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  1.  
    • DaniellaRose04
      CommentAuthorDaniellaRose04
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    Hiya! Im Danni! I have started this new thread so that I can gain ideas on how to budget!

    We are on a strict budget but still want things tasteful! any ideas people?!

    Members signature icon
    Been with my partner for 6 years since school! Met: Nov 2009
    Already have our gorgeous son
    Engaged: 23rd May 2015
    Getting married: 2017
  2.  
    • MrsC2bee
      CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
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    Not sure if there is a thread on budgeting already that might help a lot, but best thing to do is write a list of all the things you need. And then think what you what and estimated price ( but realistic one) for each bullet pout the so dress, accessories, venue food, photographer ect. Once you've done that look at where your price is coming to and decide what you can afford and then if need to decide where you need to cut the price of stuff and how you can so for invites you DIY and maybe second hand instead of brand new will help reduce the cost too.
  3.  
    • Flossie
      CommentAuthorFlossie
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      edited
     
    I swear by my wedding planning spreadsheet! Literally every penny that I spend on the wedding gets recorded on there, and things I have not paid for yet have an estimated price, so that I can keep track of everything I am spending and everything I am yet to spend. It has really helped me in terms of budgeting as I can see exactly where my money is being eaten up and can see an area where I could cut back if needs be. I also have a savings tracker tab on there so I can see exactly how much we currently have saved up, and how much we are likely to save in the months leading up to the wedding.

    Members signature icon
    Happily married
    18th June 2016
    xx
  4.  
    • MrsC2bee
      CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
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    I think I need to print my spreadsheet out as its on my laptop which rarely comes out. X
  5.  
    • StephH96
      CommentAuthorStephH96
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    A spreadsheet is the best way to go.
    You can save money by diy-ing stuff and buying bits from the bay or @m@zon.
  6.  
    • Emily17
      CommentAuthorEmily17
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    Agree with Flossie, my spreadsheet covers what we have budgeted for everything and actually paid then whats paid off and when next payment is due. it is my wedding lifeline!

    how to cutback. DIY virtually everything (dont forget you can sell table centre pieces after the wedding to get some money back) Get your dress in the sale or outlet shop. The bay will become your best friend.

    Members signature icon
    Met in 2009
    He proposed Jan 2014
    Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
  7.  
    • LornaB75
      CommentAuthorLornaB75
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    i have a list of everything i needs and bought most of it off ebay. the only thing i havent got from ebay is the rings and the grooms suit. also when buying bridesmaid dresses look for maxi/midi dresses online or in the usualy stores like new look etc. dont go to bridal stores or bridal sections as when its labelled bridesmaid it can be A LOT more expensive for the same dress you could find in new look or something!
  8.  
    • LornaB75
      CommentAuthorLornaB75
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    also look for student photographers. or a photographer just starting out in weddings. we have a junior photographer for £170 where as all the other photographers who have been going years are more like £800+ which we couldnt afford.
  9.  
    • FutureMrsW
      CommentAuthorFutureMrsW
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    OH is in charge of our spreadsheets, he loves doing them and it's a great way for us both to be involved. When we decide on something we really want we put it in our spreadsheet and can see how it affects things instantly, we can also chop and change things to see where savings could be made.

    Look for alternative venues like village halls, golf clubs or schools and colleges. They often have classy or quaint buildings and good outside spaces and can be much more reasonable than large country houses or hotels.




  10.  
    • LauraK94
      CommentAuthorLauraK94
     
    I concur:spreadsheet!
    We're on a tight budget too and we've cut back on everything unnecessary so we have more money to spend elsewhere...no wedding cars (no one sees the bride arrive anyway!) but I'll be at the venue early finishing setting up (I like that sort of thing), we're using bridesmaids bouquets as centrepeices (just placing a vase on each table) I've ordered bridesmaid dresses and my dress from China - bridesmaid dresses were only £25 each and mine £100 - and they're gorgeous, they look 10 times the cost. Evening buffet I'm doing myself (venue said I could use their fridge and drop stuff off the day before) and its going to be a cake of cheese (whole rounds bought from supermarket deli - about £50 instead of the £300 the "proper" cheese - cake places wanted - you just have to preorder at the customer service desk) with crackers, posh crisps, fruit and mini pork pies - we're feeding 100 people for less than £100. We've had to cut back though because we paid a deposit to our venue before we realised that their "approved caterers" were silver service and only provided sit down meals when we'd budgeted for a standard hot buffet!
    Decide what's most important to you (not what magazines tell you you should have) and spend your money there...no one will notice if you don't have all the latest crazes.
  11.  
    • MrsC2bee
      CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    I've done a spreadsheet but not sure if it's good enough, could I be cheeky and ask if you guys could explain how yours are set out as mine currently on the laptop and have different pages for each subject but I want to print it out and have it too hand but not sure how to set it out best. Any help would be appreciated :) as feel I've got so much to do but not sure where to start x
  12.  
    • Emmilou82
      CommentAuthorEmmilou82
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    To be fair MrsC2bee, mine is just colums of what/Total cost/ Paid/Left to pay..... i then sum it so that obviously Total cost - Paid = and fills in left to pay.

    Its very basic but it helps and works

    Members signature icon
    Marrying 'The One' on 30th July 2016
    I am now Mrs Emma Stokoe xx

  13.  
    • Flossie
      CommentAuthorFlossie
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    My main tab has lists of EVERYTHING that we need to pay for. I've got them split into sub headings. So for example under "stationary" you might have invitations, seating plan, place names, menu cards, etc. I've then got a column for an estimate, a column for amount paid to date, outstanding amount and total amount. I've then got totals at the bottom so I can see exactly how much I've spent to date, exactly how much is outstanding and a total of the estimates for everything else. I've also got a notes column which says when final balances are due by etc.

    Once things have been sorted but not paid off they are amber in colour. When things have been completely paid off then they go green. Things still outstanding are red.

    I then having a savings tracker tab which does what it says on the tin.

    Members signature icon
    Happily married
    18th June 2016
    xx
  14.  
    • MrsC2bee
      CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
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    I think that all makes sense but I just can't picture what it's meant to look like! Could I be cheeky and ask for someone to inbox me pictures of what they look like as mine has columns saying what each subject is, how much it cost how much I've paid and how much left to pay but doesn't have different colours as don't know how to :( and not sure if I have everything included as feel I'm missing bits x
  15.  
    • Flossie
      CommentAuthorFlossie
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    It might help to go through the wedding checklist on here and see if you're missing something? In terms of changing the colour, I just change the colour of the font xx

    Members signature icon
    Happily married
    18th June 2016
    xx
  16.  
    • MrsC2bee
      CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    thanks will have a look :) I'm hoping once I've printed it out It might make more sense :) when you don't know the price of something do you just estimate it or leave it blank? As its things like jewelerry and thank you gifts that I haven't a clue what price to expect x
  17.  
    • Emmilou82
      CommentAuthorEmmilou82
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    I estimated the cost until i got a real quote and then changed it accordingly.

    I have excel linked on my phone and pad so they all update if something is altered.

    I dont very often use the laptop however I keep my life on a USB stick so update that at work if i change the file lol.

    Members signature icon
    Marrying 'The One' on 30th July 2016
    I am now Mrs Emma Stokoe xx

  18.  
    • MrsC2bee
      CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
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    That's good idea to have them all linked :) will print mine off and see if it had everything on there x
  19.  
    • Flossie
      CommentAuthorFlossie
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    I have estimated rather than leave things blank. In most cases I have probably over estimated but I'd rather that than not estimate enough!

    Members signature icon
    Happily married
    18th June 2016
    xx
  20.  
    • MrsC2bee
      CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    Think I might over estimate bits I'm unsure if so least if it comes in under will make me feel better haha x
  21.  
    • Emmilou82
      CommentAuthorEmmilou82
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    Yeah it's always nice to correct it to a lower price lol...

    Our BM dresses, I budgeted £200 each but they were £135..... Down you go lol

    Same with suits, £500 budget, down to £335.... Yipeeeeeee



    Members signature icon
    Marrying 'The One' on 30th July 2016
    I am now Mrs Emma Stokoe xx

  22.  
    • MrsC2bee
      CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    I feel like I'm getting a bargain when I do that haha. Defiantly printing it off this weekend and cracking on with it :) be ready for a post saying help haha
 

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