[weezee]

I am sure that most people probably think I am insane to even try to plan my wedding on a $1,000 to $1,500 budget considering that I have a guest list of about 150 people, but seeing as I will have a six month old baby there is no give in the budget. I have already got a second hand gown for $100 and we are not paying for the bridal parties attire. I am also doing homemade candies as favors, making my own cake, and doing my own flowers, but this doesn't seem to be enough. Any advice that may help with this would be greatly appreciated.

This post has been edited by TWQadmin: 09 March 2026 - 11:13 AM

[Makeup Expert]

Main wedding expense seems to be the venue. Find a friend who has a garden and who would agree to lend it to you for an outdoor wedding. If you have a friend who takes good photos and another friend who can be your DJ - you will be getting close to your goal.

Good luck!

[CapturedArt]

With 150 guests its going to be a stretch. The easiest way is to keep the budget down is trim up your guest list. Family and friends understand.

Having said that, I've seen several brides stretch the budget and you are going the right route with the DIY favors, cake, and flowers if that is your goal. It's a lot of work but a DIY wedding can be a beautiful and intimate affair if done right. The biggest remaining expenses will be the location, food, entertainment, and photographer. I'll try to cover each and some ideas that might push you in new directions.

Location - This is probably the largest expense so finding a place that is free or next to free will be what your aiming for. You'll still need to provide chairs and tables which can chip away at your budget so be frugal. A relative's large home and yard would be ideal but if that isn't possible look to beautiful outdoor locations. In a lot of cases they can be rented for a small fee from the city.

Food - This is another big expense, especially with 150 guests. There are really on three feasible routes to go on this one; catering (which can be pricey), serving h'orderves only, and a potluck type of meal. All have their challenges, but its up to you to decide which is right for your wedding.

Entertainment - If you don't have any talented friends post something on Craigslist or Facebook and ask around. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who is handy with a guitar. Usually budding musicians are willing to work for very little and are really only doing the gigs to get exposure. If you don't want live music, a simple iPod attached to a stereo setup will suffice in a pinch.

Photography - There are a couple of options to help you save money here. Hand out disposable cameras to guests, ask a family friend to photograph the wedding, or look once again to Craigslist or Facebook to see if anyone knows of an aspiring photographer who wants to build up their portfolio. While some people take the family friend route, I personally suggest staying away from this one as it has the potential to ruin a relationship if things go south.

The best overall advice, be inventive and think outside the box. Best of luck.

[Nancy Tucker]

I agree with all and would further suggest that cake and punch would be the best way to go with food. Hors d' oeuvres can be very costly and you do not want to ask your guests to bring food to your wedding.

[Wedding Queen and MOG]

Dear weezee:
Definitely cut the guest list. Also consider the following:

DIY Wedding Invitations

DIY Wedding Transportation

Wedding Coupons
There are a bunch of articles in our blog about saving money when planning a wedding. Hope youfind them all useful.

[Etiquette Now]

I completely agree with all that has been offered. Great advice!

If providing only a cake and punch reception, schedule it when your guests won't expect a meal. We always offer our guest what they would expect to eat and drink.

There could be (as it was in my case) a city owned building where they rent rooms for events. In our case, we rented a large room with kitchen rights for a few hours at the local Veteran's Memorial Hall. We had a garden wedding (directly outside the room) and then a meal with music afterwards--simple and very inexpensive. Guests enjoyed themselves very much.

This might be an option if you can't find another location.