Wedding Planning

Get a second job and deposit the checks into a wedding account, it would be great if both of you did this, you'd see the money grow fast! Congrats and good luck saving!!
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By Mandy on Jan 17, 2009

You may need to get a second job. Even something like weekends cleaning houses will get you one or two hundred a month! I understand how tough it is when people tell you to just stop spending extra money but you aren't! Or even worse try to imply you aren't ready to be married just because you don't have a few extra thousand dollars! In the meantime spend plenty of time browsing bookstores in the library and learn all you can about budget planning.

Whatver you do don't put a wedding on credit. If it's worthwhile it's worth waiting for. Perhaps even have a JP wedding now then in a little while when you are better off finacially have a vow renewal and do it up "wedding style" lol.

http://www.freecycle.org can also be a lifesaver. You can post on there for what you need and overtime people who no longer need it will give it. Overtime you can collect all sorts of things…just keep your requests modest. Nothing is worse than people posting for outrageous items like a digital camera.
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By pspoptart on Jan 17, 2009

Why not hold the wedding at your local court house…most have a chapel, the wedding fee is usually around 40 to 60 dollars…and then have a themed party at your house or a relatives house. Ask everyone to supply one item that is related to the theme and ask everyone to dress as well for the theme..sorta how everyone comes dressed for halloween. You can make it fun. So you have everyone bring one dish, one decorative item and dress and whatever they bring that is the gift for your wedding is them contributing to the party. Just dont ask for gifts.
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By joyceeleann on Jan 17, 2009

You may need to work extra jobs or walk pets or babysit, get a paper route, give up one expensive thing a week…each of you should do this while you are saving.

You can plan a lovely backyard wedding or a wedding at a local park. Often you just need a permit. Have a friend take the pictures. Ask only family to be a part of the wedding if Japanese style weddings have attendants. If possible, wear your Mother's wedding clothes.

Hold the wedding in the morning so that if you do have friends for a little get together, you only have to serve brunch, not an expensive lunch or dinner….just breakfast foods and cold cuts, etc. Also early in the day, so no alcohol, maybe just orange juice and a champagne toast.

Use balloons on the tables or potted plants that are small and low. Flowers for you should be of course what you want. Consider the time of year and what is in season when choosing flowers.

Congratulations and good luck!
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By wife2denizmoi on Jan 17, 2009

You save a little here and a little there. You cut down on things you don't need, like your morning coffee or lunch everyday.

In my own life, If I cut out buy coffee everyday ($15 a week), buying lunch (about $20 a week) and going out to dinner once a week ($30) I would save about $60 a week.

If you wait a year to get married that's $65×52 weeks or about 3400K right there. Plus, there is probably other ways you could save money or earn money. You could have a tag sale or sell stuff you don't need on E-bay.
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By Addicted2Answers on Jan 17, 2009

Make it small simple and elegant, if you do it in the park in summer, or perhaps at a friends house, as for a reception do appetizer's and cake as for drinks perhaps wine beer and punch at the same house if possible.If you or your mate try to get a second job and save up if that's possible
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By Leahkl on Jan 17, 2009

I have the same problem. Im getting married in a year and I have been ordering items off of ebay for almost nothing. Like I have been getting favors, save the date cards, decorations, etc. I'm also having our wedding at my parents house then the reception at his familys house. As for tables and chairs you can ask your local churchs or town hall. I asked the town hall and thats where we are going to get ours, we just have to bring them back the next day. No renting fee or nothing.
Good luck!
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btb 06-07-08

By *Angie* on Jan 17, 2009

first off, i really like the idea of a japanese themed wedding. what state are you in? i am getting married in may and having our wedding at our city park. its only $40. Are you close to a dollar store? I live by a family dollar and they have a lot of asian themed novelties and decorations. if you know someone that knows how to do the flowers, you can go to a discount store that sells fake flowers and get those cheap also. plan ahead. find a wedding store that has a layaway. have the reception at someones house. that would save a lot of money rather than renting a place. go to resale shops. you can find unique items for cheap. always check the clearance isles of a store. since halloween just got over, you might be able to find a lot of asian themes things in the halloween section. right now marked down about 75%. jc penney and sears has a good clearance of dresses. you can find nice ones for next to nothing. i seen some for well under a hundred dollars. it just takes time to plan something on a small budget. trust me i know!!! lol. are you close to an "old time pottery" store? they have really cheap fake flowers.
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By kendra on Jan 18, 2009

Well, if you dont want to get another job, you could do other things. Find cheap sites where you can get good quality stuff, like http://www.orientaltrading .com, also, be prepared to do almost everything yourself (you, groom, family, and friends) that will cut down on cost. You also need to set aside money wherever you can to purchase what you need. also, talk to friends and family and see if there is any "favors" people could do for you guys to help with the cost. Also, have an engagement or bridal party and specifically ask for gift cards, cash, cash cards, and gift cards to places where you need to get stuff for the wedding. Check out ebay too, you may be able to get stuff there too. Also, attend every single wedding show you can and enter all of the raffles, some of the items you can win is an all expense paid wedding.

If all else fails, you may just need to put the wedding iff until a later date..
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By no_me_no_u on Jan 18, 2009

maybe do a couple of car washes or something just for the wedding…or have a bake sale …. you could get some money that way…. im not really sure..but congratz and good luck…
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By his princess on Jan 18, 2009

Take a hard look at your budget and see where you can make changes. Can you sell one car and take the bus or carpool? Stop getting coffee or eating out? Cut back on Christmas gift-giving?
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By monicanena on Jan 18, 2009

Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Yes, it is really hard to plan for a wedding in today's world. This same question has been asked before.

My suggestions:

~ Cut out any "extras" (if you indeed have any extras), such as, no Starbucks, no eating out, etc. Perhaps cut down on what you are going to spend this Christmas. If you can get a second job (especially this holiday season), then do so. All retailers hire for the Christmas season. I would never suggest for someone to get a 2nd job permanently, but if it's for a short time (Christmas season), perhaps you can make a little extra money. Last year I worked at Michael's Craft Store for 2 months (part-time) and made $1,000!

~ My second suggestion would be to NOT do a "theme." I am not knocking your ethnic background, if indeed you are Japanese. The only thing with a theme is….you really spend MORE money because everything must fall into the theme. That is not to say you could not incorporate Japanese food, decorations, etc. into your wedding, but to do an actual theme will be costly.

~ It would be so much easier to plan just a simple, elegant (non-themed) wedding. It makes it much easier with the dress, the invitations, the centerpieces, and the food choice. It really CAN be done inexpensively if you look around and are willing to "go outside the box" for things.

A dress can be purchased from JC Penney, Target (yes, Target….look it up online at target.com), Ebay, and other various online retailers. Many girls are opting for simple short gowns. If there is a David's Bridal shop in your area, sometimes they have $99 sales! Second hand and thrift stores are also an option. ***ALSO….don't be afraid to go into bridal stores. All stores have clearance racks and "sample gowns" that they are trying to sell. I bought a gown for my sons wedding, which was originally $180 for $25!!

If you are a member of a church, speak with your pastor or priest. There is usually no charge for the church itself and the pastor's fee can maybe be negotiated if you ask. Usually it's between $50-$100, but, again, ask.

Again, if you are a member of a church, many have fellowship halls that you can use for a small reception. You DON'T need to have a huge reception in order for it to be elegant!

If you are not a member of a church, no problem! Do you have a large enough house? A family member/friend with a large house OR backyard? There are many, many brides on here that are having their wedding AND reception at someone's home. It really saves $$$$.

Table decorations can be something very inexpensive. A small potted plant, a single rose or a couple of tulips in a vase. A small bowl with a floating candle. Really, you can do a centerpiece for $3-$5!!

If you have a Dollar Tree or Family Dollar (or any dollar store) in your area…..go there!

Photography: get a friend!
Cake: make cupcakes!
Invitations: Get a boxed set from places like Michael's, Walmart, Target, or Hobby Lobby. A set of 50 goes for about $25. You get everything!

Again, look around. You wedding can come in for $500 (or maybe less) ….it just depends on what you want to spend your money on! And how big of a reception you want. A reception can be as simple as cake, punch and coffee!

Good luck!
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By iloveweddings on Jan 18, 2009

Cut back on things that you don't absolutely need. For example do you need to have cookies or soda every week in the shopping? You can simply not buy them and put the money aside for the wedding. You don't need alcohol or new clothes or to go out to dinner or the cinema either. You would be surprised how quickly these things add up. Just those 4 things are at least $150.

You could also sell you things that you don't use anymore. EBay is good for that.

You can get a second job.

You can ask your parents for a little bit of help.

You can have a potluck reception in a place that you don't have to pay to rent (park), or stick to a dessert only or a cocktail reception.

Also make the things for the wedding yourself. It is heaps cheaper.
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By Steph on Jan 18, 2009

a japanese themed wedding? Well living paycheck to paycheck doesn't mean you can't have a nice wedding, it just means you will have to save for what you want.

Guest list: How big do you want your wedding to be? I would say since your living expenses are tight to keep it just family that your close to and possibly a couple of friends.

Clothing: There are literally thousands of asian/oriental stores that sell mock kimono's in a silky material.

Invitations: Make your invitatiions at home in a haiku style of writing, on really bright paper.

Decorations: get some inexpensive origami paper,and make some lanterns and put votives on the inside.
make some animals, and stars out of origami paper it's easy.

Food: Since its a japanese themed celebration make oriental/asian food at home, and serve it at your reception.

Photography:Have someone in your family take a few pictures with a digital camera

Im not sure what to tell you. Good Luck.
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By dietitian4u on Jan 18, 2009

A second job is certainly the best idea to get out of the "paycheck to paycheck" situation but that's not always dooable if you are going to school, have kids, etc. You could go to the courthouse to get married and have an intimate reception in your backyard or the backyard of a family member or close friend if you don't have a backyard. You could also throw a reception for your 1 year anniversary and just go to the courthouse for now.
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By pinky0121 on Jan 18, 2009

My advice: don't get married until you're not living paycheck-to-paycheck. An easy way to save up money is (and it doesn't have to be for a wedding – you can be saving for anything, like a house, car, etc.), when you get your paycheck, take 10% out of it and put it in a separate account. Or, if your paychecks are small, just put the 10% in cash in a jar somewhere. Then, NEVER touch that money until it is enough to pay for whatever you saved it for.

I have a pretty good job doing engineering, and since I am single and don't yet have a mortgage, I have my employer take about 35% of my net paycheck and put it in a savings account I have set up, which is $500 every 2 weeks. Then, when I get that amount over $10,000 I turn it into a CD at another bank. I have a couple of these, and am saving them for a down payment on a house.
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My dad, and his dad, called these books the "magic books" because they enabled them to become very wealthy (and neither of them went to college):

- "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
- "The Richest Man in Babylon" by George S. Clason

By Galaxie Girl on Jan 18, 2009