I am A CHEAPO!

[deleted]

Honestly, you are going to have a GREAT wedding. And you can sleep at night knowing that you are being cheap. Whatever, I was cheap too! I think I spent less than $6/table on my centerpieces. At 7 tables, that was less than $50. You won't miss the wine. Maybe you can get a cake at costco.

 

Cheap brides unite!!

[NABUMBAH]

the CSH allowed me to bring in my own wine (bought cheap at a deep discount direct from the winery) - we also only did Domestic bar and 3.5 hours at that! (although it was open all night for some reason...)

 

I used Jennifer Hatton for my desserts. Contact her. I think I spent around $500 for cupcakes, and the other desserts that we offered, but I am sure that she can whip something up for you.

[LadyP]

Im just beginning so I am trying to think of ways to cut corners. A dress that I am only going to wear once is not that pressing for me so I am renting my dress or finding one on ebay.( There are places here and in ST thomas that rent up to date gowns. (they deal with the ship weddings.) Making my own STD and invites (hopefully not a crafty teacher). Will get my girlfriends to help me make favors and flowers will go to Michaels and take there silk flower making class and make my bouquets. BM will not have flowers they will have parasols. GM making there bouquet.

[TracyK]

My wedding dress was super cheap (under $100) and I love it. I made the invitations and am working on making the luggage tags. The oot bags, most items I found for cheap on ebay. The hotel is all inclusive so they are sectioning part of a restaurant off for the first night so we can all have dinner together. No need to pay extra for a welcome dinner! We have two photographers that are close friends of ours coming. They would be offended if we were to actually hire one. I know there is more, just not coming to me at the moment. My goal is to keep this wedding under $6500 for absolutely everything. So therefore I must be very cheap!!

[BRIDEZILLA]

I love how many crafty brides we have! I see a lot of us made/are planning to make stuff!

 

I am totally going to get a cheap cake, have it frost and sprinkle flowers on it! What a good idea!

 

I almost forgot…the night before my wedding we are hosting a welcome fiesta on the private terrace at Marina Fiesta. Because we have enough rooms booked there, I’m sure they won’t charge us. There are already tables and we will have to do the rest. I plan to use plates/linens/and flatware from the hotel.

 

We are having a slideshow. I’ve checked around for renting a projector and the cheapest I found (through Maye) is $300. So, my FI was looking on Ebay and Craigslist and found some in the $150 - $200 range. We’ll save money and then sell it.

 

BUT…there is the whole food issue. I plan on going to Costco and buying several cases of wine and beer (and some coolers to keep them in). Then I’m going to El Toro (this is a little taco stand in DT Cabo that has the BEST TACOS) and ordering like a hundred tacos.

 

I’m not sure what to do for side dishes/appetizers….I know chips and salsa. But what else is easy? I have a kitchen at out timeshare (no oven though ). Any ideas?

 

I even contacted the Lazy Gourmet catering company. But no word back. Maybe they were scared by my $10 - $12 pp budget? LOL!

[amyh]

You're not cheap, your normal! Have you read the reviews from all the other girl's weddings??

 

I think most have brought their own decor with them.

 

And any type of open bar is not being cheap, IMO!

 

Great job!!!

[TOESNTHESND]

I did little things to try and compensate for spending so much money on my dress. I am bringing votive candles and candles holders(20), they wanted an amount that I just laughed at. I am not getting orderves because we are taking pics before the ceremony and I just want to get the party started! I am not decorating the tables at the cocktail hour or the guestbook table because I just dont care that much. I made the hotel do the bar at a set amount instead of them charging some crazy amount per person per hour. We bought the Bose dock for music instead of paying for a DJ. I bought my hair clips $18., shoes $40., purse $50., earrings $30. and veil hair piece $9.00 on ebay and they are perfect. One of my BM's is very talented and is making my veil. It cost about $59. total for the material. Not to mention the lace is beautiful and much nicer than the crap they tried to sell me at the bridal store.

[TATrisha]

I try not to think of it as being cheap... but trying to get the most bang for my buck! I actually have a rather large budget (or at least I feel it is... and my bank account feels it too!), but I'm still making things myself and cutting corners where I can. This way, I can do and offer more things for my guests!

[Christine]

Amber you are not being too cheap...its great that you are spending less than 15k on your wedding. I wish I could say that!

You are getting very close to your big day!

[foxytv]

You don't sound cheapo at all. You actually sound like you are doing so many of the exact same things so many of us are planning to do as well.

 

I'm keeping flower costs down by using silk and transporting them -- no flowers for the guys -- myself and BM only.

 

Making and bringing all of our centerpieces as well (simple and under $5 each).

 

Got a great deal on my dress and got my TTD dress for a steal on eBay.

 

Bringing our iPod and renting only speakers instead of a DJ (but really so we can listen to what WE want and not what a resort DJ has available)

 

Made STD and invites on our own saved us literally HUNDREDS of dollars.

 

Our budget is $15K and we should be right on target -- hopefully!