[Serenity2009]

Looking for some budget ideas for a wedding of 20-50 people and a budget of 1,000 I am spending the most of it on my dress and the location so for food and decorations I have like 400-600 left. His parents are donating the location for the rehearsal and some of the alcohol for his drinking family members.

So what can I do to save some money on items?

[cdad]

A lot of decisions to be made. The next big expense will be feeding all those people. Also you need to decide where the wedding will be. Whoever performs the ceremony you will be expected to pay also. Sounds like trimming the amount of people invited to it is your first plan and then go from there. Also where do you plan the reception ? You don't have to answer just food for thought.

[shazamataz]

I have pretty much the same budget and people attending as you :)

I am seriously considering buying my dress from a second hand or charity store and then altering it. As long as the dress has the right basic lines then I can alter it however I want (adding a sheer layer, straps/no straps, sequins, embroidery etc etc) it wouldn't really be a second hand dress by the time I finished with it!

For catering there are some cheap but nice places out there, you just have to shop around.
Or instead of actual catering you can ask the guests to pay for their meal instead of bringing a gift.
A friend of mine just did this, they had their reception at a really nice restaurant and guests paid $40 each (You can go a LOT cheaper than that if you want!)

Decorations can be very cheap.
Charity stores are another place to find decorations. Sometimes they get donated bags of balloons or vases that you can spay a different color.
The same friend I mentioned before bulk ordered some nice looking pink vases and then had a single pink Gerbera in each one. They were in the center of the table, then there were some pink heart shaped sequins scattered around them. It sounds simple, but it looked very nice.

Have you thought about a photographer? They can be very expensive but if you can get a few family members to take photos it would be a lot cheaper. I'm lucky in that my partners Grandfather is a photographer for National Geographic so he has donated his services, but I also plan on having other camera savvy family taking snaps as well.

[Fr_Chuck]

And lets not forget the preacher, most get 200 to 300 for the service, I am about the cheapest in Atlanta and I get about 100 for a simple wedding ( no rehearsal)

On photos, many people for low cost, give out a dozen of so disposable camera and have people take all sorts of phots,

You can go to many online photo sites and they do a wedding book from photos you download to their side very cheaply. And they are lovely. I did my own wedding that way and it was fun , great and cheap

[Serenity2009]

I have been through it all. I have the ceremony and reception hall, and I have the preacher, a friend of mine. I am doing dollar store and thrift shops for décor, catering is on food stamps for the food and soda.

I have my dress it was a prom ress I bought for 30 bucks and its so cute

[dynocompe]

Out door BBQ with some hot dogs at uncle petes

[Serenity2009]

Ha ha , na

[HistorianChick]

Can you just have cake? Do you have to have a huge meal?

Most of the time, people come for the wedding, not the food :)

Friends of mine simply had cake and punch. It was very relaxing.

[Clough]

Hi, Serenity2009!

What are you planning to do for music for your wedding, that is, if you're planning on having any music?

Thanks!

[Serenity2009]

Music is iPod and speakers and food is on food stamps lol some stuff is a gift

[Clough]

So, all the music will be recorded music. Correct?

[Serenity2009]

Yes

[padmapatak]

There is always a good deal if you research online for wedding planners.