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  1.  
    • LornaB75
      CommentAuthorLornaB75
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
      edited
     
    so basically I haven't been very clever with my money! originally we would of had a few grand saved up by may 2016 to spend on everything. but as I have been silly with spending my money on rubbish I will have only £690 after paying the venue to get everything that's left in my list. I do have most of it now and the ceremony is paid for. so at least if I cant get everything and have to cancel the reception, at least we are having a ceremony - just maybe not an after party!! lol. the £690 is to pay for:
    brides nails £20
    brides spray tan £15
    brides hair cut/colour,
    brides hair extensions
    groom hair cut
    bridesmaids jewellery x3
    x3 bridesmaids shoes
    flower girl bolero
    x3 bridesmaids nails
    x2 bridesmaids dresses,
    x2 page boys hair & shoes
    bestman suit & shoes
    hen night
    stag do
    hair & makeup x4 £200
    photographer £170
    flowers - x4 bouquets 1 flower girl ring x9 buttonholes £110
    cake £75
    mother & father of the bride gifts
    bestman gifts
    x3 bridesmaids gifts
    kids gifts
    mother of groom gift
    1 gift bag
    and drinks for the reception.

    is there anything I could cut the price on/find cheap anywhere? anything I could forgetting about buying altogether? im worried about everything going wrong if we do our own hair and makeup as ive thought about not having the hairdresser/makeup artist. I don't want anything fancy anyway only having mine down and curled. also im a beautician/nail technician so can always do the bridesmaids nails myself. I have thought about not having a cake as I don't think it will get eaten anyway and im sure nobody will notice it is missing! Its my own fault i should of thought about all this months ago before I started bloody spending on rubbish and too many Christmas presents. I cant save money if my life depended on it! I have started transferring savings to my mum. and its 6ish months until the big day!!
  2.  
    • MichelleC961
      CommentAuthorMichelleC961
      Ticker backgroundIs poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadgeTicker foreground
     
    Can you call in favors from people- do you know anyone who could make your cake as a gift? For the reception have you thought about hiring a community hall or just going iut for a family meal- how many are you having to ceremony?

    Do you really needs hair extensions and spray tans- again if you are in the trade can you call in favors? What is oh contributing?

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  3.  
    • LornaB75
      CommentAuthorLornaB75
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    I have already paid a deposit and have a contract so cant cancel my venue to go somewhere cheaper now. we are only having 50 day guests and 70 evening guests. hair extensions is something I want try make sure I get as my hair is only a few inches long and I hate how I look in my dress I know I wont feel comfortable or happy with myself. but it will be one of the last things I buy If I have to do without them I will. I suppose spray tans I could do without too. I may ask my bridesmaids if they can pay for their own shoes, hair makeup, jewellery etc. theres not anybody I know who can make cakes or anything and my family are already putting £2k in I don't really want to be asking for more. I think I will have to do my own hair and makeup as that is quite a big chunk of the costs and the extensions. if all else fails I do have a wig I could try!
  4.  
    • MichelleC961
      CommentAuthorMichelleC961
      Ticker backgroundIs poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadgeTicker foreground
     
    Lol- Awww bless you lorna- yeah I woukd try and ditch things like spray tan, have yiu thought about not a traditional cake but buying round cheeses and having a cheese cake? Can the double up for evening buffet?! I'm sure bm wouldn't mind paying- loads of good sales on so look in places like HoF for some real bargains :-)

    Hopefully if you make savings in these areas you can buy your extensions to feel comfortable xx

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  5.  
    • MrsThomson2B
      CommentAuthorMrsThomson2B
      Is poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadge
     
    cake, go to m&S or te5co and buy plain cake and then decorate with ribbon.£30-£40 max

    Mothers outfits....don't buy them they should be buying their own.

    Don't offer gifts bags or reception drinks unless you can provide your own bottles with no corkage, I would ditch the drinks.

    Kids gifts? if they aren't in the bridal party print of some colouring sheets and buy a pack of pencils and maybe a pack of bubbles from £shop

    flowergirl bolero....is it really needed, it should be warm in may. if she is really young fine get one off the bay for a few £s

    shoes again the bay, my girls have a £25 budget however my sister has found hers for £15 inc postage. she already has a pair in a different colour and says they are really comfy.

    same with accessories the bay £3-£5 each for a little necklace and bracelet

    as the girls above have said is a spray tan really neccessary? could you and some of the bm try and use a cheaper home tanning cream?

    bm nails dont really need to be done, why not have a girly night the night before and paint each others nails.

    Extensions, look at hairstyles that won't require getting extensions put in.

    Page boys hair? parents should be making sure their kids look tidy and it shouldnt be much more than a bit of styling gel then which someone will probably have.

    can you colour your hair at home? does hubby usually get his hair cut? probably not a budsget item to worry about.

    what colour bm dresses do you need?

    hen and stag, generally they dont pay for their night as the rest of the party will split your cost and pay for you. If not can you maybe have a pamper party or something a little cheekier i.e b0dy sh0p or ann3 5umm3r5 with some cheap bottles of fizz?

    ask bm if they will pay for their hair and make up as you are struggling....dont pay for trials for them.

    hope some of that helps xx
  6.  
    • InDreamland
      CommentAuthorInDreamland
      Ticker backgroundIs poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadgeTicker foreground
     
    Forget the spray tans, do you need to pay for bridesmaids nails! Mine paid for their own, plus paid their own shoes.

    You can buy cheap cakes in supermarkets then decorate yourself.

    If you're a beautician then could you do the bridesmaids makeup and they do their own hair?

    Reception drinks aren't required, guests can buy their own as long as there is a pay bar there.

    Why do you need to put things in a gift bag?

    Gifts for parents - could you do a homemade voucher for a meal on you after the wedding? Then after wedding get them all round for a slap up Sunday roast you have cooked?

    Gifts for bridal party - for grown up attendants you can get some fantastic offers in the January sales, try d3b3nh@m5, and remember it's just a small token. For page boys and flower girls a couple of bits from £1@nd will do like colouring books or activity sets. There's loads of great stuff in that shop at the moment because it's Christmas, tonnes of m1n10n5 and fr023n products all at a quid each.

    Generally in my experience stags and hens are not paid for by the bride and groom as meals, drinks and activities are often split between the friends attending. The only thing the bride and groom would pay themselves are expensive travel like flights if going abroad and hotels if staying overnight.

    Members signature icon
    Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
    Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!

  7.  
    • InDreamland
      CommentAuthorInDreamland
      Ticker backgroundIs poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadgeTicker foreground
     
    My bridesmaids also provided their own jewellery.

    Members signature icon
    Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
    Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!

  8.  
    • Emily17
      CommentAuthorEmily17
      Ticker backgroundIs poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadgeTicker foreground
     
    I have copied your list and made comments. Great prices on photographer and flowers!!

    Do you have your dress yet?

    brides spray tan - is this really necessary. You can get goof home moisturisers now
    brides hair cut/colour - can you colour it yourself? have a practise run now to see how it goes?
    brides hair extensions - is it really necessary?
    bridesmaids jewellery x3 - the bay or get them themselves
    x3 bridesmaids shoes - the bay or get them themselves (say because you want them to all be comfy and not with sore feet)
    flower girl bolero - is it necessary? It will be spring and I'm sure she will have a cardi etc
    x3 bridesmaids nails - you can do these yourself/them pay. I'm not sure its really necessary. as long as they paint them nicely. could be a lovely night before the wedding activity
    x2 bridesmaids dresses - the bay / sale
    x2 page boys hair & shoes - Page boy hair doesn't need to be done. that's their parents jobs surely?? Plus can't they wear their school shoes?
    bestman suit & shoes - I would expect him to sort his own shoes
    hen night - go for a simple meal somewhere nice. doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg
    stag do - go for a simple meal somewhere nice. doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg
    hair & makeup x4 £200 - Can your BMs not do each others?
    cake £75 - get a supermarket one and decorate it yourself?
    mother & father of the bride gifts - something token, can even be an IOU to a meal etc so you can arrange it after the wedding when both are free (extra time to save)
    bestman gifts - something token
    x3 bridesmaids gifts - if you really want to buy their jewellery, this can be their gift
    kids gifts - Like IDL said, £land for activity books etc
    mother of groom gift - - something token, can even be an IOU to a meal etc so you can arrange it after the wedding when both are free (extra time to save)
    1 gift bag - what's this for? is it really needed?
    and drinks for the reception. - Surely guests can buy their own? It isn't expected for the bride and groom to pay for all the drinks.

    Members signature icon
    Met in 2009
    He proposed Jan 2014
    Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
  9.  
    • KirstyR386
      CommentAuthorKirstyR386
      Is poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadge
     
    We have bought jewellery in the sales for our bms that will also be their thank you gift so that will cross at least one thing off the list entirely. My girls are also wearing their own shoes as everyone likes different heel heights. The only thing I said I would like is silver heels but style etc is up to them and if they already own something they can wear those or if they want to buy new thats their choice. X
  10.  
    • LornaB75
      CommentAuthorLornaB75
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    im not paying for guests reception drinks that's for me and the groom. the kids gifts are my kids, I have 3 they are the page boys and flowers girls so want to get them a little something. bolero is for my will be 18 month old I don't want her to get cold. not buying my mums outfit anyway. the pageboys are my sons so obviously its me that needs to make sure there hair is cut so its not a mess lol. I think I will ditch the tan and get my bridesmaid to pay for any beauty treatments they want themselves and also their shoes. im also not having a trial as I only want my hair curl but must have extensions my hair is way to short I look horrible in my dress haha. but I could find some synthetic £5 extensions from claire's, peackocks or something, its only for one day. but I really don't suit my dress with my hair style. im hoping it grows to at least shoulder length by then so I wont be as bothered about hair extensions but because its so damaged and is just getting shorter because of breakage that doesn't look very likely. I also don't need a trial for my makeup. its only going to be a bit of foundation blusher brow powder and lash extensions, and I know the makeup artisit and am confident I will like her work so I don't feel like I need a trial. I already have the gift bags but since we added an extra bridesmaid I need another one lol but there only like £1.50 so that's fine. my mum has bought my wedding dress. yes the plan is to colour it myself anyway but I will definitely need a cut by then because my hair is so damaged by bleaching it over the years its just getting shorting instead of longer! yes! I never thought about getting the pageboys to wear their school shoes! they are black spiderman ones but who cares lol. they are only 4 and 5 and they are children as I previously stated so its up to me to sort their hair cut. otherwise they will look like a mop lol it gets sooooooo thick and messy! flower girl is also my daughter so I obviously will have to pay for her shoes. reception drinks aren't for the guests. that's for me and the groom.

    I think I got everything in there! may have reapeated myself a few times trying to reply to everyone as I was reading the comments separately lol.
  11.  
    • CommentAuthorFayeJ67
      BadgeBadge
      edited
     
    I had a similar problem with my hair, I fixed it with a very unusual product as recommended by my hairdresser.

    The product is called ******M3G@T3K
    If you google it you will find it is a conditioner used to fix damaged hair on show horses! It smells like coconut and works wonders!
    It also encourages hair growth!


    *****EDIT: BRAND NAME DISGUISED IN LINE WITH FORUM RULES. MODERATORS
  12.  
    • Elinor Claire
      CommentAuthorElinor Claire
      Ticker backgroundIs poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadgeTicker foreground
     
    I had my bridesmaids do there own hair, and just had my own done professionally. Same with make-up. I didn't want anything ambitious, and the bridesmaids had such different styles that they were never going to match anyway. If they can't do their own maybe you could ask around your friends if anyone would do it. Would a colleague do your nails for free as a wedding gift? Also shoes, my bridesmaids wore their own as I wanted them to be in shoes that they were comfortable in. No one looks at the shoes, and the dresses were floor length anyway. Your page boys could probably wear their smart school shoes.

    Members signature icon
    30th August 2014 was the best birthday ever.
    It was the day that I became Mrs. Dixon.

  13.  
    • Emily17
      CommentAuthorEmily17
      Ticker backgroundIs poweruserJust marriedBadgeBadgeTicker foreground
     
    Haha definitely makes a difference if they are your own children :) Then you do need to arrange their hair cut

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    Met in 2009
    He proposed Jan 2014
    Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
 

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