Wedding Tips

Well i photographed a small wedding that was held in Kemah by the boardwalk, and they were on a budget, all she had was her best friend standing with her and her DH had his best man. It was about 100 guest, very intimate but beautiful. Im also photographing another small wedding in Jan 2007, the only ppl thats going to be in the wedding is the bride's children and her DH. She got married in the courthouse the first time around and wants something nice but intimate. I think it would be good just to have your children in the wedding and you and your hubby. You should try and have everything in the same place that way your not shelling out too much money on different locations. Thats how the bride did it in Kemah she as everything at one location.

Dear K.:
Whatever you save on, don't save on the photographer. Additionally, some people buy a bunch of one-time cameras and put them on the tables for the guests to use.

You can never bring back those memories.

Since the most expensive about a dinner is the drinks, see whether you can make an arrangement where you can bring your own drinks (say rent a place, have just food catered, bring drinks). I bet hotels rent out conference rooms for private parties. If you have a house, you could take the party home (should save quite a bunch).

Perhaps you need to add what kind of budget you are looking at, and what you had in mind (home, restaurant, Disneyland). Check in college whether somebody would like to earn some extra with a skill (comedy, music band, artist, firedancer, ...). They don't come cheaper than DURING college.

Regards,
W.

The way that I saved on our wedding, was to make a lot of the decorations myself. I want to a small bakery for the cake, small flower shop, etc. We actually got married at the reception hall, so saved some money there. The wedding dress and veil were purchased at the annual gown sale in Houston. They held it at the Holiday Inn Astrodome. I'm not sure where they have it these days.

Have your wedding outside. Let nature decorate for you. We had our wedding outside and I didn't have to buy much...just bows outlining the path we walked down. I would do it again exactly the same.

Hi K.,

My husband and I just celebrated our 21st wedding anniverssay.
Beleive it or not we were on a small, little bitty budget at the time we got marred. My grandmother at the time was a seamstress, so her and I came up with ideas for my wedding dress. The rest of the family was so happy for us that they all helped by sponsoring us with something. One aunt and uncle bought us beautiful flowers for the church, my mother in law and some of my husbands aunts all got together and prepared the meal. And as you can see very little came out of our pockets. The only thing my husband and I had to worry about were the wedding rings. We shopped for something simple and found a pair at Gordons Jewlers, which I don't think they even exsist anymore. Everything turned out lovely. Even the photographs which one of my brother in laws took and the other on video taped. The reception we helled at the gymnasium at the church. Talk about on a budget, this wedding was all about being on a budget and family pitching in. The wedding cake was homemade. It can be done you just have to be creative. And remember it is not how much you spend, but who you share that special day with. Just enjoy your day.

Aww, that is sweet! I also married my high school sweetheart and have 3 children.. funny, huh. :)
I thought I'd mention that I am a photographer. Just in case you were looking for a proffessional photographer and would like to compare my work with those that cost thousands please do so. I offer unlimited pictures during the event or hours you hire me for, plus license to print instead of package (but you may order prints thru me). I am not expensive for what you get.. actually, many have told me that I practically give my work away. I have many referreals. Also I do photo invitations too!
I have a great Digital Nikon SLR, a great Photoshop CS2 program which is very rare that photographers include this for any major blemishes you might have on your wedding day, and most of all you get a license to print from the edited CD you get from me. This is also very rare to get unless you pay an additional and if anything it would be very limited. My license to print is unlimited as long as it is not commercial and for personal use of sharing, etc.
You see, I do this because I love it. So, you will get Quality, Passion, and great work. Let me know if you would like to see more of my work.
Many people look for cheap, but then forget that after what they are paying for is just your proofs which you do not get to keep if you do not purchase... Please compare me to others, so you can see what I am saying. When they sell you a package of 150 pictures, that is all you get. NO right to reprint, etc.
So if you want passion, Quality, and license to print your pictures and have more to share... then you can check out my website. www.CristinaEgbertsPhotography.com
I also offer payment plans, etc. So, I can try and work with you.

Thanks!
C.

P.S. I know of a church that is a non Roman, but Catholic... and if you become a member, they will do all your events free of charge. They do not charge, only accept donations on Sundays.. which is great. Just thought I might mention that, the only thing is that they primarily speak spanish.. they do not have masses in English yet, but most of the priest there do speak english if you are still interested in checking it out.
Good Luck!

My husband and I were married on a shoestring buget years ago, I would reccomend picking a nice dress on sale (for the extreamly buget consiousthey have them at Slavation army on Washington Ave.) one flower "bouquets" and make whatever you can yourself (I made the veil, flowers, boutineers etc) and ask friends to bring food for a pot luck reception.

Most of all have fun at your celebration, its what we did and our guests still tell what a good time they had 10 years ago!

Congrats on a beautiful family and a good marrige too!

K.

Hi K.! My husband and I got married fairly inexpensively at Mo Ranch (www.moranch.com). There's this big cross overlooking this beautiful hill country. It takes about 3 hours to drive there. We live in Spring Branch as well. There are lots of activities for families to do as well there. We enjoyed it so if you would like an outdoor wedding, check it out. They also have a small chapel for an indoor wedding as well.

C.

Hi K., I think it is very possible to do a nice wedding on a budget. If you are having the wedding at a church, do they have a fellowship hall you can use? Most friends are not coming to get a full meal, but to see you get married and to support you and your family. Think meat and cheese trays-from a local grocer, or Sam's. Also Sam's has inexpensive cakes, and flowers. You could also buy cheesecakes, etc, from Sam's or Costco, as well as frozen hors d'oeuvres. When decorating, pick your color scheme, then go to the dollar a yard table at WalMart- and buy as much as you can of fabric in that color to drape over a white table cloth. First put down your white table cloth then stack boxes or pans, whatever, to get some different heights, put your other material on top, then place your different platters of whatever you are serving. Avoid serving alcohol it really adds to the expense. Plus if its an afternoon wedding most people have already had lunch and its too early for dinner. Although, after a later wedding, say 7:30pm, you could do a dessert reception. Put 'Dessert reception to follow' on the bottom of your invitations. That way everyone knows what to expect (i.e. not a full dinner)And make your own invitations,from a kit at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Hope these ideas are helpful.
S.

My sister in law was married at the courthouse. She bought an inexpensive dress that suited her tastes-you can find them almost everywhere now-even Target on line! We had a traditional reception for her-just cake and punch, one of us took pictures and the deal was done! I think they spent the night at a hotel, but you can always arrange a babysitter-even friends will take them all for occasions like this, and have a sibling romantically "decorate" your house for the evening.