Where are you cutting corners? And why?

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] No videographer because I don't really care to have a vid if I have pics

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] Caterer allows us to bring in any extra food so we're getting it from costco/GFS for thinks like appetizers or extra desserts

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] FH is in the Army so no tux needed

I feel very fortunate that I haven't really had to cut any corners. However, one of my best friends is a very talented musician so he and his wife will be playing the ceremony music for free. Also, we're not having a limo, either--we're just going to drive to the venue and take the shuttle bus back to the hotel with all the other guests.

I also decided that a cake stand was a waste of money, lol.

So far my biggest cut was invite costs. I really wanted super fancy invites but all the ones I found were 500-1000$ so I said screw it that can go towards more food and booze! Ended up spending $150 on Vistaprint and they are actually super cute and I love them.

I did real wedding invitations. But for the bridal showers, bachelorette party, other celebrations you could do post card invites. Cheaper postage and no envelope!!

FH's one cousin is a photographer, his other cousin does invitations. His brother in law is a musician so he will be providing music for the ceremony. His Grandparents can get us the reception hall cheap. We may not use the bridal changing room which will save us $50 if we don't. Also we are doing a lot of diy projects!

I have made some things. I didn't use friends for services.

We moved our date back so we could have everything we wanted.

I'm not going overboard with decorations. The ones I am doing are candles (cheap) and lights (can be resold if I choose). My caterer is allowing me to supply my own alcohol at no charge that will save a ton! I made my own invites. I went with a knock off dress instead of designer. Oh and I'm NOT doing any flowers! I'm planning on clutches for my bridesmaids that will double as their gift.

I don't think we've really had to cut corners but I've worked really hard to find the right price for the things we've wantede. Originally FH wanted a videographer but his selection was ridiculously expensive so we're just not having one. I've been able to find discounts on a lot of things that I really wanted or got gift cards for things that I really wanted that were more expensive than our budget allowed. And we cut down the drink selection at our venue saving $1,000.

We are doing artifical flowers instead of real and arranging them ourselves... huge $$$ saver there (paid under $200 for all our flowers)

we are having a family freind take the pictures

my uncle is playing piano for the ceremony

my grandfather and father are officiating

No need for transportation, all at one location and FH just got a brand new truck so we will just use that when we leave

our caterer is real reasonably priced at under $10 a plate (we are doing 2 different buffets, one BBQ and one fajita)

our cocktail hour is not caterered, we are preping the app trays the day before and will be refridgerated

our venue is less then $1000 for the day as it is not a typical wedding venue

all our wine we bought at discount from the local winery

DJ is a friend of my SIL so we are getting a discount there

no videographer (don't feel it is necessary)

probably no honeymoon (FH just got a new job and won't have any PTO for a year)

Oh yeah and we made our invites (less then $30 total cost for all ty hobby lobby for 50% off scrapbooking paper)

My budget keeps shrinking as it gets closer to the wedding, what started out as $10,000 has now dropped to about $6,000. We are currently at $4000 in total cost so well within our budget

No candy bar. I like cake and don't feel a need for candy. No videographer for me, after seeing the price of a photographer and almost having a heart attack I decided not to go there.

I almost forgot, we're probably not doing favors either. I've never gotten a favor that I actually took with me or kept other than alcohol and that's too expensive.

I'm with you Tiffany, I am not doing favors either...

The last wedding we went too we got a "cake" of washclothes with a soap rose bud "cake topper". it was different, and in talking to the bride and groom it was made by the grooms sister for the wedding.

I just can't think of anything that would be practical for a wedding favor, and both sides of the family think it's an unneeded expense.

I am not doing favors either.

We didn't have to cut corners, but I didn't get many things that were meaningless to me. So no cake stand, special cake cutting set, toasting flutes, no favors/candy bar/photo booth. We also did minimal decorations but our venue is gorgeous as is. I bought shoes that I can wear again, the dress was off the rack.

We are doing minimal ceremony decorations, we are also doing a photobooth as the favor and will use the frames as place cards, and I'm DIYing the invites,all centerpieces,cake topper and flowers along with family friend.

I have planned 2 weddings in the last 2 yrs, my wedding & my daughter's. Both were polar opposites. We had a biker themed DW in Vermont w/ 62 guests. It was a party centered "wedding weekend". My daughter had a very formal & elegant affair. The costs of both were also opposite. We totaled at $12K. Her wedding was $40K. At both weddings, costs were not cut that would directly affect our guests enjoyment of the event. THere were really no cost cutting measures for my daughter's wedding which was our pleasure to pay for(along w/ her father).

To cut costs for our wedding:

my DIL did photos

stepson did Fri karaoke for welcome dinner

friend DJ for reception(outstanding)

used paper products for welcome dinner

DIYed all decore

wore BM gown

To cut costs for my daughter's:

chose not to do pink napkins or table runners for tablescapes & I regret it

did not have a videographer & didn't regret it

My dad is making our cake (he is a chef).

Our photographer is a photo journalism student ($250), and a friend of my FSIL.

Our videographer is a family friend.

DIY flowers,

We are using Spotify for the music, no DJ.

We are catering our cocktail hour and doing all our own alcohol (here's to two buck chuck!!)

And even with all this our wedding is still costing around 6,000!!!

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅]DH moms best friend made our wedding cake

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅]didn't get a limo there was no point we were 7 min drive from ceremony to reception

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅]we had 3 friends play the ceremony

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅]we had many friends play music for our reception

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] we hired a photog just to do ceremony, BP and family

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] We decorated ourselves

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] we made our own bouquets

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅]I made the boutineers

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] we had enough groomsmen that rented tux's so DH tux was free

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅]I bought my dress at a consignment shop

[̲̅$̲̅(̲̅1̲̅)̲̅$̲̅] BM did my makeup

We had 85 guests. We had a coctail hr, full dinner, late night buffet, and paid for all our guests drinks. All said and done for our suite, my ring, the whole wedding and reception, wardrobe, hair etc we paid $12,000

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