Yesterday was my big day, so this is still fresh in my mind.
We wanted a smallish wedding, so we could keep it nice. Grand total, between us, my parents, and my husband (God, that sounds weird)'s dad, we spent around $4500, including honeymoon. Here are some tips for saving $$:
-smaller guest list. *Most* people understand that you want to keep it intimate, and a couple starting out can't afford a huge affair. We limited our list to immediate family, godparents, and close friends. We invited about 55 people, and had about 50 there.
-Look at your resources. Think of anyone you know who can provide a service cheap or at cost. We got a full buffet catered (appetizers, 2 main dishes, 2 salads, 2 veg, potatoes, bread, and dessert) for $10 a person through the resturant where I work. My mom's friend owns a flower shop, and did our flowers (I, too, went crazy with my flowers!) for cost as a gift. I bought a pair of flip flops (I hate heels) and a friend decorated them for me with lace and flowers. I paid $8 for my shoes, and got SO many compliments. My now BIL is a music major and concert pianist, so he played during the ceremony.
-Ask people who were recently married for tips. That's how we found our cake (which ended up being 1/2 the price of the one we were planning on getting).
-DJ. What we did probably wouldn't work for everyone, but it did save a bundle. We borrowed a sound system and lap top, and burned CDs (one for "dinner" music, and another for dancing). A friend was in charge of making announcements and starting certain songs for the dances and such. It worked out well, and saved probably $400.
-Have your reception (and ceremony, if that's your thing) someplace unusual. You don't have to do a church and country club or whatever. We had the ceremony and reception at a mansion/museum owned by the historical society. The cost was a lot less than renting a banquet hall, and it oozed ambience.
-Make your own program. There are plenty of templates online that you can customize. We printed them off at Kinkos on nice stock paper and tied ribbons through them.
-Invitations.
www.invitations4sale.com is FABULOUS. Tons of selection, highly professional, and fast. We would have paid $100 more for the exact same invite through a printer.
-If possible, buy your own booze. Some caterers will allow you to provide your own and they'll provide the bartender.
Do pick a few things on which you refuse to skimp on. Mine were flowers (kinda-we got them at cost, but we had them EVERYWHERE and they were gorgeous), my attire, the tuxes, and gifts for people who helped us.
This is entirely too long, and I must go nap!