Trying to make a go of a very modest wedding...

[alltherage]

My little sister is getting married this spring! It's not the best of financial cirumstances to say the least. The budget right now looks to be an incredibly meager $3000. There are about 60 guests invited because she has widdled her list down to immediate family and a few friends.

She wants a dress for around $500, she has to pay the priest, and we need a super inexpensive hall that will fit 60 people, that doesn't look like a complete shack. A meal will not be involved, just a pot-luck of hor'dourves, and people will bring their own drinks if they want them. We have a good sound system to use and I'll maybe put together a library of good wedding dance songs on my laptop and tap it, so that will be ok.

Do you guys think this is doable? Most weddings today cost around $22,000 and I have some concerns about where we might be able to best allocate the money. Anyone have some tips for halls, dresses, flowers, hair- anything to do with weddings?

I just want to say that we don't need charity, as the budget is a product of principle. I just say that because CP is always very generous and giving but this circumstance just doesn't necessitate it. I don't want to get in to the details of why the budget is small, just some solutions if you guys have them.

Thanks in advance!

[MarchHare]

My wife and I were married in a small wedding (around 40 people) last December, with a final budget of less than $4000. Almost everyone remarked that it was the most fun weddings they've ever been to. Neither my wife nor I wanted a huge extravagant wedding, and after the event, we were even happier with our choice to keep it small and simple.

To save money on a dress, buy a bride's maid dress and get it in white. That's what my wife did (actually, that's what my sister-in-law did; my wife borrowed her sister's dress) and it looked beautiful. Nobody even knew that it wasn't a horribly over-priced wedding dress. The biggest rip-off was when she took it to the drycleaners after; they wanted to charge her over $100 to have it cleaned (they only told her this after they'd cleaned it). She refused to pay that ridiculous sum and told them they could keep the dress for all she cared, since it only cost something like $125 to buy it new anyway. Eventually they let her have it for the same price they charge for cleaning a regular, non-wedding dress.

If you're not serving a meal and paying for drinks, you're going to save lots of money there. Food (and wine to go with dinner) was our single largest expense (it was something like $45 per person), and my father-in-law graciously picked up the bar tab (we had an open bar serving beer and wine after dinner).

I think we spent around $200 or so on flowers; bouquets for the bridal party, boutineers (sp?) for me and my best man. We decorated by spreading rose petals (which are super cheap) around the floor and over the tables...it looked great.

For music, we just made a playlist in advance and hooked my iPod up to some speakers. We were also lucky that my uncle is an excellent pianist and there was a piano at our venue, so he volunteered to play some live piano music as well.

[JiriHrdina]

Talk to Neeper about your photography needs - I imagine there is a CP discount of some sort. Plus his work is amazing.

In terms of facility rental - that's going to be one of your major costs - there isn't someone with a large house that would offer it up?

I love small weddings!

[Barnes]

I think the towne hall in Mckenzie towne is pretty cheap. It's brand new. She could get married at the bandstand there and have the reception at the town hall.

[arsenal]

I have not planned a wedding, nor been involved in any wedding planning. But based on what you said, dress, priest, hall. Find out how much the priest is going to cost, and then see if you can rent a community hall with what is left over.
Then, the wedding party will not be providing any food what so ever, getting the guests to bring the food, and their own drinks. That may be the only way that it can be pulled off, even then, that might be pushing it.

If people are not going to bring the food and drinks, then I don't see any money being left over for a hall, and you may be forced outside, under a tent.

[Reaper]

My wife and I were married by a Commisionaire of Oaths, 60 people in attendance at Devonian Gardens, had a reception dinner at Chianti's and only spent $3000 including all the meals, a round of drinks for everyone plus wine on the table in May 2005. My wife paid $40 for her wedding dress (and it was very nice) and she baked the wedding cake with our moms. She's the best bargain shopper evar.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by arsenal

Find out how much the priest is going to cost

That just sounds wrong to me. Paying for a priest? Wow.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

That just sounds wrong to me. Paying for a priest? Wow.

What, did you think they did weddings for free? ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Vulcan]

Mount Royal has a nice, small, quiet Community Centre, maybe too small.. I think it's on 8th St SW but I don't remember what they charge but it was reasonable.

[redforever]

If you want a nice setting in the country, contact the Priddis Community Association. Facility is more than adequate for what you want, around 15 minutes SW of Calgary, right beside Fish Creek too. Extremely reasonable rates too.

[alltherage]

One thing I didn't mention is that the location of the wedding is non-negotiable. We're Catholics.

Oh, and you don't have to pay the priest much, it's more of a gratuity.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by alltherage

She wants a dress for around $500

My wife & mother made her wedding dress and the dresses for 3 bridesmaids for under 300 bucks. Not that it helps if you cant sew, but there are other options for a dress, including ebay. My cousin bought one from Idaho which was nearly identical to the one she saw in the shop in town, $300 for a $900 dress.

My entire wedding reception cost under $2000 and I think we had about 200 people actually show up, we provided snacking food, cold cuts, buns, etc and fancy centerpieces. The largest single cost was my suit and the ties/shirts for the groomsmen, which came to $1010 at Moores. Aside from that the invitations were like 300 bucks from Staples. It helps that we used our churches cultural hall and facilities and personnel for the wedding itself at no cost.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by alltherage

One thing I didn't mention is that the location of the wedding is non-negotiable. We're Catholics.

Oh, and you don't have to pay the priest much, it's more of a gratuity.

So you need a Catholic Church and a place to drink. This will be easy.

There's a giant Catholic church in Mckenzie towne.

[Phanuthier]

Definitely. My sister has crazy with hers, their budget is $35k. I'm amazed, if and when I get married, I'm aiming for $350. Whether you spend $35k, or $350, at the end of the day, you're still married, so you've achieved your goal.

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by Barnes

So you need a Catholic Church and a place to drink. This will be easy.

There's a giant Catholic church in Mckenzie towne.

Damn dude, you got it pegged!

[bigtmac19]

Small intimate weddings are great.
As for the dress, how about borrowing, or checking out vintage stores.
What about making a few batches of wine to serve?
Hor d'oeuveres and wine can be quite classy.

[stang]

Charge a twoonie for drinks. Still cheaper then going to a bar, but you should make some money back on this. I guess the initial cost might be high but you can easily get it back, and whatever you dont drink can be returned fo a refund.

[mac_gurl]

We are planning the same type of thing. We both want a low-key wedding, and find it stupid to spend a lot on a wedding.

We are having our wedding/reception at Newport Grill (the restaurant on Lake Bonavista) where they don't charge you to rent the place, as long as you spend a minimum. We are doing early afternoon (12 - 5) since lunch is cheaper than dinner, and we figure people might not drink as much. We have about 80 people coming.
I'm getting a friend to make the cake, and another friend to do the photography.
You can get some really good deals on dresses at netbride.com.
We think we can keep our wedding under $6000, so I think there is no reason why you can't make your's work.

Good luck!

[metal_geek]

My Wife and I had a small wedding, with about 20 people there. Got married in some little strip mall wedding chapel, Had a party at our house and went away for our honey moon. It was awsome, we laugh at it all the time. Was totally stress free and very intimate. Cost about 800.00 in total, and dispite the fact we could have had a big traditional wedding, we wouldn't change 1 thing about it..
________
RISK EQUALIZATION ADVICE

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Reaper

What, did you think they did weddings for free? ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Shouldn't they? PAYING a Priest? I'd hate to see how much they charge for an exorcism. Do they ever do sales events like 10% of Tuesdays?

Paying a Priest, just strikes me as wrong.....