To think you can plan a wedding in 7 months for £5k

[IMissMargaritas]

My family are driving me mad!

I got engaged last Saturday...yay! All so exciting and I can't wait to get this show on the road. But my family are bumming me out!

I have elderly relatives in the states who won't be keen on hanging around too long to take their 7 hour flight to get here. I've always wanted a fall wedding soooo...we're trying to plan this thing for September. We don't have much money, so my family are all trying to get me to put it off until next year when we can save a little more. Like they're really ranting at me for even considering it.

Am I mad? Should I listen to them?

Tell me your speedy wedding stories please. Or even better...any tips!

20 years ago I planned and executed a wedding in under 7 weeks. Cost about GBP 5k.

We got engaged in April 2013 and married in October, spent 5k. Ceremony in registry office and reception in cool cocktail bar/hipster venue over the road. Got the dress from Bicester village, simple flowers, friend did hair and makeup. The only thing I wish we hadn’t cheaped out on was the photographer- we got an aspiring photographer friend to do that too and he was shit

Our wedding is costing a lot and our idea of what it ‘should’ cost has basically tripled as we have gone along. What’s mainly pushed up the cost for us has been catering and entertainment which both cost a lot more than we initially expected, although I’m happy that what we’ve ended up with will be worth it.

I think there are some things that will always cost more because it’s a wedding, and then there are some things that just cost a lot because that’s just how much it costs. So if you want to put on a sit-down three-course meal and free booze all night for 100 people, followed by an amazing band and a slap-up evening buffet, then that’s going to cost you a lot whether or not it’s a wedding. The best budget weddings I’ve been to have been the ones where they’ve completely thought outside the box and done something different rather than trying to emulate a much more expensive wedding on the cheap, if you get what I mean? One friend of mine had a brilliant barbecue at a local pub, another hired a local pie shop to serve us all pie and mash on cardboard trays which was absolutely delicious. Another asked half a dozen guests (myself included) to bake a cake in lieu of giving a gift, and had a lovely table full of home-made cakes instead of an expensive ‘wedding cake’.

Another reason we decided we were happy to spend more that we initially though was because a few friends have cut costs on certain things recently and ended up being really stressed and/or disappointed, like my friend who did all her own flowers the day before (so much work and so much stress) or my friend who got a mate to take the photos and they all came out blurry. So if you’re going to do things DIY then that’s definitely a great option but just make sure you have enough time and people on hand to help. And think about whether there are ‘big’ things you can just cut out completely rather than trying to do them for cheap.

So I think it’s definitely do-able but have a think about what your absolute ‘must haves’ are and then prioritise those in your budget and be prepared to cut out or scale back other things to fit with that.

You can definatly do it. Money saving tips:

1. Buy dress off the rail/high street / in sale or 2nd hand
2. don't bother with bridesmaids. You will save on dresses, hair and make up
3. Serve a wedding cake as dessert if your having one
4. Be strict on numbers. Only invite those you want to ceremony and sit down meal if having one
5. Marry on a week day if possible
6. If you want a honeymoon book it for your one year anniversary. Gives you something to look forward to and another year to save

Do not scrimp on the photographer. When all is done it's only the photos that capture the day