Wedding on a budget

Http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/health/cheaper-weddings

Lots of good tips and advice here.

Http://www.thebacktrackband.co.uk

We had this band and they are fab - they play in pubs they have the next place on the website so you can hear them first

have you looked at hotels???

I did :
My own stationery - there are loads of ideas on the web but I can send you some if you like!
That was quite enjoyable so I did the cake too. I even learnt to make those little roses out of sugar icing - I just bought a book with clear instructions. The roses were lovely and are still lovely 10 years later!
I then did my own flowers too - except for my bouquet which a very nice florist on Uxbridge market did for me for £30! I gave him a sample of fabric from my bridesmaid's dress (which I made) and he matched the colour exactly.
I then got completely carried away and did the catering myself - for 90 people. It was hard work but one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. I cheated quite a bit and used Waitrose's special order service. The things in there aren't cheap but they are quite luxurious and really delicious and much nicer than the food I've had at other people's weddings! A team of friends helped set it all out and we hired crockery and cutlery.
We had the reception in a local church hall and bought loads of cheap fabric at Ikea to dress it up with. One of the few things we splashed out on was for someone to decorate the hall with balloons - it was about £150 and he really livened the place up.
It was a lot of work but we really enjoyed doing it and everyone said it was a great wedding as it was so personal.
I ended up with piles of books on everything from floristry to stationery so when it was all over (and I was bored from having gone from loads to do to not much to do) I wrote a book including a bit on everything - cake making, floristry etc.
It's out of print now but you can get it secondhand on Amazon for £3.75. (I don't make any money from this BTW - in fact, I didn't make very much at all but it was lovely seeing it when it was printed!)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Wedding-Planner-Jenny-Hopkin/dp/1861083289/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206697234&sr=8-1
Anyway, hope that's helpful.
I used to have a website for brides wanting to save money and I'm hoping to get it up and running again soon! Watch this space!

Depending on your budget, Willow Barn is about the cheapest venue I know of in West Sussex.

http://www.willow-barn.net/html/venue.html

BANDS

Last week we photographed a band, called The Alter Ego which did a variety of covers and would be absolutely ideal for a Wedding or other party. The songs ranged from hits from Rolling Stones, Beatles to James Blunt and Kaiser Chiefs.
They are based in West Sussex so are local.

I currently can direct you to their myspace page, in due course I believe their website will be updated (Hopefully with the photographs we took for them! ? )

www.myspace.com/alteregoukband

As for costs - obviously you could get in touch with your dates and find out their fees.

Hope this helps
Michelle ?

Thanks 4 like films I've just ordered your book!!!

Hi Katie,
I hope you like it.
I've just been inspired to start redesigning my website - listed at the back of the book! It's been dormant for a couple of years!
Best wishes,
Jen

Thanks, for the tips 4 Life Films, will def check out the book ?

Thanks really big smile, ?- the band sound good - my type of music.

Just one q - do they come to your wedding dressed as they are on Myspace or do they come more dressed up.

Weird q I know [?]... but they just seem a bit casually dressed!

Thanks bdp - will check out the willow barn?

quote:Originally posted by B2BinNZ
Thanks really big smile, ?- the band sound good - my type of music.

Just one q - do they come to your wedding dressed as they are on Myspace or do they come more dressed up.

Weird q I know [?]... but they just seem a bit casually dressed!

id="quote">

At the gig we did a phootshoot with them at, they were wearing dark shirts. They looked smart. I think it would be a be unprofessional that I go posting their photographs on here before they get to see them first IYNWIM !
I'll flag this up, and as soon as they approve their photographs I'll come back with a link if that helps.

Michelle ?

Thanks really big smile.
when you get the go ahead i would really appreciate if you post the pics. thanks again ?

For all those who are checking out the my book - well, I have taken the plunge and put my website back up again. It's athttp://www.diybrides.co.uk.
There's not much content on it at the moment but I'll put stuff up as quickly as is humanly possible whilst still doing the day job!
Hope it's helpful.
If anyone has any bright ideas, I'd be more than happy to include them on the site!
Best wishes,
Jen

Jen, your link isn't working.
It works if you just type the
www.diybrides.co.uk

Bernie x

Thanks for that Bernie.
I think it was the full stop after co.uk that did it!
Jen

Thanks for life films.. will check out the link.

If you want to have a photographer or videographer you could always try and find someone who's just starting out and would do your package for free/very cheap in return for using your wedding as a demo.

I did this for several hitchers' weddings when I was setting up my video business.

You could always try posting on here nearer the time ?