I just love this simple and sweet intimate park wedding! At under $5,000 – this couple really focused on what was most important to them: having their loved ones around them and enjoying good food and fellowship! As with many budget savvy weddings, the couple received lots of help from family and friends! What resulted was a beautiful and special day. And can we just talk about the bride’s shoes? LOVE! Hope you enjoy these lovely photos. xoxo Jessica

Danielle Tony

August 31, 2013

Tobaccoville, N.C. | Tobaccoville Park Gazebo

What was your budget?

The budget for my day was around $5,000

The venue was $100.00. It was a $25.oo deposit that you got back as long as you returned everything to as it was, and $75.00 to rent the Gazebo for the minimum of 3 hours.

Next we secured the photographer who charged us $100.00 an hour and we had her for 5hrs. This fee also included our engagement photos, so this came out to $500.

My dress was FREE!!! Yes FREE my sister had bought a dress a long time ago from David’s Bridal for about $900.00. I had no money for a dress so I just used it. It was perfect for my day.

I did however have to alter my dress and I went to Spring Tailors in Winston-Salem NC in Hanes Mall I got a hem and my dress taken in around the bust for $80.00.

My accessories for my dress: Shoes, jewelry, veil were $250.00

My make-up and hair for me and my Bridal party were about $300.00. I used my hair dresser and make-up artist I have been using since I was 12 and at the time I got married I was 28. So she was very generous to not charge me an arm and leg she also helped at my reception.

My Flowers the real ones were $80.00, the men were the only ones who had had real flowers and the Mother of the Bride and Groom.

I also had fake flowers these flowers made up the Bridal Party and my bouquet. Those flowers cost about $50.00 from Michael’s.

The table and chair rental and podium I got from Hauser Rentals and in all it came out to be $400.00. I save money by using my brother in laws truck. My Brother-in-law my Husband, and the Groomsmen set up the chairs. What most don’t realize is that the chair and table delivery cost almost as much as the table and chairs and if you can get someone to pick them up and set them up, then you save on gas and labor.

My programs were very simple as were my invitations. For my Invitations I bought them from Wal-Mart for $25.00 there were about 75 invitations in it. I used maybe 50 of them. For my Programs, I got card stock from Michael’s punched a hole in the middle with a hole puncher and then got my colors in ribbon and tied little bows to them. This cost was about $35.00. I also bought my thank you card which were $20.00, postage all together was about $50.00 which equals out to a roll of stamps.

Now on to the reception. The venue was free and at my sister’s. She has a big back yard and she and my Mother gifted me my reception, however I did pay for my cake, cupcakes, and topper and that was about $100.0 from Sam’s Club and I also paid for the spirits and that was about $150.00. I only bought a few bottles of wine and a half gallon of brown liquor and ha half gallon of white. My Sister provided the mixes i.e. soda and juice. Now if I had to If I had to guess how much the reception was I would say it was about $1000.00. And I believe this even maybe too much. Now to entertainment. I did not have a D.J. what we did was I purchased Google play and made a very long play list and just let it play. I put a mixture of everything on the play list. Google play is $11.99 a month and I still have it and I love it. Really cheap D.J. huh?

My favors for my wedding were also gifted by my sister and if I had to guess she spent maybe $200.00. I also rented a Yukon for the Bridal party for one day which cost $150.00 gas included.

How many guests did you have?

At my wedding I had about 40-55 Guests. At the reception I only had about 30-40.

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

I used artificial flowers. I made my own wedding programs. I put together my own music. My family helped me with a lot of things which really made it special.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY! I was very blessed to have my Mom, Dad, and Sister. A lot of the things I mention my Dad gave me money for and my Mom and Sister as I stated gifted me things. I had my reception at my Sister’s house and It just so happens that my Sister and Brother in law do a lot of hosting and dinner parties so I did not need catering they cooked my food and everything. Also friends use the resources that you have. If you know someone who puts together flower arrangements ask them to help. Once again I have been going to my hair dresser for 16years this relationship helped me to save money. Don’t be afraid to ask what I can get for almost FREE or FREE!!!

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Don’t sweat the small things. Half of the people who say they really want to come or make a big fuss about getting an invitation will not come. Plan the wedding for you and your fiancé NOT for others, do not let any outside forces make any decisions or make you spend ANY money you do not have. Lastly it’s ok to have a small wedding. It’s about the marriage NOT the wedding.

What was your biggest splurge?

FOOD!!! My Sister knows me pretty well and she knows I LOVE food so I would have to say the reception and the food that was my biggest cost.

What was your favorite detail?

I would have to say the setting of my wedding. The gazebo was just so perfect it fit so well with my vision. I did not even have to decorate it, it was perfect just as it was!

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

Taking pictures at this old timey gas station after the wedding it was so intimate and spare of the moment. The photographer said hey on the way here I saw this really cool gas station old timey place let’s stop and take some pictures. They came out GREAT!!! Oh and I had forgotten my garter and I went into a Family Dollar and Dollar General looking for one at the last min in my dress. The looks on people’s faces were AWESOME. I didn’t find one but it was fun anyway.

VENDORS:

Rentals: Hauser Rentals // Venue: Tobaccoville Park // Photographer: Shanna Duffy Photography //

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

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