Changing mind constantly!

I've just had a baby so we're on a tight budget as I'm on half pay at the moment. We decided to go abroad, its costing about £5k for 2 weeks in an all inclusive 5 star hotel, includes the wedding package and that also includes the cost of taking 2 children.

We gave family and friends 18 months notice and chose a country (Turkey) where it was easy to get a short flight and guests are coming for 1 week, 10days and some for 2 weeks. Not all guests are staying at our hotel, we just have to pay a £20 pass for them to come to the wedding which includes their food, drink and entertainment. We're taking chinese wish lanterns for us to light on the beach in the evening in memory of friends and relatives who couldn't be with us (passed away etc) we also get a tan and wanted it to be stress free and didn't want the hassle of booking cars, worrying about the weather etc etc. My OH's dad is only paying £650 for him and his wife for self catering accommodation for 2 weeks inc flights, we don't want presents, just want friends and family to have a lovely holiday and attend our wedding x

We had 5 months to get our wedding sorted and thought about just getting married at my OHs church and then having a meal with family at a restaurant in town. It turned out that it wasn't really what we both wanted as we are moving abroad so saw the wedding as an opportunity to have a good old goodbye party as well. Ended up spending some of the savings I had put aside for when I left work and had our daughter and my parents have been lovely and helped out. We then looked at package deals at hotels and managed to get a great discount at our venue if we married 'off-peak' (between Oct-April). Friands of ours got married at the same venue and it cost them £14k more than we are paying so worth keeping an eye out!

I think our wedding is going to come in at just under £2k excluding the honeymoon, which my parents have kindly paid for as a wedding present. We both want to start a family in the next year so we would rather be saving our money for getting the house (and a baby room!) sorted for when it happens. We both want a small, low key wedding that doesn't break the bank. We are getting married in our local registry office, followed by a meal at a local pub (we have got a secluded room away from the day customers) and then in the evening, we have a hired a function room and will serve canapes to our guests rather than a buffet. The 2k quoted includes everything, dress, rings, flowers etc.

I'm a thrifty B2B!

We would do that but some of our family who we would need there couldn't afford it, especially the grannies and we couldn't afford to pay for them would love that tho! x

The first option was what we thought could cut money, not inviting the friends you barely see to the evening etc and just inviting the ones that would make your day happier and just cutting out the evening reception.....but i dont want my day to end at 7.30 so im on the fence on what to do! think i wil be till we start boooking!

I dont think our families are helping financially :L and we are the same right now we are saving for our own place, its hard coz My OH is starting up his own business with window cleaning etc and i'm still studying so have another year before i graduate and can get a job! :L if i ge a job staright away and his business works out we will be focusing on the house and then the wedding Like you we want to start a family maybe a year after married life! :L x

Hi Christy - one way to save money is get married on the off peak days so on a weekday or a even a sunday at some venues. I know that some of the venues we looked at the package deals for a saturday were over £7k but if you get married in the week it was more like £2-£3k a huge saving and as it is all at one place you save on certain things like cars and transport etc. Just an idea x

We have done our wedding for £2k. our biggest saving was looking for venues we found that our local family club did the same deal as the big hotels however for 1/3 of the price we are paying £7 per person for the sit down meal and then the same for the evening reception...

I suggest sitting down and thinking about what you really want from the day and what you really have to have and then work on a budget and shop around..

and if you are booking this far in advance i would suggest taking out wedding insurance before you pay any deposits..