I'm doing the same! but I'm actually making save the dates on an app and just sending them to everyone online so I'm literally not spending a penny on them😁
The only one of those things im doing is favors but I'm having a small wedding and I have the supplies to make what i want so I probably will spend little to nothing on them
Things to consider cutting if you're on a budget: 1. Florals -- arch florals, aisle florals 2. Specialty lighting 3. Dance Floor 4. Transportation 5. Wedding shoes 6. Lawn games 7. Kids stuff / kids entertainment 8. Champagne Toast 9. Paper -- including save the dates 10. FAVORS.
first one was centerpiece focused. i don’t think she mentioned those things specifically (arches or aisles) but like boutonnières n floral accessory stuff and also the back of chair decor? I feel like the first category should have just been “table decoration” since that’s what she mostly talked about!
As a wedding gift to my step son, We payed for a caricature artist. It was an ABSOLUTE HIT!!! Everyone wanted one badly. The artist even did a caricature of the entire wedding party photo, to be framed. It was their favorite gift. Absolutely everyone loved it, and it cost us less than $350. So I highly suggest for anyone getting married to ask for this to be a gift.
I love your tip on not doing wedding favors. I didn’t do any for my wedding either. I personally HATE the idea the we’re supposed to send guests home with a dumb little gift AFTER we just paid for food, dancing, and drinking for 100+ people. Like every guest just enjoyed a nice free meal and alcohol, they don’t need a silly gift with my wedding date on it too, in my opinion.
I guess it depends on the wedding favors? I gave a fan as my wedding favor. A dozen fans for 1,5 bucks and I had around 12 dozen fans for the guests. There are many variety of wedding favors in my country and even when you are on a budget, you can still afford them.
I agree, particularly if the gift is... not really useful and will just end up in a landfill afterwards. I’ve been to weddings that give a little novelty trinket that, while nice and thoughtful, most people are gonna throw out in week.
And most likely, the favor would be ignored/thrown away by many of the guests, as it is usually a thematic thing that holds sentimental value for only a fraction of the people present... unless it's something useful, which would usually cost more.
For my save the date, i sent out a video to all my guests with my fiancè and i hanging out and the date towards the end, everyone loved it because its different
Me: skips original 5second ad out of habit Jamie: asks if I can watch ads Me: reloads UA-cam, reloads video, watches two ads totalling 3.5mins 🤣 We got you girl!
I liked that you talked about the $2 equals $200 and what else you could add or save to your wedding. We have a saying in our house "death by $10" meaning 5 or 10 here or there weekly, daily can add up to thousands of dollars in a year. Which, if you are planning a wedding or vacation or (fill in the blank) can be a game changer. To the people drinking a starbucks coffee three times a week, $15 x 52 = $624. Little changes can make a huge difference
Instead of favors (and placecards) I’m getting a pack of black and white thank you cards from Hobby Lobby (for $10 total) and writing everyone personal thank you notes for coming to our wedding. It saves on favor money, doubles as a place card, and takes up that blank space on a charger for aesthetic purposes, without getting custom menus printed for lots of money. And it makes everyone feel special, and makes our wedding more personal.
So far I’ve saved money by: - having our friend officiate it ( free and he knows us ) - doing three small cakes from a bakery we love instead of paying wedding tax for a big cake. We have other deserts from our caterer anyways. - all the thrifting - marrying into a Mexican family and having godparents to help pay for things ( band, drinks, and photography covered )
About the shoes: you could also buy a well made comfortable pair in color that matches your theme. Mine were beige and i am going to wear them thousand of times after my wedding :)
Mine were only 7 bucks and it's really comfortable. I add 5 bucks worth of beads and sparkles and sew it by myself. It's really pretty and I made it so that I could change the beads and matched it with my dress. I wore the shoes to many parties until 4 years later.
Things I skipped at my wedding: Transportation Favors Champagne Toast Corsages and Boutineers (DIY'd fake ones) Toss bouquet Garter Menu Cards RSVP cards (made a website)
@@desireedelgado826 I made a wedding website with theknot.com and I put the website on the save the date and invite. Guests were able to RSVP using the website
I’ve always thought favors were unneeded because I enjoyed free drinks and food and came to the party.. I don’t need to take something home! Also, my friend did a donation in honor of their wedding to an animal shelter. They didn’t disclose how much, so that could be a way to save on cost. They made an announcement and everyone cheered I loved it
Balling on a major budget over here. Paid about .35 cents each favor. All dollar tree. 4 pack of clear tea candle holder, 20 pack of tea candles, adhesive gem strips and a dot of hot glue. That’s all and they look like something anyone would pay $5 each for. Seriously look into it if your dead set on favors!
Hi Jamie! I am planning a 40th anniversary/ wedding. When my husband and I got married 36 years ago, we couldn't afford a wedding. We got married by his step mother, who was a notary, in his dad's living room with both sets of his parents, and my mom. We didn't have a honeymoon because I was to start a new job 4 days later. SO! We are having my dream wedding on our 40th anniversary. CRAZY??? I know, it's still 4 years away, but that gives me time to save, save, save! Time to DIY, DIY, DIY! I am planning to pay for the venue, caterer, and rentals on a "lay-away" plan if you know what I mean. I have already spoken to two of the three, and they agreed to do so! You see, I am retired and we aren't debt free...YET! My question for you is... do you have any vow ideas? I haven't had a chance to do much research, but I have read a few. Not real crazy about what I've found so far. Please let me know what your thoughts are! Donna Payne
Vow renewal, same as years ago . Our 50th is 2024, like you we're doing the wedding we didn't have in 1974. Then borrowed dress from girl in the barracks, $37 for flowers from PX, no attendants, no reception, married during regular church service at Army Chapel.
For save the dates and invitations I always suggest Walgreens! They always have sales going on. I got my save the dates for 8 bucks! Just a suggestion for any bride who does want em.
Can you do a video about restaurant reception? I am on the fence about it. I am not a dancer, and not big into major reception traditions. I like the idea of enjoying family without the giant over priced show. ❤
So superrrr cheap aisle idea!! Paper bag, a tea light, small flowers and stickers or cricut decal! Decorate your bag with flowers, put a tea light inside and set them down the aisle !
I think paper goods are a big part of the "details" that we photographers are looking for. That being said, you don't need 80 peices of it for the average bride. You could even limit unique items like name cards to the head tables, so that you get that "wow" factor in your photos, but save on the coin as well.
For my wedding everything is going to be boards and a website with digital invites. But for my photographer, I want to have something printed, and then save it in our wedding memory box. So I agree with you, it doesn’t need to be for everyone, just maybe the head table. And no one will be all “OMG we didn’t get a name place and menu, but THEY DID!”
I make digital wedding stationery and you're completely right about cost saving! Brides spend thousands on paper SAVE THE DATES that get thrown out and end up on people's phones anyway!
Literally 100% agree with everything on this list with the exception of extra lighting, ONLY bc I want to use my wedding to buy a ton of string lights I can repurpose for my house after 😅
Same but also 900 dollars for string lights? What how, we are ordering lights online for about 150 for the better quality ones and then stringing across the hall ourselves.
I just ran into your channel and I’m loving all the content. In 2020 we lost our event venue (Noah’s Event Venue) due to fraud and never got our money back. Then the pandemic happened so our ceremony has been overdue for 2 years now 😅but in June 2023 we expect to have our budget friendly wedding at last and you are making it so much easier for me to wrap my head around it. ❤
Great advice. I am doing favors though, they cost us about $.33 each. I’m also doing lighting in the form of fairy lights that I ordered from China at under a dollar each (about $25 to light the whole place). I’m saving by doing fake flowers and having my MOH arrange them (she was a florist), I’m making my wedding cake (I’m a professional), my fiancé’s SIL is a graphic designer and is doing our invitations at material cost, an old friend of his has a photography company and is doing our engagement and wedding pictures for less than half his normal rate, and the reception is at his grandparents’ church (which my artist bridesmaid and her team is decorating the night before). This is great because I only have five months of planning while working and going to college full time.
Sad about the lawn games comment lol as a future bride who hates dancing (I know boo me) it such a more fun-sounding activity than being embarrassed on a dance floor haha. Were planning on having a lot of options for lawn games so it feels more like a backyard summer get together than a formal event. I guess we're also just not going a very traditional route so that adds to it.
champagne toast hack - if your wedding is still formal but not black-tie level, just have someone put a cold bottle at every table and let guests pour it themselves. then people can control how much they have in their glass (less wasted) and no servers needed.
Rewatching this to refresh my memory, and help me with my budget. I am following most of these, although I'm doubling the favors as thank you's. I'm getting mason jars (cheaply from thrift stores), and, using a cute soap mold I got, adding some little soap bars, along with a snack bag or two for munchies if they want. Top it off with a simple card, and they have 1. something to keep, 2. something to use, and 3. a little something to nibble on, whether at the party, or later. Since I already had most of the stuff, or was planning on getting it anyway, I figured "why not?" I'll definitely use any leftovers! 😄
Sometimes depending on where you live if you want a nice car to ride in to and from you can prebook a fancier cab company without having a minimum time requirement. We have a cab company in our city that has nice white Lincoln town cars and they charge by distance the same way as if you'd take a regular cab.
Also, these videos are a life saver! I am "pre planning" my wedding (will be engaged within a year, as my boyfriend and I have discussed it), but also helping a friend if mine plan hers!
Woah woah, what?? $900 for light installations? Can you please talk more about that?? I thought that would is just be going to Walmart buying more string lights after Christmas ends and just laying them out.... what am I missing??
Depends on the venue.. I thought the same thing but the venue's I looked at wouldn't let me install them myself. Said it was a liability issue. The cheapest I found was a $350 starter price. I was livid! They're string lights that take 10 minutes to set up and aren't that expensive to buy.
I was thinking to also use christmas lights, which you also can borough from friends and family. And also a couple of Christmas stars. You dont have to buy everything
Michael's always has coupons and you can buy string lights there, but it does depend on the venue. You can also find a rental company that has them in bulk--we did both, but our venue was extremely chill
I recently found out about this website called something borrowed blooms and you can rent flower arrangements for pretty cheap then return them. The flowers are silk and a pretty good way to save money, I’m thinking about renting bouquets and boutonnières for my wedding party to save some money on florals!
Hannah Pedraza just an FYI I considered using them and I ordered on bouquet to look over (cost me 50 bucks) but the smell of the flowers was so strong I would have been sick. So just wanted to let you know in case you are sensitive to scents. My mom ended up putting together silk flowers for me and I saved loads of money even compared to SBB. I am selling my silk flowers if you are interested - I will give for a good price! cjo942@gmail.com - 😊
you don’t understand how much relief you give me after every vid of yours that I watch and you tell us we don’t need the list of things you say. #brideslovejamie
These are great tips. For our wedding we're cutting: most florals, specialty lighting, transportation (our getting ready/ceremony/reception locations are all the same place), multiple shoes (I'm wearing sneakers yay), lawn games, champagne toast, programs/menu, and we're 50/50 on doing favors - we'll make a decision about that right before the wedding. Thanks for the tips! As Jamie said in a prior video - the best way to save money is to not spend it.
I think I agree with the lawn games to a degree - For example, if the guests have to go out of their way to find the lawn games, I can see how they may not get used as much. Whereas, if one is at a venue where the grassy area is in the middle of everything where most of the guests are hanging out, they might get used more. So maybe it's worth the investment in that case. So, I think it just depends on the location of the lawn games within the venue.
Love the shout about letting ads play, I would've never considered it and literally the least I can do after everything you've done to help me plan my wedding 🎉❤
I live in a place where everyone drives, so I think the expectation is that everyone finds their way to the venue themselves- I'll still double check though! But ways we plan on saving money are really helped by having our wedding in the winter- no lawn games, using invites that are the 3-in-1 style (lots of traditionalists and older folks in our family, so we can't get away with online invites), having only 70 max attendees. I just found flower moxie from one of your other videos, so thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I don't skip ads for my favourite youtubers, especially those with smaller followings. Before this video there was a wedding related ad which I thought was fitting:)
A really awesome company that could save you a toooooonn or money is called Something Borrowed Blooms! You can rent literally any floral items or decorations you need from them; they come pre-arranged and you receive them 2 days before your event and then you ship them back the following Monday. Literally about 30% of the price of normal florals and decor and it’s so GORGEOUS!!
As for shoes - I got a pair of nude 2.5” block heels from Amazon for $25. They did start to hurt once I started dancing so I wish I also had a $25 pair of flats as a back up, but $50 for 2 pairs of shoes is a great alternative to $200 for sparkly stilettos (even if they are gorgeous)!
Great tips! The only thing I wouldn't skip are save the dates. We decided to go with Save the Date magnets that we were able to get from Etsy for $100. They're simple and cute, and people can keep them on their fridge for 10+ months before the wedding so they will constantly be reminded of our wedding date when making plans.
Regarding the kids activities a cheeper way to do something fun could be printing of activity pages you can find online free (E.g. word searched, spot the difference, wedding bingo, colouring pages etc.) and getting some party bag size crayons or markers and just sticking them at the place settings of the kids encase they need something to do during speeches.
Will no longer skip ads :) For aisle/ceremony flowers, we are doing the hanging jars with flowers on the chairs and having them placed on cocktail tables and by the card and guest book table after the ceremony. Making some decor multi-purpose seemed to help us out cost-wise.
We got married in September for less than $5k. We did all the flowers for under $200 from Costco, we did fun punny favors - lifesavers with handwritten 'mint to be' tags and little jars of honey for our sweetest day. We also gave the mercury glass votives that were on the tables with candles and flowers to the guests. We tried to mostly buy things for the wedding that we would have a use for afterwards.
I’m doing books as part of my centerpieces and gonna let people take one home at the end of the night if they want a favor 😂 Also picked them out at goodwill on a sale and got a lot from the Christian section since most of my guests would enjoy those ones 🤷🏼♀️
Hey love, Ads don't actually play before your videos for me. Sometimes in between I'll get an ad but I never get one before your vids! Hit me with all the ads you'd like!! You were a MONUMENTAL help in my wedding planning process and I had a KILLER wedding on 11/15. Thank you for all that you do !!!!!
I’ve recently started planning my wedding after being engaged for 5 years and I’m OBSESSED with your channel! Thanks for all of the advice, I feel like I’ve learned so much!
I am 50!!!!!! This is my 2nd wedding! I am marrying a guy WHO HAS NEVER BEEN MARRIED!! He asked me “when do I walk down the isle?” 😳 OMG! And I am working SOLO my friends live all over the US and my family is elderly and beyond minimal! Oh! And did I mention that I am in a constant slap fight with Covid? Anyway... one late late night I came across your YT!!!! AND NOW.... I carry my phone and listen to you everywhere - in the tub, gardening, working out, on Zoom meeting- that I should be paying attention to!!!!! Because I teach 1st grade and public schools come Fall are going to be Insane in the Membrane!!!!! 🤦🏼♀️ You have made so much sense!!! I don’t listen to anyone else now! I love that you talk fast and are to the point AND HONEST!!!!!!!!! Still not sure I’m gonna pull this circus off but you keep my mind straight and get me fire me up!!!!!!! Thank you!!! Wish you were here I would hire you without hesitation!!!!!! There are stars in your crown sister!!!!! Thank-you!!!! Bride love from this human in Oklahoma!!!!!!!!! Gotta throw this in “Reach Out and Love Each Other - People are Crying out - Don’t ignore it! Don’t be too busy! Pass someone at the G Store and smile with love on your face and Say anything!!!!!!!!! #GraceMatters #Startwiththemaninthemirrior! #MakeAChange!!! ☮️
Just a tip for wedding shoes, use poshmark!! It's amazing and I got an absolutely stunning pair of heels for my wedding day from poshmark for $30. I'm a bride on a very tight budget so for those of you in the same boat, just do a little hunting around if there's something you really don't want to cut out and it pays off! Love you Jamie, I'll never skip another ad for you, girl! ❤
Good tips! Important one still to mention: choose a venue, where you may SELF-CATER! Choose self-catering if you have family/friends that can cook a bit and have a nice buffet. Or mix the self part with the caterer part and let the caterer fill in your specific blanks. Saves a ton of money, at least on the drinks! Another huge cost saver in that case is: Have a candy and/or salty buffet, so people can choose what things to nibble on in between and after meals. Fun to set up and yummy to each individual taste. Another tip is rent for an affordable price. Florals can be expensive. Fake flowers can look so good nowadays, that one can hardly tell the difference and they cost a fraction of the real ones. Last tip is choose a theme that's more natural and mix and match what you have.
I agree to all this except the champ toast. Our whole wedding is going to be non traditional (we’re eloping in a national park and having a reception party at home a month later) and I feel like a toast will make it feel like a wedding. We’re only doing a cash fund registry and one of the funds people can contribute to a champagne toast and we’ll thank those people during the toast.
I’m so glad you mentioned the shoes! My mom was shocked when I told her I was just buying simple flats or sandals on Amazon but I just realized that they’re A. Going to get ruining at our farm wedding B. Will be hidden under my a-line gown anyway!
We had homegrown veggies instead of florals. We did have guest favours, they were linen bags to take the veggies home in. so many people left with full bags and we had less to throw away afterwards. They also used the bags to bring home our extra cupcakes and doughnuts, a total success!
I attended a wedding this year of a family member and the bride has a passion for plants so she spent months growing little mini succulents as favors for guests. And a few days later while visiting with other family I was so saddened to see that the aunt, mom and grandma all had their cars full of those succulents left over and no idea what to do with them. It was a cute, personal idea, but for those of us who flew to the city where the wedding took place, we couldn't pack them up. And maybe people didn't realize they were to be taken home.
I only paid for half string lighting. The wedding booked the day before me purchased full string lighting so they left it all up for me. Also, I left out arch flowers and centerpieces to keep the vendor out of wedding venue package (saving tax and service cost on venue fees).
PS a big money savers for me not listed here is no photo booth, having select friends bring desserts for dessert table with a small cake as center piece and no wedding party proposal gifts...but a small gift day of the wedding of course.
Already got my shoes!!! I got metallic silver converse! I only spent 50 for shoes that still match the wedding and I will wear them more than just for the wedding
Thanks for notifying us that video channels earn more revenue when ads are not skipped! I'll now willingly watch ads for channels I value, including for non-profits. Besides great wedding recommendations, I appreciate this general knowledge!
Jamie says $2 each for favors... looks at the box of favor materials (all we need to do is attach the ribbon and write the names) that was a total of $25 for 125 people... Also doing programs because involved religious ceremony with audience participation (aka full mass) and there arent enough prayer books in the pews so we are printing up the service the same way the church does for Christmas, Easter and other high volume services - they will be on plain paper and just what everyone needs to participate. But we are almost completely skipping florals (just doing 2 altar arrangements - bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages will be acrylic snowflakes - that I'm putting together), skipping the dance floor, using lighting already in the venue plus LED candles I can reuse. My mom insisted on transportation so she is paying for it (I was just going to have us drive ourselves), I do have 2 pairs of shoes but more for the season (one with nonslip soles and my ballet slippers for the reception) and neither was expensive. We are setting up a small area for my nephew and niece to relax in but it will be beanbag chairs from my FFIL's and borrowing some toys from work (working where there is an afterschool program is helpful sometimes).
Appreciate this as a budget bride! And yes! Please do a video on shuttles! And maybe Catholic wedding video? We’re doing a church wedding and our reception is like a 10 minute walk (super close drive) but do we need to provide transport to that? Help! Haha Also, will never skip an ad for my youtubers 💕
I will never skip another Jamie Wolfer ad because my wedding would be a disaster without her😂
Literally same!!
Anjanae Capri ditto! Ditto! Ditto!!
😂
True 😅
same. I love this channel i'd be lost without it
HECK YES. No favors, no save the dates, no programs, minimal florals, I'm gonna ROCK this budget wedding!
I'm doing the same! but I'm actually making save the dates on an app and just sending them to everyone online so I'm literally not spending a penny on them😁
The only one of those things im doing is favors but I'm having a small wedding and I have the supplies to make what i want so I probably will spend little to nothing on them
Maybe also no clothes. That could potentially both serve as an easy theme and save you a lot of money :p
Lmao!!
Did you Rock it?
Did I just replay this video bc the first time it didnt show any ads?
Yes.
Same
Same. Totally worth the extra minute.
Still doing it
Things to consider cutting if you're on a budget:
1. Florals -- arch florals, aisle florals
2. Specialty lighting
3. Dance Floor
4. Transportation
5. Wedding shoes
6. Lawn games
7. Kids stuff / kids entertainment
8. Champagne Toast
9. Paper -- including save the dates
10. FAVORS.
first one was centerpiece focused. i don’t think she mentioned those things specifically (arches or aisles) but like boutonnières n floral accessory stuff and also the back of chair decor? I feel like the first category should have just been “table decoration” since that’s what she mostly talked about!
As a wedding gift to my step son, We payed for a caricature artist. It was an ABSOLUTE HIT!!! Everyone wanted one badly. The artist even did a caricature of the entire wedding party photo, to be framed. It was their favorite gift. Absolutely everyone loved it, and it cost us less than $350. So I highly suggest for anyone getting married to ask for this to be a gift.
great idea
oh i didn't know that, i will let the ads play.
I love your tip on not doing wedding favors. I didn’t do any for my wedding either. I personally HATE the idea the we’re supposed to send guests home with a dumb little gift AFTER we just paid for food, dancing, and drinking for 100+ people. Like every guest just enjoyed a nice free meal and alcohol, they don’t need a silly gift with my wedding date on it too, in my opinion.
Yes girl, I totally agree!
I guess it depends on the wedding favors? I gave a fan as my wedding favor. A dozen fans for 1,5 bucks and I had around 12 dozen fans for the guests. There are many variety of wedding favors in my country and even when you are on a budget, you can still afford them.
I agree, particularly if the gift is... not really useful and will just end up in a landfill afterwards. I’ve been to weddings that give a little novelty trinket that, while nice and thoughtful, most people are gonna throw out in week.
My cousin gave everyone little plants. On their aniversary everyone sent them photos of how the plants were doing.
And most likely, the favor would be ignored/thrown away by many of the guests, as it is usually a thematic thing that holds sentimental value for only a fraction of the people present... unless it's something useful, which would usually cost more.
For my save the date, i sent out a video to all my guests with my fiancè and i hanging out and the date towards the end, everyone loved it because its different
That is such a neat idea! Kudos to you for your creativity!
@@sophieedens9928 thank you so much 💗💗
That’s so original. Love the idea !😇
@@mariae.shipman9315 thank you so much!! I hope others try it out🥰
That's a great idea!!!! Thanks for sharing
Unless the favor is something to eat or drink, people generally just throw them away
i had no idea people didn’t even drink the champagne!
Me: skips original 5second ad out of habit
Jamie: asks if I can watch ads
Me: reloads UA-cam, reloads video, watches two ads totalling 3.5mins 🤣
We got you girl!
Advice for writing vows please
Please!!
I second this
Yes please!
I need this too
I liked that you talked about the $2 equals $200 and what else you could add or save to your wedding. We have a saying in our house "death by $10" meaning 5 or 10 here or there weekly, daily can add up to thousands of dollars in a year. Which, if you are planning a wedding or vacation or (fill in the blank) can be a game changer. To the people drinking a starbucks coffee three times a week, $15 x 52 = $624. Little changes can make a huge difference
I love your "death by $10" saying! It's definitely something I struggle with, especially when I was at uni
Instead of favors (and placecards) I’m getting a pack of black and white thank you cards from Hobby Lobby (for $10 total) and writing everyone personal thank you notes for coming to our wedding. It saves on favor money, doubles as a place card, and takes up that blank space on a charger for aesthetic purposes, without getting custom menus printed for lots of money. And it makes everyone feel special, and makes our wedding more personal.
Love this idea! Kills so many birds with one stone, and cheap!
FAVORSSSSSSSS!!! Guuurl. The wedding is a favor enpugh! Darn.
It is so satisfying to watch this video and see that, as a bride aiming to remain under $10K, I'm actually following all of these tips already
The things I skipped to save money were...
- isle markers
- programs
- wedding favors
- corsages
Aisle*
That's awesome
What are aisle markers?
I tried to skip corsages, my mom was NOT having it... *Sighs*
So far I’ve saved money by:
- having our friend officiate it ( free and he knows us )
- doing three small cakes from a bakery we love instead of paying wedding tax for a big cake. We have other deserts from our caterer anyways.
- all the thrifting
- marrying into a Mexican family and having godparents to help pay for things ( band, drinks, and photography covered )
Have always let the ads play! I appreciate you not putting 5 in a 10 minute video like some other UA-cams. Sending much love
About the shoes: you could also buy a well made comfortable pair in color that matches your theme. Mine were beige and i am going to wear them thousand of times after my wedding :)
My wedding shoes cost $40
They were a cute gold glitter kitten heel
And I can wear them as a guest at other weddings
Mine were only 7 bucks and it's really comfortable. I add 5 bucks worth of beads and sparkles and sew it by myself. It's really pretty and I made it so that I could change the beads and matched it with my dress. I wore the shoes to many parties until 4 years later.
Things I skipped at my wedding:
Transportation
Favors
Champagne Toast
Corsages and Boutineers (DIY'd fake ones)
Toss bouquet
Garter
Menu Cards
RSVP cards (made a website)
What website for you use for your RSVPs
@@desireedelgado826 I made a wedding website with theknot.com and I put the website on the save the date and invite. Guests were able to RSVP using the website
I did the same!. I skipped RSVP and Invitation all together using The knot website! I also used SMS and emails to send wedding info to out guests.
Here’s my main cut: no bridal party cause I don’t have friends.
PLEASE DO A VIDEO ON TRANSPORTATION!!! IM LITERALLY BEGGING YOU OMG!!!!
I’ve always thought favors were unneeded because I enjoyed free drinks and food and came to the party.. I don’t need to take something home! Also, my friend did a donation in honor of their wedding to an animal shelter. They didn’t disclose how much, so that could be a way to save on cost. They made an announcement and everyone cheered I loved it
Balling on a major budget over here. Paid about .35 cents each favor. All dollar tree. 4 pack of clear tea candle holder, 20 pack of tea candles, adhesive gem strips and a dot of hot glue. That’s all and they look like something anyone would pay $5 each for. Seriously look into it if your dead set on favors!
Hi Jamie! I am planning a 40th anniversary/ wedding. When my husband and I got married 36 years ago, we couldn't afford a wedding. We got married by his step mother, who was a notary, in his dad's living room with both sets of his parents, and my mom. We didn't have a honeymoon because I was to start a new job 4 days later. SO! We are having my dream wedding on our 40th anniversary. CRAZY??? I know, it's still 4 years away, but that gives me time to save, save, save! Time to DIY, DIY, DIY! I am planning to pay for the venue, caterer, and rentals on a "lay-away" plan if you know what I mean. I have already spoken to two of the three, and they agreed to do so! You see, I am retired and we aren't debt free...YET! My question for you is... do you have any vow ideas? I haven't had a chance to do much research, but I have read a few. Not real crazy about what I've found so far. Please let me know what your thoughts are!
Donna Payne
*Seeing this comment marked 2years ago* :’)
Congratulations!!! Only 2 more!!! 💓
Vow renewal, same as years ago . Our 50th is 2024, like you we're doing the wedding we didn't have in 1974. Then borrowed dress from girl in the barracks, $37 for flowers from PX, no attendants, no reception, married during regular church service at Army Chapel.
For save the dates and invitations I always suggest Walgreens! They always have sales going on. I got my save the dates for 8 bucks! Just a suggestion for any bride who does want em.
Robbi Leah yep! I got my save the dates from Walgreens for $0.09 a piece
Some florals
Lighting
Dance floor
Transportation
Wedding shoes
Lawn games
Kids stuff
Champagne
Paper
Favors
Can you do a video about restaurant reception? I am on the fence about it. I am not a dancer, and not big into major reception traditions. I like the idea of enjoying family without the giant over priced show. ❤
So superrrr cheap aisle idea!!
Paper bag, a tea light, small flowers and stickers or cricut decal! Decorate your bag with flowers, put a tea light inside and set them down the aisle !
I think paper goods are a big part of the "details" that we photographers are looking for. That being said, you don't need 80 peices of it for the average bride. You could even limit unique items like name cards to the head tables, so that you get that "wow" factor in your photos, but save on the coin as well.
For my wedding everything is going to be boards and a website with digital invites. But for my photographer, I want to have something printed, and then save it in our wedding memory box.
So I agree with you, it doesn’t need to be for everyone, just maybe the head table. And no one will be all “OMG we didn’t get a name place and menu, but THEY DID!”
Lovely advice 😍
I make digital wedding stationery and you're completely right about cost saving! Brides spend thousands on paper SAVE THE DATES that get thrown out and end up on people's phones anyway!
Literally 100% agree with everything on this list with the exception of extra lighting, ONLY bc I want to use my wedding to buy a ton of string lights I can repurpose for my house after 😅
SAME. Thank goodness for Christmas and Target gift cards!!
My dude that is reusing reusable thiiiiings. Plus you have a plan for it so no one can be mad about it. 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Me too! I plan to buy them after christmas in the sale!
Same but also 900 dollars for string lights? What how, we are ordering lights online for about 150 for the better quality ones and then stringing across the hall ourselves.
@@emmysharples9708 definitely what I plan on doing! When she said $900 I swear my jaw dropped
I just ran into your channel and I’m loving all the content. In 2020 we lost our event venue (Noah’s Event Venue) due to fraud and never got our money back. Then the pandemic happened so our ceremony has been overdue for 2 years now 😅but in June 2023 we expect to have our budget friendly wedding at last and you are making it so much easier for me to wrap my head around it. ❤
We are skipping
- itinerary/agendas
- menus
- DYI florals (bulk costco)
- favours
- all decorations except the altar for ceremony
Great advice. I am doing favors though, they cost us about $.33 each. I’m also doing lighting in the form of fairy lights that I ordered from China at under a dollar each (about $25 to light the whole place). I’m saving by doing fake flowers and having my MOH arrange them (she was a florist), I’m making my wedding cake (I’m a professional), my fiancé’s SIL is a graphic designer and is doing our invitations at material cost, an old friend of his has a photography company and is doing our engagement and wedding pictures for less than half his normal rate, and the reception is at his grandparents’ church (which my artist bridesmaid and her team is decorating the night before). This is great because I only have five months of planning while working and going to college full time.
Sad about the lawn games comment lol as a future bride who hates dancing (I know boo me) it such a more fun-sounding activity than being embarrassed on a dance floor haha. Were planning on having a lot of options for lawn games so it feels more like a backyard summer get together than a formal event. I guess we're also just not going a very traditional route so that adds to it.
champagne toast hack - if your wedding is still formal but not black-tie level, just have someone put a cold bottle at every table and let guests pour it themselves. then people can control how much they have in their glass (less wasted) and no servers needed.
Rewatching this to refresh my memory, and help me with my budget.
I am following most of these, although I'm doubling the favors as thank you's. I'm getting mason jars (cheaply from thrift stores), and, using a cute soap mold I got, adding some little soap bars, along with a snack bag or two for munchies if they want. Top it off with a simple card, and they have 1. something to keep, 2. something to use, and 3. a little something to nibble on, whether at the party, or later. Since I already had most of the stuff, or was planning on getting it anyway, I figured "why not?" I'll definitely use any leftovers! 😄
I LOVE flowers. We're not even having a photographer because we both hate photos, but I would sell my soul for some drool-worthy dramatic flowers
Can you do a video on the transportation thoughts?
She said to skip it. Use uber lol
Sometimes depending on where you live if you want a nice car to ride in to and from you can prebook a fancier cab company without having a minimum time requirement.
We have a cab company in our city that has nice white Lincoln town cars and they charge by distance the same way as if you'd take a regular cab.
Also, these videos are a life saver! I am "pre planning" my wedding (will be engaged within a year, as my boyfriend and I have discussed it), but also helping a friend if mine plan hers!
a year later but im doing the same thing 🤣🤣 are you engaged yet?
@@user_27357 yes! Got engaged Feb 2020, getting married April 2022
@@danielleferguson2332 That’s so exciting!!! I hope you get to have the wedding of your dreams ❤️❤️❤️
Woah woah, what?? $900 for light installations? Can you please talk more about that?? I thought that would is just be going to Walmart buying more string lights after Christmas ends and just laying them out.... what am I missing??
Same!
Depends on the venue.. I thought the same thing but the venue's I looked at wouldn't let me install them myself. Said it was a liability issue. The cheapest I found was a $350 starter price. I was livid! They're string lights that take 10 minutes to set up and aren't that expensive to buy.
I was thinking to also use christmas lights, which you also can borough from friends and family. And also a couple of Christmas stars. You dont have to buy everything
Jennifer Knaap 😵😵
Michael's always has coupons and you can buy string lights there, but it does depend on the venue. You can also find a rental company that has them in bulk--we did both, but our venue was extremely chill
I recently found out about this website called something borrowed blooms and you can rent flower arrangements for pretty cheap then return them. The flowers are silk and a pretty good way to save money, I’m thinking about renting bouquets and boutonnières for my wedding party to save some money on florals!
Hannah Pedraza just an FYI I considered using them and I ordered on bouquet to look over (cost me 50 bucks) but the smell of the flowers was so strong I would have been sick. So just wanted to let you know in case you are sensitive to scents.
My mom ended up putting together silk flowers for me and I saved loads of money even compared to SBB. I am selling my silk flowers if you are interested - I will give for a good price! cjo942@gmail.com - 😊
you don’t understand how much relief you give me after every vid of yours that I watch and you tell us we don’t need the list of things you say. #brideslovejamie
These are great tips. For our wedding we're cutting: most florals, specialty lighting, transportation (our getting ready/ceremony/reception locations are all the same place), multiple shoes (I'm wearing sneakers yay), lawn games, champagne toast, programs/menu, and we're 50/50 on doing favors - we'll make a decision about that right before the wedding. Thanks for the tips! As Jamie said in a prior video - the best way to save money is to not spend it.
I think I agree with the lawn games to a degree - For example, if the guests have to go out of their way to find the lawn games, I can see how they may not get used as much. Whereas, if one is at a venue where the grassy area is in the middle of everything where most of the guests are hanging out, they might get used more. So maybe it's worth the investment in that case. So, I think it just depends on the location of the lawn games within the venue.
Love the shout about letting ads play, I would've never considered it and literally the least I can do after everything you've done to help me plan my wedding 🎉❤
I'm also a huge fan of skipping boutonnieres all together! I think they can look a little like prom, whereas a pocket square can be so classy!
You helped me plan my budget wedding. I still have 2 weeks before the big day! Wish me luck.
Yess, I've almost done all these..
Purchased a giant jenga, it was cheaper than renting.
Where did you buy it? I've been looking for one and idk where we should buy it!
I live in a place where everyone drives, so I think the expectation is that everyone finds their way to the venue themselves- I'll still double check though! But ways we plan on saving money are really helped by having our wedding in the winter- no lawn games, using invites that are the 3-in-1 style (lots of traditionalists and older folks in our family, so we can't get away with online invites), having only 70 max attendees. I just found flower moxie from one of your other videos, so thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I don't skip ads for my favourite youtubers, especially those with smaller followings. Before this video there was a wedding related ad which I thought was fitting:)
I have let the ads play on my favorite content creators ever since Jamie asked this of us. No regrets.
A really awesome company that could save you a toooooonn or money is called Something Borrowed Blooms! You can rent literally any floral items or decorations you need from them; they come pre-arranged and you receive them 2 days before your event and then you ship them back the following Monday. Literally about 30% of the price of normal florals and decor and it’s so GORGEOUS!!
As for shoes - I got a pair of nude 2.5” block heels from Amazon for $25. They did start to hurt once I started dancing so I wish I also had a $25 pair of flats as a back up, but $50 for 2 pairs of shoes is a great alternative to $200 for sparkly stilettos (even if they are gorgeous)!
Great tips! The only thing I wouldn't skip are save the dates. We decided to go with Save the Date magnets that we were able to get from Etsy for $100. They're simple and cute, and people can keep them on their fridge for 10+ months before the wedding so they will constantly be reminded of our wedding date when making plans.
I was thinking of bring my sons Toddler house and slide to the venue. Keep it simple and does not cost me anything.
Regarding the kids activities a cheeper way to do something fun could be printing of activity pages you can find online free (E.g. word searched, spot the difference, wedding bingo, colouring pages etc.) and getting some party bag size crayons or markers and just sticking them at the place settings of the kids encase they need something to do during speeches.
I’m so glad you talked about letting the ads play. I had no idea!
Will no longer skip ads :)
For aisle/ceremony flowers, we are doing the hanging jars with flowers on the chairs and having them placed on cocktail tables and by the card and guest book table after the ceremony. Making some decor multi-purpose seemed to help us out cost-wise.
We got married in September for less than $5k. We did all the flowers for under $200 from Costco, we did fun punny favors - lifesavers with handwritten 'mint to be' tags and little jars of honey for our sweetest day. We also gave the mercury glass votives that were on the tables with candles and flowers to the guests. We tried to mostly buy things for the wedding that we would have a use for afterwards.
Robin Weekley we did ours in in July from Costco too! They were gorgeous!
@@MorganEileen honestly if you're willing to DIY and if the colors they have work the price is amazing!
I’m doing books as part of my centerpieces and gonna let people take one home at the end of the night if they want a favor 😂 Also picked them out at goodwill on a sale and got a lot from the Christian section since most of my guests would enjoy those ones 🤷🏼♀️
MaryfulMakeup28 that's a really good idea
Love that idea! We’re doing pumpkins everywhere but I really wanted to put books in it also
That’s a good idea!
Omg I totally let the ads play ONLY for you and Michel’s videos! Love you both!!
Same here! The only two I watch for
Hey love, Ads don't actually play before your videos for me. Sometimes in between I'll get an ad but I never get one before your vids! Hit me with all the ads you'd like!!
You were a MONUMENTAL help in my wedding planning process and I had a KILLER wedding on 11/15. Thank you for all that you do !!!!!
Literally still doing favors because they’re gonna be succulents and ya girl can take them home 😏😏 #masterplan
I have succulents in my table centrepiece design purely so I can take them all home after 😂
I am also never skipping another ad--I need my Jamie videos!!! This wedding planning thing would be a disaster without her channel!
Agree, cut favors, I throw them away, I never look at the programs, skip champagne...so many ways to cut costs!
I’ve recently started planning my wedding after being engaged for 5 years and I’m OBSESSED with your channel! Thanks for all of the advice, I feel like I’ve learned so much!
Omg I so wish I listened to this video before I planned my wedding. I have been planning since 2020, have already bought favors before Covid.
Thanks for introducing me to Psychic Donna Jamers! I will never skip another ad! 🙌🏻
Thanks for NOT having so many adds🙏🏾 and you keep your content enjoyable and not boring❤️You’re Amazing Girl😘
Not the kids table. I was super excited about it!
I am 50!!!!!! This is my 2nd wedding!
I am marrying a guy WHO HAS NEVER BEEN MARRIED!! He asked me “when do I walk down the isle?” 😳 OMG!
And I am working SOLO my friends live all over the US and my family is elderly and beyond minimal! Oh! And did I mention that I am in a constant slap fight with Covid? Anyway... one late late night I came across your YT!!!! AND NOW....
I carry my phone and listen to you everywhere - in the tub, gardening, working out, on Zoom meeting- that I should be paying attention to!!!!! Because I teach 1st grade and public schools come Fall are going to be Insane in the Membrane!!!!! 🤦🏼♀️
You have made so much sense!!! I don’t listen to anyone else now! I love that you talk fast and are to the point AND HONEST!!!!!!!!! Still not sure I’m gonna pull this circus off but you keep my mind straight and get me fire me up!!!!!!! Thank you!!! Wish you were here I would hire you without hesitation!!!!!! There are stars in your crown sister!!!!!
Thank-you!!!!
Bride love from this human in Oklahoma!!!!!!!!!
Gotta throw this in “Reach Out and Love Each Other - People are Crying out - Don’t ignore it! Don’t be too busy! Pass someone at the G Store and smile with love on your face and Say anything!!!!!!!!! #GraceMatters
#Startwiththemaninthemirrior!
#MakeAChange!!! ☮️
Just a tip for wedding shoes, use poshmark!! It's amazing and I got an absolutely stunning pair of heels for my wedding day from poshmark for $30. I'm a bride on a very tight budget so for those of you in the same boat, just do a little hunting around if there's something you really don't want to cut out and it pays off! Love you Jamie, I'll never skip another ad for you, girl! ❤
Good tips! Important one still to mention: choose a venue, where you may SELF-CATER! Choose self-catering if you have family/friends that can cook a bit and have a nice buffet. Or mix the self part with the caterer part and let the caterer fill in your specific blanks. Saves a ton of money, at least on the drinks! Another huge cost saver in that case is: Have a candy and/or salty buffet, so people can choose what things to nibble on in between and after meals. Fun to set up and yummy to each individual taste. Another tip is rent for an affordable price. Florals can be expensive. Fake flowers can look so good nowadays, that one can hardly tell the difference and they cost a fraction of the real ones. Last tip is choose a theme that's more natural and mix and match what you have.
I agree to all this except the champ toast. Our whole wedding is going to be non traditional (we’re eloping in a national park and having a reception party at home a month later) and I feel like a toast will make it feel like a wedding. We’re only doing a cash fund registry and one of the funds people can contribute to a champagne toast and we’ll thank those people during the toast.
You don’t need anymore money than you do. Be grateful for what you have & don’t beg for people to watch ads. Bad enough UA-cam doubled up ads.
I’m so glad you mentioned the shoes! My mom was shocked when I told her I was just buying simple flats or sandals on Amazon but I just realized that they’re A. Going to get ruining at our farm wedding B. Will be hidden under my a-line gown anyway!
Legit going to watch ads from now on! Love your content and it's been SOOOO helpful with planning not ONE but now TWO daughters' weddings this year!
We had homegrown veggies instead of florals. We did have guest favours, they were linen bags to take the veggies home in. so many people left with full bags and we had less to throw away afterwards. They also used the bags to bring home our extra cupcakes and doughnuts, a total success!
Also, my wedding was in October in Canada and your videos were such a huge help! Thank you so much!
That's so kind of you to ask about your bride's feet.
I attended a wedding this year of a family member and the bride has a passion for plants so she spent months growing little mini succulents as favors for guests. And a few days later while visiting with other family I was so saddened to see that the aunt, mom and grandma all had their cars full of those succulents left over and no idea what to do with them. It was a cute, personal idea, but for those of us who flew to the city where the wedding took place, we couldn't pack them up. And maybe people didn't realize they were to be taken home.
I only paid for half string lighting. The wedding booked the day before me purchased full string lighting so they left it all up for me. Also, I left out arch flowers and centerpieces to keep the vendor out of wedding venue package (saving tax and service cost on venue fees).
Needed to hear this! Backing our decision to cut unnecessary things
Didn’t mind watching the 5 min ad since it was on something i was actually interested in
I never new the adds support you. Thanks for letting us know how to bless you as you have blessed us❤
PS a big money savers for me not listed here is no photo booth, having select friends bring desserts for dessert table with a small cake as center piece and no wedding party proposal gifts...but a small gift day of the wedding of course.
We are doing Save The Dates with email. Just took 1 shot during our engagement shoot with a sign. Basically free
You have literally been the most useful resource on UA-cam ever
We did purple uplights at our wedding and I didn't even notice them during our reception. $250 down the drain. 10/10 would not recommend.
Letting the ads play because I'm a Wolfer student! (Jamie said so)
I'm planning on using fake flowers for everything but my bouquet to save money
Thank you for explaining the thing about the ads! I was never really sure and no one explicitly says it
Already got my shoes!!! I got metallic silver converse! I only spent 50 for shoes that still match the wedding and I will wear them more than just for the wedding
Thanks for notifying us that video channels earn more revenue when ads are not skipped! I'll now willingly watch ads for channels I value, including for non-profits. Besides great wedding recommendations, I appreciate this general knowledge!
Letting those ads play for you girl! Thanks for the advice in this crazy wedding planning jungle!
THANK YOU on the Save the Dates. I've had people look at me like I had two heads for saying I wanted to email Save the Dates.
Jamie says $2 each for favors... looks at the box of favor materials (all we need to do is attach the ribbon and write the names) that was a total of $25 for 125 people... Also doing programs because involved religious ceremony with audience participation (aka full mass) and there arent enough prayer books in the pews so we are printing up the service the same way the church does for Christmas, Easter and other high volume services - they will be on plain paper and just what everyone needs to participate. But we are almost completely skipping florals (just doing 2 altar arrangements - bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages will be acrylic snowflakes - that I'm putting together), skipping the dance floor, using lighting already in the venue plus LED candles I can reuse. My mom insisted on transportation so she is paying for it (I was just going to have us drive ourselves), I do have 2 pairs of shoes but more for the season (one with nonslip soles and my ballet slippers for the reception) and neither was expensive. We are setting up a small area for my nephew and niece to relax in but it will be beanbag chairs from my FFIL's and borrowing some toys from work (working where there is an afterschool program is helpful sometimes).
Appreciate this as a budget bride! And yes! Please do a video on shuttles! And maybe Catholic wedding video? We’re doing a church wedding and our reception is like a 10 minute walk (super close drive) but do we need to provide transport to that? Help! Haha
Also, will never skip an ad for my youtubers 💕
I'd think you'd only need to worry about parents and the wedding party, especially since it's so close
Welp. It’s official