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In today's less-than-stellar economy, many brides and grooms are looking to have less extravagant weddings in order to save a few bucks. Luckily, you can still have a memorable and special ceremony without breaking the bank. Here are 10 tips on how to have an inexpensive wedding:
1. The Dress – Practically every woman has dreamed of her wedding dress since she was a young girl and many may be nervous about scrimping in this area. But there are a few ways to save money and still wear your dream gown down the aisle. Search the clearance section of a few bridal shops for last season's designs that are still in fashion or check out consignment shops for once-worn stylish yet inexpensive wedding dresses. If you have a family member or friend who is comfortable with the needle and thread, consider finding your dream design and having them recreate it. Or, if you're not the sentimental-type or hate the thought of a never-to-be-worn-again dress cluttering your closet, consider renting a gown.
2. The Date – The term "June bride" is popular for a reason. For centuries, June has been the most popular month to get married, followed by July and August. Late spring and early fall weddings are also popular due to the higher chance of nice weather and more opportunities for an outdoor wedding. However, if you're looking to save money, consider an off-season or even an off-weekend wedding. The lack of ceremonies on these dates causes many sellers to offer discounts and couples can save money on flowers, food and décor.
3. The Wedding Party – While many brides worry about hurting the feelings of close friends and family members by leaving them out of the wedding party, they also hurt their checkbooks by having a huge bridal party. It's considered appropriate to give each bridesmaid a gift as a token of your appreciation for assisting you with your big day and prices can quickly add up. Keep the bridal party small to help maintain a low-cost budget.
4. The Guests – It may be tempting to invite everyone from your hairstylist to your third grade teacher but it's better for your budget to keep the guest list close family and friends. Each additional person adds to the cost via food, party favors or the size of the venue.
5. The Food – Hosting a full-fledged formal wedding dinner sounds wonderful but it can add hundreds, if not thousands, to your bill. Instead, serve elegant finger foods or create a buffet-style meal featuring relatively-inexpensive foods, such as pasta and salad. Another option is to have a potluck-style meal and ask guests to bring along a copy of their recipe so that you can create a special recipe book after the ceremony to help commemorate the experience.
6. The Cake – Traditional bakeries can cost an arm and a leg for a wedding cake. Consider asking a kitchen-friendly family friend to make the cake instead or even inquire at your local grocery store for reasonably-cheaper-prices than you would find at a specialized bakery. Another trendy option is to serve cupcakes instead.
7. The Music – Hiring a band or a DJ can quickly add up in expenses. Thankfully, in today's iPod-friendly world, it's simple for you to create a playlist, set it up with your venue's audio system or rent a few speakers and press play.
8. The Flowers – Instead of hiring a floral company to create your arrangements and bouquets, create inexpensive wedding flowers by simply buying the blossoms and doing it yourself! In addition to saving a bundle of money, you can turn it into a separate and memorable event by inviting the bridal party over to help.
9. The Invitations – With so many design-friendly programs and high-quality printers read at our fingertips, it's no longer necessary to order invitations. Consider creating and printing your own at a fraction of the cost. You can also save money – and help the environment – by asking guests to RSVP via email or telephone rather than respond with a pre-stamped envelope as was popular in the past.
10. The Décor – Sometimes simplicity is better than extravagancy. Keep the décor to a minimum and focus on elegant and inexpensive touches like candles or homemade centerpieces. Guests may not even notice, after all, all eyes should be on you on your big day.
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Source by Susan Alexander Shapiro
