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$6000 wedding budget how to make it work  posted: 09/17/07 at 4:27 PM
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Me and my fiancee are planning our wedding and we dont have much money to spare. We are planning to decorate and do everything on our own, to keep cost down. We wanted to see if anyone knows of deals or shortcuts or advice on how to plan a nice beautiful wedding but only on a $6000 budget.
Thanks
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posted: 09/17/07 at 4:52 PM
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I hope you can cook!
First, keep your guest list way down.
Second, select your location very carefully. If you plan to have liquor, make sure you can bring it in. If you have to go with their booze, it will skyrocket the costs. If you can't afford open bar, at least do beer wine & soda. I'd suggest a local hall -- Elks, Masons, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, etc. They all cater larger parties for very reasonable prices.
Think about the date / time / day. Sunday afternoon or Friday night are going to be the least expensive.
Look at second hand stores, on e-bay, at sales etc for a wedding gown. If any close female relative still has hers, ask if you can borrow it.
Have the guys wear dark suits (which hopefully they own) rather than rent tuxedos.
Be creative about your flowers & center pieces. I was throwing a party & got little green plants for about $4.99 each at Wal Mart or Home Depot & then put them in some sweet clay pots I bought at a garage sale for about $0.50 each. You could add helium ballons for about $1 each.
Shop around for a reasonably priced DJ but expect to pay at least $300. Do not skimp on the wedding photographer. You only get one shot at this.
Happy planning.
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posted: 09/17/07 at 7:17 PM
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You can do it, definitely!
How (in)formal do you want your wedding? What are some things that you specifically want? Give us some additional details (a theme, etc.), and we could probably give you more in-depth answers.
Not to argue with Tr1sh, but you do not have to have anything alcoholic at your wedding. There is nothing wrong with having a dry wedding at all, especially if cost is a factor. If you would like to have a toast, you could do a sparkling something, or just for that purpose get wine or champagne (buying it yourself as Tr1sh suggested).
You can get your wedding dress at David's Bridal or one of the other bridal stores, but realize that if you do that you need to look at what sales they have, and go in with a budget ("I only have ____ to spend on a wedding dress") and don't sway on it!
Have your wedding and reception in one place. Cuts costs way down.
Think silk flowers instead of real. Know someone that can create them into your bouquets? OR...do one single flower instead of bouquets for your girls, and maybe a small arrangement for yourself of 3-4 flowers.
Candles make cheap centerpieces. Buy pillar candles in a package of 6 or 12 (whatever you need), get some ribbon and tie it around. Or floating candles in dishes (check your local Goodwill and see if you can find dishes for cheap, look online, etc).
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Met: August 2001
Relationship Est.: March 2006
Married: July 28, 2007
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posted: 09/17/07 at 7:50 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Sum1Sumwhere
Not to argue with Tr1sh, but you do not have to have anything alcoholic at your wedding. There is nothing wrong with having a dry wedding at all, especially if cost is a factor.
I did not mean to suggest that you must serve alcohol. However, if you are going to, just don't have a cash bar. That it so tacky, IMHO. Elegant does not have to be expensive but inexpensive should not be cheap either.
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posted: 09/17/07 at 10:52 PM
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| That's a lot of money you can totally make it work. My sister's wedding was under that amount. 5,000 dollars and the guest list was pretty big in size. The decoration was awesome and we had drinks and a buffet. See I really don't know what are the costs where you live but we totally made it happen. Shop shop shop and compare and cut costs in things that are not necesary. Good Luck!
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While watching TV someone uses the word "firecracker" to describe a woman.
I ask: "Babe am I a firecraker?"
He responds: "Firecracker?? You are a freakin' stick of dynamite!!"
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posted: 09/18/07 at 1:35 AM
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There is definitely some things you can do that will cut cost.
Posters above have some really good advice. I have a few pointers for you as well...
1. Not to disagree with Tr1sh, but I have planned a few wedding with a cash bar and it turned out to be great. It allowed the bride and groom to have a "dry" wedding but also gave guests the opportunity to have a drink if so desired. Also, if you feel that this is "tacky" you can offer the guests an hour of free drinks and make the rest of the night a cash bar. Either way, it is up to you and to agree with Trish, there is nothing wrong with have a dry wedding all together.
2. I helped a friend plan her wedding last September with a small budget and we made her bouquets. We bought two dozen roses from the flower shop and bought some green pipe cleaners and ribbon from the local craft store...it cost us about $25.00 to make four bouquets of yellow roses...very beautiful.
3. Decorating is definitely key and a few wedding I have planned with a small budget we walked into stores like the "dollar store" or things like that. Yes, some items look cheap but if you are looking carefully there are items that look fantastic as decorations. A client of mine had a "winter" wedding and we found some snowman candle holders that were a dollar each. We bought those for the center pieces and a little bit of white party confetti and some candles...it made it perfect...
And like Trish said, inexpensive doesn't mean that your wedding cannot be elegant.
If you need any help just let me know...I plan weddings part-time, well, my company does and I can give you a few pointers if need be...
GOOD LUCK and happy thoughts for the future 
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*~*Catherine*~*
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posted: 09/18/07 at 3:11 AM
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Make a list of what you don't want to cutback and what you are willing to cutback on.
Like Tri1sh mentioned, I wouldn't cut back on photographer or videographer either.
Make your own invitations if you have a printer.
What month are you planning your wedding? Lots of my friends got to cut back on decorations because they had their wedding in December and the place they had their reception already had some winter/christmas decorations.
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Be patient. It will happen for you. Sooner or later, life will get weary of beating on you and holding the door shut on you, and then it will let you in and throw you a real party! - Les Brown
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posted: 09/18/07 at 10:03 AM
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some times it pays to go to the local uni and ask to see some work of the uni students photography or maybe the film and tv room and ask to see there work and "interview" some of them.
also look on ebay for things to make the invites with, you can do it yourself much cheaper and half the time, much nicer.
look around at the end of prom or formals as im sure dresses will be marked down.
Have you got a friend or know some one who you can "bulk pay" to do your whole wedding parties make up and or hair?
just remember, it may work out best if you "bulk buy" some of the things like table clothes on ebay or stickers to put on the invites and what not.
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posted: 09/18/07 at 5:38 PM
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Do your own invitations, make the wedding outdoors or at home, not in a local, enroll the help of good friends or relatives...
My wedding dress was tailored by my best friend, as a wedding present, with a pattern from "Burda", it got beautiful, but simple and rather original. If nobody around you can tailor, think about a prom dress which is dressy and beautiful, but much cheaper.
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Elena
"Don't worry, be happy!"
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posted: 09/18/07 at 5:55 PM
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| Look for and request decorations on www.freecycle.org. Everything on the list is FREE.
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~~~A relationship involves time, committment, communication, honesty and the ability to work on the issues you have. Anything worth having is worth the work. ~~~
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today"
"There just isn't any pleasing some people. The trick is to stop trying"
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