Do it yourself wedding under a tent on no budget-got ideas??

I am planning my second wedding, and while I dont’ want the big hullaballoo like my first marriage, I would like an intimate backyard wedding to celebrate finally finding my true love.
We have no budget, but we are very creative and talented artists who can make/do just about anything. My parents have a beautiful property, and I can see saving some money for a tent and tables.
I would like some ideas (details please) on decorations and food for perhaps 50 or so people. I’m not doing the “white thing”. I am thinking buying candles and cheap glass containers in bulk, and alot of paper lanterns when I can find them cheap. White string lights, etc. Flowers are going to be a problem, I’m thinking about tissue paper flower garlands, fabric, that type of thing. Any ideas about color themes,flowers, linens, other cheap/bulk items that make nice decorations, and a way to cut the cost of food would be great! I think the wedding will be late summer or fall.

Every wedding has a budget, low or high, there is still a budget. The question is do you know yours… based on what you have stated so far I am guessing you are going with the “as inexpensive as we can manage” thought… which is a mistake many couples make, let me explain why.
With that philosphy in mind you may pick up “inexpensive” items at 30 stores and find out after the big day that you actually spent $30 more than you needed to or maybe even meant to…. because you werent tracking everything you spent and whether it fit within your “budget”.

SO….. step 1 – Make a budget (I PROMISE you, you will thank me for this later.) The way to determine this is to figure out what you have in savings that you can comfortably put toward your wedding, same for your fiance’, then you need to find out if anyone else will be contributing (I am going to guess that the two of you are probably on your own financially for this). Now you know what your base is. To that, add what you can each afford to comfortably add from your pay each month and for the amount of months you will do this.

So as an example:

$200 in savings (you)
$400 in savings (fiance’)
$0 other contributions
Your base is then $600
$50 per month (you) 12 months – $600
$50 per month (fiance’) 12 months – $600
Total budget – $1,800

2nd – Shop around, be thrifty.

*Look for an officiant who will do it for little to no cost (generally you can find one if you look hard enough).
*Get flowers from your local grocer (or your own or a friend’s yard if possible) and hand tie them with ribbon or go with silk flowers if you prefer. You really only need these for your wedding party, especially if you have your wedding in the fall with the foliage for decoration! (That is what we are doing as well by the way)
*If you want centerpieces for your tables, think RENTAL! You can usually rent even cheaper than buying if you shop around (if you cant, then look at dollar stores… nobody will know if that plain glass vase with decorative marbles came from Dollar Tree or a designer store) Great centerpieces are usually simple yet dramatic (think candles in glass holders on a mirror tile).
*You can get rings in silver for about $25 for the pair (upgrade to gold later when you can afford it) or go with no rings at all.
*Depending on where you live the license will cost anywhere from $15 (in NE) to $65 (the highest I have personally seen)
*For the reception food, host a BBQ or have a potluck and have everyone bring a dish instead of a gift, or have a “sub” sandwich (cold cuts reception) from a local deli sliced into smaller servings (usually very inexpensive) Buffet is generally cheaper than sit-down because you dont have to pay labor, but I would suggest hiring a few “servers” for your buffet to help limit serving sizes
*Limit alcohol or cut it completely
*Play your own music from a CD or MP3 player and have a family member play Master of Ceremonies (change music play lists or CDs by your predetermined order, announcing you, announcing dinner and dancing, etc)
*Print your own invites (put that artistic talent to its best use!)
*Have a friend or family member take pictures for you
*Are you Honeymooning? Think creative… turn off your phone, lock your door, get some nice candles, and turn your home into a retreat. Or if you are “outdoorsy” go camping and forget to tell everyone where. Think of things you havent done or seen in your area and become a tourist in your own city! Its amazing what you can miss in your own “backyard”.

Here are a few sites to help you along

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13103569&RN=85

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=home.jsp&event=catalog&categoryId=377344&tabId=PartySupplies

If you need further help email me and I will do my best to assist

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