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Soon2BMrsJ
Beginner September 2015

Newly(ish) Engaged with questions!

Soon2BMrsJ, 27 February, 2014 at 15:02 Posted on Planning 0 12

Hi Everyone!

My partner of 9years finally popped the question in October, on holiday in Cyprus! So excited! We have decided that we need time to save up so we are planning to get married in Spring or Autumn (can't be Summer due to work commitments!). We won't have a huge budget so I am trying to work out ways to keep the costs down. Any good suggestions!

I plan to get my dress at a sample/once worn shop near me in Surrey, has anyone done this and been happy with their dress?

I am also thinking of trying to make, or getting my mum to, make the wedding cake. I really like the 'naked' cakes that seem to be everywhere at the moment and as neither my fiancé or me like icing it would work quote well. Has anyone made their own cake? Was it a success? Did you find any go recipes? I tried a chocolate and Baily's cake and a wedding fair with a friend who is also getting married and now really want one of those!

I'm also pretty luck as I work in TV so know a lot of cameramen and I'm sure I could rope one into doing my wedding photos. I am a bit nervous about that idea though as they aren't still photographers and worried the photos won't look as good as ones from a professional wedding photographer. what do you think?

Any other tips for keeping costs down, I think we will probably have about 7K max and I would like a nice wedding ceremony venue and then probably a village hall or local pub for the reception. Also any ideas for cheap entertainment?

Thanks in advance!

12 replies

Latest activity by Peter, 1 March, 2014 at 11:54
  • MrsToffee
    Expert April 2015
    MrsToffee ·
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    7k is a good amount of money; especially if you'll be having a hall or pub for your reception! I should think you'll be able to afford a professional photographer and then get one of the cameramen to do a video for you? You'd probably be able to get a DJ too or if you want to go DIY have an iPod loaded with songs for the venue to play through any sound system they have?

    My dress is the sample and am so happy with it; the lady in the shop explained what will be done ahead of me actually wearing it regarding cleaning, small repairs etc and have confidence it will look as good as if I'd bought it brand new.

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  • B
    Beginner March 2015
    Bumble19 ·
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    Congratulations and welcome to Hitched.

    I've got loads of ideas from here already and were having a £3000 wedding for close family in a local hotel, its beautiful and will do the ceremony and reception. We've been able to save money as were getting married on a Thursday so it took £££s off the venue costs and we've got a fantastic deal. Were also getting married in February so as its out of the normal wedding season we've also been able to get some good deals.

    When I've been ringing round suppliers they have had much more flexibility because of the weekday and season so we've saved a lot.

    Are you or have you got any friends that are good at making stuff, they could help with invitations, centrepieces etc to bring down the cost. Also if you have any friends with posh or unusual cars you could see if they'll be your wedding car.

    As for entertainment can you put the word out on Facebook or through social media you're looking for a band or music and see if there are any up and coming acts your friends know that might want to perform?

    Good luck with your planning, its very exciting Smiley smile x

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  • S
    Beginner May 2015
    Snowflake92 ·
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    Hi,

    Congratulations on your engagement :-)

    I am in the same boat as you as in we haven't got a massive budget, we are using a family friend as our photographer. I think as long as they know what they're doing and also knows how to edit them then i don't think you can go wrong Smiley smile

    We're having a cupcake tower style cake as well as smaller wedding cake, We're attempting to make the cupcakes so can't say whether it's been successful as we aren't getting married until next year but as long as you do a few cake tests i'm sure it'll be okay.

    As for keeping the cost down, I've found that it can be cheaper to look for venues which do packages that include everything. The best thing to do is look around and find quotes from different people, maybe try haggling a little bit Smiley smile

    Sorry i haven't been much help, i didn't want to read and run :-) hopefully someone else can give you better answers.

    xx

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  • Laura DeBourde
    Laura DeBourde ·
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    Firstly, hello and welcome! ?

    I think 7k is a nice healthy budget to have, and I think you'll certainly be able to stick to that if you're thinking of having a village hall or local pub as the reception venue. Some of my favourite weddings have been in village halls as the couple usually gets to decorate it how they like and be creative with it as well (and it's usually cheaper this way too). As far as the Photography is concerned, I would suggest you speak to the cameramen you work alongside and perhaps ask them if they have any experience in Photography and most importantly photographing weddings. They may be really good at working a large video camera, but photographing a wedding is a whole different barrel of fish - things can go unexpectedly and there's a lot more pressure as it's a once in a lifetime event. I would ask them if they have any experience in doing Photography and take it from there. I would say that Photography is definitely a worthwhile investment though.

    I have a Bride this year whose Mum is actually making the wedding cake, and it's also going to be a naked cake. I don't think she does cakes professionally but she bakes quite a bit and has been practising! I think it's a good idea, especially when on a budget - but it's also a nice personal touch as well if she was to make it.

    In terms of entertainment, do you have any talented friends such as musicians, comedians, stationers etc that could help you out on certain aspects of your wedding to help your budget stretch further? There's so many DIY ideas and inspiration out there, whether it be garden games during the day to keep guests occupied, or a DIY Photo-booth in the evening. Another idea, if you was to choose a village hall, is to see if it's possible to bring your own bar? I have seen this done quite a few times and that will help bring the cost down a lot.

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  • DaffodilWaves
    DaffodilWaves ·
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    Hello and Welcome Cat. Huge congratulations on your engagement.

    7k is a great budget to have, especially if you are going with a village hall. It already sounds like you are saving money in great places with you also buying a sample dress, Mum making the cake etc. These are things that you will use/eat on the day once. Mums could also make bunting/decorations etc out of any old material they might have?

    Regarding photos, this is something I would invest in and you saving in other places will help. These are going to be around for many years to come. A cameraman would not take a photo in the same way as filming it. Not only that, unless they have experience in weddings, they won't know what is going to come next to be able to get ready for it. Can they film your day for you instead and make you an amazing wedding video?

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  • Mrs.K2b
    Beginner August 2015
    Mrs.K2b ·
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    Congratulations on the engagement and welcome to hitched!

    Having the wedding on any day other than a Saturday is the best way to save money - we're getting married on a Friday and have saved over £2000 on our venue cost by not having it on a Saturday. The other obvious ways to save are to DIY as much as you can - making your own venue decorations and centre pieces, and there are loads of websites that have step by step guides and sell the supplies to make your own invitations etc.

    Good luck with the planning and keep us updated with the progress!

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  • miss pickle
    Beginner June 2014
    miss pickle ·
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    Hello and welcome to hitched ?

    You've got loads of good advice already; I just wanted to recommended Pinterest for helping you get plenty of ideas!

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  • Y
    Your Day ·
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    Hi

    7k is reasonable budget for a wedding, and from all the advice you have been given here already I think you will be able to achieve the wedding of your dreams within your budget.

    I agree with the comments about a photographer. Wedding photography is a great specialty, not only does the photographer need the ability to "control" the guests to get the perfect shots they have that special eye that creates the amazing shot! Have a chat with the cameramen see if they have any experience or would be happy to do a wedding video.

    With regards to the entertainment you can get a DJ and sometimes a band for a reasonable price but another option as previously suggested would be an iPod but rather than you having to choose hundreds of songs why not ask your guests for their 3 favorite songs.... this lifts a little pressure of you and can make the guests feel that they have helped and been involved in your big day.

    Good luck and I hope your day is perfect!

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  • B
    Bruce Neville Photography ·
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    Hi Cat. Congratulations on your engagement.

    I am afraid a tv cameraman/video that has no experience of shooting stills at a wedding will not do your wedding justice. I know a few wedding photographers that came from the tv crew struggled with shooting weddings for a few years when they changed careers, ask them how they feel about using a dslr camera, they may know how to light a scene on set but weddings are a completely different ball game.

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  • Soon2BMrsJ
    Beginner September 2015
    Soon2BMrsJ ·
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    Hi Everyone,

    Thank you so much for all you brilliant comments and ideas. Especially about the photography I think I will talk to a couple of the cameramen who I know have DSLR cameras and see if they have done anything like it before. I think it's going to be a case of if I don't feel completely confident that they will do a good job then I will get a professional in.

    As for other areas I do plan to try and make as much as I can in the way of decorations. I like the idea of Tissue paper pom poms and fairy lights for decorating the reception> I;m going to spend a weekend with a crafty friend having a go at making pom poms!

    Thanks!

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  • P
    Beginner October 2014
    Pandabee ·
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    Firstly... Congratulations!!! all depends on what theme your going for, ive got all my friends to save all glass jars for wedding decoration and centre pieices. those and tea lights are gonna be almost costing nothing! We have a friend who is a photogrophar so very lucky there. I know home made invitations sounds like it should be cheaper, but i used vista print, got invitations, envelopes, return enevelopes, address labels and rsvp cards for less than £70. all the time saved, money and it will be proffessionally done (though i did love the home made idea, works out much more expensive) Opt for fashion jewellery for bridesmaids. Im going to be doing my own make up so saving lots of money there! Good luck!!

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  • T
    Beginner August 2014
    tohaveandtohold14 ·
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    Hi Cat,

    Congratulations! You must be thrilled. A lady I work with suggested a way to save cash on flowers. Apparently a lot of florists charge nearly double for a brides bouquet as for a bridesmaids so she just had three the same but different colours or slightly different styles. It would depending on maybe how many bridesmaids you are having and maybe how important flowers are to you but alot of the time you have to pass it to other people to hold anyway.

    Just an idea. And if you love flowers maybe not a way to go. Good luck x

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  • Peter
    Peter ·
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    What sort of TV do you associate with? Is it live or pre-recs??? Laura mentioned lighting, although many studio based cameramen do not light, they leave that the the DOP or LD. Location cameramen by comparison mainly do lighting as well, although this is arguably often quite basic. It depends as said on the type of work you are involved in.

    Through my corporate work, I deal with loads of tv cameramen, both studio based and location. Some would have the ability to shoot weddings, it depends on the individual. One advantage of working in live tv is that it gives you a different appreciation of time and how much can be achieved in a few seconds.

    Peter

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