Trying to throw a small yet elegant wedding on a low budget? Here’s an idea for a wedding that should cost you $1000 or less!

I have gotten some “Ask Tinka” emails about throwing a wedding as little as $1000 so I decided to respond with an idea I have.  Afterall, everyone deserves to celebrate their wedding– even those who don’t have $15,000 to spend!

If I were getting married with a small budget and wanted to have a simple wedding day with only close family and friends, this is what I would do: I would have the wedding and reception at my home or the home of a close relative or friend. It’s cozy and best of all, FREE! I would wear a simple white sundress and have my groom wear something casual like khakis and a white shirt. Then, instead of a traditional buffet or sit-down dinner, I’d serve coffee, hot chocolate, and cake! Get your favorite songs together to play on your stereo and have a designated area for dancing. Keep the reception short– about an hour or two and maybe serve wine and beer.

That sounds just delightful to me

Milledgeville, GA

Milledgeville Limousine Service, Inc. was founded in 2008 to provide the people of Milledgeville and surrounding areas with a convenient, safe, stylish, and affordable alternative to celebrate many of life’s special occasions. The owner/operator, Tracy Daugherty, a retired educator, taught in various colleges throughout the South for nearly 40 years.

Milledgeville Limousine Service, Inc. offers a full array of customer directed charters. Our goal is to provide our customers with safe, convenient, and affordable transportation. And for a nominal extra charge, we can stock the limousine with ice, water, your choice of beverages, newspapers, or whatever else you would like to take on your journey. Below is a sampling of how our customers may want to use our service:

• Dining out
• Shopping
• Retirement parties
• Weddings
• Funerals
• Anniversaries
• Special lunches
• Girls’ nights out
• Boys’ nights out
• Proms
• Birthday parties
• Valentine’s Day
• Tailgate parties to Athens
• Atlanta/Macon sporting events
• Airport transport to Atlanta/Athens/and Macon
• Transport to and from Grooms in Macon  

Trying to stick to a strict budget? Don’t forget these hidden costs of having a wedding!

1. Gratuity! Gratuity is usually added to the final bill for your caterer. However, it is also polite to tip waiters/waitresses, bartenders, church musicians, and any others who you think deserve it.
2. Taxes! Don’t forget to include taxes in your budget for the dress and tux, flowers, food, and beverages. You may think you are paying $20 per person and end up paying over $25!
3. Overtime! Many wedding vendors such as photographers and DJs charge overtime fees. You never know until the day of your wedding how long you are going to need them so make sure to work this out BEFORE your big day!
4. Food for your wedding vendors! Don’t forget to feed your wedding vendors! Your photographer, videographer, DJ, etc. will probably be at your wedding for more than 6 hours. Unless you want them to leave to get dinner, make sure you have a meal for each of them.
5. Postage! Some invitations can cost up to $2 for postage. If you are sending out 100 invitations, that adds up to $200. Make sure to leave some room in your budget for stamps.

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And they are having a sale… buy 3 shirts, get the 4th free. Also, free shipping for orders over $50.

They have original and hip designs that any bride-to-be would love!

Our top 5 designs:
- Just Hitched (complete w/ cowgirl boots)
- Bridezilla ROAR!
- Homegirl of the Bride
- Groom- Under New Management
- Team Bride

I am currently planning my wedding, and we are trying to make a decision about whether or not to serve liquor at the reception. My family is for it and claims weddings are boring without it, but my fiance’s family is totally against it. We are paying for the wedding ourselves so whatever my fiance and I decide will go. I just don’t want to anger either side.
-Heather

Dear Heather,
I am always all for doing whatever is going to make you and your fiance happy on your wedding day. However, you should always show your guests respect. In other words, do what makes you happy without horribly offending your family. I would suggest completely eliminating liquor. You can serve champagne with the toasts and then maybe offer beer and wine. Also offer cider or something similar to those who do not wish to drink. This way, those who want to drink will (in moderation) and those that are against drinking don’t have to.

Here is a sample budget for an average priced wedding!

Budget: $10,000
Ceremony venue: $300
Reception venue: $800
Officiant: $100
Florist: $700
Caterer/Food: $1500
DJ: $800
Wedding dress & alterations: $700
Suit/Tux: 150
Bride & Groom Accessories: $400
Cake: $200
Photographer: $1000
Videographer: $600
Invitations/Announcements: $300
Favors: $150
Hair, Make-up, etc: $100
Transporation: $200
Rings: $800
Wedding party gifts: $200
Marriage license (depends on state): about $50
Alcohol: $500
Other costs (decorations, ceremony accessories, etc): $450

Hey Tinka,
My boyfriend proposed to me in Feb..we have set a date for July 4,2010. How soon should we start planning. I don’t want all our conversations to be about the wedding day you know.
Gloria

Gloria,

Congratulations! Well, it is never too early to start looking for sales, coupons, and other deals! I would work out your budget between now and July of this year and start looking for venues. Then, I would recommend beginning the wedding planning a year in advance. Check out our ultimate wedding planning checklist!

Before your engagement…

• Make sure you are ready to get married! Take the quiz now.

After you are engaged…

• Take engagement pictures.
• Send out engagement announcements; announce your wedding in the newspaper if you’d like.
• Have your engagement party.

12 months before your wedding day…

• Pick a date and time for your wedding.
• Buy a planner with a calendar, to-do list, and place to put all your ideas, coupons, etc.
• Begin to discuss your wedding budget with your fiance and family. Look at the average costs of some wedding vendors to get an idea of your budget.
• Research local wedding vendors and write down their contact information.
• Start looking for sales and deals for wedding dresses & other wedding-related items.
• Make sure you don’t start off on the wrong foot by making these common wedding planning mistakes.

11 months before your wedding day…

• Start interviewing wedding planners if you are going to hire one.
• Begin a guest list draft.
• Enlist your groom to help. If he’s not interested, read these tips for getting the groom involved.
• Pick out your wedding colors.
• Begin looking at ceremony & reception sites.

10 months before your wedding day…

• Finalize your wedding budget with your groom and your families. Need tips for saving money? Read about money-smart wedding planning.
• Decide on your wedding party. Need help deciding who should be included?
• Sit down with your family to work on the guestlist.
• Choose a wedding planner.
• Decide on a wedding theme if you are going to have one. (Ideas: Romance, Going Green, Winter Wonderland) 
• Meet with different wedding vendors to discuss pricing options, etc. Read about little known ways to receive wedding discounts!

9 months before your wedding day…

• Decide on your ceremony & reception sites and reserve them for your wedding day.
• Decide on a wedding officiant, a florist, and caterer.
• Decide on a DJ or musician. Read about how to choose a DJ that is right for you!
• Create a wedding website so your guests can find all the information they need in one place.
• Decide on what style wedding dress you want to wear. Not sure? Read about wedding dress styles or take the quiz: Which style wedding dress flatters your figure?

8 months before your wedding day…

• Plan your honeymoon and have your groom reserve the hotel rooms, etc. Having trouble deciding where to go? Take the quiz: Where should I go on my honeymoon?
• Finalize your guestlist
• Go with your bridesmaids to look at their dresses and get ideas
• Meet with wedding cake designers and go to tastings
• Decide on and hire a photographer. Read about what to look for in a photographer!
• Decide on and hire a videographer. Read about why you should hire a videographer!
• Rent any equipment like chairs and tables that you may need

7 months before your wedding day…

• Order save-the-date cards or magnets
• Get all your guests’ addresses
• Order bridesmaids dresses & accessories
• Decide on a baker and order your wedding cake. Need help deciding what kind? Take our quiz: What type of wedding cake fits your personality? 
• Think about what your groom and groomsmen will wear. Suits or Tuxes?
• Shop around for invitations and work on the invitation wording

6 months before your wedding day…

• Make a final selection for a wedding dress
• Choose your veil and accessories to match your dress
• Decide what your parents will wear
• Finalize your honeymoon details
• Request off work if you need to
• Send out save the date cards
• Purchase or rent groom’s and groomsmen’s suits or tuxes
• Finalize the menu with the caterer
• Register! All your wedding registry questions are answered here.

5 months before your wedding day…

• Order or make your wedding favors. Here are some unique ideas.
• Reserve hotel rooms and make accomodations for out-of-town guests
• Start thinking about your make-up and hair
• Order your wedding invitations
• Create a wedding day timeline
• Make your wedding night plans & reservations
• Begin thinking about the rehearsal dinner

4 months before your wedding day…

• Plan your rehearsal dinner; decide on a location, menu, etc.
• Reserve a car, limo, or your desired wedding transportation
• Think about your wedding music (first dance song, father/daughter dance song, etc.)
• Book a hair dresser and make-up artist
• Help your maid of honor make a bridal shower guestlist
• Shop for your wedding bands

3 months before your wedding day…

• Have your wedding shower
• Make sure your dress is tailored
• Finalize your wedding music
• Address the envelopes for your invitations
• Buy your wedding rings
• Have the maid of honor and best man make sure the wedding party has purchased their outfits and accessories
• Designate people to give toasts at the reception
• Make sure you have started an exercise routine and diet if you need to lose a few inches before getting into your dress! Here are some tips to tighten your tummy before your wedding day.

2 months before your wedding day…

• Buy your wedding party their gifts. Check out some cool wedding party gift ideas.
• Write your wedding vows if you so desire. Read about the secret to writing great vows!
• Send your wedding invitation 6-8 weeks before the wedding
• Start making a final guestlist as you begin to hear back from guests
• Fill out any documents needed to change your name
• If you are going to have your rings engraved, do so
• Fill out any documents needed to change your insurance information after married
• Create and print wedding programs
• Buy lingerie or undergarments before final dress fitting
• Send thank you notes for gifts received at your shower

1 month before your wedding day…

• Work on your seating chart
• Make or buy placeholder cards
• Get anything you need before your honeymoon (passport, shots, etc.)
• Do a final fitting for your dress; begin a diet and exercise routine if necessary
• Confirm all the details (arrival time, cost, etc.) with your wedding vendors
• Get a marriage license
• Send rehearsal dinner invitations
• Order alcohol
• Buy a guestbook

2 weeks before your wedding day…

• Take care of all the details like what you will use to cut the cake, toasting glasses, etc.
• Prepare welcome baskets for out-of-town guests
• Purchase thank you notes
• Finalize the menu, etc. for the rehearsal dinner.
• Finalize your seating chart.
• Give final headcount to caterer, etc.
• Do a hair and make-up trial run.
• Plan the activities for the night before your wedding.
• Help your wedding party plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties if they need it.

1 week before your wedding day…

• Get checks ready to give your wedding vendors.
• Make sure you have something old, something new, something borrowed, and (most importantly to us) something blue.
• Make sure you have a garter.
• Get a manicure, pedicure, hair cut, eye-brow wax, etc.
• Pick up your wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses
• Confirm all the details with your florist.
• Give the members of your wedding party their tasks for your special day.
• Pack for your honeymoon!

The day before your wedding day…

• Go to the spa to get a massage!
• Hold the rehearsal dinner.
• Give your wedding party and parents their gifts.
• Attend the bachelor or bacheloretter party.

After your wedding day…

• Have someone take your wedding dress and keepsakes if you are going straight on your honeymoon.
• Keep the top layer of your cake for your 1st wedding anniversary.
• Go on your honeymoon.
• 6-8 weeks after: send thank you cards. Not feeling motivated? Read the lazy bride’s guide to sending thank you cards.p
• Start your life with the one you love!

If you don’t have a wedding planner, get yourself a wedding planner! That is, an organizer like the one above.

Step 1: Buy a planner with an area for notes, a to-do list, and a calendar to dedicate SOLELY to wedding planning.

Step 2: In the notes section, put all of your ideas… what flowers you want, your colors, dress ideas.

Step 3: On your to-do list, list everything you still have to do before the big day.

Step 4: Mark important meetings, deadlines, and other days on your calendar.

Step 5: Go through bridal magazines and begin ripping out pages that give you ideas or that include discounts. Stick them in your planner.

Step 6: Start collecting coupons for bridal shops and wedding vendors and put them in your planner as well. (Check out our previous article: 8 Little Known Ways to Get Wedding Discounts).

Step 7: Keep up with it! Make sure to look at your calendar everyday and cross items off your to-do list as you complete them.

Did you know only 4.7% of weddings in the US are in January? That makes it the least popular month for tying the knot! But we think that a January wedding is a fabulous idea! Vendors that rely on wedding season are struggling in January. I mean, they are getting only 4.7% of their business that month! So if there is a time when those businesses will barter, it’s then. Some wedding & reception venues already have discounted prices for less popular dates. Also, a winter themed wedding can be absolutely stunning.

But remember, there is a reason January is the most unpopular month to be married! So if you are planning a wedding for next January, here are some SBB tips:

• Don’t eat too much over the holidays and have to squeeeze into that dress you bought!
• Try to get most of your planning done pre-Thanksgiving so you aren’t under too much stress over the holidays.
• Keep the ceremony & reception indoors. And keep it warm for your guests. Make parking close by so they won’t have to walk too far in the cold.

If you had a fabulous wedding you would like to feature with SomethingBlueBook.com, email us all of the details along with pictures at weddings@somethingbluebook.com.