Wedding under $5000? Anyone done this???

[Boobycino]

Firstly, no rush, we won't be getting married to spring or autumn 2012. For maybe around 50 people. Could explode to 100 if all of DPs family come, but if that happens we are eloping. So I'm thinking 50.

I'm just roughly planning out my wedding, could anyone experienced in planning a wedding tell me if my plan is realistic, if there's any big gaping holes in my plan. I've only been to a few weddings before, so what I don't I don't know about weddings im sure is huge.

Here's what I envisage - beach wedding ceremony, simple, standing, few chairs around for older/less able/pregnant/breast feeding guests, but I'm thinking like somehow settling up a giant shoe rack/dumping area, cos I want it to be on the sand (unless it's too windy/raining) but more or less the only expense will be the celebrant (and somewhere to safely leave shoes )

For the reception I'd love to rent a large beach house for the weekend - ideally ON the beach, if not walking distance from the beach, pretty much anywhere within an hour of the gold coast north or south.

Im thinking I'll get a beach house with room to put up a small marquee in the garden, But is have it sort of inside/outside, if it rains, we'll just be dancing in the rain and obviously move all electrical equiptment under cover (so a balcony for the beach house is essential as a 'stage')

I'll hire a DJ - not sure what that'll cost. But I'll also offer to put up my brothers band, feed them, fly them in etc if they come play for me. (he's in a paid pub band) I kiinnnddaaa want to have karaoke even if by karaoke it's just singing along to dj'd music on microphones. I'm figuring lighting will be needed as well as it'll be outdoors at night. 

Catering, id want a roast buffet banquet. style thing. I kinda see long table in a U shape with long bench seating. I won't have placings, I want people to just come in, sit down, move around etc 

Alcohol, I'll explain to guests that say from 6-10 I have a couple of waiters hired to go around serving wine and beer, and maybe I'll just hire a big fridge for the night next to a table of (plastic) cups and it'll be self serve. I won't have hard liquor available. (though I know DP will want it and then I'll keep on the wait staff because I reckon it would be cheaper to pay someone by the hour to serve alcohol (who is rsa trained) than letting drunk people have at it) because I want the option for it to go all night - which means controlled alcohol.

My best friend and her mum own a wedding invitations business. So I'll ask for them to help me out and I'll pay them, but hopefully get a discount. Though I don't plan to do the whole stationary thing, just the invitations.

I don't know how fussed I am on decorations.

My dress I'm going to buy from a store that's NOT a bridal shop. I'll just find something white a pretty, I'll give myself a $500 limit, but I doubt I'll spend that much. It'll probably include shoes. DP and none of the grooms men are wearing suits, they are wearing white boardies and white short sleeve button up shirts. Brides maids I'll just find something pretty and buy them all the same, so probably like $50/$100 each and they can sort out their own shoes (within a guideline) 

I will also request no gifts. I know we'll get given them, but I don't want anyone to feel at all obliged. 

Oh and photography, figure I'll just hire a student photographer (who's got a excellent camera and some talent) for like 2 hours for the ceremony and to do some poses, then just get everyone to send me candid snaps from the reception. 

Ummmmm

Oh yeah, then I want someone to just come in and clean up cos I'll be on my honeymoon

Does that all sound realistically less than $5000?!

Thanks 

[sweet_lemons]

It can be done but it's hard! SO very very hard!

Ours is going to cost about $6 - 7K...maybe more...need to sit down and add it all up.

I think the DJ and cost of the band will blow out your budget.

With the beach house - are you talking about renting one for the night/a few days? We looked at this too and while it seemed reasonable the bond they ask for is usually massive and the idea of a guest ruining something and us losing the bond was too risky for me. Marques are not as cheap as you think. $400 upwards for one with walls.

Spit Roast is anywhere from $15 - 20 upwards per head.

Then there is the flowers and cake? The Wedding favours? Hair? Make-up? Transport? Suits?

I think for $5000 for 50 people is super hard but definitely worth trying for!

P.S - Ebay and China websites will be your friend!

[NancyBlackett]

Where will beach house be? If caterers etc have to travel to get there it might be additional cost - plus overnight stay.

You could always hire the beach house for the entire week and make it honeymoon too

I think paper lanterns swaying in the breeze would be perfect for decorations and incredibly cheap!

[BigRedV]

I agree with strawberry creams, a wedding on that kind of money for that number of guests is near impossible.

[Pinkzy]

Congrats on your upcoming wedding

It does sound like the wedding you want with a budget of $5000 will be hard, but it could very well be possible. My wedding was around the $3000 mark and it was a very, very simple do with 15 guests.

[Lemonhead]

I dont think you could do what you want to do for under 5k.

We are planning ours for 50 people and the costs are as follows:

Alcohol- $2000 (paid for by my aunt and uncle, a few big kegs, cartons of beer, champagne, slushie machines.
Catering- $2400
Tables, chairs, linen, large marquee- $1300
Dress- $170 (designer knockoff from ebay! Made to measure from Beijing)
Decorations- $300
Photography- Free, done by a friend starting up her photo business.
DJ- Free, DPs uncle (in law) is a DJ!
Cake- Im making, probs cost about $100.
Hair and makeup for me- $110 by friend.

Thats most of it, we have paid the catering and party equipment hire whic are the 2 biggies thank goodness.

[BazzasMum]

We did our wedding for $3200 for 35 people and half of that was the bar tab!!! That was pretty much meals only though. Will put down other costs.

We got married in the beach resort garden ($65 a head), pics (a friend, we paid for their meals and developing costs, around $400), gave every table a disposable camera ($100), celebrant ($150). Bought my dress from Sunny Girl (less than $300) - was a deb dress. Shoes from Payless (only wearing them once, they were pretty enough!) Did own hair and makeup. Flowers I got at the markets and made up my own bouquets ($20 all up, roses), bonbonnieres, and invitations.

If we'd had more options, I would have done what you plan. Rent a beach house etc, buy own alcohol instead of paying $5 a glass of wine, $8 a beer and $50 a bottle of champagne. I had to bring my own stereo to the function room for music. Oh and we got kicked out at 11pm, just as things were getting interesting!

So yeah, this was a few years ago, but I think I wasted money with the resort, as beautiful as it all was. I'm sure you could squeeze it all in for $5K.

[MrJones&Me]

You know a way to save money (no, seriously)

Hire a wedding planner. Most run on a sliding scale (i.e. more budget you have the more you pay for their services)

They have a MASSIVE knowledge of whats out there & who's cheap/reliable/useful etc.

Have all the connections

Know all the hints/tips/things that are missed.

Good Luck with it all

[Lemonhead]

Oh forgot to mention, youd rather have more booze than you need. You can deal with lack of food, crap location, rain, whatever...but if the booze runs out holy hell! HAHA

[Boobycino]

That's something I'd not considered - things getting broken and losing a large bond.

I might just dump the band, my brother can just bring his guitar for some *live* music.

Hmmmmmmmmmm... My brain already hurts. I'll admit my best friends wedding is making my nervous, hers started out simple and is now a $20,000 wedding.

But another friend pulled together a cheap wedding - but they own their own house so used their own garden, very limited guests and self catered (well, family catered) outdoor ceremony etc and so it cost them not a lot.

I'm pretty tempted to elope.