Carmen another good flowers budget idea is hydrangeas. They can be sprayed just about any color with flower spray (I had them in my centerpieces) so if you get the blue ones they are about $3 a stem. 2 stems makes a good size bouquet and a pretty colorful ribbon and greens can bulk it up and make it beautiful for probably $10 for each bridesmaid bouquet.
Think centerpieces too! My centerpieces were about $15 a table. I bought fake grapes at Hobby Lobby for 1/2 price, the my mom made candle holders out of wine corks she'd been saving and bought some cork coasters for $1 for 12 of them or something cheap like that) and she got packages of LED votive candles for them. I used empty wine bottles I had been saving, washed them out, sprayed them with chalkboard spray paint and wrote the table names on them. I got charger plates at hobby lobby for $1 each and 2 hydrangea buds sprayed purple-ish in the wine bottles. I think there are pics around of my centerpieces. They were cheap and beautiful!
As I found out, a DJ does more than play music, our DJ kept our wedding on track. He was organized and made sure that we got to everything (first dances, cake, dinner announcements, etc.. ) all on schedule. If you want a DJ but think you can't afford a 'wedding' DJ, look for a DJ that works for himself/herself and does not have admin expenses, building expenses etc. Our wedding DJ did not charge for set up or break down also.
Also, lots of people think home weddings will save you TONS of money... but if your wedding more than 20 or so people, then this might not be the case. Food can still run $500 for everyone to have a beautiful meal together, then there may be a cost of renting tables, chairs, china, silverware, glasses, tent, etc... I thought about this type of wedding also, and when pricing it out, it was roughly the same as a hall (except no one had to clean up the mess after with the hall!) LOL
Invitations, make them! It was time consuming but our invitations were GORGEOUS! Get creative... do you know anyone who has a Cricket or does scrap booking? Bet they could give you great ideas! Our invitations cost maybe $90 for 80 (and that included postage out and postage for RSVP).
Look at consignment shops for veils, shoes, jewelry, hair adornments (clips, tiaras, barrettes), etc... these things cost a fortune at wedding stores, but lots of shops have them gently used for way cheaper and they were only used once. Have your hair, nails, waxing, etc.. done at a hair school by students. They do a great job for a fraction of the price!
Ok.. ideas are waning here.. dealing with my own crisis now.. gotta run! Hope I helped a little with ideas!
__________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz |