[Sariss]

I have a bit of a complicated story that I won't share unless asked, but the idea was I was going to get married to my S/O with a civil ceremony at town hall in August, then a year later we would have an actual ceremony when the funds were right (reasons behind it are a little complicated).
I decided against that because to me it felt 'fake' since we would be already married. So, although I didn't like the idea, I decided we would just do the civil ceremony and then like 5 years down the road do a vow renewal.

Anyway a friend of mine has decided to take it upon herself to basically tell me that we are doing a wedding in August. She has a beautiful place that I said I wanted to get married at, and she is giving it to me for free. She knows someone who will do flowers for free, I know a photographer who will do it as experience, we will do a potluck type dinner, etc.

Can people throw me some good budget ideas? Thanks! We do not have an actual budget set, but I'm trying to gather things together.

[Wondergirl]

We had no money when I got married, so I found a cheap wedding dress somewhere, and my bridesmaids made their own dresses (but never wore them again). Nowadays, I've heard stories of brides and their maids finding inexpensive dresses of any color (not matching styles or colors) that they can wear again to another occasion, have shortened for dressy occasions, etc. I wish I'd thought of that.

Be careful regarding your shoes. You'll be in them for a number of hours. Wish I'd wore sneakers.

[dontknownuthin]

Department stores sell dresses a lot cheaper than specialty shops; limit your bridal party (less bridal party gifts, less flowers); limit your guest list; skip favors (nobody cares); get the smallest wedding cake and if you need more cake get an additional sheet cake in the same flavor (cheaper); consider bartering for service if you or your fiancé are in a business or have a skill that would be valuable to others. Make your own invitations (you can buy kits, even at Target) and placecards; limit the bar to keg beer and wine (if your friends aren't snobs you can do the wine in a box for cheap) and maybe a signature cocktail which is fashionable these days anyway. Ask a friend to be a DJ and load an Ipod in advance of all the music you want played. You will probably have to rent tables, chairs, table cloths and maybe dishes but price it out - might be cheaper to buy some of the stuff closeout or something. Ask a friend to play the wedding music if someone's a musician or singer.

You can also skip table service and even placecards by just doing a buffet and letting people sit wherever they like. And to save on Tuxes an such, make the wedding somewhat casual - the guys could wear slacks and white shirts or something like that, and the girls could wear short sun dresses that they can wear again. You can wear whatever you want - the bride calls the shots.

Have a good time and enjoy it!

[jls1979]

I used the dollar store for vases & tea lights & things like that. You would be amazed at what you can find at places like that. Even found the bamboo for my center pieces at Home Depot. Also craft stores are great for making your own center pieces & table gifts. If you would like to share more with me in what you are looking for I would love to give you some great Ideas. Having an idea of where you would like to go with your wedding style would help a lot. If not, no worries. Have fun planning & best wishes.
Oh one other thing, for the BM's I did not make them buy matching shoes, just as long as they were all the same color. I had black so that was easy. The dresses were made as I have a very tall friend & it would have cost her a fortune to buy a dress & have it altered & to get it with extra length. But I agree with the comment above, they don't need to match or even be the same color.