No money? You certainly are neither the first, nor the last, couple to start married life this way.
So where to start? A wedding plan for a shoestring budget relies on:
Auctions
– Bartering
– Borrowing
– Car boot/garage/house clearance sales
– Cash converters/pawn shops
– Charity Outlets/Shops
– Clearance racks in bridal shops
– Coupons
– Discount vouchers
– Donations
– eBay bargains
– Factory Outlet Discount Stores
– Flea Markets
– Freebies – e.g. being a model at your local beauty college (free hair do/make-up)
– Goodwill
– Hiring
– Making/growing yourself
– Recycling centers/junk yards
– Seconds outlets
– Two dollar shops
– Verge/road side collections
A Shoe String Budget Wedding Plan: then depends on the EFFORT you are prepared to put into it and the TIME you have to spare.
The Wedding Ceremony: legal notice, a legal, civil ceremony and marriage certificate (legalities differ dependent upon where you live) will be the least expenditure you will incur. Perhaps this could be a gift to you from your family/friends.
For your Wedding Breakfast: you may elect to have a few drinks at your local. Alternatively, a BYO BBQ/Picnic in a “borrowed” backyard could be the answer. A little co-ordination may be required. You may need to indicate to your guests whether to bring a salad, savory, or dessert dish.
Alternatively book a restaurant. It is far cheeper than booking a hotel.
The Wedding Cake: Mums in particular like to be involved! Let them! Ask if they would be willing to make & decorate the wedding cake. Ask if they would be willing to contribute their specialty dish.
If cake making /cooking is not their forte, it could be dress making, flower arranging, arts & crafts, so utilize their expertise.
Music & Entertainment: ask a friend to be in charge of the music. Alternatively approach your local high-school. They may be willing to provide a choir for the ceremony, or have a band wanting some live performance exposure.
Venue: if the backyard is not an option, the weather being a major factor in this, and you are a member of a club ask if you could borrow their hall/function room. Ask friends to help decorate it. Ask if they could bring a floral table decoration. Use two-dollar stores for candles (beware of fire regulations). Dye old sheets for table clothes in your wedding colours.