On a budget

Budgetwedding

Hi all, would really like some advice.

We are hoping to get married in april/may of next year. We're a no frills kinda people and already have a child together so getting married is the icing on the cake.

What we were planning on doing is a civil ceremony in a hotel and then we were going to book a small function room to celebrate in same hotel. Thinking of having a dj and buffet.

My question would be how much do you think it would be to book funtion room ? How much for dj ?

Basically I dont want them slapping a big fee on it because it's part of a wedding, you know what they're like.:rolleyes:

We are hoping to have wedding for under 5k.... I want it relaxed and fun.
I already have dress, it was a gift, so the 5k would go on ceremony, funtion room, dj, photographer, hotel rooms, flowers, rings and his suit.

Do you think this is doable without it looking cheap ?

All opinions welcome.:)

smelltheglove

It is possible, firstly you need to figure out your numbers and area of choice. A friend of mine had her wedding at the Springfield hotel, before the recession and it was very cheap. I had enquired a year before and got the best price in the area but decided elsewhere, she went then and negotiated, had a Thursday wedding with around 70 people and as far as I recall it was less than 40 per head.

I'm sure if you negotiate well enough you may be able to get the ceremony room for free, i.e. tell them if you buy house wine will they throw it in or if you go for a champagne reception and the likes. Dj can be done for around 350 I reckon no hassle. I have heard of people buying wedding cakes in supermarkets in England, I attended a wedding celebration party of a couple who live in England, they had the party here and brought the cake from home, not sure if it was M&S or similar but it was less than 50.

Rings do not have to be expensive at all, I myself have a plain band as there was nothing to match my engagement ring and it cost 300 although it is quite thick, you can get them for much less.

Flowers, sure you can do them yourself if you are that way inclined, otherwise the same bride as mentioned above had her flowers done for around 220 as far as I recall. I made my own as I am that way inclined anyway, took me about 2 hours to make mine and 3 bridesmaids, that would include picking up the flowers. Be sure though if you are doing this to buy a packet of diamante pins from ebay, cost around 5 and insert them into the centre of each rose or similar flower.

His suit should only cost around 100 or so rental. Photography ranges immensley and really depends on who you get. My prices start at 650, there are some who will start at less most likely and others who will start at1 or 2k so that area really depends on what you are looking for.

Hope all of this helps.

elvis jones

Depending on the night of the week a Dj can be supplied from 400 upwards for 4.5 hrs ( its my area )

How Strange

We're doing something similar.

If you have the civil ceremony and the party then you should be able to negotiate a good rate for the room. Have it on a Thursday so you'll get a better rate.

You don't say how many people are you inviting? 100 will be tough but doable but 50-80 is definitely achievable for €5k

We're having a the ceremony and 3 course lunch in the same hotel and it is €30 per person. You could definitely get that down by having a buffet. I was at a party which had a cold buffet for €12-15 per person and the food was great. That didn't include dessert but there was a huge superquinn cake after.

For a cake definitely get a m&s (or superquinn) cake especially if you're having a dessert as part of the buffet. The cake is really just a tradition then.

For photographers I'm in two minds myself but I think I'll get a photographer to only take a few nice photos of us and our families before and after the ceremony. Our guests will have cameras so we will share photos and I don't want a camera stuck in my face for the day. Honestly, I think that no matter how good the photographer is wedding photos always look a bit samey.

For flowers, do a flower arranging class and do your own or get someone creative in your family to do them. There should be lots of flowers and foliage in April/May.

For suits, go to the January sales and buy it then.

Rings, I have no idea about but I'm sure you can get some for €100-€150 each.

I don't know about DJ's either but you could always see if someone has a good soundsystem and then hook up an ipod or laptop with a playlist. Most 'dj's' just use a laptop anyway.

I wouldn't worry about it looking cheap, the food and the music are the essentials. The cake, the flowers etc are incidential and no-one really notices them except you.

I don't know how many your asking but it will be tough but doable to throw a party for about 100 people for €5k. You will have to be very disciplined though.

Budgetwedding

Thanks so much for the replys, they're alot of help and make me feel more confident this is doable.

We are only having around 40 to the wedding, all close family and friends so I want it pretty relaxed that's why I though buffet would be better, I'm kinda in two minds now.

I've a meeting arranged with wedding co-ordinator in the hotel we like the look of so going to go through our options with her.

Thanks again for the replys.

Very good idea about getting his suit in the January sales.:)

How Strange

Budgetwedding wrote: »

We are only having around 40 to the wedding, all close family and friends so I want it pretty relaxed that's why I though buffet would be better, I'm kinda in two minds now.

If you're having 40 people then you should definitely be fine. We're paying €35 per person for catering buffet style because we've to hire the crockery, glasses, table linen as we're having ours in a club.

Buffet will definitely make it cheaper for you so your money stretches further. I'd say you could pare the cost of the buffet down if you didn't want a starter. I was at a wedding recently where there was no starter and it was a buffet. No-one even noticed as there was loads of food, it was delicious and people had seconds and thirds if they wanted.