

I made my own invitation (saved a gajillion!), used vendors that I personally know and winked at them to get a better price (I can recommend some, I live in Orlando so it helps), focused on what was important to me and skimped on things that I didn't care about. I also work in video production, so I'm getting my video for free. My friend who's a florist is doing my flowers at cost. I've graphic designers who designed my invites, seating cards, menu cards and programs (which its amazing how easy it is to make things once you know how and how professional they look), I bought a gown on a sample sale and saved over $500.00..

That's all I can think of right now. If you have locations and a wedding date decided on, we might be able to help with more specifics.

 

[alissa2008]

Well, DF and I really wanted a DFTW. We knew we wouldn't be able to meet the room requirements due to budget issues (most are staying at MILs banked timeshares) and the 10K for wishes was just way too much. SO, we told everyone we are keeping the ceremony intimate, went for an escape, and told them they could meet up with us at the restaurant. We figured out who was most important (immediate fam, grandmas etc) and told the rest it was first come first serve, if they said "yes" we gave them a seat until they were all gone. The rest didn't seem to mind, actually - since I'm sure the ceremony's only going to be lik 20 minutes long anyway... So, we booked a restaurant in Celebration, FL (Cafe D'Antonio) who's price was just right... winds up being $35 pp + bar tab (they also have a $45 pp banquet menu) and we have the whole patio rented to ourselves. Honestly, it's more important to us to spend money on ourselves and our honeymoon than make sure everyone could come. Not to mention how much we'll be saving. Although, we did wind up adding outside photo and video, so I'm sure we're pushing 7K now. BUT, it's still less then 10, is the way we look at it.

I know this probably didn't help, but if you're really worried about your budget, downgrade -- it will give you what you want (DFTW) without the stress of putting yourself into debt your first year of marriage. hth

 

[IndyBride]

Another thing is to get a budget spreadsheet that you can add gratuity and tax or fee into. Then whenever you make a decision for real you add that to you spreadsheet and see how much money the whole picture is. And how many pennies you have left. This makes it easy to see where your money goes and easy to cut if things get a little out of hand.

 

[disneygal922]

Thanks everyone for your wonderful help and ideas! I don't know what i'd do without the Dis!!

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

Sorry if I am late but I just wanted to say that it is good that you have a year left until the wedding so you have plenty of time to scout out deals. Like if you are buying your glasses, knives, etc. you can keep your eye out for good deals. I am all about Ebay because you can get some great things for less than if you bought them from a bridal store. Also, if you can, make your own invitations, programs, etc. That saved me tons of money!!!

 

[orangetiggs]

we are having a wishes wedding at white hall room and wedding pavillion and then dessert party at uk lower. Our ceremony is at 2.30pm so higher mins and we have a lot for $12500

I'm having a limo, a bus and landau coach. Duo entree, mad hatter cake, and also chair covers and such.

We are using silk floral as well so we dont have to worry about refresh/preservation.

you can def do a wishes wedding close to the min

 

[inkedupmomma]

make sure to check out the budget board here on the dis!! it is AMAZING!!! tons of great ideas!!

 

[DISNEY*lover]

That's about the size of it!

It seems like there are two things to consider here: 1) Ways to cut costs on your DFTW, and 2) Ways to save money for your DFTW.

Here are some of the ideas I've compiled - I know not all of them may be possible in your situation...

Ways to cut costs on your DFTW

Major things:
- Fewer guests
- Move event before 2pm
- Shorten reception
- Pick a reception venue that doesn't need as much decoration (ie, not a ballroom)
- Brunch instead of dinner
- Use rehearsal dinner menus instead of reception dinner menus
- Don't serve alcohol
- Cut down (or cut out) floral: altarpieces, centerpieces, smaller bouquets or rose wands for attendants
- Move ceremony floral to reception (if move fee is less than separate floral for reception)
- Use outside vendors for photography and videography

Smaller things:
- Use items from the dinner/lunch/brunch buffet as your pre-reception food instead of ordering extra
- Serve half glasses of Champagne for toast or eliminate Champagne toast all together and toast with drinks in hand
- Chair covers instead of chiavari chairs
- Provide less transportation for guests
- Ride your charter bus to the ceremony site before it picks up your guests instead of having a limo/Rolls/etc.
- Eliminate chargers under the plates, gobos on the walls, and other things no one will remember

Ways to save money for your DFTW

We did a lot of little things that really added up. We have a change jar for any cash we get (and we transfer it to a high-yield ING savings account), I do Sunshine Rewards surveys and offers for money, and we're earning Disney Dollars with our Disney Rewards cards.

The other things we do: product rebates, signing up for a Wachovia checking account (they gave us $125 for keeping it open five months), recycling (everyone teases us about collecting all the bottles and cans at parties) and eBay - we've sold a ton of stuff, little and big, and it all adds up to more money for our trip!

Here's a thread with some more ideas: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1470352&page=2

Good tips! I myself am looking for tips. Does that Sunshine Rewards work? Do you get crap and/or spam email? How much did you make off of that?

Some of my tips are:
- LOTS of diy (I'm doing my own floral, favors, invites, centerpieces, programs, etc.)
- I'm cutting out a videographer and hiring an outside photographer
- DF's Aunt can marry people so she's hired
- I'm doing alcohol but I'm having them toast to whatever is in their hand at the time
- Little to no decor for the ceremony
- No head table decor (it's going to be the bouquets)
- Mulitifunction items (place card holders are my bells and centerpieces are going to have favors intertwined)

Hope that mess helps!

 

[lurkyloo]

Good tips! I myself am looking for tips. Does that Sunshine Rewards work? Do you get crap and/or spam email? How much did you make off of that?

Well, I've earned almost $675 since I joined 18 months ago, so I guess you can say it works! However, you DO get a lot of junk mail, so it's best to sign up with an email that you reserve just for Sunshine Rewards and other things you know will bring junk.

 

[DISNEY*lover]

Well, I've earned almost $675 since I joined 18 months ago, so I guess you can say it works! However, you DO get a lot of junk mail, so it's best to sign up with an email that you reserve just for Sunshine Rewards and other things you know will bring junk.

Wow! Did you ever get a virus or anything from the mail? I'm concerned about that the most. I have just a laptop and from what I hear laptops are more proned to viruses.

 

[lurkyloo]

Nope. My laptop is a Mac, though. However, I've never had any link take me to one of those sites that pops up a bunch of windows and makes itself your homepage and stuff.

You might want to check out the Sunshine Reward forums and see if anyone's posted about getting viruses.

Here are the search results I get there for "virus" - none of the threads seem to be about viruses picked up from using SR:

http://www.sunshinerewardsforum.com/search.php?searchid=218992

 

[DISNEY*lover]

Nope. My laptop is a Mac, though. However, I've never had any link take me to one of those sites that pops up a bunch of windows and makes itself your homepage and stuff.

You might want to check out the Sunshine Reward forums and see if anyone's posted about getting viruses.

Here are the search results I get there for "virus" - none of the threads seem to be about viruses picked up from using SR:

http://www.sunshinerewardsforum.com/search.php?searchid=218992

Thanks! You're awesome!!

 

[JonetteA]

I used ING. It automatically took money from my checking account and at that point had a pretty high apr. I also made alot of things myself.

 

[goodmorningirl]

Do you do sunsine rewards for cash or disney dollars? I am trying to sign up now but don;t know what to put for account. did you put your paypal account info?