by Joe Sunstrum

Created on: May 13, 2007   Last Updated: May 16, 2007

There are a few issues to deal with when getting married on a budget. First is it a first wedding? If it is the bride most likely will want to have a big event, since it is her day. Second weddings are easier to pull of cheaply. My wife and I were both previously married and we were able to get married and have a blast in the process.

After our wedding was completed the majority of guests told us it was the most fun they ever had at a wedding. Let me tell you what we did to make the most of little money to maximize the enjoyment for guests as well as ourselves.

The most expensive part of our wedding was my wife's dress (she had to look spectacular and did) though she didn't get it specially made she found an amazing one off the rack. Actually I spotted the dress and showed her. Since it was a second marriage we did things a bit different and her dress fit our themed wedding perfectly.

We decided to go with an old western theme and along with my best man I dressed in a tuxedo top and jeans with cowboy boots and hat to top it off. The dress we choose for my wife was a midnight blue southern belle dress that was trimmed in black lace. Her maid of honor took a denium dress she already owned and created a beauty, trimming it with matching black lace. Total cost for all of our outfits was around 500 dollars.

We were regular members of a church so the service was free. Our minister said it was the least he could do as we had volunteered our time and services so regularly for our church.
Instead of renting some big hall my wife's brother offered his backyard to have the reception. It was perfect for he had an inground pool and hottub. To top it off we had hotdogs and hamburgers on the BBQ with various salads for our meal.

Since having an open bar is a definite money breaker and we didn't feel right with charging our friends by having a cash bar we decided our party was going to be BYOB and so many of the guests thanked us for this because when you have a bar you might not always have a guests choice of beer of liqour available.

It was a perfect day and evening and it cost us under a thousand dollars!

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