I'm getting married and need some ideas. Can someone help?

I'm getting married in December of 2008, 6 months earlier (one of my bride's maids has been diagnosed with cancer and she will be having light treatments until the beginning of 2009, if the cancer has not gone into remission her treatments will be more extreme).





We are both still in high school, and I am not able to work until February since I cannot drive. My husband-to-be has a job, but we are now both battling with helping my friend with cancer and saving up for our wedding. Our wedding is very small (56 guests total) and we are looking for a little help. I am hopefully getting a wedding dress from freeycle, someone has one a size too small, and I will hopefully be able to alter it. Also, I am using colored tissue paper to make my flowers, it may sound cheap, but I think it's a neat idea. I just need some ideas on bride's dresses, food, and other random things. Please, does anyone have any ideas?

I'm getting married and need some ideas. Can someone help?
That's very nice of you to help your friend out. Beware, you will more than likely get a lot of comments about how you are too young.





I like the colored tissue paper flower idea, I used to do that when I was a kid. I think that's cute and different.





I know I'll get a thumbs down for this but at thrift stores (goodwill, salvation army etc) you can usually find wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses. And not like dated 80's dresses either, I've been in there and have seen pretty current dresses, good as new for less then $10. I'm not sure if they'd have sizes you need, but it would be worth the look. You may get lucky and find some in the sizes and colors you want. My friend got married and she wanted her maids to wear blue, we went to goodwill actually looking for stuff to use for Halloween and we wound up finding 5 baby blue bridesmaid dresses (probably from the same wedding) Some of them fit her maids. They looked nice, noone could tell they were thrift store clothes.





As for food, my family weddings are usually kind of potluck like, where everyone in the family brings in a dish. You could do that. Or you could have some ham, a few fruit and veggi platters, meatballs, cheeseballs, crackers, mashed potatoes. Use those heavy duty plastic plates instead of china. It's easy for cleanup and cheap...don't get paper as that would be too cheap ;P
Reply:Are you really getting married for you or for those around you? Given that you are so young (I've seen nearly all marriages fail from those that married early) I'd really think on my question. If you're doing it for the former, fine (but I don't condone it). If you're doing it for the latter, you're definitely on the course for failure.
Reply:If you wanted formal bridesmaid's dresses, wait until after the prom season is over and hit those sales. Maybe if your some of your bridesmaids are still in HS, offer to help them out with their prom dress so they can where it to both. To really save on dresses, time the wedding in the afternnoon so it can be less formal and that way a nice "church" dress will do. I think this may also save on food.


An afternoon wedding reception would also not require a full meal. Mine was at 2:00pm and we had fruit/veggie/cold cut platters with dips and the cake. Your guests would have just come from lunch and would be going home to dinner.


With such a small wedding, you may be able to get away with having the ceromony/reception in a home. Do you know anyone with a nice large home? If you have a nice enough venue, don't even worry about decorating. Guests are supposed to be looking at you and the ceromony anyway.


For flowers, try not doing bouquets, just a single flower. Hobby Lobby is forever having 50% sales on their floral. Even if you just pick up one a month, that will save you a big hit in the end. Or you can take my idea(for my second wedding) and find each a really nice Christmas ornament, put it on a fancy ribbon and have them carry that down the aisle.


Try to just save a little at a time--get out the old piggy bank and drop in all your change, order the Happy Meal at McDonalds, instead of the big combo.


Things will come together. I hope your friend get better soon.
Reply:Have a pot luck reception my family does it all the time and its real cool. Sense you are family you already now what people like.





As for dress; for your girls look right after prom at like Debs and things. Great dress; but cheaper





Hand write or type out your invites





If you want other flowers ( not saying yours are wrong ) make them yourself like wildflower bouquets





Do it in someones home that is what they did in the old days and you can get someone themonastery.org. No I do not know how much it cost sorry





good luck and hope EVERYthing works out
Reply:Try Ebay for dresses. I got my Flower girl and Candle lighters dresses for under 30 bucks each. If you aren't picky about bridesmaids dresses they have a lot of pretty nice ones for affordable prices, just takes a little looking. Also for flowers and decorations try Costco or Walmart or any store that sales flowers in bulk. Arrange them yourself or ask a friend or family member to help you. I just did my sister in laws flowers and it was really easy. Good luck and I wish you a long and happy marriage.
Reply:Have just a cake and punch reception. That will keep costs down and can still be beautiful and elegant.
Reply:Just curious why you're planning on getting married if you're both still in high school?
Reply:Go to Ross for the dresses, I always find cute dresses there that are cheap. If you cant find a dress try ebay, I almost won mine there. As for food cant you ask everyone to bring a dish of the same kind of food. Or just call around to different places just dont tell anyone its for a wedding because there prices seem to be more expensive when they find out your planning a wedding.
Reply:First off, I am very sorry to hear about your friend...And with you all still in high school, I can understand that money is probably tight...Try looking for your bridesmaids' dresses at a department store instead of a bridal boutique...Maybe look sometime in June/July after they go on sale after all the formal proms/dances...As far as food, it all depends on how formal your wedding is really...Since you are having a small number of guests, how about a buffet style with finger foods. Some ideas are: cheese ball and crackers, veggie tray, fruit tray, meatballs, cocktail wienies, cheese cubes with pepperoni, chip and dip, small sandwiches with different salads (ham, egg, etc.), other salads (pasta, macaroni, potato, etc.)...You could probably do all these yourself with a little help from family for $100 or so, vs. $10 a plate or more if you go with catering...Also, have some punch and a nice small wedding cake, and your good to go! As far as everything else goes, candles and rose petals always make beautiful decorations (one idea is the small goblets/glasses at a craft store; fill them with colored craft marbles, and top with a tea candle or votive)..I made my bridesmaids' bouquets, and that saved us some money...Also, look into the printable invitations to save some cash...maybe borrow some jewelery for yourself from a friend or family member, and that can be your "something borrowed"...If your doing favors, one suggestion is to get a bag of candy and some round tulle circles...Tie them with ribbon and sit about 4-5 on each table (not everyone will take favors)...Also a cute idea I saw that would be inexpensive is to buy some plain white disposable spoons, and put two candy kisses in each spoon....wrap with tulle and put a note on the outside saying "A spoonful of kisses from the Mr. and Mrs." or something similar...I thought that was too cute! There's always ways to have an inexpensive wedding...You just have to look for the sales, and put plenty of thought and time into it...Best of luck with everything, and Congrats!

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