Wedding Budget Do's and Don'ts

Now I understand why people that have been shacking up for years and have two or three kids together but say they can't afford to get married. Weddings are a joke; if you are rich do what ever you want, if you aren't, do what you have too. Wedding planners that over sell to their clients are just as rotten as funeral directors that over sell to theirs. Both are very emotional and personal events that should be planned by the families involved and that are paying the bill. Not by society or worst a person that makes a bigger paycheck by selling you more stuff. If the day is only special because of the trappings and not the conventant made before God then it probably will end in divorce. I would eat WalMart cake any day of the week rather than being in debt up to my eyeballs.

If all a couple can AFFORD is burgers and Wal-Mart cake, because they are saving for more necessary things, that's OK. But as someone posted earlier, this is supposed to be a "once in a lifetime event". Treat it as such, and make it as memorable and dignified as you possibly can.

I'm married, happily and we had a Walmart sheet cake to go along with our gluten free tiered cake......that I made. Now, I'm not bad at decorating cakes, but still. Our wedding was wonderful and we stuck to our budget. Whole thing cost us about $4k and had about 70 people there. We trimmed a lot and skimped where needed. If I had it to do over again, I'd have it in the fall and invite even less people, so we didn't have to use that venue. I plan to renew my vows, so I can do all the things I wished I'd done then, well except change my wedding anniversary. I got married in June, wish I'd gotten married in September.

You have the wedding you can AFFORD. It's just that simple!

You do what you can AFFORD. It's that simple!

I would bet that the critics here are wedding planners. To them, the couple that decides to have a 'small intimate ceremony' is the stuff of nightmares.

grass is always greener... ive been married twice, both of them eloped, if i EVER get married again, believe you me it will be a REAL wedding, lol

Wow, no wonder there is an industry that can mark up flowers and cakes for 3 times what they would cost for any other event, there are obviously people out there that are willing to spend it.

I am getting married next year and I am having a very simple ceremony. Our budget is $5,000. As a couple that already has a child we can not justify spending any more than that when the money should be going in to our daughters college fund. I love that our wedding budget is small. We are planning a very intimate ceremony. I am making a lot of the decorations myself (which I believe will make it 10 times more special in the long run) I am ordering my flowers in bulk and my bridesmaids and I are going to make the bouquets and arrangements in lieu of a bridal shower.

As for my out of town guests coming in. They are coming in to see us and share our day. By keeping the wedding small and intimate I believe I am honoring them MORE by actually being able to spend time with them and enjoy the day with them. Instead of chasing after a florist, caterer and DJ. To each their own...smaller and less money does not mean less taste or less special.

Go down to your parish priest and find out where in the church's calendar the mass weddings come. the only cost is the ring's and you get a divine, blessed wedding.

When you pay all that money for flowers take them home and enjoy them when after the wedding it is a downer with all those bills, at least there are the flowers to cheer up. Send flowers to nursing homes as not used from something else but as _____________fresh and caring not used!!

When you pay all that money for flowers take them home and enjoy them when after the wedding it is a downer with all those bills, at least there are the flowers to cheer up. Send flowers to nursing homes as not used from something else but as _____________fresh and caring not used!!

We did a fun zombie themed wedding in a cemetery with the reception to be followed at a free outdoor zombie themed event that had live music, contests, and a zombie walk at the end. People had fun because they got to dress up like zombies. Altogether, we spent about 100 dollars on the dress, minister, and cake. It was pretty nifty and super fun!

My first wife, Diana, and I were married in 1969. (She passed away 19 years ago). We had a small intimate Italian wedding reception with 800 of the families closest friends. We had to cut down from 1,000 guests due to the fire marshal. This was on "The Hill" the Italian neighborhood in St. Louis, MO.
Our wedding cake was 90#. The old Italian ladies made home made anit-pasto, salad, ravili, baked chicken, raost beef, and mostaccioli. All served sit-down style. Bottles of wine on every table & open bar. We paid for everything. We didn't want to leave the reception. Don't think we could do that again these days.

The wedding isn't about pleasing the guests. The guests should be happy and honored that they were invited. it's your day, plan and celebrate as you choose. Take a test: ten years from now, ask one of your guest's(not in your family) if they remember your wedding. The answer will probably be no.

My first wife, Diana, and I were married in 1969. (She passed away 19 years ago). We had a small intimate Italian wedding reception with 800 of the families closest friends. We had to cut down from 1,000 guests due to the fire marshal. This was on "The Hill" the Italian neighborhood in St. Louis, MO.
Our wedding cake was 90#. The old Italian ladies made home made anit-pasto, salad, ravili, baked chicken, raost beef, and mostaccioli. All served sit-down style. Bottles of wine on every table & open bar. We paid for everything. We didn't want to leave the reception. Don't think we could do that again these days.

I agree with the whole backyard wedding. Weddings are suppose to be the bride and groom's day. If your guest have a problem with the food you serve then you should not invite them. who cares if they spends hundreds on a flight. If they are going to complain about price then they shouls not come. thats the whole point in RSVPing. Real friends would support you no matter what you have in your wedding. they will be there

Wal-Mart cake for a WEDDING ARE YOU JOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AGREE WITH got mule
tawnya, it’s obvious that you care more about the show the first time so hopefully this time it is about LOVE, FRIENS AND FAMILY!!!! Mostly love

I’m a wedding planner. I work at a very nice venue with four rooms to accommodate a weeding of 20 or 250 guests. Ive seen it all. I agree it’s about two people who are in love and want to celebrate it with friends and family, so why not spent a little. Yes stick to your budget, but after all it is a once in a life time event. Don’t you want to look back on it and love it?

What is most important about the wedding is NOT the wedding itself, but what comes after. Unless you are fabulously wealthy, money spent on a lavish wedding would be better spent furnishing a home together and building a life.

your wedding day is YOUR wedding day. if people fly in from all over because of the cake and food and not you...then the only reason you invited them was for the gift in the first place. burgers in the backyard and a walmart cake is perfectly fine. i think people get lost in the trappings and crappings and forget that...alot. some people like to waste money on the "show" some would rather invest in real estate or have that special honeymoon. the latter two get my respect...but i'd love to have some cake at the first one...it'll probably be a doozy...from a box.

DON'T: DO NOT SKIMP ON YOUR ENTERTAINMENT

Listen, regardless of flowers, food and all the other things you put your effort into for your wedding. The one thing that will make or break a wedding is your entertainment. The days of Do-It-Yourself DJs or my friend is gonna do the music are over. Never have a friend do your music or MC your wedding. Hire a professional. After 27 years of playing music for a living the list of Horror stories I could share with you. For those of you who prefer and band. Bands are a lot of fun if you can find a good dance band. This is an area where you will be looking at spending $800 - $1200 minimum for a 4 - 5 member group for 4 hours of music. For those of you who are looking for a good DJ. The key word is good. DJ's are a dime a dozen. A good DJ will cost you about the same as a band. Don't be surprised when he tells you $800 for 5 hours. A professional DJ will have the ability of offering you dance floor lighting and music video so really do your research into what you want before contacting one. In the modern world most of the time you can tell a professional DJ and one who is serious about his craft by the equipment he uses. We are to the point where CDs are almost obsolete folks. That doesn't mean because a DJ uses a computer he's a good DJ. As with a band you need to go to an event, look and listen. Are they using JBL or Bose speakers or some crappy aftermarket brand? Are they dressed according to the event? Are they to loud? Ask someone if they were on time or not. These things will usually tell you the difference between a beginner and a professional. Are they able to get and keep people dancing? After all that is the goal. Lots of people always ask me why are some DJs so expensive? Well, when you spend $30,000 dollars on sound, lighting, a truss to hang it from, video screens, Music and video to play, a vehicle large enough to carry it all in, the setup and tear down time, travel time, plus the hours of performance it does get costly. And remember most DJs are a one man show which means he has to do all of this by himself. From start to finish a DJ's day for a 4 hour event take approximately 7 hours, 8 - 0 if he is doing lights and video. In a band each musician is responsible for is own gear so setup and tear down is a lot faster and easier to do. To sum it all up, Save your money and do it right. Do your research into your entertainment needs. Talk it over with your spouse and have a great time.