Wedding/Honeymoon Help

[OregonLAA]

So I got engaged this weekend and we are now looking into all the wedding and honeymoon stuff (holy expensive). I was hoping you guys could provide some help with cheap options for the wedding and especially the honeymoon. We are looking to go to Mexico or something like that. I just want to see if there are some inexpensive routes to go. Neither of us will have much, if any, help from the family, so we have to pay for everything. I figured you guys would have some good ideas. Thanks!

[Tank]

Congrats!

For your wedding ceremony, if either of you is a member of a church, check and see what that church charges. It's likely to be a fairly inexpensive option. You can also check to see if a friend/relative has a nice outdoor space for the ceremony that would be big enough to accommodate all your guests.

As for honeymoons, go to Hawaii. We went with pleasant Hawaiian holidays and had to sit through a sales pitch, but it was a cheaper option to get there and we weren't obligated to only do what they offered. In fact, we didn't take any of their packages. Made our own plans and it worked out fine.

[mp170.6]

Congrats.

 

I say do something creative that doesn't cost you $25,000.  No need for an over the top country club, photographer, food, or apparel.  That model of weddings is so tired and worn out.  I've heard that the winter is cheapest for weddings and it's definitely cheapest for travel. 

[pattimelt]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

 

 

I got married in Vegas with a wedding that was arranged through the LV tourist bureau.  That was in 97, but it only cost us $150 and included a limo to the courthouse to get the license and a ride back to the hotel after it was finished. 

 

Personally, think about a cruise for a honeymoon!!!  You unpack ONCE, and get to see all kinds of things.  It can cost just about $100 per person per day (MOSTLY LESS!!) and that includes your room and all the food you can eat!!!

Edited December 19, 2013 by pattimelt

[happybat4]

Get married at Chuck E Cheese. They have great catering prices. Go to Miracopa County for your honey moon.

[gotbeer]

Instead of going on a honeymoon.  Save the money for a down on a house.  

[stevestevens]

If you don't have a lot of money for a honeymoon, do a cruise.  We were in the same situation as you and I spent my money getting to the place and didn't really have any money to do stuff once we got there.  At least on a cruise your meals are paid for plus you can win the cost of your cruise back in the casino. 

 

Where are you getting married?

 

If you are getting married in Oregon then rent a house right on the beach for a decent price.  I am looking into heading to Brookings, Oregon for a vacation and was noticing houses on the beach for a little over a grand for a week. 

[stevestevens]

Another thing to look at is opening a southwest miles credit card.  If you do that, they give you two free flights and they fly to a lot of spots in Mexico. 

[mancini79]

When are you getting married? That could determine how much the honeymoon will cost. Also look into getting married on Sunday. Just about every wedding professional/venue will give huge discounts for that day.

[OregonLAA]

In October. Thanks for all the feedback. We are looking at everything!

[mp170.6]

If you got married at a place like Autozone, I'm sure all of us would PAY $100 each just to see that. 

Edited December 19, 2013 by mp170.6

[Amazing Larry]

1st: Congratulations!

2nd: Just nod yes consistently.

3rd: Costa Rica!

[LBHalos17]

Don't do it!

 

Just kidding.  Congrats and regards!

[Spencer]

Impress her with a lobster dinner in puerto nuevo, then go to ensenada and spend the rest of the week at hussong's

[St1ck]

Wedding in West Baltimore, honeymoon in East Baltimore. 

[Adam]

Wedding in West Baltimore, honeymoon in East Baltimore. 

 

Day trip to DC

[Spirit]

When are you getting married? That could determine how much the honeymoon will cost. Also look into getting married on Sunday. Just about every wedding professional/venue will give huge discounts for that day.

 

This.

 

We got married on a Sunday at the Balboa Pavilion.  Slip the upper floor in half.  Wedding on one side, reception on the other.  Great venue!

[Brandon]

Sign papers at the courthouse. I've always thought a party/reception like thing for friends and family would be best. Get away from the stuffiness and formalitiy....granted, open bars are what makes the whole thing fun for the guests, which isnt cheap.

 

If you two have gone to places a bit, then just do something for yourselves opposed to some extravagant trip because it seems formal.

 

A good idea I just saw is we have friends getting married, but they have everything from moving in/living together already. They set up a website or some kind of program where they list their honeymoon and activities and wedding guests can donate money to any of the events they want instead of bringing gifts to the wedding. This keeps you from getting four toasters and really helps offset your honeymoon costs. It's also easier for guests as they don't have to check registries or go out and deal with shopping.

[mtangelsfan]

Cruises are cool and not too expensive, see if you can do the wedding on the cruise as well.

[Sully151]

First of all, Congrats to you and your fiancee!

 

When it comes to the wedding there are a lot of ways to save some cash-

 

1. Fake wedding cake- Have only the top tier of the cake be real (so you can cut into it) then have sheet cakes in the back to feed your guests. They will never know

 

2. Hire a photographer for only a portion of the wedding to get the key shots. Sometimes you can find newer photogarphers that are just getting into wedding photography to do it for a discount and use your shots for their "Book" or have a friend that is a hobbiest do it.

 

Then, set up an instagram acct and have all of your friends post their cell phone pics to that. You will get a ton of neat photos.

 

3. Ipod DJ. Have a friend that is fun do all the announcements and then just make a playlist for your Ipod for the reception. Try to convince a friend to help keep things on time and announce key events (cake cutting, first dance etc) make someone from the wedding party do it.

 

4. Keep the food and decor "homey". I went to two weddings this Fall, one was a BBQ. They had mason jars for drinks, pie tins for food and a BBQ company cater. the other was a Pot Luck. Kind of fun and super cheap. Buy flowers at costco and make your own center pieces. We had a Nocvember wedding and we bought a bunch of fake pumpkins, cut the tops off and stuck flowers in them. Pretty inexpensive and looked good.

 

As far as the Honeymoon, I suggest a road trip. My wife and I loaded my bike, camera gear and clothes into the back of my Honda and took off for three weeks. We hit Yosemite, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier National parks and then cut across Oregon to drive down the coast home. Super fun, met a lot of nice people, got some free stuff (mention you are on your honeymoon) and spent a lot of time as a couple, aside from the much needed bike rides.

[Brandon]

Definitely have a friend or iPod as a dj. The consitent playing of Play That Funky Music White Boy by Wild Cherry, Hot In Here by Nelly, and Celebration by Kool and the Gang is a bit too much. Even when Aunt Jan is drunk and consistently requesting them.

[nate]

Congrats!  A few of my friends had weddings in their families or friends backyard.  If you know anyone with a large backyard that would be willing to host your wedding that is always an inexpensive route.  You just have to pay for decorations and food/catering and someone to officiate which is inexpensive.

 

For the honeymoon, I would say think of things that you really enjoy or have wanted to do and then see what is within budget.  It is a great time in your life, no matter what you do, you will enjoy it.

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

Regarding a possible Mexico trip or even other options check Groupon, Living Social or Plum District for travel deals.  I know at least one person mentioned not doing all inclusive but we got 5 nights in Cabo at all inclusive hotel and with flight the total was less than $1,500 for both of us.  Of course you don't need all inclusive but that portion of our trip was about $750 so $150 a night.  We still took the bus into town a few days which was like $2 each way, walked around, hung out in the Marina and ate some good food. 

[NJHalo]

Do a 4 hour cocktail hour. That's the best part anyway. No sit down dinner, just whore-durves.

 

Lots of Beer, Wine, and Sangria.

 

I like the idea of a road trip honeymoon. Lots of memories seeing new places.

[Blarg]

Make it a party instead of some crappy ceremony where everyone is uncomfortable in their wedding/funeral suits and all the women are trying to stuff themselves into a prom dress.

 

Rent a softball field at a park with barbeques. Make up t-shirts for the Groom's side with I Got My Balls Whacked Today, and for the Brides side Getting Some Good Wood On It Tonight.

 

Go at it on the field with a cutthroat softball game for who gets to choose the bedroom color scheme while someone burns up burgers and hotdogs. Total food costs are whatever is in bulk at the Costco.

 

Simply have some fun with friends and relatives since from that day on forward it is the reality of the long haul commitments. Also if you can foul tip one into your mother in law there is not a damn thing she can do about but rub some dirt in it since it was an accident.