Um I need to know how to get abs like yours... sheesh.

I recently graduated college and got a job and the first thing I did was create a budget. I'm using most of my "miscellaneous" expense money on things for the wedding. My parents are paying for the big things, so I'm trying to buy the little things here and there to help out!

We're doing quite a few things

My mum's a dress maker so she's making all my dresses (and they look amazing, my dress is based on a £3500 designer one I tried on and fell in love with, and so far my Mum's half finished version is taylored and fits 10x better, plus we're using better quality silks than the imported chinese silk the shops use, I'm very lucky I love my Mum xxxxx)

Myself and my H2B both are graphic artists (animators really but we know how to mess about in photoshop) so we're designing are own wedding invites.

My very talented cake hobbyist sister in law 2B is making a funky *kitten* wedding cake that H2B designed

I have a friend who's only just graduated from a flower arrangers course who'll be doing my bouquets for cheap.

My mums also making some little favours with her sewing skills

I'll be doing my own makeup, and asking for very expensive bits of makeup as xmas gifts, I'm also trawling beauty forums for tips and getting a decent set of makeup brushes from E.L.F.

I bagged a pair of Filippa Scott Fifi "Lola" ivory silk shoes reduced from £130 to £20! on Amazon

For any Brits on here got the H2B's wedding ring from bettsmetalsales and signed up as a jewellery hobbyist so got his wedding ring at trade price! And it looks fab. Went for palladium instead of platinum as H2B doesn't give a damn about the presiousness of the metal and they look identical it also has the same properties as platinum (although a touch lighter) and is not as soft as white gold/need replating every few years. (that's something to keep in mind if you want white gold)

Also if anyone wants to give gifts we're asking for donations towards the honeymoon, although we are making a small wedding list of gifts to give to older family members who are funny about giving cash and would rather give something we can keep like champagne glasses etc

Oh I've also asked for wedding jewellery off the H2B for crimbo (although shopped for it myself lol) and found some fab solid white gold and blue topaz earrings at bargain prices on amazon and some gorgeous vintage pearl necklaces on ebay. x

Also we're getting wed in March which is about 30% cheaper for venue pricing here in the UK!!!!

Congrats BTW

i'm making the centerpieces.
we are using a website for rsvp and wedding info.

My mom and I discovered that instead of buying a wedding cake for $2,000 that we could buy three large cakes from the same bakery for abou $350! This way we get three different flavors as well, and personally I could care less if it looks like a traditional wedding cake!

If you want it to be tiered, just get different sizes and stack them yourself!

- I just made my invitations using 2 kits I bought from Michaels on sale for $19.99 each. I spent some time working out the fonts and wording and printed them out myself which did take a lot of patience but hey they are wedding invites they are fun.

- For wedding favours I'm going to make sugar cookies that look like wedding cakes, bag them and tie them with a ribbon with tags I'll print out myself.

- center pieces the hall already has floating candle centerpieces that they have. I will be using them to save the money.

- I ordered silk flowers, I am getting my bouquet, maid of honour bouquet, 4 bridesmaids bouquets, 2 boutonnieres, 2 mother coursages and a throw away bouquet all for $250 including taxes.

- I'm not buying any flowers for decorations, not sure anyone but my mother will notice.

- I'm also going to make my own cake...most people think I'm crazy but I do bake normally just not stacked cakes. I've watched youtube videos on how to stack them properly using wooden dowels and my sister bought me the pans for a gift. I won't attempt to decorate it fancy, just icing it and use the ribbon on the seams at the bottom of the tiers.

- my bridesmaids are wearing their own black dress of their choice.

When making choices (in between freak outs) I keep telling myself that none of it really matters that much, try to recall these minor details from other weddings you have been you...you can't remember! Don't feel bad cutting 'vital' things... they aren't that vital. Or so I tell myself all the time.

I agree. My mom keeps wanting me to add more details that she thinks don't cost that much, but $20 x 10 plus tax, or $2 per person adds up. Then keep adding more and more it gets outrageous. She even told me that she would buy flower centerpieces for my tables. I said no, because I'd rather her help me pay for what I want at the wedding, not a nice to have when the venue is providing floating candle centerpieces. Will people really care? I think not and if they do care then maybe I shouldn't have invited them.

I planned everything that I was going to need and shopped online to find the best price for value. Then I waited for the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales and got everything for a lot less. For example, our OOT canvas bags should have been ~$12/each with shipping. I got them for $2.50 each after shipping. I couldn't believe it! Don't despair if you need your stuff now, most sites rotate coupons every 4-6 weeks, so just sign up for their mailing list and wait for the right coupon. I also saved about 60% off our invitations and save-the-dates that way too.

**IF you're tracking a lot of items, it's best to have a list of the items and the price each (and how many you need). Then, figure out the last day you can buy them and back up 2 weeks (in case it gets lost in the mail). That's how long you can wait for the coupon. Ebates is also a great source of regular deals!

My mom and I discovered that instead of buying a wedding cake for $2,000 that we could buy three large cakes from the same bakery for abou $350! This way we get three different flavors as well, and personally I could care less if it looks like a traditional wedding cake!

Sorry, but how in the world could your wedding cake come to $2,000? We are going through a reputable, trusted baker and our is less than $600 for three tiers.

For those using silk flowers, were are you getting them and what varieties? I looked at some, but hated them the second I pulled them out of the box -- and still hated them after letting them "breathe" for a few days, as recommended. Our floral quote is pretty good, but always happy to cut a few more corners and pennies!

I get mine at Michael's. They aren't top of the line, but honestly who gets close enough to really inspect them? They get throw away or stuffed in a closet afterwards so bridesmaid boquets aren't going to be top dollar in my book. I wait til a % off coupon comes out and buy them. May take a few months to get them all, but it's helping to save money so it's worth it. If you are good enough at arranging them, they won't look cheap.