Some advice required... (watch topic)
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lauramargaret
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 7:47PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

Hi everybody

this feels abit lie the never ending saga, we were at a wedding on monday, loved the day and everything about it, both of us came away wishing that we had never had to postpone the wedding that should have been on the 08/08/08.

I was wondering what everybody was spending on budgets and ways they have managed to bring down the costs of everything!

If anybody can recomend any photographers/d.j's/bands/cars/venues in the glasgow/renfrewshire area?

We are at the stage we want the wedding so bad, that we may put extra onto the mortgage to pay for the wedding! so needs to be as small as possible..

All help is gratefully received xxx

(the only thing is that we do not want a sit down meal, so i have priced a buffet from sainsburys for everybody)
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sassybabe
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 8:09PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

I have done a lot of stuff myself including making the invites, order of service, place settings, menus, save the dates etc that saved a bit of money Smiles
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MrsPledger2B
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 8:26PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

I have saved so much money by taking advantage of the exchange rate and buying 90% of the wedding stuff from american websites!

I went on holiday in january and popped into a bridal shop just for a look and found the same dress that i tried on in england for 257 pounds! It was 1250 in the shop in england so i bought it there and then!

I have ordered all my favours - packs of 4 glass coasters that hold photographs from http://www.ebay.com for just over a pound a set!

Personalised shot glasses for 70p each and matchbooks with our names and date on for 12p each. All decorations, guest book, presents, table cameras everything all from US websites.

Try these websites

For invites and favours: http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com
For dress:www.houseofbrides.com

We are also getting a friend that is good with flowers to do the flowers.

You could also try a bbq which always goes down a treat or try iceland for the buffet - it actually does some fab nibbly food!

Hope that helps and good luck! : )
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badmonkey
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 8:35PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

To save on food costs you could always have an evening wedding (ceremony at 7 p.m. or so) and just have hors d'ouvres and finger foods served - would be even less than a 'meal' buffet. It can still be completely classy if you do it more as a cocktail party - but with less financial burdens for you than something that starts earlier in the day.

Do you have your heart set on a specific venue? If not try to find one that will need very little in terms of decorating; lots of people make the mistake of going for a cheaper venue, but then blowing their budget on trying to make it look pretty. The ideal scenario would be that you don't need to do anything to make it pretty on the day.

I'd also really recommend calling in favours from friends and family members. If you have an aunt or friend who is a wonderful baker ask them to make your cake for you; if you know someone who's good with flowers, get them to do the floristry. If you don't have anyone like that then try yoir local community college. There are loads of flower-arranging courses/cake decorating courses where you may be able to find a student who'll do a beautiful job for a fraction of the cost.

I've eliminated the need for hiring cars by having the ceremony and the reception at the same place (a hotel where we're all staying the night before and the night of the wedding) - obviously doesn't work if you're hoping for a church wedding, but if you're not it can get rid of having to get limos etc.

The evening entertainment is one ace we're savign a whole boatload of money by creating a playlist on my laptop of all the songs us , our friends, and our family would want to hear a DJ play and renting a sound system. Quite a lot of my friends have taken this approach, and I was really wary of the whole thing in the beginning, but having seen it work so well so many times we're going to do it as well. It was great not having a DJ who was guaranteed to clear the floor at least 3 times during the night with a bad song choice, and honestly, nobody noticed that there was no DJ there.

With photographers you can, again, save money by approaching a student of photography or using someone just starting out. The other option is if you know someone who is talented with a camera, you could ask them. We almost went this route (have 2 good friends who are excellent photogs) but in the end decided it was too much pressure on them if something went wrong, so we hired someone.

It is totally possible to have a beautiful event on a small budget without scrimping on the kind of day you'd like. Start to keep a scrapbook of things you like, looks that you enjoy, and ideas you wouldn't mind incorporating, and then once you have a coherant idea of what you're going for, start looking for ways to achive the look with less money.
['Bulging Brides' is an evil show ]
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lauramargaret
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 10:37PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

well the cake is organised

my partner's mum will do that!!!

I had already designed my invitations on the pc for our wedding wich was ment to be 08/08/08, so just need to print them...

was in a place called craftology in hillington and can get 100 cards & envelopes for 9.98, so just ink to buy!

sainsbury's do sandwich platters that are really cheap in comparrison with the price of some caterers!

I had looked at the partick burgh hall before as a venue, they only charge 500, which includes the licence, staff, tables and chairs laid out and bar supplied & stocked, fingers crossed its available!
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lauramargaret
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 10:52PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

does anybody know or can recomend a proffesional photographer on the west of scotland?

or can anyone recomend a reasonably priced dj on the west of scotland?

sorry for the constant pestering, just trying to do a costing for possibly going ahead in november!!!
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RheaWeddingDesigns
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 10:59PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

There is a DJ called chromedome in Cumnock. He was BLOODY BRILLIANT, really really good. Cost 110 from 7-12 and he was well worth it (and i am a total skinflint me)

There is a photographer called the kilted photographer based in Glasgow. His prices start from 295 but you get a lot of pictures for your money

Hope these help Smiles
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lauramargaret
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 11:02PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

thank you

I just dont want to have to wait another 1 1/2 years.

what was your total budget if you dont mind me asking?
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RheaWeddingDesigns
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 11:04PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

MrsRhea, 26 Aug 2008 at 10:59PM said:
There is a DJ called chromedome in Cumnock. He was BLOODY BRILLIANT, really really good. Cost 110 from 7-12 and he was well worth it (and i am a total skinflint me)

There is a photographer called the kilted photographer based in Glasgow. His prices start from 295 but you get a lot of pictures for your money

Hope these help Smiles
Meant to say, you can't get his number online, so if you fancy giving him a go, not sure if he would travel to glasgow, but I can give you his phone number if you like

Little Kiss Little Kiss Little Kiss Little Kiss Little Kiss
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MrsKirkham
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Posting Time: 26 Aug 2008 at 11:04PM  Reply with quote   Edit this post   Delete this post

Not sure how tight your budget is but a few things we did to keep the cost down.

Invites got a pack of 100 from ebay for 30.

Dress from littlewoods, pay it off weekley but thats 250.

Not having a sit down meal just a buffet thats 800.
MIL2B doing the cake.

Auntie doing flowers - she isnt a professional but if your wanting something simple it really is easy to do yourself. Thats her wedding present to us as the flowers only cost about 50 its the labour time your paying for when you gop to a flourist.

Found a photographer that hasnt been doing it for years and is just starting out however he has done a few and his portfolios are great. He is only 500 for the whole day and we get a copy of everything included.

For the reception we are hiring a function room at our local sports centre. Only 80 for the whole day and they provide bar staff.

Do your makeup yourself or if your feeling brave book in for a trial with a counter in debenhams on the actual morning of your wedding. That way you get a professional doing it and it only cost 10.

If you have friends with nice cars ask them to drive you instead of hiring. Our friend has a MG soft top which H2B is going in and her husband has a bmw which im going in. Put some ribbons on and it will look fab.

im sure there is more ways we have saved money but cant think right now. very tired.

Im sure you will find a way. However I wouldnt struggle too hard. Me and H2B are not fussy anyway so having everything cheap really doesnt bother me but if you want a fairytale wedding it might be worth the weight.

Little Kiss
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