x

[sarah4770]

x

 

[Disney_Freak56]

For my second wedding, I did it pretty inexpensive. I ordered a wedding cake from a local grocery store -- it was beautiful and tasted great.

I belong to Sam's Club, so I ordered a deli tray, pulled a veggie tray from the cooler, bought bags of chips and rolls and some kind of wrap things.

Bought nuts and mints from Walmart and bought a punch concentrate from a catering company that we mixed with Sprite.

Decorated the room with gift bags and tied heart shaped mylar ballons from Party America. I used bags of candy as weights for the bags so they wouldn't float away.

It was a wonderful reception and everyone loved it. I did buy some inexpensive disposable cameras and invited guests to take photos. I could tell which pictures my 6-year-old nephew took from the angle of the photos.

Have some friends or family help you set up.

Congrats on the upcoming event!

 

[Ericandjenng]

The PP's ideas are GREAT! Another thing is if you belong to or attend a particular church, mention it to the ladies there. They will probably jump at the chance to help you.

Congratulations on your family addition!

 

[sarah4770]

When i got married It was just a JP thing, no family or celebration, and I always regretted not having any kind of family support., and I want for her to have a special day., just not sure what to do. She just sprung this on me today ( they had been talking about it, I just didn't think it would be this soon), and I am overwhelmed!

 

[HannaBelle]

First, congrats!!!

Second, I totally agree with the PP. That is exactly what I would do. BUT, I might also ask an adult or teen in the family to take pics with a digital camera...video as well if it is available. And, you might casually mention to said family member to make sure he/she takes pics of both sides of the family.

My DH's uncle did our video and let's just say I am talking from experience...

 

[kdfogliano]

Have a dessert gathering "coffee and cake" type thing
You can do all different sweets!

That way you dont have to give a meal, but everyone can get together to celebrate!

 

[sarah4770]

OK good thought, thank you., yes I want to be respectful of his side of the family and not take over. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

Take a deep breath! It will be okay.

Evenif you just have cake and punch for family and friends, that will be great!

I had a friend from work who could get me the subdivision's clubhouse for a very inexpensive price -- $50 with a refundable $50 deposit.

We got married in a very small chapel on a local college campus. The Church was moved from its former location and was over 100 years old. It was a small and very intimate wedding.

I believe we paid $75 for the Church and $50 for the minister. And this was on Valentine's Day -- the MOST expensive day of the year to get married. The main reason I did all the work myself and looked for the least expensive wedding/reception was because of those who wanted to take advantage of those who wished to get married on Valentine's Day.

Any how, if there are bridal consignment shops in your area, you could look for a wedding dress there. My daughter was my maid of honor and we got her dress from this type of shop and she was able to use it for a school dance and then for a play she was in that very same year. Not that your daghter would get three uses out of her dress.

I lucked out and one of the bridal salons in a local department store was closing and I picked up my dress -- a dress I picked out, instead of my Mom as in my first wedding -- not that I'm bitter or anything. The dress was originally $900 and I got it for $175.

As far as the time goes, you can do this. I got engaged on New Year's Eve and married less than 7 weeks later and worked a full-time job and my fiance was 750 miles away, so it pretty much fell all on me.

 

[Poohbear5]

Our daughter got married last summer with one weeks notice when her husband got a last min. 2 day leave. We had so many people step in and help:

A friend from church did the photography (made us a beautiful CD, we had prints made later from MPIX.com), the church and priest happened to be free, a local dance studio hosted the reception/luncheon, got a 2 tier cake from a local supermarket bakery along with deli platters, fruit and vegies platters,friends brought salads, desserts, appetizers, (had a college age friend of the kids pick up the food/cake while we were at church and taking photos) even got a limo at last min! We told the florist that we were on a budget,she designed a stunning bouqet for daughter and maid of honor, boutennaires for all the guys (groom, best man, dad's and granddads). A party shop delivered balloons to the reception site (30 or so ballons with ribbons for about $30, really made the studio feel festive.) The gown was on the clearance rack for $99, groom walked into tux shop the day before the wedding and was given a free rental! Had a champagne toast in disposable champagne glasses. It probably ran us about $1500 all total. I had many people tell us that by looking at the photo book, you'd never know it was a budget wedding.

With a whole months notice, the possibilities are endless!! You can do it!

 

[TLuvsD]

I'd follow the excellent suggestions already given, but add that presentation can really dress up the trays from the market or Costco. Borrow some extra tablecloths, get some inexpensive flowers--for a wedding receiption I recently helped with we went to Lowes and bought 2 flats of flowers. Cut up the 6-packs and put the plants in folded down with paper bags with some tulle. We could have used tissue paper, but with a Joannes coupon the tulle was cheaper. The flowers looked great, and they planted them in the yard after the event. If any of your neighbors or friends hae potted plants, borrow those.
Congratulations! You'll have a great time.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

What I did for my son and daughter-in-law was found a local restaurant that had a banquet facility. As long as the reception was during business hours there was no charge for renting the banquet room. They also had a menu that had their "party" dinner choices that each guest got to choose from. Each plate was all the same price.

I also got them a small wedding cake and made punch and coffee. That way, they had the ceremony of cutting and feeding each other their cake as well as the toasts.

I bought inexpensive decorations at the party store and fed about 40 people. Including the cake I spend around $500 and they had a wonderful time and really enjoyed their reception.

Oh, I also bought my future daughter-in-law her wedding bouquet.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, she had an absent mother and father!

Forgot to say that the reception invitations I found at Office Depot and printed them on my printer at home.

 

[reagan75]

You could do a candy bar and have all differenty types of candy/chocolates. What about renting a park pavilion? Those are usually very inexpensive. Back yard? You can do the invites yourself, have it at a time you won't have to feed lunch or dinner. If you wanted food, I suggest mid morning and do a champagne brunch.

 

[njmom47]

I could tell which pictures my 6-year-old nephew took from the angle of the photos.

For my 2nd marriage, we put it together in 2 weeks or so.

Mayor married us at a beautiful gazebo in the park overlooking a river in August. Dinner for close family (about 25 of us) in a nearby restaurant in a private room. Dinners chosen from a special menu (like PPs)...and they also supplied the cake. Minimal decorations (which was fine...the room was really pretty as it was; DH and I are very low-key). My best friend came and took pics, then made a special book and big multi-frame picture frame for me. Video done by my brother-in-law. My mom bought my daugter's dresses and made mine.
We wanted to spend our money on a house (we were in our 30s and had 2 kids). Our honeymoon was a weekend in the Poconos.
Worked for us!

 

[MissBritt]

The biggest expense is food, so I would suggest you don't plan the party during a meal time, and have an appetizer/dessert menu instead.

 

[csharpwv]

Think like Disney does!

For most people their favorite is DESSERT!

So like a PP suggested - have a DESSERT PARTY!

You could easily do cookies, cakes, parfait cups, cobbler, pastries, and tons of other finger food desserts - along with a few types of punch - and then coffee - tea - and water - and call it a day!

When it comes to making it 'look good' think garnish - an elegant theme - some inexpensive flowers - rented table linens to dress it up - and make it look fantastic!

I bet your could do a very classy backyard reception for $250-$500 depending on what you do!

Depending on what their 'style' is - you could even do a pot luck - wish you luck - reception - and save your money to hire a small band!

We did a ho-down style rehearsal dinner and got ALL of our food from Wal-Mart! (Fried Chicken and all the fixins!)

We hired a bluegrass band - invited everyone we wanted to and started the part the night before! HAHA

We rented the dining hall at a local 4-H Camp - lit the path with very inexpensive luminaries - bought a few table decorations - a few bails of hay - a few pumpkins - and then moved ALL of that to the Church the next day.
So we got double duty out of our (inexpensive to start with) decorations!

We have a beautiful wedding - on a beautiful day! We Fall!

 

[hopemax]

Depends on how "little" your definition of little is. For my Dad's 40th birthday, and our rehearsal dinner we rented a pavilion at a local park and then had a caterer for "barbecue/summer picnic" type food. Both times it was about 40 people, and with the caterer it was about $500. This was 15 years ago, so it would cost a bit more more now. A cousin, did a similar thing for a rehearsal type party before her wedding, but it was a pot luck.

 

[simonsmom]

I had a budget wedding years ago and the only thing I really regret was not having a professional phtographer- that is where you should splurge. you xcan't reverse time

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I'm all for the dessert party idea, but I might style it more as a "tea party". Lots of tiny desserts, tiny sandwiches, inexpensive cake for cutting, non-alcoholic punch, hot tea and coffee, and if the budget will allow, one glass of champagne each for toasting. It's amazing what you can get at Costco!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Have a dessert gathering "coffee and cake" type thing
You can do all different sweets!

That way you dont have to give a meal, but everyone can get together to celebrate!

I'm sure anything you do for her will be appreciated. The PP's have wonderful ideas!

 

[PatriciaH]

We had Chinese food, champagne and cake (made by a friend) at my in-laws It was really nice and small.