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The Wedding List
Keep your wedding list as small as possible. Do not feel obligated to invite distant relatives, people you have not spoken to in years and plus ones for any singletons you have already invited.
Invitations
Make your own invitations. Pop into your nearest craft shop or stationers and you will be surprised what you rustle up and it works out at a fraction of the cost of going to a printers. For those of you who do not fancy going all Blue Peter and making their own cards, then sending email invitations via Facebook or using on-line invitation websites will do the trick as well as helping do your bit for the environment!
The Venue
Choosing the venue for the reception and / or the wedding can often be the most expensive part of the wedding, so choosing wisely can result in huge savings. If you have friends or relatives with outdoor space then ask whether you can use their space for your wedding and / or reception. Rather than a restaurant or rather home why not try an art gallery, church hall or park (you will need to check whether these venues hold a liquor license prior to booking). It can also work out cheaper to have the wedding and reception in the same place.
The Wedding Dress
Wedding dresses do not need to be expensive and there are plenty of High Street stores now offering reasonably priced alternatives to designer dresses. You can also look into hiring a dress or buying a second-hand one on eBay.
Food and drink
Food and drink costs can really escalate at any wedding, so choosing to do a finger food buffet can cut costs or equally you can organize the catering yourself. Do not feel pressured into providing alcohol all day and night for your guests and if you do offer alcohol then look to provide it yourself. A quick trip to France for cheaper alcohol can save cash, as well as having a day out in the process. You can also substitute champagne for a good quality cava or prosecco which will help lower the budget and tastes just as good!
Photographer / Hair and Make-up / DJ
Rather than booking photographers / make-up artists and DJs, ask your friends to see if any of them can offer their services for free. If you cant find a DJ, then simply put together a playlist of your favorite songs onto an MP3 player and this can play all night while you and your guests dance the night away.
The Hen Party
Hen parties can work out very expensive as some people opt for weekends away. Why not try a pamper party at home with drinks and nibbles. This works out cheaper than going to a spa and it means that those that do not want treatments can still afford to join in the fun.
Transport
Rather than booking a limousine or car from a wedding company, find out if any of your friends own a smart looking car that you can borrow for the day. Add a nice white ribbon on the bonnet of the car and it should look just as special.
Flowers
Try to keep flowers to a minimum, often a simple posy or bouquet can look much classier. Check if any of your friends are happy to arrange the flowers for you and they are then go to flower markets the day before. If you want to decorate the venue, try candles or ribbons instead.
Honeymoon
If you are getting married in peak holiday season when flights and holidays are more expensive, then delay your honeymoon for a while until flights and accommodation are much cheaper. If you do want a rest after your big day then go for a long weekend away in a cozy cottage or house swap with a friend.
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Source by Kelly Skipper
