CA wedding on a budget

It can be done (community article)

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So with only a $5,000 budget wedding in San Diego, CA, and no connection to anyone, we had to find deals.

I didn’t procrastinate and searched endlessly (still searching) for great discounts on everything! Here is the break down on everything:

The guest list: We are only going to invite the people who are closest to us and not the 4^th removed cousin of my best friend’s mother. The guest list came out with an even 50 which means everything became a lot cheaper.

The day: We have the wedding date on a Friday evening on an off season date and saved $2,000 on catering!

Officiant: She did my cousin’s wedding and knew I was on a tight budget. She’s doing my wedding for $10!

Wedding coordinator: I found her ad on craiglist, She has done tons of events but this will be her 10^th time she has ever done a wedding and she is doing my wedding free of charge.

Stationary: A designer from weddingbee.com is designing all my stationary for free and I am printing out everything myself which saved me hundreds of dollars.

Ceremony site and reception: We are having the ceremony at a beautiful arbor for only $272 and having the reception at the Darlington House for $2,000. I cut $228 and managed to have my dream site! Plus we have the downtown San Diego view we always wanted.

 <<<The arbor

 Darlington House^

Catering was expensive but we didn’t want to skimp out on the most important thing in a wedding. So we negotiated for weeks with one of the best reviewed caterer and got a full sit down meal with a cake for $2,000! The price will go down more too because we are readjusting the proposal to have kid meals.

Renting: A business was just starting and posted an ad on weddingbee.com which I instantly snagged. For dinner plates, salad plates, dinner forks, salad forks, knives, teaspoons, 60" round tables, white Resin Padded Chairs, 120" round chocolate table clothes, 20"x20” chocolate napkins, water goblets, delivery, pickup, setup and breakdown…drum roll please… $200!

Hair stylist and make up artist: I was originally not going to hire anyone but then I found these great deals on craiglist. I will be having air brushed make up for $80 with trial and my hair done for $65 with a free trial.

Attire: The dress I wanted was Amy KuschelMaribelle and it would have cost me $2,500 with the sash. I was devastated but I kept looking at preownedweddingdresses.com and found a local seller selling it for $1,000 without the sash. I got it for $800 and bought myself a brand new sash from a seller on weddingbee.com for only $30!  The dress also fit my just right so even the fitting which I go an amazing quote for, would only be $30.

Shoes: The heels that I wanted were going to cost me $130 but found them at another store that was going out of business. I bought them for $50!

The tux: I got my fiancée a wonderful Joseph Abboud Tux for $199 mark down from $795 from Rue La La and his belt for $29 which was originally $70. I even got him a wallet from there for $25 that was priced before $65.

Maid of Honor and bridesmaid: They will be choosing their own dresses and the only thing I ask of them is to buy it in the same color. Well they did just that and bought them on sale after prom for about $30 each.

Photography: We searched on craiglist and found a professional photographer who was updating her already extensive portfolio. For $665 I get unlimited coverage, engagement session, after wedding session, 2 albums, and 200 prints! I even get a free boudoir session! http://www.komephotos.com/

Videographer: A recent laid off videographer from a local TV news station was building up his portfolio for events offered me this steal of a deal. $310 for 6 hours and 2 DVD copies. How could I say no?

Live band: DJ’s are cheaper but I really wanted live music so I kept talking to local bands and searched everywhere when my first choice called me back. They would do my ceremony and reception for $400!

I entered every contest possible and won free name change and free monogram.

I bought a lot of items that brides were selling that were not going to be used:

Thank you cards for free

75 sparklers for $5

20 poppers for kids and they cost me $5

144 votive holders for $35

7 Eiffel vases for $21 to make these centerpieces

50 silver chargers for $45

I am also doing a lot of do it yourself projects! I’m even making my own wax luminaries and vegan truffles. I got a lot of ideas from wonderful sites.

Member Comments

149 174 32 budgetsavvyb..

06/05/2009 at 01:40 pm i LOVE your shoes!! You did a fantastic job with everything! Kudos!

783 87 58 Octobersky

06/02/2009 at 12:04 pm Wow great job!!!! San Diego at that price is crazy.......... Thank you for sharing.

1165 182 73 jessandryan

06/02/2009 at 12:00 pm Thanks Mrs.V2Be! I was thinking of crossing the border too at first when I discovered the average cost of a wedding in San Diego. No problem Cryssie! I'll send it to you tonight :)

131 11 10 Cryssie

06/02/2009 at 11:52 am Cool article!  I always love reading about how brides are saving in SD!  Would you be willing to share who you're using for the rentals?  I'm planning a wedding for August 2010 for 170 guest for around 11k!!  So every little bit helps!