Posted: 12 March 2005 at 1:36am | IP Logged

My fiance and I are set to marry on December 18th this year. He is in the navy and I'm a more than full time college student (24 credit hours a semester!). Neither of our families are going to help with the financial aspects of our wedding, and we are already financially strained. We want a very simple, very small wedding and reception (most of our wedding budget is going to our honeymoon). I'm basically planning all this on my own (he's on deployment until September) so any suggestions would help tremendously!!

Thanks so much!

Elizabeth

Posted: 12 March 2005 at 9:58am | IP Logged

Hi Elizabeth!

As for dresses, I went to destination Bride and they were always so helpful (I spent hours there trying tons of dresses, always greated with smiles, attention and champagne or wine! I was going to order a bride2be dress as it was 890$ for a custom made gown!!! but I realized that my favorite brand , BCBG also just came out with a bridal line. I got my strapless, A line, corset ivory gown for 340$!!! (we spent the extra money on snorkeling and drinks on the cruise! :)

Also, in august, there will lot's of sales you can get designer gowns for 4O up to 75% so i suggest you call Divine and destination bride and ask them to put you on their mailing list.

I hope this help

Posted: 12 March 2005 at 11:24am | IP Logged

Congratulations and welcome! Hope you like the place and stick around.

Since you're on a tight budget, the most practical approach is to have a very intimate, casual-style wedding. Small keeps per-person costs down and opens up more locations (a restaurant or even a nice livingroom or parlor could do). Casual doesn't mean you & FH have to skip a formal gown and tux; it gets you less expensive invitations, less elaborate venues and decorations, the possibility of potluck (if you're not fine with cake & coffee/punch), and attendant clothes they could reasonably wear to church or an interview.

Your location is your first priority since you're competing with holiday parties, but lots of places might have holiday decorations up & save on your budget there. I've heard great dress prices from the Hostess House clearance rack (off I-5 in Vancouver, address is in the site vendor list). You might ask at any society you might belong to (church, sorority, Navy wives, etc) if they have decorations you might borrow, volunteer servers, a deal on event space or chairs & tables you don't have to rent, and for catering advice if you self-cater. There are a lot of great ideas in the site archives when you have a chance to poke around.

Since family isn't helping financially, maybe they can help with other aspects (assembling invitations & decorations, doing stuff at their place, etc). I hope your attendants are local and ready to help--you're going to want their time. If you can take a reduced load in summer term, that will buy you a lot of time too.

Good luck & study hard!

Posted: 12 March 2005 at 1:09pm | IP Logged

Maybe someone in charge could merge this thread with the "need quick ideas!!" thread.

I thought about a potluck too (but that would probably work best if almost all of your guests were local).  We decided to do a buffet reception in mid-afternoon which I think we can keep to a few dollars per person for food.  Lots of meat, cheese, veggies, dip... my list is pretty long.  If you want a cake see if one of your friends or family is a talented baker and offer to buy the supplies to have them donate the time to help you.  I think we're going to have an awesome cake for 80 people for under $75 including decorations.  My friend just graduated from the culinary institute and is very excited about doing it for us.

Instead of a champagne toast you could do a sparkling cider toast.  I've seen the bottles for about $1.60 each and I know not everyone likes or is allowed to drink champagne.  Champagne will cost you twice as much for the cheapest you can buy.  We're going to do it anyway since we really want champagne at our wedding and have found a good compromise between cider and a mid-priced champagne.

If you want fresh flowers see if someone you know has ever worked for a florist or has those skills.  I'm taking a floral arranging class to learn how to do it myself.  With tuition, fees, and money for supplies, it will probably be under $150 and I will have all the knowledge and tools I need to make gorgeous arrangements.  I've seen bridal bouquets priced at $200.  I am sure I can get my flowers for under $50.  After that, all our attendants' and parents' bouquets, corsages, boutennieres, etc and centerpieces are practically free.  Florists charge a lot for their expertise.  No doubt they make beautiful arrangements but if you want simple and pretty it's really not going to be that hard.

Posted: 13 March 2005 at 4:55pm | IP Logged

To anyone who might have ideas--please check Elisabeth's other topic! I could merge the two but there's value of posting in two forums. http://www.sayido.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=814&PN=1

Ooh, I totally forgot! How many in your wedding party are military? Their dress uniform is social equivalent to a tuxedo and more appropriate, since they aren't civilians and they don't have to rent them. Especially if his entire side is military