Wedding value of $4000

I also need some assistance. I plan on getting married in 1-1.5 years. But my parents are in a financial bind so my budget can only roughly be around $5000. We are getting married at my home church in a small country town. So I would love to incorporate that into the theme. Please help.
Any money saving ideas are appreciated.

im keeping two weddings for about 6,000, I can defiantely help you out..the only "big" thing is the recpetion hall. ITs all about the do-it-yourself But I started by making my own invitations, think about it why spend 400.00 on invites when people just toss them out. I got a nice embossed package from Michaels for about $20.00 - that will roughly invite about 100 people. I checked on eBay for wedding gowns and was able to get one fro 250.00 and let me tell you it retails for over $1000.00, I actually bought one earlier for 100.00 then I saw this one for 250.00 I liked this one better so i ahev to now resell my other one--which should not be a problem at all..for the favors (since we are a bi-cultural couple) I am Indian he is Italian I am making recipe books. Or...on eBay you can get votive candles like 100 for 39-49 dollars then you take clear sticker paper and make your saying....get wholesale flowers and make your own cake...very very very simple....ill think of some others along the way but thats should get you on a good start

Well $4000 sounds great to me cause I'm working with a $1500 budget and so for I'm doing just fine. My father is going to marry us, my brother is playing for us and the church we are getting married at belongs to a family friend. So all those things came free. BUT THE RECEPTION was a whole 'nother supject. That's where you'll spend your monies. My advise is to work backwards. Price reception spots (find a hall that will allow you to bring in your own food). Then check out catering (or have family members bring food). Then work on the place you would like to be married at. Who knows you may decide to do both at the same location.

I am working with a budget of 5000. I purchased my gown from David's Bridal. Another good place to look for a gown is bridesave.com. I also ordered my girl's dresses from a company called pearlsplace.com. Their dresses were only $97. I ordered my cake from Walmart. I went to a local printing company for my invitations. If my computer would have been working I would have printed them my self. We made a cd for wedding favors and made the copies oursleves. My girlfriend made the covers for the cd. My friends are the musicians at the wedding and the dj went to school with my husband so he is not charging us his normal rate. Family members are cooking. A church member is taking care of all of the decorations and bouquets (including boutineers and corsages) as well as supplying the cake knife, guest book, flower girls baskets and ring bearer pillow. Another church member who had a wedding in June didn't use all of her paper supplies. The items that she didn't open she returned to the party supply store and got them in the colors that I needed. If you can rely on family, church and friends to help you out that would be a great way to save money.

I have to concur with the young lady that brought up Bridal Bargains. It is a great book. I checked it out fromt he library for free! So, I've already saved some money. They suggest two things that I really liked. First, if you get a professional photographer, don't get a wedding photographer. Both are experienced but identifying themselves as "wedding" photographers allows them to drive up the fee. I love the idea of getting the cake made at Wal-mart. How do you plan to transport it without messing it up? Can they assemble it at the reception site?

Oh, the second thing I found was only getting the bottom layer of the cake actually baked. They can just decorate some type of form for the other layers. It saves a lot of money and the guests will never know. The waiters and waitresses can just bring out the cake already cut from the back!

Oh my gosh, where did I go wrong! I couldnt get a wedding for $4,000 if I tried. Somebody please tell me where you're getting the info to pull off a $4,000 wedding? I got my dress, favors, ceremony items, veil etc all on eBay and saved a bundle but my wedding is still topping $30,000!

A $30,000 wedding, wow, I can only imagine the stress. We're working with about a tenth of that as our budget and the only way its remotely manageable is that we've called in a lot of favors! All of my brothers are into photography, my oldest brother designed the invitations and prigram, my future MIL is an organist, a family friend is officiating and another is doing the videography, a friend is gonna DJ and make the CD's we're giving away as favors, we're making our own centerpieces and I'm getting my gown, bridesmaid dress and flowergirl dress all made by a family friend for $200 total (plus the cost of the material purchsed at a fabric store's going out of business sale) Whew, I'm tired just thinking about all we've done in 5 months. Its been a blessing watching everything come together as we're learning about different peoples talents and how excited they are to share them with us. Fortunately my FH and I agree that the wedding is just one day, while the marriage is for a lifetme...I'm looking forward to the beginning of that lifetime when we get married in 40 days.

Likewise, working with $3000-$5000 is working well for my FH and me. We have been blessed already in different areas. My godsister has a friend that prints elegant invitations and she is going to pay for that as our wedding gift from her. My FH's aunt is going to pay for musicians and soloists at the reception. Family members are cooking for the reception. The reception hall is barely costing us anything since it's in my hometown and everybody knows everybody! My pastor's wife is our wedding planner. So God has already provided for us in so many areas. I'm truly grateful. $30,000.....whew...that's about how much we want to use as a down payment on our future home. LOL

My family structure is a little ...confusing right now, so my honey and I are on our own. But, that Bridal Bargains book is definitely helping. It's so easy for the budget to get out of control. We haven't purchased anything yet. But, I'm going through the book and looking at the different sections (flowers, ceremony, photography etc) separately and writing down which suggestions I want to use and my budget in that area. I'm hoping that looking at them individually will help me hold tight to a budget. Any other budgeting secrets?

southernthoughts, i got a veil 18kwhite gold palted tiara 150 placecard holders, wedding perfume(demeter fragrance library in honeysuckle) faux diamond bracelt for about 75$$ on ebay. I will be buying silk flowers wedideas.com, and my fmil will be catering. I hope to spend around 4k. I got my dress slip and bra from davidsbridal. about 730$$. i hope that helps. I also have the bridal bargain book. DO NOT LET BRIDAL SHOPS TRICK U. seriously, although i like the dress i got from davids i wasnt ready to buy. they will try their best to pressure and it wont seem like it. Good luck

Oh I just love this site. I have $5,000 to work with and my FH is on top of thing to ensure that I don't go over. I started planning in April of 2005 and pretty much have bought most of the little misc items (guest book, flower girl basket, pens, petals, etc.) WWW.orientaltrading.com has saved me so much money. I will also continue to look for bargains. It is my intent to go to Phenomoniques store, hopefully she will be able to help me out with other things. Our wedding and reception will be in the same place, so that saves lots of money. MY FH college buddy is a photographer and is doing our pictures for a wedding gift, my biggest expense will probably be food. Keep the ideas coming ladies!

www.orientaltrading.com has good prices.You also may want to try www.efavormart.com, they have lots of good stuff at great prices.I just ordered silk flowers from them.

Thanks PlatinumSyle, I'm heading there now!

Oh my goodness, I've never thought about buying a wedding veil and tiara from Ebay, but I did! They look beautiful and I saved lots of money. I am so grateful, thanks ladies!

Oh my I found a wonderful flower girl basket (on ebay) which amazingly matches the ring bearers pillow I bought from a different company. The two together cost less than $20.00 with taxes, shipping & handling, etc and they look much more expensive. I am quite happy with my purchases. Ladies please continue to share your money-saving advice!