Cheap wedding ideas.
Want cheap wedding celebrations but fabulously special and quite unique memories?
Here’s a few ideas.
#1 Use the services of the Registry Office. I don’t think you can negotiate the fee but ask anyway.
Or.......
#2 Negotiate with a Celebrant or Officiant to just do the legally required bits including the paperwork.
I did this on a few occasions at the express wish of the couple who wanted to continue their marriage ceremony and celebrations afterwards with their friends and families.
#3 You supply the two witnesses.
When I was a practicing celebrant I often charged a fee to provide witnesses.....especially in the case of an eloping couple. Check with your celebrant.
#4 You and your partner put your own ceremony together.
Whether you have the legals done separately or not you can easily write your own wedding ceremony. I will show you how you can do this....cheaply. Check this out at #10.
#5 Don’t go to the expense of buying brand spanking new outfits....look online for what you like to wear ideally.......you can get Chinese look alikes for less than half the price of your designer dream outfits. Friends of our son did this ( including the mothers of the couple) and they looked a million dollars!
Or do the op shop rounds and recycle your outfits.
Or just do the casual thing.
#6 Don’t spend stratospheric sums on flowers.....
On your hand delivered or electronically sent invitations suggest to your guests that they may have something in their garden that could become your dream bouquet!
People just love to be included and to help especially for weddings. It’s such a special occasion.
#7 Again, photographers cost an arm and a leg........
Ask a couple of your friends or family members to take candid snaps.
Or provide a few little throw away cameras for your guests to take snaps.
Gather the cameras up at the conclusion of your celebrations.
This can be a lot of fun and provokes hilarity and spontaneity....and great memories!
#8 You have no doubt heard of pot luck dinner parties where your guests bring a plate or dish of food to share plus a bottle of wine or soft drink.
Why not do this? Again it’s an opportunity for all to showcase their culinary skills and people love to be included.
Alternatively the old BBQ is a faithful no fuss standby!
Also don’t go to the expense of having a lavish wedding cake made, have cupcakes or profiteroles. Our son got married in New Orleans and had beignets instead of cake. We all loved them!
#9 Provide your own pre recorded favourite music or have a friend or two entertain everyone.
#10 Now, let’s talk about your wedding ceremony.
You may choose to separate the legal part of the ceremony and complete that earlier.
Or you may keep it all together and have a complete civil ceremony....
It’s your choice.
Either way I can provide pre prepared ceremonies for you for the cost of a few coffees.
You read these and decide which one/s you like best or just use them as a guide.
They are designed for you to add to or to delete what you don’t want.
You can combine words from more than one ceremony.
This way you personalize your words even including your vows.
There are music suggestions, poetry and readings to give you ideas or to use.
#11. Venue......have your celebrations at home or the property of a friend.
Choose a venue that is special to you both if possible.
If you choose a park you may have to pay a local council fee. Check this.
So there you have it. A cheap wedding ceremony and celebrations but certainly lots of scope for specialness, uniqueness and long cherished memories.