A $20K Wedding on a $6,000 Budget

Feb. 27, 2009 -- Why are Ken and Tavon Ferguson an especially happily married couple? Perhaps it's because they didn't go into debt to pay for their wedding.

The recently married couple said that they managed to throw what would normally be a $20,000 wedding for $6,000.

At first, saving money on the wedding was a game, but then Tavon got laid off. Suddenly, saving money became a necessity, not necessarily a choice.

So how did they do it?

They found a package deal at a wedding Web site that included food, drink and staff to serve 100 guests. This also covered hidden costs, such as table settings and covered chairs.

Because they were willing to have their wedding in the morning instead of the afternoon, the price of their wedding package was $5,500 instead of $7,500.

"We were able to save thousands of dollars just moving it up a couple hours," Tavon Ferguson said.

Tavon could book a photographer and a DJ for free by using professionals who wanted to break into the wedding market. In return, they received references for their growing businesses.

She used online coupons and discount codes for 95 percent of what she needed, from picture frames to bridesmaids' gifts to just the right napkins. She designed her own save-the-date cards at an office supply Web site and had to pay only the $5 cost of shipping.

Tavon avoided the "marriage markup" at specialty bridal stores and snapped up her bridesmaids' dresses and shoes at a regular store for a mere $60.

Rather than paying a fortune to a fancy florist, she went to Costco for her flowers and asked the floral manager to order extra blooms the week of her wedding.