A wedding on a budget
Regardless of the economy, people get married everyday. Well, every
weekend usually. You may be wondering how you can have a great
wedding while staying within your budget. Figure out where you can
cut costs and where you can splurge.
First decide what is THE most important thing to you at your
wedding(besides your spouse to be, of course).
Is it the dress, the flowers, the food, the music...what? Everyone has
one thing that they will absolutely not want to skimp on. What is that
item for you?
Here are a few ways to cut costs on a wedding.
The Dress: Watch for sales. Bridal shops have sales all the time. Ask
the shop owner if you can get a discount if your bridesmaids all get
their dresses there as well. Think about that same thing when getting a
tux for the groom. Could save over 10% that way. Can Grandma
sew? Maybe she can make your dress. Don't forget a new trend,
rentals. Rentals are not just for the groom and groomsmen anymore.
Bridal shops are also offering rental bridesmaids dresses and even bridal
gowns. If having your 'own' dress isn't really that important to you.
You might want to consider it.
The Flowers: If flowers are very important to you, hire a
professional. If they are not, you can do it yourself or enlist a friend to
help. The local grocery store often sells fresh flowers. Talk to the
grocer and see if you can work something out with them. Try
flowers.com or another online flower supplier. Or consider fake
flowers for your bridesmaids or for your table centerpieces. There are
many options.
The Music: Can't afford a band, hire a DJ. Can't afford a DJ? Hire a
friend or family member of a friend. Use your iPOD and run it all
night long. Have predetermined playlists set up and have a friend or
someone you trust monitor it as needed.
Regardless of the economy, people get married everyday. Well, every
weekend usually. You may be wondering how you can have a great
wedding while staying within your budget. Figure out where you can
cut costs and where you can splurge.
First decide what is THE most important thing to you at your
wedding(besides your spouse to be, of course).
Is it the dress, the flowers, the food, the music...what? Everyone has
one thing that they will absolutely not want to skimp on. What is that
item for you?
Here are a few ways to cut costs on a wedding.
The Dress: Watch for sales. Bridal shops have sales all the time. Ask
the shop owner if you can get a discount if your bridesmaids all get
their dresses there as well. Think about that same thing when getting a
tux for the groom. Could save over 10% that way. Can Grandma
sew? Maybe she can make your dress. Don't forget a new trend,
rentals. Rentals are not just for the groom and groomsmen anymore.
Bridal shops are also offering rental bridesmaids dresses and even bridal
gowns. If having your 'own' dress isn't really that important to you.
You might want to consider it.
The Flowers: If flowers are very important to you, hire a
professional. If they are not, you can do it yourself or enlist a friend to
help. The local grocery store often sells fresh flowers. Talk to the
grocer and see if you can work something out with them. Try
flowers.com or another online flower supplier. Or consider fake
flowers for your bridesmaids or for your table centerpieces. There are
many options.
The Music: Can't afford a band, hire a DJ. Can't afford a DJ? Hire a
friend or family member of a friend. Use your iPOD and run it all
night long. Have predetermined playlists set up and have a friend or
someone you trust monitor it as needed.
The Reception Location: Locations are very important. If you are really
wanting a big, extravagant location, consider having your wedding in the
off season. Summer and early fall are the busiest times of the year for
weddings. Think about having your wedding somewhere between
January and March. You will likely get a good deal that time of year.
If that idea is not for you, consider other location options. If you are
having a small wedding, try a local VFW or Elks lodge. You can usually
rent the space for under $250 for the night. Or maybe you know of a
great scenic spot? Think about an outside wedding. Rent professional tents
and tables for a fraction of the cost of a reception site. But keep in mind
the uncertainty of the weather.
wanting a big, extravagant location, consider having your wedding in the
off season. Summer and early fall are the busiest times of the year for
weddings. Think about having your wedding somewhere between
January and March. You will likely get a good deal that time of year.
If that idea is not for you, consider other location options. If you are
having a small wedding, try a local VFW or Elks lodge. You can usually
rent the space for under $250 for the night. Or maybe you know of a
great scenic spot? Think about an outside wedding. Rent professional tents
and tables for a fraction of the cost of a reception site. But keep in mind
the uncertainty of the weather.
Many Money Savers
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The Food: The biggest expense for a wedding is the food at the reception. Options are varied. Have the
reception site provide the food, hire an outside caterer, bring in the food yourself (having family and
friends prepare it). If you really want to save the most money, the last option is your best bet. It can save
you a ton of money, but if not planned for carefully, it can be a big headache. To make things go
smoothing, the first thing is to decide on the menu. Then figure out who can and who will prepare a
particular dish and what time of day will it be needed. Does it have to be cooked on site, warmed or kept
cold? Plan accordingly for that. Next, determine how you will manage the buffet style dinner. Consider
hiring a friend of a friend to man the buffet table, it is much cheaper than hiring a service. They can set up
food tables, help serve your guests and keep things filled and running smoothly. They can also help with or
completely do the cleanup. This will generally cost you much less than hiring a caterer and their clean up
crew.
The Transportation: Limousines are wonderful for a wedding as is a horse and carriage. They are also
expensive. If you are determined to have one of those options at your wedding, there are ways you can
cut costs. Instead of having 2 limos, one for the groomsmen, maids of honor and bride and groom, let the
guys get to the wedding site on their own, have limo take the bride and her girls to the wedding site.
After ceremony, have the limo take the bride and groom only to the reception. Girls can ride with the
guys to the reception site or make other similar arrangements.
That way you can have your limousine, but only the cost of one.
For the horse and carriage, have that for bride and groom only and one limousine for the rest of the
bridal party.
The Honeymoon: An exotic trip to a secluded island or a fantastical cruise. Sounds great, but if you are
on a tight budget, consider a honeymoon closer to home. One with no airfare can save you a bundle.
Look around. The whole point of a honeymoon is to have a relaxing time alone with your new spouse.
It can be anywhere as long as you are together. Consider what your state (or a nearby one) has to offer.
If your wedding is in the off season, you can really get a great deal. Keep your mind open to all travel
options.
reception site provide the food, hire an outside caterer, bring in the food yourself (having family and
friends prepare it). If you really want to save the most money, the last option is your best bet. It can save
you a ton of money, but if not planned for carefully, it can be a big headache. To make things go
smoothing, the first thing is to decide on the menu. Then figure out who can and who will prepare a
particular dish and what time of day will it be needed. Does it have to be cooked on site, warmed or kept
cold? Plan accordingly for that. Next, determine how you will manage the buffet style dinner. Consider
hiring a friend of a friend to man the buffet table, it is much cheaper than hiring a service. They can set up
food tables, help serve your guests and keep things filled and running smoothly. They can also help with or
completely do the cleanup. This will generally cost you much less than hiring a caterer and their clean up
crew.
The Transportation: Limousines are wonderful for a wedding as is a horse and carriage. They are also
expensive. If you are determined to have one of those options at your wedding, there are ways you can
cut costs. Instead of having 2 limos, one for the groomsmen, maids of honor and bride and groom, let the
guys get to the wedding site on their own, have limo take the bride and her girls to the wedding site.
After ceremony, have the limo take the bride and groom only to the reception. Girls can ride with the
guys to the reception site or make other similar arrangements.
That way you can have your limousine, but only the cost of one.
For the horse and carriage, have that for bride and groom only and one limousine for the rest of the
bridal party.
The Honeymoon: An exotic trip to a secluded island or a fantastical cruise. Sounds great, but if you are
on a tight budget, consider a honeymoon closer to home. One with no airfare can save you a bundle.
Look around. The whole point of a honeymoon is to have a relaxing time alone with your new spouse.
It can be anywhere as long as you are together. Consider what your state (or a nearby one) has to offer.
If your wedding is in the off season, you can really get a great deal. Keep your mind open to all travel
options.
| Don't forget that THE most important thing is the marriage, not the wedding itself. Remember that to help keep perspective when things get a bit stressful. And don't forget to breathe! |