cars are not essential - book a taxi and ask for the nicest car they have! buffet instead of sit down meal? make your own invites, favours etc. shop around for everything online before you buy anything x

Borrow things, ask family to help out if they are good at something photo's etc, ask them to buy parts of the weddings as gifts, buffett instead sit down meal.

E bay is great, shop around, deff buffet instead of sit down. invite essential people to day and save on main meal then invite rest in the evening. if you can push the wedding till later in the day that way you only have to feed everyone once. Hope that helps and good luck xx

Don't pay for centrepeices, buy your own vases, gel beads from bay of e etc etc x

Or get some cheap candles from Ikea and Jaz them up etc.

I recently went to a wedding where the first time drinks were served was with the meal. So long as you have something with the meal, and to toast with during the speeches, then that's all you need. Arrival drinks are not essential. Evening receptions, people usually accept that this is a time where they buy their own drinks, so I don't think you need to feel you have to pay for any drinks relating to the evening do.

The only drinks we are paying for are the ones in our drinks package, 1 for after ceremony, 1 for the toast, one with the meal. its extra for a top up per person so we aren't sure if we even going to pay for the top up as the bar will be open during the meal. Just depends how we are money wise when the balance is dur 6 weeks before the wedding :) not having a drink for our evening guests as theres only 30 people extra at night and we can't buy them a drink without buying for the other guests. So unless someone like my granda or the best man put money behind the bar then they will have to pay for their own! No its not cheeky hun :)
Also cut out things like favours, hand write place names, buy simple candles for table centres they always look lovely no matter what your colours/schemes are xx

lol at the Christmas nearly being over comment it has not even started!!

as too keeping cost down doing stuff yourself can save you a bundle make your own table decs there are some lovley ideas using things like clean cans.
have a buffet have a hog roast have a bring a share meal.
don't have to many people there.
don't provide two meals!!

i got all bridesmaids dresses, favours and gifts off e-bay. Good luck with the wedding and the baby. x

thanx for all the advice some very good tips there! will be discussing them wid h2b thanku x

We were on a budget and I have done so much myself and saved a fortune doing it. I'm having silk flowers that I have sorted myself and for centre pieces I am using wine glasses from a supermarket with colours stones in and some of the same flowers, although you can use tealights! Some pics on my profile.

Also ask the venue if they have some things. We are borrowing the mirrors for the centrepieces from the hotel, and they are providing the tealights and tealight holders.

I'm not doing chair covers as we didn't see the point - the chairs at our venue match our colour scheme!

A friend is doing the cake. I am making the bridesmaid dresses. Our church is free as we are both members there.

I also have bought as much as possible before the VAT increase.

Got my dress in a sale, veil and tiara from a shop that was closing down, shoes from ebay. A friend is doing my makeup.

People won't mind helping you out with things I'm sure, such as doing thing s to help the organising.

And agree with the drinks thing. people shouldn't expect drinks or favours. They should be happy to be invited.

Hope all goes well for you xx

I am on a tight budget.
Making own invites and thankyou cards. Bridesmaids not having flowers, handbags that can be used again.
Not having chair covers. Borrowing glass bowls for table centre pieces from SIL2B.
MIL making cake. Got bridesmaids dresses online v.cheap.
Organza bags to match colour scheme with mints for favours.
Borowing a veil. Bought tiara and jewellery in sale.
Buffet meal and people to buy own drinks.

I got my vases from the supermarket and glass beads they were 40p each I just get things when I see them then if I decide later I dont want them I sell them and have made more than I payed :-)

ive got wrist corsages for the bridemaids, theyre much cheaper than bridesmaid bouquets