UK Weddings - tips for saving £££?

OK, my last wedding question for the week (honest!)

Does anyone have ANY tips on saving money on ANYTHING?! We're SO broke right now and everytime I mention something to Jamie (this morning I showed him catering menus and prices) I can see his eyes popping out of his head! We're doing a civil ceremony, so that's as cheap as it can get (apart from my dress that is). But for the reception, we're having a max. of 70 people, having it either in our garden or a friend's. But catering, awning rental, invites, wine, cake (actually that we're just doing from M&S with some flowers, etc.) and all that are really starting to add up. If anyone worked with companies that provided good, reasonably priced services, I'd love to hear about it. We're in South Bucks, so could probably get caterers as far away as Uxbridge area. The cheapest quote I've had for a simple finger food buffet is about £630 which included plastic utensils, etc. Is that good or can I find cheaper?

Aaaggghhh!

Well, my BIL and SIL had people bring food for a kind of pot-luck.  It was very good!!!

Our third wedding on Sunday we had about 70 people and it was about £20 a head for that.  DH does all the money stuff, so I have no idea how much it all cost us.  But really the pot-luck was good everyone ate their fill.

It also depends upon what kind of food you want. If you go to a proper caterer and tell them it's a wedding, you get wedding prices. You might try smaller gourmet style deli type places. There's one here in Exmouth (too far for you I'm afraid) that though I haven't priced them, am quite sure they'd be less than a caterer. If you want sit down food, that's more. If you want a buffet that people help themselves to and then sit down, it should be cheaper.

Marquees are really expensive I've learned - at least to rent in our area. You might check the lawn and garden summer sales as I have seen awnings, garden tents, etc for good prices that will only come down as the season ends.

I'm doing my own invites on my home computer and printer.

You can get bulk discounts for wine at most wine shops. But you could also provide a free glass or 2 for the guests and then switch to a cash bar which is what we are doing.

Just some thoughts!

I thought about a potluck actually. I think it's a great idea. The only worry I'd have is that our ceremony is at noon and we were planning on having everyone come straight back to the party. So people would have to bring their food along to the register office. Don't want people dying of food poisoning from having food sitting in their cars. LOL.

Actually, I just got off the phone with my mum and she said she'd kick in for some of the cost of the reception which is a load off of my mind. I feel a bit guilty though - a plane ticket for her AND reception money (at the present exchange rate) is more than I'd wanted to ask for!!!