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It is so easy to sit down and set a sensible budget before you start planning your wedding. What is not so easy is to stick to the budget! Here are a few tips for ways that you can have the fabulous wedding reception that you want without completely blowing your budget.
Consider having your reception earlier in the day. If you have a morning ceremony followed by a brunch, your per person cost will be quite a bit lower than it would be for a full dinner. Not only will you save on the food, but even if you decide to offer beverages like mimosas and Bloody Marys, you will still save a reasonable amount on your bar bill. The simple fact is that people just do not drink as much alcohol early in the day. Between the food and the liquor bills, you will find a wedding brunch to be far more affordable than a dinner.
Sometimes you have budgeted enough for the main reception costs, but have not really thought about how all of the little extras can add up. One of the largest hidden costs is the favors. They can easily run five or ten dollars per person (on the low end); multiply that by a couple of hundred guests, and suddenly you are looking at a couple thousand dollars just for table favors.
A great way to get around this expense is to choose table décor that can double as favors for the guests to take home. Candles in little beaded votive holders are one great option. Placing one at each place setting will add to the ambiance of the reception, and they make great trips for your guests, as well. Another idea is to use individual small vases of flowers instead of one large central arrangement. You may find even find that you can save on your flower budget this way.
One of the hottest wedding trends right now is for the bride to change into a second dress for the reception. This can certainly set a great mood for the reception, but the expense of a second dress may just be too much. A great way to get a festive party mood for less is to wear the same gown, but to spice it up by changing your accessories. To create your party look, remove your veil, but keep your tiara or other crystal bridal jewelry in your hair. The next step is to switch out your more delicate ceremony bridal jewelry for something more dazzling, like a bold pair of crystal chandelier earrings. A dash of red lipstick, and your look will instantly be transformed from demure bride to the life of the party!
In addition to making double-use of things like your gown and favors, there are some things that a reception can do without. One place that you can easily cut costs is on the menu cards. Putting the money into your centerpieces will have a much greater impact than spending it on menu cards. They are a nice touch if you can afford them, but no one will miss them if they are not there.
Another way to save money without sacrificing style is to have a single musician instead of the full band during the cocktail hour. The music played while guests are mingling over appetizers is only meant to be pleasant background music anyway; a solo musician can handle that task very nicely, and will charge much less than having the whole band for another hour. Sometimes one member of the band can also go solo during cocktails, or you could bring in a harpist or violinist from a nearby college of music.
With a little creativity, it is entirely possible to have a wedding that is chic and stylish while staying on budget. Using these simple solutions, you will find that a few simple changes can add up to big savings. And at the end of the day, you will be able to relax and enjoy your party even more knowing that you did not break the bank hosting it.
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Source by Guy Antonelli
