Wedding on a budget

[kandeebunny]

I HAD to share this with all of you! I went to David's Bridal last night to get my gown and my bridesmaid dresses! I spent $127.12 on my gown, and 2 bridesmaid dresses. We all have shoes, and only my gown has to be altered! I found my gown (which is actually white but has some hot pink on it) in the prom gowns! It was marked $149, but marked down to $69.99 and they were running a clearance sale and my dress ended up being $19.99!!! I found a gorgeous black and pink dress for my maid of honor! The dress was marked the exact same way as mine, but when we got to the register it ALSO rang up at $19.99!!! For my other bridesmaid we had more of an issue as she has a tiny waist, but a very large bust so we did mix and match and BOTH pieces were on sale one for $68 and one for $19.99! The top is black and tailored and she has a pink skirt. (Can you tell my theme is black pink and white???) So my total with tax was $127.12! Thats HALF of what I expected to spend on just my dress! I have a tailor who is amazing and inexpensive. I also picked up my favors which are also place card holders, small silver frames with hearts for fifty cents a piece!!!

I was SO excited, this means more to spend on our honeymoon!!!

 

[RobynK]

Great job!

 

[Stephanie218]

that's an amazing deal. i'd love to see if pic of the dress - is it on davidsbridal.com?

 

[minkydog]

Way to go! See, you can have a very nice wedding without spending a bazillion bucks on it. I'm proud of you

cathy--spent $300 on her wedding, still married 24+ years later

 

[we3disneygo]

Congrats on a great deal!!!

Michele-150.00 wedding dress-still married 19+years

 

[kilee]

That's wonderful. I'd love to see the dresses too.

 

[BamaGirl]

Way to go!!

 

[smfritz03]

I did this as well for my wedding!! My dress was one of the prom ones and almost identical to the wedding dress I orignally wanted---it was on clearance for $25

My friend also had suites from her wedding--she had 2 one for dh and one for her dh as he was best man. They were really cool!!

We did our whole wedding on a budget---instead of having a bunch of flowers in the aisle--- we chose to have a candlelight service--and our pastor happened to have some really pretty lanterns from their daughters wedding that they had set up. And we also chose to do the Rose Ceremony which made our vows unique and the whole ceremony was very intimate. Afterwards our Pastor said our ceremony was one of the best hes ever done even out of the expensive ones!!!!

 

[momsgoofy]

I did this as well for my wedding!! My dress was one of the prom ones and almost identical to the wedding dress I orignally wanted---it was on clearance for $25

My friend also had suites from her wedding--she had 2 one for dh and one for her dh as he was best man. They were really cool!!

We did our whole wedding on a budget---instead of having a bunch of flowers in the aisle--- we chose to have a candlelight service--and our pastor happened to have some really pretty lanterns from their daughters wedding that they had set up. And we also chose to do the Rose Ceremony which made our vows unique and the whole ceremony was very intimate. Afterwards our Pastor said our ceremony was one of the best hes ever done even out of the expensive ones!!!!

I've never heard of the Rose Ceremony, or if I have it's not been called that...can you enlighten me as to what it is?

Yeah, borrow things if you can...my oldest sister has a huge attic, so we keep all the "family party ware party tubs" there...since May 2000 we've had 6 weddings, with 3 bridal showers, 4 babies (and one more due next month) so several baby showers. So, we've gotten pretty good at recycling what we can to save some money that can go to the more important things for each couple or new parents.

And another happy bride of 4 years whose wedding gown, including veil, shoes and undergarments cost $125.

 

[GoofItUp]

Hurray for you! I got a great deal on my wedding dress because it had been cut short when it was made. They had to put in on the clearance rack because it was not the right length. Sometimes it pays off to be a midget! And, I've been happily married for 7+ years now!

 

[CheapMom]

We Want Pictures!

 

[missypie]

Good for you! I go to church in a very wealthy neighborhood and all of the "no expense spared" weddings that they have there make me kind of ill.

I have this theory that every bride looks radiant in her own wedding dress. I've seen pictures of dresses that I'd NEVER choose myself, but then when you see the bride in them, they look beautiful. I think that brides look beautiful, whether they spend $19.99, $199.99, or $19,999.99 on their dress.

I also think that food and drink wise, it's all about timing. Now if you have a Saturday night wedding and just serve each person a piece of cake and some punch at the reception, people might think you're cheap...they expect to be "entertained" on a Saturday night. But if you get married at 2 pm and serve cake and punch, I think it's totally appropriate.

Some friends of ours chose to get married in December, when the chuch was already beautifully decorated. Good idea if you ask me.

 

[kandeebunny]

I just got back from a fitting, getting shoes and apartment stuff! I will take pictures and post them in the morning!

I had to bring my dress by my florist and she found roses and gerber daisies that matched the pink EXACTLY!!!

 

[kandeebunny]

That's the dress!!!

 

[smfritz03]

Thats a pretty dress!!

The rose ceremony is where after the vows and before the Pastor pronounces you man and wife--you give each other one single rose. Here is a copy of the ceremony:

"Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other.

You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman - the title of "husband" and "wife." For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose.

In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing - it meant the words "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift - as husband and wife - that gift would be a single rose.

Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife. In someways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose - and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

_________ and _____________, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a small and graceful one - that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage - and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love.

In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.

That rose says the words: "I still love you." The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.

__________ and ________, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure."


And since we had the lights dimmed and candles--it was absolutely beautiful!!!

 

[Chicago526]

Wow! That's great! We were lucky to find an inexpensive reception site (plus having a small guest list doesn't hurt) so I was able to splurge on my wedding gown. I do wish I had been able to find cheaper BM's dresses. I found the perfect dress at JC Penney's off the rack, and it was $99 (regular price so sale prices would have been less) but one of my maids is a plus size, so we couldn't buy off the rack. I picked a dress at Davids for $150 each, which still isn't too bad, but I wish I could have done as well as you!!!

 

[kandeebunny]

I will post pics after the wedding of the bridesmaid dresses! Both will be able to wear them to their school formals this year so double use!!!

 

[momsgoofy]

smfritz03,

That is beautiful! I have never heard of it, but it is lovely...says so much with the simplest of gestures!

When DH and I married 4 years ago, it was very important to us to include my DS from my first marriage, so we spoke with our priest, who was wonderful! We opted to have a special ring for DS as a symbol of our becoming a family and the priest gave the most wonderful blessing before we gave the ring to him. It gets me weepy eyed when I watch the video.

We got lucky for our decorations, dresses, tuxedos, and photography. We went minimal with only floral arrangements that we could transfer to our reception site. We only had a matron of honor and best man...her dress was made for her at a cost of about $100, including fabric and shoes. Our photographer was the FIL of DH's brother, who was retired from the Chicago Tribune as a photojournalist...it was his and his wife's gift for us. We are friends with the couple who owned the videography company so they cut us a deal as part of their wedding gift. It was our reception that was costly, but we wanted to be able to share a wonderful meal with our closest family and friends...we only had about 70 guests. So, we had it at my cousin's restaurant, which is one of the area's finer locations. We treated our guests to their choice of 4 entrees, salad, soup, veggie sides, and non-alcoholic beverages of their choice, and a glass of sparkling wine when we cut the cake. Again, we got a discount because we were family. Our honeymoon was to spend the first night alone on our brand new house. All together I know we spent under $5000 and it was exactly what we wanted.

 

[smfritz03]

We were lucky too --i only had a maid of honor--she used one of her cousins prom dresses--it was black and white and was very pretty---she also does hair so she was able to do my hair and my dd's hair free---I had a suit for my stepson and the girls wore their Easter dresses (which i had bought flower girl dresses for Easter --very fancy ones)---We made the bouquets and they were beautiful--and the Flower shop in town had Lily of the Valleys--that they wrapped very pretty and tied some really beautiful ribbons to--so we used them to give to our moms right after the wedding before our walk down the aisle together. (did this instead of corsages) and to the music chorus of "May the circle, be unbroken"--Our reception was at his moms--and the elderly women in the church that came actually made a dish to bring--it was a huge surprize because i never guessed they were doing it!!!! His mom makes professional cakes and made our wedding cake and his sister did pics (she takes awesome pics)---I will load some and post. So our total cost was under $250---and you will never guess by how it turned out!!!

 

[smfritz03]

How can I load a pic--I have one of the kids to show--and one of me and dh infront of the grooms cake.........