Here is my list:
1. Rental of reception location was $750 for 100 people. This included tables, chairs, staff, a stage, a dance floor, a sound system, etc. Also, because the club owner was a friend, we are able to get a key a couple of days in
advance, so we could come in and decorate.
2. 300 china-look plastic plates were purchased from the WEBstaurant store for $99.98. We resold 150 unused ones after the wedding.
3. 252 plastic drinking glasses were purchased from the WEBstaurant store for $66.06.
4. 432 stainless steel forks were purchased from Instawares for $65.69, and resold afterward.
5. 60 teaspoons purchased from Instawares for $12.77, and resold afterward.
6. Coffee and tea mugs, toasting glasses, wine decanter, sugar and cream set all purchased from the Salvation Army.
7. Linens purchased wholesale at $10.00 to $17.00 per piece (depending on size) instead of renting for $15.00. Purchased 250 linen napkin at .70 per piece. All items were sold afterward.
8. Chair covers purchased for $2.60 each. These were a bit of a splurge. However, we purchased them at a deep discount, and were able to sell them for as much as we bought them for.
9. Paper lanterns decor (50 pieces of 10" lanterns)- purchased from PaperLanternStore for $68.93. Cost-sharing arrangement with two other brides brought the price of 27 more lanterns (18") from AsianIdeas down to $34.20 per
bride. We resold all the paper lanterns that were not part of the cost-sharing arrangement afterward.
10. Paper lanterns were lit with DIY LED lights, Westinghouse Stick-Up Bulbs purchased for $2.97 each from an Amazon seller, and/or OnTel Stick N Click Lights purchased for $1 each on eBay, rather than with more expensive plug-in
lighting. We resold all the lights afterward.
11. Nonfloral DIY centerpieces, $7.50 each. We have resold most of the pedestal candle holders and all of the mirrors used for them.
12. Aisle decor- ivory pew bows. No ceremony decor other than those, gold satin sashes that were reused for the reception, and the chuppah (see next paragraph).
13. Built my own chuppah (Jewish wedding canopy), using the frame from a portable popup gazebo found on eBay, which I was then able to resell for more than the cost of materials after the ceremony.
14. Photographer for 3 hrs $400.00 (photographer provided edited images on discs for us to make our own prints).
15. Engagement photograph was $25. It was taken on a cruise we got free tickets for.
16. Videographers (friends) free
17. Musician (friend) was supposed to be $300 for three hours, but she ended up waiving the cost as her wedding present.
18. Drinks. The club owner gave us a deal on open bar: $250 for 60 people for five hours.
19. Cake-Made by my fiancee. Cost for ingredients about $100.
20. Invitations (pocketfolds), programs, thank you cards, photo sharing cards, and all paper supplies for wedding - DIY projects. Total cost including postage ~ $250.00.
21. Dresses both purchased from a consignment store for $450 each. We have already resold one of them.
22. Veils both purchased from a consignment store on a half-price sale for $60 each. We have already resold one of them.
23. Cascading cake stands-purchased for $40.00, and resold after the wedding.
24. Wedding party consisted entirely of a maid of honor and a "dude of honor," both of whom wore clothes they already owned.
25. Food: We hired someone on an hourly basis to purchase food from BJ's, prepare it, serve it, and clean up. Total cost ~ $700.
26. Flowers- purchasing two bridal bouquets, one MOH bouquet and one bout for $247.44. Only other flowers were freeze-dried rose petals ($56.74 for 50 cups).
27. DOC/planner- Not using one.
28. Rings. She gave me a plain gold band she inherited from her grandmother. I gave her a plain gold band I purchased on eBay UK. We did not have engagement rings at all.
29. DIY "photobooth" was less than $200 including goofy props and DIY backdrop.
30. DIY uplighting. We sold the spotlights, gels, and stands for only $37 less than we paid for them.
31. Hair and make-up. For both the ceremony in Boston and the reception in DC, we found people on Craig's List who would come to the site and do both hair and make-up. Total cost for two of us in Boston was $100. Total
cost for two of us in DC was $120, and that included a free trial session.
32. Bought a chocolate fountain for $45 instead of renting it, and resold it afterward.
