I’ve got another lovely wedding for you today from the talented Krista Lee Photography! One thing I love about this bride’s advice is that she realized that photography was a priority to her, and spent over 1/4 of her budget on photos and yet still had a lovely day by DIYing and finding ways to save in other areas. One of the *hardest* places to cut costs is the venue, so Malory was savvy in using the property of a family member to throw their wedding. Not everyone has family with gorgeous riverfront property but there are DEFINITELY non-traditional and out-of-the-box venues that you can use for little to no cost that would save you a bundle– definitely something to think about! Hope you enjoy this lovely wedding!! xoxo- Jess

Clint + Malory 

May 19, 2012

Savannah, TN, at a family member’s home.

What was your budget? Please give us a breakdown of how you spent your budget– rough estimates are fine!

We never actually sat down and said, “okay this is our budget” but we both agreed that we did not want to go over $10,000 and $5,000 or less would have been absolutely amazing. We didn’t quite make the ‘under 5 grand’ mark but we gave it a good go!

Flowers- $650 (this included some real flowers and silk flowers, my aunt is amazing and helped with the arrangements and decorating)

Catering- $1,500 (We did light finger foods as it was so hot that day, and my grandmother made homemade lemonade.)

Wedding and groom’s cake- $400 (Well, actually Clint opted for cupcakes instead of a full out cake.)

Wedding paper (save the dates, invitations, programs, etc.)- $700 (My programs were totally DIY which saved a ton!)

Tent/table/chair, etc. rentals – $1,800

Photography- $3,000

Wedding party gifts- $200

Miscellaneous decorations – $200 (We hit up a ton of sales at hobby lobby and local flea markets)

Music- $0 (Clint was friends with the band so it was a very nice wedding present to us!)

Wedding attire- $1000 (My dress and Clint’s tux were gifted to us from my awesome grandmother, and the wedding party paid for their outfits. My best friend’s sister did hair and make-up as a wedding present also.)

How many guests did you have?

We had between 75-100 roughly

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

Our overall theme for the wedding was rustic/southern chic which was perfect since we grew up in a very small southern town, it seemed only fitting. We tried to do as much DIY as possible to add a personal feel. Our programs were all DIY with the help of Microsoft word, a local printing shop and my awesome bridesmaids. Clint hates sweets (I know right!?) so he opted for cupcakes instead of a big cake. To help distinguish these cupcakes as his, I took simple white labels and printed helicopters on them (he’s a pilot) and wrapped them around toothpicks to make little cupcake flags, super cute and easy. Another personal aspect was in my bouquet. I used a single red rose in the middle in honor of my great-grandmother who was not with us to share the day. We were very close and her favorite flower was the red rose. It was so nice to have her there with me! My bridesmaids wore beautiful teal colored dresses except for my MOH who wore a nice shade of green. I wanted her to really stand out.  My beautiful cedar arbor that was used in the ceremony was built by my husband himself. He went out into the woods and cut the trees down and everything, which made for a very interesting day!

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

Of course the DIY projects saved, but the biggest help was not having to pay to rent the venue. We are also so blessed to have amazing family members and friends with awesome resources and talents!

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Do not let anyone tell you it is too early to plan something or get something done. With wedding planning, it is never too early to mark a detail off your checklist. Also don’t ever forget whose day it is.

What was your biggest splurge?

Our biggest splurge was our awesome photographer. Clint and I both decided early on that images of our day were a top priority, and I must say, it was such a wise decision. We now have beautiful images that we can look back on for years to come.

What was your favorite detail?

We loved that everything was so casual. It seemed like our wedding was exactly what we wanted, sounds silly right because how else would it be, but it just seems like we heard so many horror stories about weddings going wrong or doing things just because someone else wanted it. Our wedding definitely represented us and how we are, and the southern chic décor tied in with our small town roots. We could not have asked for a better day.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

The wedding ceremony started out with a bang. Clint works for an EMS helicopter service as a pilot, so in honor of our wedding day, one of his fellow pilots flew and medic crew flew over real low which was such an awesome moment for both our guests and Clint. Of course, saying “I do” was pretty amazing as well!!

VENDORS

Bakery: Sweet Cravings by Wendy   |  Flowers: Modern Florist   |  Photography: Krista Lee Photography    |   Band: House of Mercy  |   Rentals:  Party Pros

_________________ Thanks for reading $10,000 backyard wedding from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

So excited to share this Wedding of the Week! This insanely detailed Texas wedding has punches of color, peacock elements, and penguins! Like my alliteration there? I seriously am blown away by all that Michelle was able to pull off for her $10k budget! The peacock themed wedding details are amazing, the food looks delicious, and the venue– to die for! Hope you love this wedding as much as I do- and be sure to read all of Michelle’s very thorough questionnaire- she has lots of great ideas and tips to share! I especially love her sentiment about doing a first- look, which if you know me, I highly recommend! Until next time, xoxo- Jessica

Russel + Michelle

November 11, 2012
Buda, TX  at Le San Michele

_________________ Thanks for reading Peacock themed wedding in Texas from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

It’s Wednesday, so you know what that means! Time for another budget savvy wedding feature! This couple was able to pull their wedding of for $10,000 – even with a guest list of nearly 300! How can you not love the orchids she used as decor flowers? So lovely. I especially love the bride’s budget saving strategies: research, DIY, and employing friends and family to help! Great advice for any bride on a budget. Hope you enjoy this sweet wedding! See ya next week! xoxo- Jessica

Nicole + Alex
September 15, 2012
Saline, Michigan
Saline First United Methodist Church

What was your budget? If you are able, give us a rough breakdown of how you spent your budget.
$10,000

How many guests did you have?
275

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

We did various items ourselves. We felt it added a creativity that made it personal to my husband, myself, and family. For example, we made our own wedding invitations, our own wedding programs, styled our event by assembling the table decorations and the hall ourselves.

Our son was also the ring bearer at the wedding; he was three months shy of turning three. We wanted to make sure that he felt like he was included and just as important in our big day. During the ceremony we had our unity candle that Alex and I lit, but then we had an extra candle that Brock came up to light that was our family candle. After Alex and I lit ours Brock helped light our family candle from the candle that we had just lit to join us together as one. At the reception Brock drove himself and the flower girl into the hall on his little green tractor as his entrance.

Not only did the groom have a groom cake, but so did our son, Brock– of his favorite thing, a John Deere Tractor. Lastly, we also had a family dance that was the three of us dancing to Jason Aldean “My Big Green Tractor.” Those were very special events during the ceremony and reception that meant a lot to me and my husband Alex then and even after.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
We were budget savvy every step of the way. I spent hours researching trying to get do it yourself ideas, best prices, and looked to our family and friends for additional creativity. I liked the idea of fashioning many of my own elements because it was uniquely us! Specifically some examples: my mother and mother-in-law crafted beautiful table runners for the reception. We were also lucky enough to borrow the flower vases from a friend’s wedding that she had saved. My talented mother-in-law created our wedding cake for us, grooms cake, and also the cake that my son had to feel included. By doing things ourselves, it significantly cut down our largest expenses (decor and bakery) so that we could invest more into our lasting elements.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
Do as much planning and creating yourself as you can handle. Not just because it saves money, but because it is more personal and meaningful to you, your families, and guests!

What was your biggest splurge?
Photographer and caterer was our biggest expense. But wedding portraits were extremely important to me because after the day concluded, I would only have those gorgeous images of our day to look back on. So that was something I wanted to make sure I was getting the best quality and originality as possible. Which Ann, from Photos by Miss Ann was able to forever pause our wedding day- better than I ever could have imagined!

What was your favorite detail?
There were a lot of things that I loved, but if I have to pick one favorite detail… I think it would my bridesmaids and I wearing our cowboy boots. It was so fun and distinctively different. I felt each girls boots were unique and to me that added a little special touch everyone loved. This detail came in especially handy since we had chosen Rentschler Farm Museum for our in-between the ceremony and reception wedding portrait locale.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?
My favorite moment of our wedding day was the first dance I shared with my husband and also the first dance as a family. That was a special moment that the three of us were able to share and no one could ever take away from us.

VENDORS

Ceremony Venue: Saline First United Methodist Church  |  Reception Hall: IBEW Local 252 Union Hall   |  Wedding Photographer: Photos by Miss Ann   |   Caterer: Back in the Day Catering   |   Outdoor Wedding Portraits Locale: Rentschler Farm Museum

_________________ Thanks for reading Michigan Church Wedding with a Union Hall Reception from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

I am pretty amazed by what some of our featured wedding couples are able to pull off with their budgets! This couple held a wedding for 250 people on $10,000! Pretty impressive, I’d say. Of course they made sure to budget for the photographer and got someone whose work they really loved! I think Jason Wright did a wonderful job capturing this couple’s day. I think my favorite detail from this wedding is the simple, chic centerpieces! Until next time… xoxo, Jessica   

Jeremy & Denisse

August 24, 2012
Riviera Ballroom || Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

What was your budget? If you are able, give us a rough breakdown of how you spent your budget.
We spent about $10,000, breakdown as follows:

Venue = 3000
Food= 2800
Photographer= (packages start at $2,000)
Decoration= 730
Dress= 800
Bridesmaids jewelry = 150
Dj= 360
Flowers= 320
Invitations= 140
Transportation= 500

How many guests did you have?
250

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?
The organic look, such as bird cage for cards, canvas for sign-in, bride and groom cut out board, baby picture frames, lanterns, etc

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
Did not go out to eat as much, created a joint account , and constantly doing our budget.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
Choose the right bridesmaids, really think about it before making a final decision. Don’t spend so much money on your invitations and flowers.
Remember that this is your wedding, don’t let anybody else’s ideas get in your way of planning your big day and simply enjoy it!

What was your biggest splurge?
I don’t really think I had one, I was very careful with money.

What was your favorite detail?
The centerpieces!

What is the most memorable moment of your day?
When we were pronounced as husband and wife !

VENDORS
Photographer: Jason Wright  |  Florist: Sandy Floral Arrangements  |  DJ: Eddy and Ricky Estrada  |  Hairstylist: Ashley Arellano  |  Venue: Riviera Ballroom , Lake Geneva, WI  |  Catering: Pita- INN Mediterranean Cuisine  |  Attire: David’s Bridal, Express  |  DIY by brides mother, Perla Ortiz  |  Stationery: Target  |  Decorations: DIY by bride

_________________ Thanks for reading Wisconsin Wedding by Matt Phoenix Photography : Jeremy + Denisse from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

So excited to share this sweet Canadian wedding with you all today! It’s easy, breezy and beautiful… and the bride looks like a Cover Girl. Okay wow, that was cheesy… even for me This wedding seems so laid back and casual that it makes me feel right at home. I love all the eclectic elements, wildflowers, and the southwest-y vibe, the whole thing just feels effortlessly cool, don’t you think? Even better, Mike and Kacey pulled off their wedding for around $10,000! Overall I’d say their it-takes-a-village approach worked in their favor. Read more from Kacey below about their big day. xoxo-Jessica

Mike + Kacey 

July 7, 2012
Bezanson, Alberta

Where did you get married?

Adam’s Ranch – a buffalo ranch that Kacey grew up on. It’s located 5 minutes from Bezanson, Alberta – the largest center close to it would be Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada – aprox 20 minutes away.

What was your budget? If you are able, give us a rough breakdown of how you spent your budget.

Our family is that rare family that actually is all creatives. Lorraine (Kacey’s mom) did all the flowers and decorating. The flowers were found at a store that was selling all of their silk flowers for 60 to 80 % off. Lorraine arranged them into the vases as well as the bouquets. She also did all the ceremony/reception arrangements. The paper lanterns have been used for several family weddings – and we just reuse them. Usually someone in the family will pick them up cheap when they see them so we always have a supply. The vases were found in thrift stores – prices ranging from 25 cents to a dollar. The paint was on sale at Home Hardware – they were getting rid of the craft paint, so it was picked up for under a dollar a bottle. The vases were then painted on the inside. The burlap table cloths were bought and sewn. The lace overlays were found in thrift stores (ranging in price from 1 to 5 dollars) and cut and hemmed to fit the tables. The cloth napkins were found at liquidation world for a dollar per dozen. The tent for the reception belongs to Adam’s Ranch and there was no charge for it. The logs used for the ‘pews’ in the outdoor ceremony were cut and smoothed by Kacey and her dad. The chairs Kacey and Mike sat on were made by her dad – Les. The tables for the food were also made by Les. The photography was done by Tara Funk (sister to the bride). The groom’s family has a organic farmer’s market – they brought all the fruit for the wedding. The guest thank yous were home made jars of apple crisp. Tara and Brittany (bride’s sisters) covered the tops of the jars with lace and twine and the sayings. The crisp was created by the caterer who was a friend of the family – Jeffery’s Cafe. Total Budget was $10,000

How many guests did you have?

130

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

We tried to make the entire day a reflection of us as a couple…country/boho, no one thing in particular.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

Fortunately we have a lot of creative types in our family and close family friends, so many of our friends offered their talents and services to help us keep costs down.

What was your biggest splurge?

The dress was a custom dress by Ellebay Bridal and probably was one of the bigger costs.

What was your favorite detail?

Every detail was pretty much perfect in the fact that we loved how all of it came together exactly the way we pictured it. There are so many to choose from! At our ceremony, the guests all sat on these massive square timber log benches that were so rustic and gorgeous. The bridesmaids dresses were all such a good reflection of the individuals because they picked them out themselves, but they all went together so beautifully. Our food was absolutely to die for, and our caterer (a friend of the family) surprised us with buffalo prime rib. Then there was the band….Blake and his band were so amazing, singing all the old country hits, surprising us with a set list that was everything we wanted and more!

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

 Getting married, haha! That first kiss as a married couple is pretty special.  A good friend of ours sang “Amazing Grace” during the processional, and it was incredibly moving.

VENDORS

Photographer: Random Eyesight Studio – Tara Funk  :  Ceremony + Reception location: Adam’s Ranch (private property)  :  Bridal gown (designer/boutique name and contact info): Ellebay Bridal  :  Bridal party attire: Gowns purchased from Mod Cloth  :  Cake: Homemade Brownies – recipe is from Lepp Farms  :   Caterer: Jeffrey’s Café  :  Favours: Homemade Apple Crisp – jars prepared by bride and her sisters. Apple crisp made by Jeffrey’s Cafe  :  Wedding planners: Bride’s family  :  Music: Blake Berglund (Live Band)  :  Hair + Makeup: Stephanie Martens – Fusion   :  Flowers: Mother of the Bride  :  Stationery: Bride and family made invites.

_________________ Thanks for reading Alberta, Canada Wedding by Random Eyesight Studio: Mike + Kacey from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

It’s already Wednesday! These weeks are flying by, y’all. I’ve been so busy taking care of my sweet puppy that I haven’t had alot of time to offer input here on the blog. If you want to know what’s been going on, you can check out my personal blog. ANYWAY! This wedding today is gorgeous and I just know you will love it! My sweet friend Cineca who I met at the Dreamers into Doers event in NYC helped make this fab day happen so I’m super excited to feature it! The flowers and rustic details are sure to make you grin, hope you love it as much as I do! xoxo- Jessica

Jenae + Aaron
May 27th, 2012
Fayetteville, Arkansas at Stables On The Hill

What was your budget? If you are able, give us a rough breakdown of how you spent it.

Our budget was approximately $10,000

Venue- $1,500

Photographer- Inquire for pricing.

Wedding Gown & Accessories- $1,500

Tuxes- $550.00

Flowers- $880

Rentals (chairs, dish ware, linens, chandeliers)- $900

Catering- $860

Liquor & Drinks- $900

DJ- $200

Hair & Make-up for bride & bridesmaids- $350

Wedding Party Gifts- $700

Invitations- $200

Décor (hay bails, candles, sparklers, favors)- $200

How many guests did you have?

Approximately 120

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

We wanted an outdoor wedding, but we were aware that it would be very warm at the end of May. I really wanted to have a lemonade stand in order to serve our guests cool drinks during the ceremony. The original stand that we were going to borrow was painted blue, so our wedding planner and her husband built one for us. We were very thankful to have a creative and fun way to provide comfort to our guests, and still have our outdoor wedding! We also added personal touches throughout the ceremony and reception. The groom designed custom Nikes for himself and his groomsmen. I surprised my husband with a song written and performed by his late father for our first dance. And our wedding planner created our ‘rustic chic’ theme by making most of the décor herself. Including wrapping mason jars in twine and raffia for candle holders and flower vases for the aisle; making chalkboard signs, fan programs, a wooden Ceremony & Reception sign, a hay bail sitting area, and our burlap table runners; and displaying photos on an antique window pane.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

We had friends help out as much as possible and borrowed items, such as the cake knife. Also, our wedding planner was awesome at finding great bargains and at getting people to let us borrow things, like mason jars, burlap, a trough for bottled water and drinks, and the antique whiskey barrel that served as the cake table.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Hire a wedding planner! No matter what your budget is, work a planner into it. It will be the best investment you make. You will have enough to plan and stress over, delegate some and enjoy the day!

What was your biggest splurge?

The groom say, “The bride’s rings!” LOL But for the actual wedding day, it would probably be the dress. It was my dream dress!

What was your favorite detail?

Our favorite detail was the atmosphere that the venue provided. We were going for a ‘rustic chic’ feel and it really came to life. We wanted simple with touches of elegant. BBQ for dinner served on glass plates, along with real silverware and barware, allowed us to couple the informal with the formal. The chandelier that hung on the arch where we said our vows was perfect. And our guests really enjoyed the beautiful horses on the land while playing horse shoes and dancing during our reception.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

Doing the reveal before the ceremony. Seeing each other right before the wedding gave us a moment to really look at each other and prepare ourselves to commit to a lifetime together.

Wedding Coordinator Dreamin’ N Details  |  Photographer Krista Campbell Photography  |  Venue Stables on the Hill  |  Rentals Festivities  |  Cake Bizzy B’s Bakery  |  Catering Whole Hog Cafe

_________________ Thanks for reading Arkansas Wedding: Jenae + Aaron by Krista Campbell Photography from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

 Crystal + Shannon

April 20, 2012
Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado

What was your budget? If you are able, give us a rough breakdown of how you spent your budget.

Around $10, 000. I haven’t done a complete breakdown but some of the expenses were:
• My dress – $600
• Grooms attire – $100
• Guest gifts – $305 (tea and dark chocolate)
• Invites – under $200 (custom done by one of my best friends). We gave her an additional money gift for her amazing job, but she didn’t ask for it.
• Photographer – $2,700
• Venue – $1000
• Desserts and drinks – $1000

How many guests did you have? 250

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

Shannon’s medal artwork (groomsmen gifts). Bean Bag Toss (favorite game among our friends and family). The bead bouquets for my girls. Iwanted something more unique. The cake done by our mothers (both are cake decorators-luck us). Fair-trade guest gifts (tea and dark chocolate). I am hoping more people will buy fair-trade after tasting the tea and chocolate – it is important to me. We also wanted to do a dance with the wedding party, so we did the Wobble, it was fun!

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

We ended up doing an evening wedding with a dessert reception. The cost of dinner with 250 people was more then we wanted to spend. We were looking at $7,000 for dinner alone-no dinnerware included. It worked out nicely because we wanted an evening wedding to begin with.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Do as much as you can early on! We had most of the logistics done 6 months before the wedding, so we weren’t running as much as I have seen others do just months before their big day. It is a wedding so there will always be little things to do, but we were really thankful to have gotten so much planned after we were first engaged. Also, utilize your family and friends. I realized they really WANTED to help us. Just don’t ask too much of your immediate family and friends in the wedding. You want them to enjoy your wedding week as well.

What was your biggest splurge?

Our Photographer. One of my favorite parts of her package was the albums. We have a beautiful album and got two similar for our parents. I knew that I wouldn’t have time to put those together, so it was a beautiful gift for them and saved me more then time then I want to think about. I would recommend the extra money for that any day!

What was your favorite detail?

Aside from “I do.” It had to have been a toss up between my bouquet and our invitations. Both gorgeous!

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

Standing in the beautiful Chapel full of family and friends next to my best friend.

VENDORS
Invitations and Programs: Cindy Scrivner  |  Medal Sculptures: Shannon Snow  |  Ceremony: Cherry Hills Community Church  |  Bride Bouquet and assembly of bridesmaid’s bouquets: Charlene Canady  |  Equal World: Guest gifts (tea and dark chocolate)

_________________ Thanks for reading Colorado wedding: Crystal and Shannon by Jenny Marvin from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

Excited to share this sweet wedding with you today! The bride and I were on the dance team together in high school and the talented photographer Joy Chambers went to our high school, too, so it’s super fun for me to feature it! It doesn’t hurt that the bride Katy is stunning (I mean just look at how glamorous she looks with her fur shrug!!) and the details are just as lovely! I love that they used stumps and pieces of wood as decor items in their venue which is basically like an old warehouse, so it has a rustic yet vintage and industrial feel. I’m a sucker for simple buttercream cakes with flowers as decoration, and the record themed grooms cake is adorable! Overall I just love the details of this wedding and I know you will love it, too! Hope you enjoy this edition of the Budget Savvy Wedding of the Week!

Katy + Ryan
November 12, 2011
Nashville, Tennessee
Ceremony: Eastwood Christian Church  ||  Reception: Marathon Village

What was your budget? If you are able, give us a rough breakdown of how you spent your budget.

Under $10,000

Food: $1,500
Alcoholic Drinks: $300 (Gotta love wine from Trader Joes!)
DJ: $500
Cakes: $500
Flowers: $700
Invitations/Paper Goods: $300
Reception Venue: $1,250
Church: $300
Dress/Veil: $1,000
Jewelry: $35
Décor: centerpieces – DIY; tablecloths & linens = $500
Photography: Inquire for rates (discount price given because the photographer was a friend)

How many guests did you have?

Around 200

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

Everything was DIY!

We used lots of family antiques (old boxes & jars), and we had a whole area of stained-glass candle shields that were handmade by my grandparents. All of the logs and stumps that were used at the reception site were cut by my dad.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

Call in favors from friends! Seriously- we had a family friend to cater, my bridesmaid’s mother did the flowers, a family friend performed the ceremony, a family friend photographed… Also, since everything was DIY, we were able to purchase items as we had money. Our engagement was about 8 months, so we had time to wait for the best deals to roll around. I didn’t buy a single thing from Hobby Lobby unless it was on sale!

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Have fun and don’t let it stress you out!!! It’s the biggest day of your life and planning and preparing should be just as fun as the actual wedding day. Do everything you can in advance of the wedding weekend. It will alleviate so much stress (I PROMISE!) I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure my mom and sister were there with me the whole day while I got ready. I didn’t want them at the reception venue putting final touches on everything. I wanted to leave our reception venue on Friday night and know that EVERYTHING was done, and it was. That was such a relief for me, and we truly got to enjoy the whole day! Also, hot glue guns are a bride’s best friend!

What was your biggest splurge?

FOOD!!!! If there’s anything the hubbs and I have in common, it is our love for good, southern comfort food. We wanted a full plate of everything yummy that we love, so it was our biggest splurge.

What was your favorite detail?

Definitely the table centerpieces. Everything about them. We used logs & tree stumps (that my dad cut himself) moss, acorns, river rocks, miniature (and normal sized) pinecones, grapevine, honeysuckle vine, bark, burlap, twine… Basically anything that looked like we picked it up off a forest floor! The effect was stunning!

The best part about the centerpieces is that they were all designed, styled, and constructed weeks before the wedding. My mom and I covered her dining room table with a burlap cloth (that’s what we used for table toppers) and put each of the 14 table and 5 cocktail table centerpieces together. We wrote down a description of what they would look like, labeled the jars that would have flowers in them, took a picture of it, and then boxed them up in individual boxes labeled “Table #XX” or “Cocktail Table” and then put them away.

The Friday before the wedding when we were setting everything up, it took us longer to sweep the floors than in did for us to arrange the centerpieces.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

Our “Special Moment” before we started taking pictures. I was so excited and nervous and happy walking down those stairs to see Ryan. He was facing away from me at the bottom of the staircase, and I literally thought my knees were going to shake off of my legs. I am an incredibly emotional person (I will cry if a balloon pops) but at that moment I was filled with so much happiness, which would normally make me drown in my own tears, but all I could do was smile and laugh and hug my sweet husband (the photo of us hugging at that moment is one of my favorites)

VENDORS

Photography: Joy Chambers Photography (LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!) |  DJ: Bobby Howard  |  Catering: Granny’s Gourmet Catering  |  Wedding Cake: Cakes by Vanelle  |  Groom’s Cake: Virginia Claire’s Bake Shoppe  |  Invitations & Paper Goods: The Write Impression (Murfreesboro)  |  Dress & Veil: The White Room Murfreesboro  |  Bridesmaid Dresses: The Bride Room (Nashville)  |  Jewelry: Anthropologie  |  Tuxedos: Street Tuxedo

_________________ Thanks for reading Tennessee Wedding by Joy Chambers Photography: Katy + Ryan from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

It’s Wednesday, so of course you know that means it’s time for the Budget Savvy Wedding of the Week! I have something personal and special to share today, my very own budget wedding that took place on this day THREE years ago! I can hardly believe how fast the time has flown since we tied the knot. As you probably already know, this blog was born out of the fact that Eric and I were planning our wedding on a tight budget. I always knew that marrying my best friend would enrich my life, but in addition to our marriage it has given me something else that I am passionate about and love– this blog! (Which turns FOUR on Monday, BTW)

Today I want to wish my wonderful husband Eric a very happy anniversary. I am so very lucky and grateful to have him as my partner in this journey of life. I hope you all enjoy this little trip down memory lane, I sure did.
xoxo – Jessica

Eric + Jessica

May 2, 2009

 The Sam Davis Home : Smyrna, Tennessee

What was your budget?

We spent around $10,000 on our wedding. Here’s a breakdown of our budget:

Hair/Makeup: $155

Attire: $700 (dress, shoes, accessories)

Alcohol: $530

Ceremony/Legal: $240

Music: FREE

Venue: $1000

Photography: $500 (I bartered graphic design/photo editing services for my the remainder of our photography bill)

Miscellaneous Décor: $250

Coordination and Flowers: $900

Paper Products: $270

Rentals: $2700 (chairs, tables, linens, dishes, tent, dance floor, etc)

Catering: $2,700

Candy Buffet/Favors: $225

How many guests did you have?

We invited around 175 and around 150 attended.

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

So many! It was really important to us to have the day be reflective of us as a couple. We were very intentional about all the decisions we made for the wedding. We chose to serve our guests communion and our pastor shared our love letters to each other during the ceremony, both were incredibly personal to us and gave our family and friends a glimpse into our relationship and what matters most to us.

In terms of creativity, I spent countless hours designing every last detail of the paper goods and decor. I designed everything from our save the dates, invitations, programs, signage, candy buffet labels, candy bag labels, wine labels–  you name it, I probably monogrammed it! We spent tons of time making tissue paper flowers to be part of the decor. We used biodegradable utensils instead of renting silverware and we wrapped them in colored cardstock and tied them with twine for an extra cute detail. We served good ‘ol soul food for our wedding meal- since most of our family was from out of town we wanted to treat them to some delicious local fare. I spent tons of time scouring thrift stores and ebay to find tons of mason jars and milk glass vases to use for centerpieces. We had a huge candy buffet with all different varieties of yellow candy because Eric is a candy fanatic. We walked down the aisle as husband and wife to ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey played on an acoustic guitar by my uncle. We just tried to incorporate alot of our favorite things and it resulted in a day that was so very us– we had a blast!

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

I spent tons of time doing research. I gave myself a full year to plan the wedding so I didn’t have to make any snap decisions. I did lots of thrift store shopping and repurposing and diy. One of my favorite things we did to save money was we purchased Two Buck Chuck wine from Trader Joe’s to serve at the reception, but we created custom wine labels for the bottles so they looked extra special and none of our guests knew that we bought pretty much the cheapest wine ever. I have to say, although the wine is cheap it’s actually a decent wine– everyone loved it and it saved us a bundle!

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Don’t let anyone tell you that you HAVE to do anything you don’t want to do. Don’t want to toss the bouquet? Don’t do it. Don’t like cake? Have an ice cream buffet instead. Don’t want to wear a big poofy dress? Wear a short chic one. It’s YOUR day. Do what feels good to you.

If you don’t hire a wedding planner or coordinator, designate a trusted friend or family member (not in your immediate family or wedding party) to oversee the details of the day. You don’t want to worry about setting up all the centerpieces, signage and decor yourself. Take the time to designate someone to handle that for you– you will be so much happier and calm if you can just relax and take it all in. The day goes by in SUCH a blur, you will want to spend every moment fully present with your bridal party, your family, friends, and new hubby!

What was your biggest splurge?

I don’t know that it was a ‘splurge’ per se but at the last minute I decided to change our rental order from white chairs to brown natural wooden ones. It was a silly little change that was totally for visual reasons only, and it cost us an extra $50 or $100 I think, but I am SO glad we did it. The wooden chairs looked so much better with our color scheme, I think the white chairs would’ve washed things out too much.

What was your favorite detail?

I loved all of the paper products, the candy buffet, the wine labels. I really loved carrying our theme across all aspects of the day.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

SO many! I loved the first look moment with Eric. We got to spend some time alone and really be with each other for about 30 or 45 minutes. After the ceremony was over and the reception begun we were in a whirlwind of talking with guests, dancing and celebrating so it was nice to have those quiet, sweet moments together to take pictures and revel in the occasion together! I also loved dancing with my new hubby, my dad, and my grandfather during the reception– all such sweet and special moments!

VENDORS:

Photography: Chris & Adrienne Scott for Evin Photography  |  Venue: The Sam Davis Home  |  Flowers and Coordination: Tara Milam  |  Wedding Gown and bridesmaid dresses: A Special Touch  |   |   Catering: Miller’s Cafe   |   Paper Products: JessLehry Designs   |   Makeup: Amy Lynn Larwig   | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

_________________ Thanks for reading Eric + Jessica: Tennessee Budget Wedding from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::

It’s that time of the week again– time to share another beautiful budget wedding with you! I love this wedding for so many reasons! This is the first Wisconsin Wedding we have ever featured here on BSB! (Still trying to get wedding features in all 50 states– didn’t achieve it last year but hope to do so this year.) I love that they made this wedding happen for under $10k and had 150 guests! I also love that the groom got in on the DIY action– that’s awesome! And I love love LOVE the picture in the snow– isn’t that magical? I know we’re getting into warmer months of the year but I couldn’t resist posting this wedding. Marie has lots of great ideas for saving money on your wedding so definitely be sure to check out her advice below! Thanks to Marie & Ryan for sharing their special day with us! xoxo- Jess

Ryan + Marie
11.19.11

Ceremony: Hudson, Wisconsin (Trinity Lutheran Church)
Reception: Roseville, Minnesota (Radisson Roseville)

What was your budget? If you are able, give us a rough breakdown of how you spent your budget.

Initial Budget $10,000

Hair and Makeup $200

Cake/Cupcakes/Candy & Cookie table/Cake Pops $235.99

Catering $4,543.72

Ceremony Music (organist) $100.00

DJ $125.00 (for the channel mixer) a friend did the actual DJing (such an awesome job!)

Dress and such Bride $244 My mom bought my dress (which was such a great deal at $160)

Attire Groom $40 (his shoes) Ryan was able to get his Tux rental free

Flowers $360.74 (125 hot pink 50 cm roses, 200 white 50 cm roses, Assorted greenery 8 bunches, Gypsophila-million star 6 bunches, Sales Tax$18.14 and vases from goodwill & ball jars)

Invitations/Save the Dates/Wedding Programs/Thank You’s $331.17

Rings $311.68

Minister $200.00 (free will donation)

Gifts for parents and wedding party $629.54

Photo Booth $851.64

Photography $1,068.75 and

Wedding Planner $200.00

Grand Total $9,441.95

How many guests did you have?

150

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

Ryan made the ring pillow as well as Lego man cufflinks for all of his groomsmen, the ushers and the ring bearer.

I took old cigar boxes and redecorated and personalize each of them in to keepsake boxes for all of the bridesmaids, flower girls, the ring bearer and my attendants (it was just so much fun!) We also took wood hangers and added wire names (so much fun but a bit hard on the hands..) for everyone who was involved in the wedding-32 people total!

We made small pom poms in white, hot pink and lime green for the ceremony.

Ryan’s dad made us a Wine Box (for the wine box ceremony)

The day before Ryan’s mother and my bridesmaids and I made all the corsages, boutonnieres, bouquets, centerpieces and the alter flowers. The flowers were supplied by Sam Club and I couldn’t have been happier with the end result!

For the reception we made bigger pom poms in the same colors to hang from the ceiling, painted vases in navy, white and lime green, mason jars with lime or hot pink baker’s twine and buttons tied around it, we made small buttons (pin backed with the button maker we purchased from American Button Machines) with photos of our dogs as well as a few of our engagement photos for favors.

A sign for the dessert table that said “sweet love.” We used some of The Wedding Chicks printable to label the different desserts. And speaking of desserts ours were all homemade except the (wedding cake and the cupcakes) including m&m cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, ginger snaps (made by Ryan’s grandma) and sugar cookies. We also had a family day to make 3 different types of cake pops for the dessert table which included the flavors of chocolate peanut butter, white cake with cream cheese frosting and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. They were such a hit!

One of our groomsmen made three kinds of home brew for our wedding and also bottled it for our wedding party and (for the first time) he made labels for his beer with custom photos of Ryan and I.

The husband (and good friend) of one of my bridesmaids made the finger print guest book (as a side note he also rocked the music as our deejay!)

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

We made all the decorations ourselves (pom poms and spray painted vases) Also we created the flowers bouquets, corsages, alter flowers and center pieces at the reception

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Remember that your family may have a million questions/suggestions for you and how to plan your day which might get overwhelming. Take into consideration that they just want your day to be as fantastic as you want it to be and thank them for all of their input. Also remember to take time away from planning and spend time with your soon to be Husband/Wife on a date night or walk.

What was your biggest splurge?

The photo booth that we rented. Snapz Photo Booth did such a wonderful job!

What was your favorite detail?

I just loved the entire day it is so hard to pick just one! Although, the dessert table was super awesome, the music was awesome (both Ryan and I are not dancers and found ourselves out on the dance floor quite a bit!) and the photo booth was so worth the money especially checking out the photos after our wedding!

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

I have a few. First was seeing my husband for the first time and having a minute to talk with him before the ceremony. Second was being able to get married in the last church my deceased grandfather was a minister in as well as being able to wear my grandmothers (refashion) veil as well as the necklace that she gave me when I graduated college and carry a pin of my other (deceased) grandfathers’ it was so nice to be able to have all my deceased grandparents with me in some way.

And although we are not Jewish Ryan’s Best Man and one of our Users are and at the reception we and our guests were treated to a very special dance the Hora, or chair dance, which according to theknot.com most likely derived from the tradition of carrying royalty on chairs. A few strong and brave guests hoist the bride and groom high above the crowd on chairs to the infectious sounds of “Hava Nagila”. Friends and family dance around in an ecstatic circle as the elevated couple tries not to look (or fall) down. IT was Awesome!

VENDORS

Photographer: RJ3 Photography  |  Venue Reception: Radison  |  Favors: American Button Machines   |  Flowers/Cupcakes: Sam’s Club   |  Venue Ceremony: Trinity Luthern Church, Hudson  |  Photobooth: Snapz Photo Booth

_________________ Thanks for reading Budget Savvy Wedding of the Week: Ryan + Marie : Wisconsin Wedding by RJ3 Photography from: The Budget Savvy Bride

Looking for more budget savvy weddings? Visit our Real Weddings gallery! Need to find some DIY projects to save you money and create beautiful details? Check out our DIY project gallery! Connect with The Budget Savvy Bride on the web: Pinterest :: Twitter :: Facebook ::