Money Saving Tips - Wedding Forum

Beeny · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2006, 06:26 PM

Hi guys!!

How's it all going - it looks like everyone is busy, busy, busy as usual.

I was wondering if anyone has any money saving tips that they have discovered while planning their wedding? If so then would you mind sharing them with me - I'm writing a feature all about money saving tips and I need as much help as possible!!

Thanks ever so much again.

Beeny xx

J · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2006, 06:36 PM

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...d.html?t=41608

Kay · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2006, 06:47 PM

Hey, i have used that website in the past. It is really helpful!

I think i may even have replied to that thread with my money saving tips!

Teresa · #4 (**permalink**) 13-07-2006, 04:24 AM

Shop around for everything and never buy the first thing you see. I found that I nearly always found the same thing cheaper somewhere else. Browse the web for bargains as I found buying from a website was often cheaper than a shop.

Ask friends and family if there is anything they can do to help. You'll be amazed at how helpful everyone is and you'll probably have some really creative mates that can help with stuff. We saved money by getting a friend of my mums to make our cakes. She does have a wedding cake shop but as she is a really good friend of my mum's she did them as our wedding present. We also didn't bother with a car as I walked to the church which was only at the end of the road and then my uncle took us to the reception in his new car.

Have a bash at making the stationary yourselves. We did this and saved a fortune. I bought all the bits and pieces from Hobbycraft and from a few websites for about £80 and did the whole lot myself. This was invites, order of service, place cards, thank you cards, menu's and the table plan.

Shop around for your dress and shoes etc. Places like Debenhams and Monsoon have some lovely stuff and it doesn't cost too much. Marks and Spencer's cakes get raved about so that would be another way to save some dosh if you wanted. Look out for sales in dress shops too as you can sometimes buy the shop sample a lot cheaper.

Shop around for the honeymoon if you are having one. We initially got quoted 5 grand for 2 weeks in the Maldives but booked it with someone else and got exactly the same holiday for £3500. Perhaps consider asking for honeymoon vouchers to help pay for it as a wedding present. I think this is a really good idea especially if you already have a home and have most things you need for it.

Week day weddings are often cheaper than the weekend. Some hotels and that do offers if you get married during the week. If you have friends that have recently go married ask them for advice and see if they have anything you can borrow. You might save a bit by borrowing their veil or something.

Consider not having a photographer. We did have one and are glad we did as we've got some fantastic photos from him. We went to a wedding last year though where they didn't have a professional. They asked everyone to bring camera's and take photos for them and got a friend to do a video.

Hels · #5 (**permalink**) 13-07-2006, 06:22 AM

Buy your dress on the internet. I ordered mine from America and it saved me approx £700 off UK prices for the same dress.

Bought my shoes in a cheapy shop for £10, then sold them when I'd finished on e-bay for £36!

Hunt around in sales, got my bridesmaid shoes for £12 each in the House of Frazer sale instead of £55. Also bought the flowergirl dresses for £20 each instead of £65 in Debenhams and they were Pierce II Fionda. If they don't have all the sizes you want, they will contact other stores for you and then do a telephone order, I did this as they only had 2 bridesmaid dresses in the right size at the cardiff branch and I got the third one sent from Essex.

Don't just look in wedding related shops as they always seem to be more expensive, and you can often find the items you require in other shops.

Same as Teresa - if you have time, make your own stationary, order of service, invitations etc. We did and it saved us a fortune.

Go to the market stall for your flowers. We ordered ours from the market and saved a fortune. I got 40 hand tied pink roses for £45 and they were amazing!

Go for sparkly hair pins instead of tiaras for your bridesmaids, cost £6 pp instead of approx £25 - £30 for a tiara.

The flower girls carried ballerina bunnies instead of flowers, again cut down on cost as I got them in the Monsoon sale for £3 each, and it kept them occupied.

When buying gifts for attendants, best men etc. TK Maxx is always worth a look as they have fantastic items in there at good prices.

Try and book the venue etc well in advance, because you may guarantee the prices of that year e.g rather than 3 years time, so again this should save quite a bit of money.

Shop around for suits, we were quoted £125 per suit in one shop, and managed to get the same thing for £57 each in another, and if you rented 4 you got the 5th free.

We didn't have floral arrangements on the tables for the wedding breakfast as they were so expensive. Instead we bought glass bowls from ikea, with glass beads in the bottom and had floating flowers in them. They looked lovely and the guests got to take them away afterwards as a keep sake.

Again, I agree with Teresa on the M & S cakes, they look great and taste nice too. I was lucky that my MIL made ours because it had to be nut free. Again this saved a fortune.

Think that's all for now - hope I haven't bored you!

caline · #6 (**permalink**) 13-07-2006, 12:41 PM

The best money saving thing I have done is to make my own cravats. The shop wanted to charge £20 a metre for silk then another £30 to make each one! I bought silk from a website for £8 a matre (needed 2) and made them myself. When I took them into the shop for the boys to try on at the suit fitting, the woman was very impressed, and said they were better than the ones they make!

Heather · #7 (**permalink**) 14-07-2006, 03:52 AM

* Look at Bridesmaid dresses if you're not planning on having a traditional "white/cream/ivory" wedding dress! (Saved me a fortune!!!!)

* Again if not "traditional" look at other options for wedding cakes!
I had Champagne Bottles from tesco's the 4 came to a heck of a lot less than one layer of a wedding cake.
Or if not a "sweet" person I heard of one couple who had a large Brie decorated with fruits etc

*I got hold of artificial flowers from a floristry supplier, and made my own bouquet! Plus saved on a bouquet for the flower girl by getting a Teddy that matched the colour scheme

* Look in "normal" shops for as much of your accesories as you can, buying things from wedding shops/companies sometimes adds to the price! (My wedding shoes came from River Island and were £20!!)

Beeny · #8 (**permalink**) 24-07-2006, 03:35 PM

Thanks Guys - you're all stars as usual.

Beeny x