Reflection silverware 160 pieces in a box for 6 bucks:)

At my last wedding
I got the diamond brand for like 4 buks or 3 i think with a coupon. I wssted so much money. But i just went to Bargain in a box and i found this. 160 set. 80 forks, 40 knives and spoons. I bought two boxes for 13.07 w tax. I am so happy I just took care of my wedding, silverware for like 40 bucks less. :) woohoooo talk about being elegant and frugal.

Now that I am at 3590 for my wedding.......... with ten dollars to spare.

I did it.We paid the church the church classes, the hall the plates the cups the napkins my dress my husbands suit, and invited, and food, liquor plus even help. You can have a beautiful and magnificent wedding with a budget. I am so lucky I have such great people in my life. We have sponsors in most Mexican Families, and perhaps other Latin Countries. Where someone will offer to pay the cake,make the food like you saw, pay for the church and hall. All I really have to pay for is the pre-cana classes,  food, liquor, my dress, davids suit, servers and the tableware. I still have a year to go, and I am sure they're are more wonderful people who will offer because this is how Latin families are loving and helpful. Over all I will pay about a grand for a lovely wedding. :) Thank you all to has helped. You mean the world to me.

100 Dollars left.............. Servers!!! I need three of them

so my wedding is for 7 hours and I am planning on serving food to people's table. I want to stick with my food budget, and a buffet will make me homeless. So I've devised a plan............ I will hire 3 people, one of the girls I know but not for the 7 hours. Just for the appetizer and main course which is about 2 hours. I will tell them to come a half hour early and then leave about 730. so they will work 4:30 to 7:30. They do not need to wash anything because it will all be disposable. for the appetizers one will pass out the shrimp. The other the empanadas.The lovely thing is, is that they have push carts they can borrow for free. So they don't have to go back and forth. Then while they are eating. All three will put start putting food on plates......... and it will be the same thing. one will serve shrimp the other chicken. While they wait for people to finish. They can eat, and they pick up plates. Make sure kitchen is tidy, and then they can go. For my wedding I will cut my cake, and I want to serve the people .  they should be gone and I will only waste 90 dollars.......... I still have 10 dollars left. Now that is a good deal.

Liquor............. can I make it it to my designated number. so close 100 dollars more.... I am at 3500

For Latin Families people buying their liquors is a no go. They came to your wedding, might have gotten you something, traveled such as my cousins from mexico, texas, friends from florida. The last thing I want to do is assault them.... yet I feel like what can I do to not go broke. I am not going to pay a 1000 dollars every hour.... well I came up with a plan. I will put a bottle of Wine and Champagne on the table. I will put my own bartender at the bar 10 dollars a hour but he will not start work til 7 pm For the times we are eating they will have drinks on the table. You can get very good wine and champagne at costco for very cheap I do not plan on wasting more then 50 dollars for that. I am going to get one keg but those big ones of beer for 100 dollars, and then get 2 big bottles of bacardi and and 2 of tequila. 2 of vodka. 140 for that. I will have sodas and water no juice drinks. I will buy 40 bottles of coke and sprite and fanta, way cheaper then cans. a 24 pack is usually 4.99.... i am going to save easily 20 bucks. And for the water I will buy 160 bottles.Target sells 32 bottles for 3.39...... that is 5 packages for 24 dollars. In total to have an open bar I will only waste 220 dollars.  If it is done then I will tell the owner to open his own bar, but I think it is very smart of me to not open it when we are eating. I am at 3500 dollars and that is including the ten lb bag for 1 dollar that they offer at the hall.

My husbands suit and groomsmen corsage thingys :) Im at 3237.00 can i make it?

So I found a website where you can get a cutomsuit on dhgate.com It only costs 68 dollars for a custom suit. Which is awsum, and then for the men corsage thingies I am going to give them a peacock feather and tie it wit blue turquoise ribbon. Total cost for that like 72 dollars.......... 4 buks only for the corsages for the men.Good deal. I am now on 3237.00 and so close to my budget!!!!

Finding a Cheap dj and photographer/videographer

So I am so close to my budget I bet you all are saying how are you going to afford this. Look around and ask your friends if all else fails come up with simple plans.... disposables on your tables....... ipod with big speakers that are borrowed a good friend. But I am truly lucky enough to have found this for cheap. Because I face booked, I asked around. I investigated, and I did not take first prices, because I am one frugal and second don't have the budget. I got a high school friend who went to Columbia College of Chicago and majored in Video Productions to do my wedding. I explained to him my situation, and he is going to do it the whole shabang for me church and reception. For only 150.00!!!! I will have about 20-30 shots of the church me getting married as well as with my family at the church, and husband. Later at the party another 20-30  professional shots. He will record the whole wedding ceremony for me and party reception. Because he uses public transportation all I have to do is pick him up, and give him food :) sweet deal. He is going to be with me probably from 11 am til after midnite!!!
 

Now for the Dj one of my good friends husbands brother does parties. I have talked with him on the phone told him what I want and he is willing to come up with a compilation of music for me. Since my taste is so eccentric. When we are eating I want chill relax arabic music.beats trance......... then my bff says she wants the calabria song wen we are coming out jajajajja to the party.... i then want top 40s, salsa merengue bachata reggaeton.... I am Latin after all :) He is going to be doing this for 7 hours. Tell me can you beat this? If you can or know someone who has professional equipment and mic :)

I'm at 2715.00 dollars and closer to my limit for everything..... flowers and decorations

I am going to have calla lilies and peacock feathers as my theme. Costco and Sams club sells tem in bulk for 100 dollars and like 75 stems. I plan to have 6, my mom 3, my moh 3, my bridesmaids 2 each, and junior bridesmaids 1 . I will decorate with peacock feathers. I bought 100 online ... ebay :) for 15 dollars and free shipping. Which is so cheap if you have seen prices on peacock feathers. I have 8 bridesmaids and 3 junior ones. 11 in total. 31 flowes in total . i still have 44 more.......... i am going to go to the dollartree, and buy very very slim cylinder vases. I will put one flower and two peacock feather. I am going to buy those marble looking rocks and put them on the bottom. each table has 7 chairs.... so that is like 15 tables.  


 15 vases---- 15 dollars 
 
 30 peacock feathers - 4 dollars or so 
 
 6 bags of marble rocks  6 dollars
 

everything included..... 150 dollars for my flowers, bridesmaid flowers, junior bridesmaids and even my moms and all of the tables. With the flowers that are left I will make two big vases for my head table :) I am now at 2880.00 lets say with taxes. :) Still looking good.... I am going to show you a picture of the flowers i saw online that inspired me......... I don't remember where I got it but I didn't post it.

Wedding plates, silver looking plastic ware, cups and napkins. We are at 2635.00 now!~!!!!

We are getting closer and closer to my 3300 dollar limit to have my wedding. At the hall if I don't buy their food I can't use their plates, etc for food. At target they sell such cute colored plates 18 in a pack for 1.50 each. I will buy 6 packs to make sure I have enough of the appetizer and dinner plates. 15 bucks. Champagne Glasses are at 4.99 for  25..... which is a steal because they are the ones from Party city and they cost 10 buks. I only need 75 since many people at the wedding will be kid. I love arab stores and how they find these cups half price :) 15 dollars... now we are at 30 dollars. I am going to buy the napkins also from target 18 in a pack for 1.50.... 10.50 and then just the 100 pack from vanity fair the white ones that look more elegant..... it only costs 2 bucks also at target. The silver looking silverware from the diamond brand they come in a 30 pack. spoon knife and fork. I need ten packs at 3 each..... that would 30  can get the plastic cups that cost 1.99 for 100. I will get 3 packages for 6 dollars. Even with these expenses i would save more then renting this from the party hall. I only pay 80 dollars, now he wants to charge me 175.00.............. mmmm yes no I'd rather go shopping jejejejeje. I am going to show you a picture of my civil ceremony party I had at my home. I did everything myself in two weeks, and decorated with the plates and silverware I mentioned above. Enjoy

Now Invitations, Save the date cards, Thank you notes, and Favors. program menus and wedding menus, and table numbers/familydesignated seating.

I got my invites on line for 20.85 cents with tax they are plain white, with a whiter border. they come with 50 and a response card that you print out yourself. The save the date cards I got for FREE!!! on Vistaprint.com they give you 100 for free, and you pay for shipping I think it was 6.53. Thank you card notes silver engraved and blank inside for 1.99 each pack of 25.... I bought two. Favors from the dollar tree. Each bubble favor with the ribbon on it ( do not plan on getting it engraved.... everyone throws them out anyways) they come 6 in a pack.... I bought 17 packs. Just to make sure. Then I bought Stationary people in a off white color from Target. 100 full size sheets for 10 dollars. I went to my college library and used their paper cutter. Cut the paper in half.... now I have 100 menus for 5 buks and 100 programs for 5 buks.... not bad at all. I have unruled index cards that I will use for the table to designate families as to where they are supposed to sit... free from school. I will just  print it out and put a border around it. So I got all of this stuff for only 58.38 .I will round it to 60 dollars.....

Now that I'm at 2,375.00 I;m going to talk about dresses.

this is the dress I want and is less then 200 dollars on www.milanoo.com for 15 bucks they customize it to ur size. I am so short, and thicker,and curvy. Go to a dress shop and tell them how much it costs for alterations. It can cost as much as the dress, I will wait the 45-60 days to get my dress instead of paying 2500 for this dress, which I  saw at a European Bridal Store on Harlem ave.  now we are at 2,575.00 dollars i still got 800 to go.

FOOD BUDGET, AND CAKE UNDER 330 DOLLARS!!!!

I am catering my own food, and yes many have told me, you are so ambitious. But i know it can be done!!! You have to stick to a plan, and don't get carried away. Simple is always the most enjoyable. I will tell you my entire menu. Appetizers, First Course, Sweet Tables, and then Dessert. My theme for the food is the Latin Caribe :).


Appetizers.............

 A shrimp cocktail in a shot glass w a celery stick
or
Colombian Chicken Empanadas w/ a lime slice
 
 Main Course...............

Arroz Con Gandules ( e.g. puertorican rice.... rice with pigeon peas)
2 Caribbean Lime Chicken Kebabs per person 
Salad and Beans
or

Arroz Con Gandules ( e.g. puerto rican rice.... rice with pigeon peas)
2 Caribbean Lime Shrimp Kebabs per person 
Salad and Beans


 A hour After main course a table with Coffee and Cookies and Fruits
 
  Dessert
 
 Wedding Cake :)

Now for the Shrimp Cocktail I need 5 bags of Shrimp at 4 dollars- 20 dollars in total lime lime juice onions tomatoes, vinegar........ celery sticks, 35 dollars in total. to have 100 plus appetizers. lovely :) 

 Chicken Empanadas= 4 lb of Chicken Breast, mojo Criollo, Pan brand Cornmeal tomato and onions.... I need only 25 dollars to make 100.......... go to any Colombian Restaurant on Lawerence Ave. and they will be a dollar a piece. I am saving over 70 percent.


My friend and I did the test already for the shrimp. We need 200 shrimp kebabs, and each bag is 4 dollars with 28-32 pieces. Therefore we need 13 bags, and two more just in case and for the staff to eat. 15 bags of shrimp at 60 dollars. With one shrimp bag we were able to make 16 kebabs. 2 pieces of large cooked peeled tail on shrimp, I took the tail off. We used the skewers from party city that cost a 1.60. Green onion 79 cents, onion 39 cents, Mojo Criollo Marinade 2.50, pinneaple chunks 1.00 (only 1/4 of bottle used.... can be used for more shrimp chicken beef, etc). and 1 lime 20 cents. in total it will cost 75 dollars with 3 more bottles or 4 of the mojo criollo.


 I did the Chicken test too :) 1 lb of chicken breast at 250 a lb.......... expensive I always find for 1.49 a lb. With one Chicken breast I made 14 skewers. 2 pieces of square chicken pieces per skewers as well as the green pepper, onion, Mojo Criollo, eg.... loook above for prices. In total the chicken just cost 35 dollars if I can't find it on sale and with the other materials about 50 dollars, and that is me buying extra chicken breast.
 
  
Now for the rice for each main course I will waste twenty dollars.

Sofrito    8 dollars gandules 3 dollars 3 tomato sauce cans 1.00. oil 2.79


So for each main course ten dollars each too make 20 lbs of rice because i always buy medium grain rice, 10 lb bags

  Salad I will buy 5 salad heads, Tomatoes, and just waste about 10 dollars since I will cut the lettuce in thin long pieces and tomatoes in small little chunks , I will flavor it myself with limes...... e.g. no wasting money on dressing that just get you fatter :).

I will buy two big pinto bean cans, that cost like 3.50 each, and use a little oil that I got for the rice. 7 dollars each.

Now for the Shrimp Main Course I am only wasting 95 dollars to feed 100 people!!!! and have people eat again and again.... who doesn't love this rice.

 For the Chicken Main Course I am only wasting 55 dollars to feed 100 people!!!!! and again lots of rice which we will pile on the plate jejejeje :) Gotta love Spanish Weddings :) xoxoxoxox.


  For the Sweet Table I plan on buying the cookies you find always on sell in packages for a dollar, coffee, creamer, and sugar, a fruit platter. 30 dollars is my limit, and I really plan to fill the table


Dessert-

Wedding Cake... I know a lovely girl from my cousin who worked at a bakery for years who makes amazing cakes. For my civil ceremony she made me the most gorgeous turquoise cherry blossom cake and i only paid 75 bucks to feed 50 people and half the cake was left over. Now I call that a deal in total I will waste 287.00 dollars!!!!! Try and beat that I am making about 120 of everything and their is only 100 people. Everyone will at least be able to have more again since that is how Spanish people are :) I got proposals for the wedding menu I planned myself............... 1500 dollars. I was like sure I will call you. :) I will prepare the skewers a day before, and have someone bbq them for me the same day, as well as making the cocktail and empanadas a day before my bff will help me. Rice my friends husband will do for me, and I will make the salad and beans the same day. Piece of cake :)

Banquet Hall Rentall.......... 1300 dollars!!!!

So as I was driving down armitage ave one day, I saw this hall in the most unusual places ever, a big store front that looked so pretty, and as much as I wanted the church wedding, and the hall, etc etc. I could never afford it we are both students starting out in life, but this place truly gave me hope cuz it looked so pretty. I called the number immediately, and then later booked it. We only had to give a 300 dollar deposit, and then later we cud pay every 7,14, or 30 days. By the time the wedding is here we will be done. I will tell you what is included.......

 the hall rental and the parking lot in the back for 15 cars.

 the hall rented for 100 people... up to 150 for more money.

 all of the short chair covers as u will see in picture, and then the table cloths etc. tables and chairs. use of whole facility.

 you have option of their catering and bar or bring your own. Which i am planning on doing

 the hall is yours 5-12 and you can come over and drop everything off. I love it 


 NOW FOR ALL OF THIS IN CHICAGO A BIG METROPOLITAN CITY FOR ...... 1300 DOLLARS, ON A SATURDAY NIGHT!!!! Now that is pure luck!!!!

My Church Wedding at St. Hyacinth

Last October I got married in a civil ceremony with my husband, and next June I will be getting married in church, my dream come true. Even my husband and I being different faiths could not change it. After a lot of thinking and talking we decided  it would be a catholic church but not a religious ceremony. This church is the most beautiful church ever in Chicago, and I have always been in love with it. Ladies you do not need a big budget to have a beautiful setting. The fees were as followed. 125 for the organist, and 450 for the church. you leave a 100 dollar deposit. As easy as that, and then in the Chicago area Pre cana classes are about 200 dollars per couple. the picture I am sharing with you is from conradschmitt.com and he is just so truly talented. You will see by urself wen you see the picture, enjoy everyone.

SO FAR WE ARE AT 775.00!

Can we plan a wedding on 3600 dollars? I think we can!

So when you are planning a wedding it is so stressful, because it can cost an armload but I am here to tell you it doesn't need too. I will go in to detail on my Catholic Church wedding, the hall we rented, yes we were able to afford a hall, and then the dress, flowers, liquor, bridesmaids,etc. etc. I hope you enjoy!!!!