$5,000 is possible!

Here's my journey so far. We have exactly a 2 year engagement. I'm finding with a small budget it is essential to have  a long engagement because you'll be goind alot of DIY projects as well as searching and searching for good deals.

FLowers:

I'm doing coffee filter flowers. ANd yes, I've already started and it's looking great! (not it's not me blogging)

http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/05/05/paper-roses-project/

http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/05/01/fresh-paper-flowers/

http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/05/27/paper-roses-progress/#more-53856T

Table seat numbers:

We asked our local wine bar to save up champagne cages for us (they did for free) and we are making something similar to the link below. Although a lot less complicated. FI is doing this and he is great at it. We are writing the name with the guest's table number on a peice of paper which will rest on the chair

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8690058

Table Numbers:

We like this idea: (minus the typewriter and substitute a regular poster)

http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/02/07/have-typewriter-will-travel/

http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/07/16/fun-with-numbers/

Table number holder: A diy project too and CHEAP!

http://www.diybride.com/2006/10/30/the-10-cent-tea-light-photo-holder/

Cocktail napkins:

http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/07/03/borrowing-ideas-gocco-napkins/#more-57436

http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/04/16/a-new-skill/

Table Mat:

We used eclipsed crossword which you can download for free. Created our own clues. Get paper table mats and photocopy the crossword puzzle onto the table mat. Then get the small golf sized pencils from smart and final and people can do the place mat crossword puzzle before they eat

http://www.restockit.com/10-x-14-White-Scallop-Placemat-(05-0319).html

http://www.restockit.com/Golf-and-Pew-Pencil-Hexagon-Barrel-Medium-Soft-Lead-Yellow-Gross--(UNV24264).html

Favors:

Lotto tix bought that day (it will have our wedding date on it)

Guestbook:

No pix, I found this idea in a magazine

We bought on vinyl an album that means alot to us from Amoeba music. It was used for $7. We are having people sign the actual vinyl record with a sharpie or paint pen and then we plan to frame afterwards.

Decoration:

I made 1,000 origami cranes. I used paper from magazines instead of buying origami paper. And then spray painted them after

Food:

Shabu-shabu!!! The great part is that the shabu shabu will be at eac table, so it also serves as our centerpeice! It's a fun way to eat food.

The centerpeice will be the portable stove:

http://www.google.com/products?q=portable+stove&oe=utf-8&price1=14.00&price2=17.00&lnk=prsugg

with a pot, a shabu shabu pot on top.

It will be buffet style of all the noodles and vegies on the table that you can cook. etc etc It's easy to do! You can get the shabu shabu pot and restaruant supply stores

Fun guestbook:

I REALLY REALLY wanted a photobooth. So i came up with my poor man's photobooth. I bought a poloroid camera, film, and the guestbook here:

http://www.adessoalbums.com/

We will be hanging fabric (it may just be our bed sheet) and people can take pictures in front of the fabric. Then the put the poloroid in the book and can draw and write messages

No pix. found this again in a magazine

Booze:

A local bar we go to alot, the bartender has become a friend. We asked him to bartend, he was thrilled. We are thinking of:

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.0e0eb51a2e6b5ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=85ccc137bf22f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&lnc=48b8f5e0627ee010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=taxonomylist

As well as beer etc.

Wedding dress:

Haven't picked it out yet, but something like: (we might tailor it)

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=9E-226429&page=1&cgname=OSCLODRSBRA&rfnbr=4618

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=9E-170081&page=6&cgname=OSCLODRSVIL&rfnbr=2667

etc etc

Make-up (doing it myself)

Hair: unsure yet

Videographer: A friend

Music: Ipod

M.C: a friend

Officient: We are technically getting married the day before at city hall and signing all the papers so we can have a friend do it: Free

Location: reception and ceremony at the same location.

http://www.smbwc.org/frameset.html

And more and so on and so on

oh ya and honeymoon:

www.honeyfund.com

We are registering for it so hopefully we don't have to pay much. We want to go to Cape Town, South Africa so we have it  up now so people can contribute for Christmas, and our birthday's as well instead of gifts. The most expensive part is airfare, everything is cheaper.

WOW Ashley. Very creative a resourceful! You go girl!

How many people do you plan on coming?

WOW! you seriously made me feel a whole lot better about planning a wedding without feeling like you have to pull a 2nd on your house!! Amazing tips!

The Martha Steward Flowers are pretty...

Cute Table Seat Numbers... don't know if da hubby would have time?

Like the Tin Number Holder... looks like a definate money saver

Napkins... suggestion, you can get 600 good coctail napkins at Costco for around 8.99
*definately dont my own napkins to*

Table Mats... using the crossword idea in the programs but love the link, think it will come in handy.

Decorations... NICE idea... pics?

Food... question, where do you put the supplies and who does the cooking?

Fun Guestbook... I REALLY REALLY want one too, trying to figure out how to pull it off!

Honeyfund... LUV dat idea, doubt if I'll get anymore but LUV it!

Food: As for the food. We are having a friend who considers himself a chef (self taught) He does catering for alot of other people's weddings. He will prep all the food all the meet cut shabu shabu style, all the vegies sliced etc. People will go up like a buffet and pick what they want as a table to go into the pot. They will have bowls of rice to accompany them.

Chopsticks:

We liked the idea of having chopsticks symbolize us. We didn't want the wodden chopsticks that break in half, we dont want to break apart our marriage. We will be getting chopsticks that rest side by side with each other in a pouch. Representing both us, as two seperate people who are side by side (the becoming one thing is not really our style)

People:

No kids. We are not inviting spouses unless they are married or have been together and living together for a long time. We are still lookinga t the list. We are thinking of 120 or less.

Yes, arts and crafts are my thing. Some people not so much and they might dread all the work. I LOVE doing it. That's just me, it's not for everyone.

The list goes on and one. I'm doing alot, some of it I left out. Ididn't want to bore you. Let me know if you want more DIY projects. Check out my profile for my anniversary card idea!

Thanks for the post, & you're right- having a longer engagement has helped me to really check & double check resources & allowed time for diy projects.

Ashley, you are the bomb!  I'm saving this thread.  Thanks for all the money saving ideas!

Congrats! Bravo! *clapping* =o)

THanks for the kind words! I'm getting married Nov 1, 2009 and and have come along way in the planning and still have alot to do. (I got engaged Nov 1 2007)

AshleP - i can't wait to see your pics - all of your ideas are soooooooo awesome! I heart the coffee filter idea! I'm not that crafty....:(