Wedding at home??

Well I'm planning my wedding for Aug 30, 08 and we're on a small budget. My mom is letting me have it at her house (ceremony outside and reception inside). It's going to be a small wedding (around 50 guests). I'm just needing ideas on where to start. I already have my dress, flowergirl dress (which is my 2 yr old daughter). I have all of this picked out (not purchased yet): flowers, centerpieces, unity candles, flowergirl basket, ring pillow, guestbook, bridesmaids dresses. We haven't picked out the grooms or groomsmen tuxes yet (which we are going tomorrow). Anyway, I'm just needing some ideas and need to know where to start, lol! I know it's only 3 months away (12wks, 2 days lol). Thanks! lol =)

Wedding at home??
Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!



You are off to a great start! You have lots done already.



A few ideas/suggestions:



~ Don't forget to figure in the cost of an officiant and the marriage license.



~ You do NOT have to have a unity candle if you don't want to. But if you do, go to Walmart or Target for these things.



~ Ditto for the guest book. To be honest, I have never figured out the purpose of a guestbook. Do you really look at the signatures after? People sign their names, and that's it. It is put away. With a guest list of 50, it is really unnecessary. But, again, if you want one....they have these at Walmart and I have even seen them at Dollar Tree.



~ Invitations: Go to Michaels, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Office Max, etc. and buy one of the boxed sets of invitations. You bring these home and print them yourself on the computer! Very easy and inexpensive. If there is a Michaels Craft Store near you, go there. And....ask at the register for one of their 40% off coupons. The boxed sets of invitations run about $30, but with the 40% off it brings it down to $18.



~ Unless your really need a "head count," I would totally skip the RSVP (you will save on stamps.) Just figure that everyone invited WILL be there!



~ Flowers AND Cake: I always encourage brides to check out large grocery stores that have a floral department and a bakery. These places have experienced floral designers AND bakers. And....they will be substantially cheaper than going to a regular florist or a bakery. Check it out! (Oh, I just remembered that you already have the flowers picked out.) Well, anyway, check out a grocery store bakery for the cake!



~ Music: Perhaps play some soft music in the background with an ipod.



~ FOOD!! Important! What do you plan to serve? A meal to serve 50 people is not really that hard. I would pick a meat, starch, veggie, salad(s), rolls.



~ Try to recruit someone to be the photographer! If you live near a college or university, you may be able to get a photography student to come and do some pictures. Just an idea.....



~ Gifts for attendants?

~ Rehearsal dinner?



Well, those are my suggestions. I hope you have a beautiful day!
Reply:Put the deposits on the stuff you can like flowers, officiant, dress, etc.



I would start with getting fitted for my dress and getting that taken care of because it's most important.

You'll need to order either fancy plastic ware or rent silverware so you may want to do that...



Anything that's going to take time to order and get sent to you, do first, deposits and ideas written out and saved take time...

feel free to email me for more or for future assistance in planning.



Also! invitations!
Reply:When I got married I was a huge fan of the knot website.

http://www.theknot.com/?MsdVisit=1



You can find tons of ideas and shops in your area that help you out. Also Michael's is a great place to buy pretty much any type of wedding decoration. You can send out wedding invitations on postcards so the postage is cheaper and have guests RSVP by email or phone so you don't have to pay postage for that too. As far as food goes, maybe plan the wedding later in the evening or earlier in the day so the guests won't be expecting a dinner and you can just serve cake and or appetizers.



Good luck
Reply:Be sure to think about:

seating, or will they be standing

time of day - what will you need for lighting?

invitations

Are you serving food? just drinks and cake? just hors'd'oeuvres?

the minister

vows

bridesmaid gifts (tradition, not mandatory, they can be homemade too)

music

decorations!

narrow down your questions about specific things and we can keep giving you ideas that will help fit the budget!
Reply:Michaels always does 50 % off coupons in the paper. and they have a big section for wedding stuff, try that. Also hobby lobby does it sometimes too. I would look for a rental place for osme tables and dishes and stuff like that. You could also theme it, like luau or something so that you can decorate easier and not worry about things too much. Just be creative, and have fun.
Reply:We had our family bring all the sides and we bought ham and chicken from WalMart. That's what we all wanted though. We were on a tight budget too. You or your mom start asking your closest family and friends what food or drinks they can bring. My hubby played all music from his IPOD. It all worked out great!!
Reply:First you need to look in to who is preforming the cerimony also food and how many people.
Reply:Congratulations.



Fisrt of all, if you are on a tiny budget, be creative and don;t fall into expensive cliches that will eat out a big chunk of your budget and then you will end up saying "I could have gone without that and do X instead.



-Go to Craigslist. Brides will put alot of the wedding stuff in there: cake cutting items, guest books, pillows, left over blank invitation and favors etc... they will all match and people will selll that stuff for a few bucks...after paying and arm and a leg on a bridal shop.



-Do with out. You don't need programs, unity candles or wedding blells. No need for that. Save yourself $300



-Edible favors are always welcome and they are budget freindly.



-Skip personalized stuff. It's expensive and unnecesary



-Go to Target or Walmart , Party america ... and find DIY invitation kits.



-Get your cake at walmart or supermarket,. They have wedding cake catalogues for a fraction of what a professiona;l baker will cost.



-Go to www.costco.com they sell wedding flower kits very unexpensive.



Good luck



PS/ I'm getting married the 31st of August!



PS2/ garden weddings are IN. Big over bloated ballroom weddings are out. You will be beautiful and it will be perfect.



PS3/ Try www.orientaltrading.com for unexpensive wedding decor
Reply:I am getting married August 30th also:) I am having an outside wedding where we are currently building our house. Make sure to book a photographer, DJ, and whatever else you are planning on having asap because depending on where you live it can be hard to find one on short notice. Currently my wedding officiant (person who will conduct the ceremony) fell through and being that we are from a small town we are having tons of trouble finding a new one. Also, make sure you have enough room inside to host reception- is it going to be a sit down dinner, like a buffet or something? I am renting a tent for my reception, which will have about 100 guests. I would recommend this just because it can be even more stressful to have 50 people in your or your mothers house. Do you have your colors yet? Congrats:) Hope our days go well:D

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