We have been engaged since July 2006. Since the beginning I knew what it was that I wanted for a wedding, nothing to big but at the same time not at the court house either. When I explained to my FH what I wanted he thought that it was the biggest waste of money all for one day. (We do not have the lux. of having parents that can help us out so this is all on us....ummm I mean me) We are set to be married 09/08/07, he is excited for me to be his wife as well as be my husband but the whole money thing is what is getting him.

Is n-e-one else having this problem?

Hi ! It looks like we are in the same situation. Funny too, I notice you are from Upland, Ca and I am from Chino, Ca. Looks like we are neighbors. I have been with my FH for 8 years and I know he is excited for me to be his wife. But, Mr. Cheap has been showing up lately. We do not have any help from either one of our parents. I have been working extra hours and trying to save money. It is really hard. I do not want a expensive wedding either so it does ruin the fun when you are planning and he is being cheap. I have been really looking for bargains before I tell him what things costs. This way he is not so overwhelmed. I wish he could hear some stories of just how much some weddings cost. My wedding is in October and it is approching fast. I am so excited. Good luck! Remember to enjoy planning one of the best days of your life.

I am in the same situation. My FH just keeps saying that we can't afford it, but I guess we can afford a 55 inch TV that he just got!!! I ahve tried to go inexpensive, but it's almost impossible to do a wedding for under 15K!!! I'm just worried that he won't stop spending and we will have to charge everything!!!

Well to all you ladies that are having the same trouble as I am I will say that I am able to give a few hints on where to find the bargins. I did the math and figured that our wedding is going to be right around $10,000. I know that sounds like a lot but when you think about the fact the the venue alone is about $6000 and that is including the chapel, D.J. Wedding Suite and all the food and linens. Did you know that the ave. wedding in America is anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000. So I think I am not doing that bad.

N-e-ways I know this is going to sound like one of those Urban Legends but I actually got my wedding dress on E-Bay and it fit perfect and it was never wore and I even got the tags and everything with it. I also think I got really lucky but my dress was only 165.00 including shipping when it normally retails for 600.00. N-e-ways my point is don't jump at the first thing that you see. I was notorious for implus buying and since this experience I have learned to check out my options and look around.

There are a lot of online wedding store that all sell the same stuff but charge different prices so look around. You might even have luck reproducing some of the stuff if you have someone in your wedding party that is crafty. Just make sure to check on what is going to cost more. Remember to cost in your shipping cost as well. The online store may say it is on sell but you might be able to find it for the same price at a walk in store and there is not shipping charge. Also a tip for the flowers I cut my flower cost in half but useing the same flowers from the church to the reception area since they are only about 50 feet apart from eachother. I asked my FH aunts if they would help out and they were more then happy to be included in the special day. I am making sure to thank them in the wedding program.

Well happy planning and I hope that everyone has a magical day when it comes.

Well ladies, my fh is also mr.cheap but I want to go out and buy this and that. Oh and our kids get a new toy every week, when my house is being runned by toys. So I know what it's like. I'm working and he's working and actually I went out and got a better job just to save for the wedding. But I found if I find something I like I will find it other places and write it down or show him, and be like Look I want these bubbles and they're this much here and this much here but look how cheap they are here. And he's been getting better. He's realizing that I will be looking for the best price around before I buy anything and this has helped tons. We're very lucky to have his siter help us, she's only giving us $1500 but that's a big help. And we're trying to do this under 10,000. Preferabl 5,000. But if you show him you're trying to find the best price he might not be as bad, at least that's how I got mine not to be so bad. Good luck!!

You really need to come up with a budget you are both happy with and then agree on how to pay for it, its really not fair if he dosent help and leaves it all on you. Maybe if you are a better saver, he could take over some of your part of the bills and you can put that money you save on bills away in a wedding account. Its really important to figure out money first because the number one cause of disagreements in relationships is about money. I know first hand, we bought a house before we were engaged and because of the loan had to get a joint account that we use for house stuff (paint, roof matierial, lawn care, etc.), and this has caused some problems for us, but in the end made us stronger. Remember after you are married it really wont matter where the money came from in the begining because you will be financially tied after that. (I dont know if that helped, but I feel better!)

I know that everyone has a story about how they saved money on their day but I really have been a price watcher. The two most expensive things that I have bought for my july 22, 2007 wedding are my dress and the photographer. The dress was 700.00 and the photographer was 975.00. I have really been lucky when it comes to location and other things. We are getting married at my father friend's lake side cabin (free) and we are staying there for the reception. My biggest bargains were my flowers. I purchased them through a eBay store called DIYweddings. They are "fake" floweres but they look absolulutely real and I paid 129.00 for my bouquet and BM and all the Bout and MOB/G pins. Another great site I found was Ann's Bridal Bargins. They are great for the stuff that you need ( toasting fultes, Etc) but dont realy want to spend 75.00 on. I got my Flutes for 15.00 and they were personalized. The most important thing is that you are happy. I saved in some areas so that I could spend in others.

Hi...I had no idea how expensive this whole deal was before I started but I agree there are definitely ways to save. I found my dress in a boutique, determined who the designer was and came home and ordered it on line saving $600 from the cost in the boutique. I also ordered my invitations from Ann's Bridal Bargains saving me almost $300 from costs to have the same done locally. If you haven't used ebay yet, try ebay. I saved a small fortune by ordering most of my stuff through ebay...even with the shipping fees. My FH is is school so we have just the one income to pay all of our household bills, loans AND somehow pay for the wedding. So it can be done....get friends to jump in there and help with DIY tasks like decorating, making pew markers and things of that nature...and the tip to use artificial flowers...great idea. I am definitely doing that with pew markers and making my own urns with flowers for the church with artificial flowers that I will just get taken over to the reception site. It will look beautiful no matter how much you spend and no one will be the wiser. My MOH made her own artificial flower urns....she put a large coffee can in the base of a flower urn, filled the can with rice, and then assembled her flowers by sticking them into the rice and built them up around that....it was years later that she told me the flowers were artificial and NO ONE knew. Good luck with your planning and don't let the financial end stress you too much.