Q. My daughter has just got engaged and she is planning to marry in July 2005. She has just returned to education so she is on a low income as is her fiancé. Both sets of parents will be helping with all the costs the sum yet to be agreed hopefully each parent (4 people) would contribute between £1k to £2k each.
She is hoping to have a church wedding, yet to be confirmed as she is new to the area and she needs to make acquaintance with the parish priest.
We are hoping to have a nice wedding on a budget. We know wedding favours and added extras maybe very nice to look at but my daughter and I feel they are an unnecessary expense. Photography, wedding cars etc also expensive we have members of the family with top of the range cars and camera equipment. We have an understanding with her bridesmaids they will fund their own dresses and best man and ushers will also pay for the hire of their suits. We would prefer to spend money on the wedding party, venue, food, lighting, a band and disco. What are the essential things a wedding should have without costing the earth that cannot be omitted.

A1. Even on a small budget, the wedding means just as much and can be just as
special.

There are no 'rules' which determine that you must have certain aspects of a wedding to make it a success. I think the people make it special but if I were to choose things in priority order, it would be as follows:

1. Good photographs (for the memories).
2. Brides' dress.
3. Venue (again, doesn't need to be expensive but choosing the right place
to create the atmosphere you want is important).
4. Food (bad catering will spoil any wedding day).
5. Attention to detail. There are many things that can be put together inexpensively but which will create a 'theme'. Try choosing a simple colour
scheme throughout and echoing it in the flowers, ribbons, headdresses, confetti, table fritter, candles etc. Can make a huge difference and add that 'uniqueness' to the day.

Give yourself plenty of time (and try to coerce other family members into helping!) and prepare much of the detail by hand. For example, the extras you mention are often the things that bump up the cost of a wedding but which can be done just as well by yourself and for much less cost - table fritter, table decorations, bridesmaid's hair decorations, favours, invitations and stationery, church decorations (why not use candles to
create a soft, romantic atmosphere and keep the flowers to a minimum), floral decorations.

Good luck and very best wishes.
(Answered by Siobhan Barron)

A2. One of the main places you can save money is with the venue (and your associated numbers of guests). If you find a venue that hires rooms on an hourly rate, you can have a wedding later in the day, and so have less room hire fees, and only pay for what you use. Also, by keeping your guest numbers down, all your food and drink costs will be reduced. If you find a venue that will let you serve the wedding cake as a dessert, you can forego the expense of a traditional dessert course, when you might already be having a cake made.

If you are really on a budget, then you might want to think about having a disco instead of a band. A good band (of wedding quality) can be really very
expensive, unless you happen to know someone in a band of course... And a disco will be far cheaper, and can play a wider selection of music styles, to suit all guests.

How about hiring a wedding dress? How about asking the florist if they'll move your flowers from church to reception, so you can save floristry costs?
Or how about making your own floral arrangements, and just having bouquets / buttonholes made up?

There are lots and lots of wasy in which you can have an excellent wedding on a smaller budget, indeed I've just helped a client with a venue search (as the venue choice dictates many of the cost incurring decisions), who only have £3000 to spend on everything, including dress, flowers, photos, etc! You might be interested in an article I have contributed to in the May issue of Moneywise magazine, which should be out in the last week of April, which has lots of ideas in it too!

Yes, I'm bound to say it, but you might like to consider consulting a wedding planner, as we are able to suggest alternatives that might be more
in line with your budget priorities, and we've generally been able to negotiate discounts for our clients too!

Very best of luck with the plans, and I hope you have a fabulous day.
(Answered by Emma Pirie)



A3. How refreshing to find someone sensible who wants to have a good wedding and
party without blowing the budget!

The essential costs are:
Church fees
Venue hire
Drinks - an arrival drink, wine with the meal and maybe a glass of sparkling
wine or champagne for toasts /speeches?
Food
Flowers - bridal bouquet/bridesmaids bouquets and buttonholes. You may wish to have some flowers in the church or reception but you can be imaginative and go to somewhere like IKEA and buy lots of nice candles for table arrangements etc
Evening entertainment - band
(Answered by Suzie Gillespie)

A4. There are lots of ways you can save on your wedding;

Have a small intimate wedding with close family and friens only
Cut down on your guest list
Use services know to family and friends - may offer discount
Make your own favours
Single flower table decorations
One tier wedding cake
And so on...........for each aspect

Or you could hire a hall, have it decorated in your wedding theme/style/colours, invite everyone and put on a fork buffet and have a huge party.

What is most important to you; having everyone there or offering a fantastic day to a selected group.
(Answered by Mrs S)