I usually don't post on the hobby site But...

[congdon476]

My dad offered to pay us to elope! He and my mom had been to enough of their rich friend's kid's weddings they knew what could happen.

I didn't take it, of course, I wanted the fancy wedding and reception. BUT, I did do it cheaper than all their friends. Go with seasonal flowers and do them yourself. Just get them from a florist the day before and make up the bouquets. Use ribbon to bind them and keep in the fridge overnight.

Make a buffet lunch like the other poster said.

Outside is nice, but remember, Mother Nature can create rain whenever she wants. Tents are expensive.

Look for sale wedding dresses OR make her one... OR give her yours. Check around with friends, they may still have their wedding dresses and be willing to lend it out. I have mine, crumpled in the closet somewhere... still trying to figure out what to do with it. She could even rent one or wear a SIMPLE white dress from a department store.

Tables don't have to have floral arrangements. Use a candle in a mall holder (like $2.00 at walmart) and put a circle of fern leaves (super cheap at the florist) around it on the table. Sprinkle tale with glitters in the center (not on the edge where it could get in people' food).

Drinks- alcohol's nice, but you don't HAVE to serve it. Less alcohol, people are likely to go home earlier anyway!

And keep the guest list small. Explain the finances and have her invite ONLY the people she's really close to. The gals you knew 4 years ago from school that you haven't talked to in 4 years don't need to be invited. Neither do your step-dad's cousins's kids... well, you get the idea.

If she wants them to know, she could just send out an announcement after the wedding to let people know she's married. Send it with a photo from the honeymoon!.

Last of all- Good luck!

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

Quote:
All good ideas...We had about 250 people at our wedding (not including the wedding party or our parents). Just a tip on doing your own flowers...I think it is a wonderful idea. If you choose to do real flowers though and you store them in the fridge...GREAT, but make sure you remove any apples at least 24 hours in advance. The flower shop told me that apples give off a gas when in the fridge that will wilt flowers faster than anything else...(we ended up using silk/fake flowers at our wedding because they ended up being way cheaper). Just just a little tip I guess...make sure you remove the apples in a fridge 24 hours prior to putting flowers in there or all your hard work will be wilted away.

 

[redhen]

for my wedding the most expensive part was the reception/food!!....i was married outside in someones beautiful backyard...in a pretty little gazebo that was decorated...there was a pretty little pond and a little wooden bridge over it.......this awesome, kind man lets people get married in his yard, and he says there is no fee! AND he even decorated the little Gazebo for us!...*i did give him money though..because he was so nice!* So, if you can find a nice place outside *maybe a place thats special to the bride and groom* and cater/make your own food AND cake...it helps alot! also...for her dress...what about craigslist? i always see them for sale cheap on there..and they have only been worn once!....

.....or sometimes sadly never even worn....as for music for the reception...look up your local D.J. 's.....so many times they will work for very cheap...just so they can get their name out there....thats what i did....the guy was awesome! if you have a good D.J. it makes the whole reception....also..i got alot of my decorations at craft stores Michael's, AC Moore...those places have alot of wedding craft things.....good luck! and have fun!

 

[lizardz]

We did our wedding for about $1500 for around 100 people (of course, that was 20 years ago), but I think you can still get by somewhat inexpensively if you plan. First thing - set a budget of what you can afford! If they feel they need to spend more, then let them make up the difference. You DO NOT owe them a wedding - it is a generous gift you are giving them.
Ideas for dresses - look around, there are often designs that are discontinued and going cheap. I was going to make my dress and decided to try on dresses to see what I liked. I found a beautiful dress with lace, sequins, pearls, which was discontinued and cost $300. I couldn't have made a dress for that! Make your own, Craigslist, e-bay, used clothing stores or go to www.makingmemories.org (people donate their dresses and all the proceeds go toward women with breast cancer).
The cake - you've done it before, you can do it again! There are lots of places that give classes (I know Michael's does). If you don't feel you can do the fondant, be honest with your daughter and look at the Wilton cake books, they'll give you lots of ideas. Decorated cupcakes are the big rage currently and kind of fun.
Drinks - PUNCH! Can go a long way with only a little alcohol!
Location - We did ours at my parents home, outside. It was a spring wedding and snowed the 6" the weekend before, but was beautiful the day of. Do you or someone you know have a nice backyard? See if they'll let you use it.
Flowers - We used wildflowers for my bouquet and a friend made them for us. Do you know someone who could do them for you? If you're outside, decorate with pots of flowers (we used pots of daffodils).
Food - Do a buffet and get a bunch of friends over to help you prepare! We made everything ahead and froze it. Bought a cheese tray and fruit and veggie trays. Lots of fun cooking with friends/family. Hire someone to keep platters filled, refill punch bowls, etc., so you don't have to be paying attention to that. I hired a couple of my brother's friends to do this (they were highschool students and very proud to be given this responsibility, as well as the money!).
Photos - Do you know someone who loves photography? We all do. Ask if they would be willing.
Guest list - You don't need to invite everyone you know. Who matters most? Invite them.
Well, there's lots more to think of, but these are what come off the top of my head remembering my wedding (oh, so long ago!). Good luck. Everything will come out beautifully, and as a previous poster said - The size of the wedding has nothing to do with the size of the love. It is only one day of what will hopefully be decades together!
Liz

 

[FrChuckW]

You will need to have your daughter confirm the date whether it is this year or next year. Then you will have a time frame to plan with.

For Fall flowers, try Zinnias, Marigolds, Mums, Roses, Butterfly Bushes, Crepe Myrtle, Hollyhocks, Dianthus, also some Irises and Daylillies will bloom late into the fall.

If you are planning an outdoor wedding, have a contingency plan in place in case of bad weather. Alot of Non-denominational small churches will rent out their facilities for weddings at a nominal cost for non-members. Line up the minister or judge well in advance so that they can mark it on their calendar, and follow-up with them to confirm that they are available for that date.

Check out Dollar Stores, thrift and resale shops like Goodwill and DAV for things like silk flowers, vases, fabrics for decorations.

Enlist friends and family with the preparation of food items, wedding decorations, etc, Watch for sales on items that can be used for the wedding and reception.

Sit down with your daughter and her prospective husband and plan out the wedding. Get yourself a notebook, and write it down, make yourself a check list and as each thing is completed mark it off.

And whatever you do, take time to breathe!

I know some of the above has been stated before, but as I have been involved with many weddings over the years, I think the nicest ones have been the ones were things were kept simple.

 

[lizardz]

Just wanted to re-stress the importance of a budget. Figure out what you can afford and STICK WITH IT! Things can really get out of hand otherwise. My BILs daughter got married a few years ago. The cost - $42,000. That's right, three zeros. They took out a loan on their house to pay for it. I hear the daughter's getting a divorce; I'm betting they're still paying on the loan. My MIL turned 90 last year and we threw a party for her. Had to plan it with my SIL. I had found a nice space that was reasonably priced (in San Francisco), a friend was willing to cater it for only the cost of food, but SIL was opposed to having to set up tables, etc. Told her our budget was $2,500, and that was all we would spend. Ended up having it at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. 115 people at $50/plate, plus decorations, table favors, etc. I don't know what it ended up costing in the end, but I wrote her a check for $2,500 and that was it. Money is always the sticky subject, so be honest with yourself about what you can afford, then honest with you daughter and future SIL.

 

[Promiselandfarm]

Well it is funny and helpful with all those wonderful things everyone has posted. My daughter's guy wanted to do an Opryland Hotel well after looking at their website IT is OUT. I am sure it is really nice to have a wedding there especially if you can use their atrium which is beautiful. However, after the terrible wedding planner my nephew had which sat mother right next to 6 month new step mom she said NO planner is going to tell her how to do her own wedding. Anyway looks like I'll be planting tons of flowers in my veggie garden this year. Thanks for the list of those!!! She can not fit my dress nor does she really like my dress it is 28 years old when I was a size 5. She is tall and I'm barely 5ft 1in and is not a size 5 nor is she built the way I was she is bigger boned and thicker. I had my dress altered for me and then left it hanging in my MIL home(left from her house to go on the honeymoon and was assured it would be safe) she allowed others to use it and alter it further. So I am not sure that any of my girls could wear it because the last cousin(husbands family) who wore my dress was like a size 3 or 1...which my MIL used to show me I was fat when I got married...ha! Anyway my daughter is about a size 12 and is a fitness teacher(HHP major) and a belly dancer so she is in good shape. She wants a dress that has a corset type top with tons of beading and lace. So I told her we could embellish a base dress or change one if she found something on sale that would be the start. Vera Wang would have to be on massive sale here for me to think about purchasing. I can cook for large amounts of people heck I do that everyday with my kids 4 boys EAT TONS. My MIL did at one time have a tea room and catered but she has Alzheimer now and does good to remember who she is. All her stuff when to one of the two girls for safe keeping until everyone started getting married...which started in July of 08 and well lets just say CAT FIGHT between the two so I will not go down that road. I want my daughters experience to be great as mine was 28 years ago. We have in Clarksville a good many dollar tree and dollar stores so finding inexpensive candle stuff should be easy. The oriental trading idea was great. We used them to do a float for a parade for church on year with their goodies to give out and other stuff.
She has decided she wants a church that has a center asile( our church does not have) that is the one thing she will not budge on. My husband's pastor friend's church does have one so she is going to go and look at it soon. She has picked out light rose pink and silver for her colors. So we are at least started. Now I think we can have any EGG based thing .....LOve those chickens!!! joking but we will have tons of eggs by that time even if it is next year. I like the buffet idea but not sure if she wants to do finger foods or a sit down meal. Here in this area of the country they do finger foods, but up north where he is from they do a sit down meal for those who come ....so we have not gotten that far on that area.
As far as the fondant goes I used to make little people out of them and all kinds of fun things out of it but never covered a cake with it. so.... my husband said I had just better get busy practicing. My own wedding my cake and dress were the most expensive part of my wedding. My cake was beautiful!!!! well so was my dress or at least I thought but she does not think so... The date how she put it to me was if he gets a job down here then it will be this year if he does not then it will be next year. He has a job now in Ohio and is also in the reserves so that part for him will be easy. The job part??? around here unless he has an inside scoop then I don't see him getting one. Sad but it would give me a little more time.......Guys keep it coming....and THANKS

 

[dragracer]

We did everything for our wedding on our own except food and flowers for bride, groom and bridesmaids. We did our own invitations and programs. I ordered the blank cards from a party store--the print shop that printed them actually had invitations there and they were cheaper for the blank card stock than the party store. We used fake flowers for all the guys and family members--used half off coupons to michaels and hobby lobby to buy the silk flowers. Used the church hall for the reception and it was free, all we had to do was clean-up and the alter society would do clean-up for $50. For before dinner snacks we got fruit containers the grocery store uses for fruit baskets--they sold them to us really cheap--and went to sams and got gardettos, peanuts and popped stove popcorn and placed those on the tables. We were fortunate and my husbands family had mirrors/bowls (put colored rock and floating candles in them) and latice backdrop/greenery. He comes from a huge family and someone is always getting married. Purchased a discount dress--orignally 3,000 paid 250. We made the bridesmaids dresses. PM me if you would like to see pics. We sent 400 invites. The most expensive part was the dinner.

 

[therealsilkiechick]

i have't seen many help ya with the cake part so here ya go.

http://www.wilton.com/

i buy everything wilton they r the best for cake decorating and supplies.

they r suppierior products at excellent prices well worth the investment and i won't use or reccomend anything else cuz nothen stands up to them,lol.

some cake/party stores rent out/sell wilton pans, sell wedding supplies. here it is $2 a day for specialty pan rentals but wedding ones maybe more like $5 ea a day. i have 2 wedding tier sets so i've not had to rent them but those can be costly if bought out right. usually u can rent or buy pilliars, fountains ect that is usually the most costly part of it. i got about 100 pans or so so i don't usually rent but i know there are stores who do. check walmart craft part most cake stuff u find there is wilton and should be best prices for it. ebay is good too but u have to watch prices alot of things u can buy cheaper direct from wilton than u can there. especially if a pan is retired i've seen on ebay a $10 pan sell for $80 so be carefull there but alot of times u can find good deals.

the website should help u if u need more wilton also has books with just wedding cakes in them. i have 1 but can't think of the name of it however they also have yearbooks(newst ones u can find right at walmart they r about $8-10. )any yearbook has at least about 10 different wedding cakes in it give or take plus every occasions as well. year books come out every year and 2009 should be out as of a few mths ago. it will tell u what u need and how to make it for every cake in the yearbooks or the wedding books. it will also tell u how to make fondant and other iceings and heck they might be listed on wilton site too if i remember right. there is also a section of products u can order, a place to tell u how to cut and iceing wedding cakes ect in all their books and if all else fails there is wilton lesson books ect and u can get them and teach urself as well. it's how i learned to decorate cakes and is so easy!!

my best advice is practice, practic, practic and the angle of the bag is the key to anything u make. oh and if u do flowers the 2 main things ya need is a flower nail and rose scissors u'd be amazed how much better flowers come out useing them, like works of art painted on the cakes if done right!!

if u need anymore help on the cake part just pm me and i'll see what i can do to help ya.
silkie

 

[Dar]

my friend got married last year and this was her second marriage so she did not want to break the bank...what she did was.....

rented her wedding dress and the tux from a costume shop ..less then $150 for the both and the shop cleaned them after they were done

in her area she has a culinary school..she talked to the teacher and agreed that the class would make the buffet meal and she would supply the actual food but the students would prepare and bring the food out to the buffet tables and then the students would be graded on the meal ect..as their final mark..

she contacted another school about photos..and yes you got it she used a student to do her pics but the agreement was she had to allow the student to use the pics as part of his porfolio (sp)

she used her church so the minister did not charge her but we had to go back the next day and clean the church and we, her friends did that for her

she booked a picnic site at a local conservation park to have the reception mother nature always provides the best in scenery..

she added in her invites (which she printed on her computer) that the guests were to bring a casual (but decent) set of clothes to change into after the wedding..the church allowed everyone to use their bathrooms and back rooms to change...some went home...well you get the point..

the reception was like a very expensive back yard party.catered by the students who also made her cake and yes they were graded on it..lol .it was great no formal fancy schmancy stuffy thing...his and her best friends and family the ones she cared about most enjoying themselves...there was a limited amount of alcohol nobody got trashed and out of control...

by day it was stunning...by night is was a relaxed fun night..i can say i enjoyed this wedding more then i have enjoyed some of the ones in the past

oo and the decorations...freecycle
tables.. borrowed from the church

we did a lot of running around to gather everything and to clean and return things but if you are willing to do the leg work and research you can get a lot for free or little cost