SMALL and CHEAP wedding ideas?
September 28th, 2009
sokkermum asked:
We want to get married on a beach with just 10 or so people, but all the wedding planning books and sites I’ve found are for big weddings… we want to keep it really simple and intimate and I’m having a hard time thinking of things that we could do for a reception, and ways to make the ceremony special (but not cheesy). We will probably be getting married on a small island with his dad presiding, and I don’t really want to deal with bridal parties and showers. Does anyone have any ideas or know of sites that could help us figure things out?
Ultimate Guide To Baby Gender Selection
We want to get married on a beach with just 10 or so people, but all the wedding planning books and sites I’ve found are for big weddings… we want to keep it really simple and intimate and I’m having a hard time thinking of things that we could do for a reception, and ways to make the ceremony special (but not cheesy). We will probably be getting married on a small island with his dad presiding, and I don’t really want to deal with bridal parties and showers. Does anyone have any ideas or know of sites that could help us figure things out?
Ultimate Guide To Baby Gender Selection
September 30th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Many of the caribbean resorts have on site wedding planners who can help you with the paperwork needed for non-residents to get married in their country. They can also handle setting up the ceremony site on the beach, and since most of them are in the all-inclusives, they can also handle the meal. They should be able to reserve one of the ala carte restaurants for you for the evening, or set up something in a nice, private spot.
Since the islands are so beautiful, you won’t need to worry too much about what the surroundings will look like.
A lot of people use Sandals or Beaches in Jamaica, but both of those places have sites on other islands, too.
October 1st, 2009 at 5:35 am
Since your wedding is very small…just take everyone out to dinner for your reception. Its cheaper than having a caterer and stuff.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:29 pm
. Anna Maria Island near Sarasota Fl is very nice and there is a restaurant there on the water called Renault’s they have a great buffet. I would just walk on the beach and have the ceremony then go eat. Make a reservation and order a cake to be served there if you want one,
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 am
It’s simple. Get a priest, some lawn chairs, wear a simple dress from a department store, have your fiance wear a dress shirt and slacks. Have the priest perform the cermemony. For the reception, have it potluck, tell everyone to bring a food!
October 4th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Being you are planning really small and have your own officiant. Anything goes. Find the perfect spot you both want with a spectacular view. Maybe continue with reception on the beach, some caterers will deliver and keep it really casual and fun. Or immediately following the wedding go to a beach side restaurant (call them ahead with a number and time) they will be most accommodating. Some restaurants will even allow you to get married on their beach front if you are having the dinner or reception at their venue. Clearwater Fl, Sand Key Fl, loaded with hotels, resorts and hotels with plenty of beautiful beaches.
come on down, the weather is grand, the sunrises and sunsets are perfect for a wedding.
October 6th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Just remember that it is not “cheap,” it is inexpensive.
Inexpensive does not have to be cheap. I am getting married in September, and we will be saving money where ever we can.
Some examples I’m doing are as follows (though they may not apply directly in your case I hope you can use them to help with the type of thing you can do):
We have nice candle center pieces instead of flowers. They are nice, we can get and prepare them ahead of time, and they are much cheaper than flowers.
For candy favors, we are making chocolate dipped stick pretzels ourselves. We tried a few out; they were very easy, and looked (and tasted) as good as the expensive gourmet ones.
Also, check with places and ASK THEM (the vendors–reception venue, florist, photographer, music). Sometimes you get nothing, but sometimes they have good, lower cost ideas.
When we mentioned having a long (7 hour) reception, but were thinking of not having the dj the entire time to keep costs down, they gave us the extra hour free. (The reception area has a curtain that easily closes to divide off the back of the dance floor. We were going to keep that closed for guest arrival and hors d’oeuvres while the dj set up, and have it opened an hour later for dinner, but we didn’t have to)
The reception place gave us the name of a close and cheap vendor they recommend for chair covers when we asked; they look very nice and are $1.00 less than any others we found before.
Good luck and congratulations!
October 8th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
We are having a dinner only reception at a Japanese Restaurant for our wedding. A low-key dinner at a local seafood restaurant sounds fun! I mean, you don’t really have to “entertain” if it’s just ten people… your conversation and company should be entertainment enough since these are probably your closest friends and family.
My favvvvorite wedding find has been a book called The DIY Wedding: Celebrate Your Day Your Way by: Kelly Bare. It has lots of ideas and tips…
October 9th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
I just LOVE small weddings. Yours sounds very romantic, intimate and elegant.
A couple of ideas (from myself and another site)….
~ Give each member of your families a flower and have them line an aisle. As the bride proceeds towards the front, she takes each one and assembles her bouquet as she goes, symbolizing the contributions the family makes to this union.
~ Consider having your families stand up for the entire service, at your side just as attendants would be in a larger wedding.
~ Have members of your family do the readings.
~ Ask each of the guests to say a few words about the couple, or ask them to write a few things down ahead of time, and assemble them into a document for one person to read aloud.
~ Make your wedding program more substantial, more of a booklet and keepsake. Include messages to each of the guests and explanations of why you chose your flowers, readings, colors, music, etc. If your wedding is held in a unique place, give some information about it, too.You can name every person who will attend the wedding individually in the program, commenting about them something that is special to you. For example:
“To Uncle Joe and Aunt Thelma, we thank you so much for the enthusiasm you brought to this day. We hope to capture the passion for life that you have shared in your 35 years together.”
~ Music for ceremony: I would definitely want music, no matter how small it is! What about a guitar player? Violin soloist?
With regards to your reception….is that going to be on the beach? From your question, I am thinking you will be getting married on an island and the reception will be there as well? I don’t know what to tell you about that. I guess simply bring in some food and beverages. You will also need to think about tables, chairs, linens, tableware, servingware?
If it was me, I would get married on your beach island and then go to a restaurant for a reception. It shouldn’t be too expensive to feed 10 people plus yourselves (12 total?) Maybe you can even get a small private room in a restaurant….check it out. They are not limited to BIG weddings…most places are willing to work with you!
If you go this way….make it elegant! You can do elegant “on a budget” (I prefer to use the word “budget”…not “cheap!”) Meet with the restaurant manager and possibly pick 3 or 4 choices off the menu and make up your own special menu without the prices….place at everyone’s spot.
~ If you are only having 10-12 people, hopefully you can have 1 big round table. That way, everyone can chat and visit!
~ Have a beautiful centerpiece with flowers or a flower/candle combination.
~ I would definitely try to have some music ….an ipod?
Don’t forget the cake!
Here is another site you may want to look into that has ideas for small weddings:
Remember a “budget” wedding is not a “cheap” wedding. There is a difference! You can have a beautiful, elegant wedding on a budget.
Good luck and I hope you have a beautiful day and a happy marriage!