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Weddings

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Original poster

A VERY LOW budget wedding!

84 replies

debandkids3 · 08/03/2013 12:03

I am getting married next year on a very low budget.. I am wondering if anyone has had a wedding reception at a pub and got the guests to pay for their own 'price per head'? I know it sounds cheap but thats all i can do, cheap. please can you help me? Thank you! X

OP posts:
TobyLerone · 08/03/2013 12:05

Don't invite people if you can't afford to pay for them. Just have a register office wedding with your parents/other immediate family, and buy them a drink afterwards.

Original poster
debandkids3 · 08/03/2013 12:08

Thank you

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 08/03/2013 12:11

Some pubs have rooms that you can hire (or borrow) and then people could get what they wanted in terms of drinks etc - you might find that you could get the pub to do some platefuls of inexpensive nibbles if you ask them and explain the issue... but make sure people know they're not going coming for a buffet or sit down meal.

MousyMouse · 08/03/2013 12:13

registry office.
our ceremony cost 100£

Original poster
debandkids3 · 08/03/2013 12:17

mistlethrush, I have asked for a Buffet and the charge is £8.95 ph but its free to hire the room and open bar x

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 08/03/2013 12:27

Yup, if you ask for a 'buffet' that is the sort of price you'd be talking. However, ask them how much they would charge for, say, a tray of samosas, or a tray of sausage rolls, or a tray of quiche cut into small chunks - say that you're not expecting people to have a full meal, but would like some things for them to nibble and enable them to stay a bit longer (and drink more!). Hopefully something like that would come in quite a bit cheaper (but make sure you know how much is coming on the plate).

mistlethrush · 08/03/2013 12:29

Oh - and it would be unreasonable of them to refuse to allow you to bring your wedding cake - so get an inexpensive wedding cake and make sure that's freely available - perhaps have a small, simple one iced nicely and then find some plain slabs (or get someone to make them for you as a wedding present?) that you can also use.

sweetheart · 08/03/2013 12:29

Why don't you have a bring your own picnic type of wedding reception?

ethelb · 08/03/2013 12:36

Can you hire a village hall and just bring along your own trays of sandwiches/sausage rolls/quiche/cheese and crackers etc. Some village halls let you hire their plates etc in the price.

And make it BYOB? I wouldn't mind bringing along some booze if I wasn't expected to bring a pressie.

You can hire glasses for free from Sainsburys, without having to buy anything.

And defo just get an M&S/Asda plain iced cake.

GinAndSlimlinePlease · 08/03/2013 12:37

Why not have it at afternoon tea time, then you won't need to pay so much for nibbles?

Also, don't mention it's for a wedding as that instantly inflates the price.

I had an evening party for my wedding. We paid for some bottles of bubbly, and put about £200 behind the bar. We then spent another £150 on platters. It seemed to go down ok.

givemeaclue · 08/03/2013 12:37

I don't think is a great idea to ask people to pay for their own food, just invite less people or have it at home and put some sandwiches out.

Welovegrapes · 08/03/2013 12:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Welovegrapes · 08/03/2013 12:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Theas18 · 08/03/2013 12:51

Hire a hall and do own food or get guests to Maybe bring a bottle and a buffet item instead of presents. That would work well IMHO as you'd only have to mastermind a bit of a list so you don't get all crisps and no puds!

Own music on ipod- again appoint someone who thinks they're a bit of a DJ to sort that.

It'll be a great " do" and if you have proper mates not fair weather friends they will love to contribute instead of buying expensive gifts that they can't really afford either and that you probably don't need!

Original poster
debandkids3 · 09/03/2013 06:28

Thank you everyone, you've given me some pretty good advice and i may have to change things around a bit to suit my budget... Thank you.. X

OP posts:
MarjorieAntrobus · 09/03/2013 06:55

Have a look at the Which website budget-wedding page

Remember that until about thirty years ago it was almost compulsory to marry, and so it was done to a variety of budgets, whereas now people often wait until they can afford a "wedding" along the lines of what the wedding fairs and magazines dictate, and they also feel the pressure to copy friends' and families' weddings.

It's a ceremony followed by an optional celebration. You can do it however you want, and invite whoever you want. If they are good friends they will be happy to buy their own drinks and bring a plate of food.

Original poster
debandkids3 · 09/03/2013 09:00

Thank you MarjorieAntrobus, i'll have a look at that now... I have spoke to a few of my closest friends and they have said they will help me in every way possible, they are not keen on big huge fancy weddings and neither am i, just simple and inexspensive.. I am getting married July next year so i will have plenty of time to get 'bits n bobs'.. I have a local charity shop that also have wedding dresses as little as £50...

OP posts:
ZumbaZara · 09/03/2013 09:07

Also had afternoon tea wedding. We catered it ourself and had it our home.
Best value for money was asking an ice cream van to come and shouted ice cream on us!

toomuchicecream · 09/03/2013 09:09

For our 40th birthday party we asked people to bring a plate of food to share rather than presents as we already had enough "stuff" to fill several houses. In my observation, people don't like walking into a party not holding something so bringing food got round that problem. I have never, ever seen so much fantastic food at a party. Even the band commented it was one of the best catered events they'd been too (and as one of them was my brother I know they've played a LOT of very upmarket venues). I think people are more than happy to help out.

I think the key to a DIY approach is having a team of friends who all know what their job is and can get on with it without you having to intervene - brief them well in advance. Could also be useful for any relatives you want kept busy and out of the way... Finding extra plates or setting up chairs are the last things you want to be thinking abut on your wedding day.

TinyDiamond · 09/03/2013 23:22

we are doing this, super low budget. we are having a register office wedding (£50) and have booked the last ceremony of the day (4.30pm) to prevent lots of hanging around. only close family and friends are invited to ceremony, the ones who will help us set up for the night time party which we are having at my parents house.
all our money will be spent on booze and food. go to aldi, their wines are drinkable and cheap!
where abouts do you live? if it's a place with lots of Indian restaurants shop around for catering deals. we are doing a curry buffet everything kept warm in slow cookers for people to help themselves and bulk buying naan, salads, yoghurt etc from wholesaler. here you can get 25 fresh samosas for £6.
whatever you choose, don't mention the word wedding. also if you need glassware/plates etc try IKEA it may work out cheaper to buy it all then sell on eBay afterwards.
I am not having bridesmaids to save cash, just two little flower girls who will only be 2 so have high street dresses and will get matching shoes etc nearer the time.
favors often get discarded so I wouldn't bother with these.
I am making all our decorations and am only going to have minimal flowers as I don't like them anyway.
in terms of getting your booze if you do decide to self cater. start stockpiling now when you see offers. put in a few bottles or beers in with your weekly foodshop .

when is the wedding?

Original poster
debandkids3 · 10/03/2013 07:38

Thank you again, very much appreciated..

TinyDiamond, i am getting married July 2014 which gives me plenty of time to get alot of bits n bobs in.
I am having a bridesmaid and 2 flower girls, bridesmaid got her dress already and its perfect as it works around the colour theme 'red/white'.
I've spoken to the family and friends that i wantto come and they said they don't mind and are prepared to pay £8.95 each or bringing a plate of some sort, means i am not wanting presents which has helped me out loads.
I live in Derbyshire and also having Registry Office wedding (£280).
I just want a perfect day at a very low cost and with the amount of time i have to get the small things and i also have family that will help. I'm not having real flowers cost really are a waste of money if you ask me.

OP posts:
NorksAreMessy · 10/03/2013 07:44

Yoooo hoooo.
Congratulations deb, allow me to introduce myself. I am Norks, supplier of tiaras to Mumsnetters.

I have been delighted to be able to make tiaras for five or six mumsnetters and would be very happy to make one for you. No charge, just spreading the MN love, PM me if that would help you

TobyLerone · 10/03/2013 07:46

How lovely, Norks :)

NorksAreMessy · 10/03/2013 07:46

Oooh, and asking people to contribute THINGS instead of money is always much more acceptable and fun.
Someone made our cake as our wedding present, someone else made my bouquet as a present etc etc. people are usually happy to bring a plate of food, but MAY be less willing to pay.

BrittaPerry · 10/03/2013 07:51

I got a few of my friends to make my flowers from scraps of cloth :-). We had a session at the hen night and friends sent some in the post, then I sewed them on to a kind of cushion and tied feather boas to the handle :-)