Poor Girl Wedding Pitty Party: You're Invited!!!

It stinks sometimes watching shows like say yes to the dress or four weddings where these brides have unlimited budgets... or even flipping through bridal magazines

It makes me wish I could have a big fancy wedding where my vendors did all the work but that's just not in the cards for this broke bride...

And you never really see low budget brides wedding pictures all over since the whole point of these magazines is to promote the wedding industry and if you're spending less thats not good for the industry so it just gets discouraging and sometimes I feel like a forgotten bride because I can't have a big fancy day like so many others

DIY everything, we have about 50 guest and I am cooking, cooking is my passion. I knnow a friend who paid $1200 for a caterer who served us 2 mini chicken fajita, rice and beans, rented a limo, no one even saw her got out of the dang car.

I know what you mean, I have watched those shows in the past and always thought my dress had to be at least 5k! What the hell was I thinking!!

Since we started planning I had a huge wake up call. I just don't see putting so much money into a wedding and with all the stress involved was driving me crazy. so I looked for other options and cut our budget from 20k to half 10k, including our transportation costs.

DW with an all- inclusive package!! (includes 2 nights stay, officiant, flowers, photography/ videography package, limo, live music for ceremony)

Keeping the guest list small, cut in half for us.

Bought dress off rack.

No wedding party.

JVL rings instead of expensive rings

Using vistaprint for STDs and Invites.

Reception at restaurant then renting a banquet hall so no additional facility fees.

Keep in mind too that the DW is also our honeymoon as we would not have had one at all to begin with

Just cause you have some money doesn't mean you should spend it all on a wedding either. I cringe when I see the 4 Wedding ladies spend in the upwards of 40k and up for a wedding. I can't imagine doing it cause I'm so cheap even when I do have the money. Kudos to those who have the awesome weddings cause I love to watch them, but I couldn't see me doing it.

Oh gosh, I can't watch any of those wedding shows...

We got thrifty and did some DIY.

*Uncle is officiant

*Aunt baking cake

*BM mom being doc

*diy invitations and other paper bits

*weekend honeymoon close to home

*Went through FH work for flowers

*Using jars for decoration because I do canning so we have a million of them lol

#1 is we're keeping it simple

We are not having a champagne toast, at 3.50 a head that's over 400$..no thanks. They can toast with whatever they're drinking at the time.

We will be reusing the archway bouquet of flowers at the head table.

I will be DIY candy buffet.

The easiest, fastest way to cut a budget is to cut the guest list and the wedding party. If you can't have all your friends in the wedding party, have none or just your siblings.

Invite only your closest family and friends; I'm sorry, NO ONE has 150 close family and friends.

The 'industry' exists because thousands of couples have bought into the idea that they can't have a wedding without (insert one) uplights, plasma tv's, 20 people in the bridal party, an after party, 300 guests, save the dates, Jimmy Choo shoes. None of that is necessary.

Pick your priorities, spend the money there, and save the rest. Chances are, no one will notice. Anything.

I wouldn't call it a pity party; I'd call it a Smarty Party!

OMG Celia!!! Yes I forgot I need to work in my budget the Jimmy Choos!!!! They are nessesary!!!... Only in my dreams LOL

Bump Celia, I agree who spends thousands of dollars for shoes for 1 day!! I rather spend that kind of money for a house or a trip for m family!

Hey Megan,

We have a pretty big stock pile of silk florals, and your post really touched me. (I love that you are paying off your college loans instead of taking out more loans for a wedding.) I would be more than happy to do a Bridal Bouquet for you. (absolutely free, not selling you a thing) Every few months we do a free bouquet for a deserving person. Your wedding is important - and we would love to gift this to you. My personal e-mail is *************@*****.*** (I don't want this to be considered advertising - lol. I just can't find any other way to get in touch with you)

Rachel

Celia, I have uplighting. But thankfully, my godsister gave us $350 to use towards to wedding which we used to get both the uplighting and our souvenir shot glasses. We bought the uplighting for $180 for 8 including shipping and color gel. We plan to resell it after the wedding.

I live in Pittsburgh, and being a city things are $$$. I decided to get married in my hometown 2 hours away because it's cheaper (and no less convenient for more than 1/2 our guest list).

DIY invitations - $1.59 each plus postage

discounted band and dj - FH plays with the band and works with the dj

I did book a florist, but the girls are carrying nosegay bouquets (small) and mine is going to be simple as well (it's actually what I like now that I've seen tons of floral pix).

Our wedding cake is $82 made by a (new to the wedding industry) local bakery. I handed them a check so fast for the deposit it was ridiculous. Wanted to get them booked before they realized what a steal this is.

The reception hall was a steal at $150. We can set up the day before and we don't have to be out at any certain time. There are also no restrictions like hanging things on the wall / ceiling (I don't plan to), open flame candles etc. It's a hotel ballroom, so not glamorous, but for the price. . .

Paris- I live in the DC metro area and I'm getting married in Pittsburgh, because that's where I'm from, but I'm also glad I'm not getting married in this area because prices are so high!

@Jenny M.: Tell me about it! We had a $10,000 budget. Our ceremony had to be in Massachusetts, because at the time we got engaged, that was the only state that would allow a same-sex couple to get married. But our at-home reception was in the DC area. With two high-cost areas involved, plus extra expenses due to getting married far from home (extra cost for using a synagogue we weren't members of, accommodations for ourselves and our guests), plus extra expenses due to having double the usual number of brides (two dresses and veils, having hair and make-up for two done in each city), it was a real challenge!

And for those of you who don't appreciate the cost of living thing: You know how everyone is always suggesting using a fire hall if you need a venue on a tight budget? The nearest fire hall to me is $2,000 if you want to use it on a Friday or Saturday, and $1,500 even on a Sunday.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] We bought our dresses from a consignment store.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] Rehearsal dinner was pizza delivered to the place everyone was staying.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] We made our own chuppah (wedding canopy), and resold it after the wedding.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] We had very limited decorations (no flowers except for bouquets and bout) at the ceremony, and all were DIY. Most were also resold after the wedding.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] We had only two attendants, and both wore outfits they already owned.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] Photographer was found on Craigslist, and used only for the ceremony. We also got only edited digital images, not prints or albums. Total cost was $400.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] Videographer was a talented amateur friend, who provided her services as a wedding gift to us.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] Ceremony music was on a CD we made ourselves, rather than being live music.

(cont.)

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] At-home reception venue was a private club, rented from a friend, that we decorated ourselves. Again, decorations were DIY and resold afterward.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] We paid a friend to purchase, prepare, serve, and clean up our food at the at-home reception, instead of hiring a caterer.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] We bought our linens and resold them afterwards, instead of renting.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] At-home reception musician was a friend who is a professional musician, who provided her services as her wedding gift to us.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] DIY fauxtobooth was run by another friend.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] NotFroofy made our cake.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] No special car rental; we used our minivan.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] No save the dates.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] No favors.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] No wedding coordinator or DOC.

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] No engagement rings, and wedding bands are plain gold bands with no stones or engraving.

(cont.)

2nd Bride- were you able to do all that within your budget? If so, you are a budgeting master! Our budget is $5,000 for a backyard/picnic wedding and I think we're going to be close.