Want to get married, don't want to be in debt forever, tips please

[chocohead]

Me and my dp want to get married June this year if poss

I have started browsing and blimey some are so expensive

Has anyone any tips how to keep it cheap but nice

Have about 25 people at ceremony/meal and 120 at evening reception

120 sounds a lot if you plan on keeping it cheap! I think you could reduce your numbers considerably but still have a great time.
Evening venues and food are really expensive so I would explore smaller places you could decorate yourselves and save money that way, eg sports centres, village hall, even a friends huge back garden, especially if the weather is nice in June.

Even if somewhere isn't classically lovely from the outside, they may have a great space outside at the back, and once you are inside it doesn't matter what the front looks like!

Keep flowers to a minimum, they cost an arm and a leg too. Candles and one Gerbera in a simple vase on each table can look really chic and not cost the earth.

But if you want those 120 people there, are there people you could loose? Or do you just need to plan accordingly. Village hall, pay bar, make your own buffet? (or get a friend to do it as a wedding present?)

How cheap is cheap?
And what do you really want out of it?
And get married as late as possible - that way you have to provide less and the emphasis is on having a party and celebrating, rather than the faffing around with Pimms on the lawn and expensive photos.
Arrange with friends in advance for them to take as many photos as poss and give you a disc afterwards.

Its cheaper to get married on a Friday, and even cheaper mid week!

It seems very soon to plan everything by.
Why not make it June next year and make an active decision to try and cut back wherever possible and build up some savings?
It would also give you longer to research places and prices of everything and hunt out bargains.

Do you really want a 'traditional' do? We had a ceremony/meal for close family then a picnic for absolutely everyone the next day. You get two days to celebrate and everyone does their own food - we provided champagne and cake! Very informal and great fun for adults and children!

top tips typed in a hurry!

don't bother with flowers at church - there are often nice ones in there already
try monsoon wedding dresses
make invitations/orders of service
try debenhams for bridesmaid dresses
everyones an amateur photographer these days - get a mate to do pics
nice country pubs make great places for reception meal and often don't charge as much as bigger venues

as for evening do - thats a lot of people! might be an idea to focus on food but get a paid bar in otherwise it could cost a lot.

I got a beautiful 2nd hand wedding dress, we got married and had our reception all in a beautiful Hilton countryside hotel set within a deer park. My friend made our cake ( granted she does it for a living) we didnt have a photographer just gave out disposables on each tabel and figured that we would have atlest SOME good ones from everyone and we did.

oh also the less time you have to plan wedding, the less time you have to spend money! My advice would be to go for it asap - it really doesn't take that long to organise. We did it in 5 months which was plenty.

We got married in October on a very small budget...Try e-bay for table decorations,usually One-Careful-Owner,lots of charity shops have "bridal" stores,second-hand dresses that you could get altered to add a personal touch...Boots often have offers on disposable cameras bought in bulk(it's a great tip to put them on tables-but make sure you check out the photos before showing them:-to avoid showing Granny picture of people unmentionables!!)If it's possible ask close friends or family to buy your cake/flowers etc as their wedding gift to you.
I bought end-of-stock invitations/thank-you cards/place settings from an internet site(can't remember name at the moment)Don't worry about colour coding everything 1.people don't notice 2.those that do aren't worth it.
Most important relax,enjoy the day and if your happy and relaxed everyone else will be.
Last tip: don't tell any guests your plans and then if they don't go totally correctly no one will notice...
Good luck

Hi Chocohead-me and my dp are also getting married in June, we are having a registry office do then meal at local nice restaurant for 20 think its about £19 a head for 3 course meal then for our evening do hiring local village hall 80 people for £10 an hour-they provide chairs/tables/catering kitchen/table linen and other stuff that is in the £10 per hour hire,outside caterers about tenner ahead for cold meat buffet with salads and puds ,borrowing friends posh Audi for transport,getting local florist to do flowers,I think it's also about who you know-ask around and get friends to ask friends, we are not having photographer and just asking guests to take plenty of pics with digi cameras, putting disposable cameras on tables at night,making own invitations,buying paper tablecloths for night do and buying matching/contrasting wallpaper to use as a runner-I managed to gets some tahat looks like material will only cost £13,use flowers that are in season and can anyone make you a cake as a gift?
Hope this helps

havent read thread

dont ahve meal or reception

i wish i hadnt

i wanted to go away with dh and do it just the 2 of us - but his mother nipped nipped and nagged til dh could hardly breathe and we gave in

i dont even like my wedding photos

BUT everyone bangs on about how our wedding ws the greatest ever - so all the guests were happy! pity about dh and i though...

never mind

SO thats my advice anyway...

On tight budget, prioritise the venue and the food. You can get most other things either cheaply or as gifts from close friends and family - and a lot of unimportant things can just be missed out on (you don't need bags of sugared almonds or ribbons on every chair). At the risk of getting a slap for plugging, I've got a website that deals with unconventional weddings www.lovelifecelebrate.co.uk which might offer you some ideas.
Congratulations by the way. Have fun.

take parents and siblings along to register office.
go for chinese afterwards.

oops sorry reading taht back soounds like im barking at you

pukka put it better than i

sorry am drunk

Try to avoid a Saturday - not only the venue but the entertainment etc are all usually cheaper.

M&S have a sale on some of their wedding dresses online at the mo. BHS do nice wedding shoes. Try a underwear factory shop for bridal undies.

Don't bother with favours.

If church do, ask the church ladies to do the flowers.

Lots of ppl know amateur photographers so post for a recommendation in your area. I know a good one in the w-mids for instance.

Do you know what you would like entertainment wise?

Go abroad. The best decision we ever made. Had an amazing wedding and honeymoon. Much cheaper than at home and no family hassle.