No wedding should be a financial burden on the engaged couple or their families. Nor does the wedding need to have a budget look or feel to be economically savvy. There are areas that can be trimmed and some others that can be sheared to lessen the financial load and still have the dream wedding that will have guests talking for years.
The Dress:
Yes, the dress is important. However, there are ways to get a dream dress that is not a nightmare price. The first place to begin is with an open mind. Preconceived ideas about the dress will run the price up quickly. Secondly, where you shop can make all of the difference. Resale shops, consignment shops, and designer clearances are all places that can yield great results for a beautiful dress at a bargain price. Don't shy away from resale and consignment stores because you don't want a used dress. Remember that stores often donate their end of season-after the big sale-leftovers to different charity stores. Brides who have called off their weddings or changed their mind about the first dress they purchased will sell them at consignment shops to recoup some of the funds from their mistakes. Just remember: if you don't anyone tell EXACTLY where the dress came from or which route it took getting there, no one will know.
The Venue:
Since most of us are not blessed with an estate to host 250 guests, where the wedding and/or reception will be held can be a budget maker or budget breaker! A church or synagogue are the traditional choices for many brides and while there is a cost usually associated with these, compared to the 'for profit' choices, it is nominal. Some churches allow people outside the membership to use the church, while others do not. If you do not have a church home but wish to marry in a church, ask around. A small wedding in a large church has the same appearance as a postage stamp on a large wall. If you are planning a small gathering of only close friends and family, you should check into the availability of a chapel or other smaller area that will have the intimate feel that make small weddings grand.
Art museums, community centers, planned neighborhood community rooms are options for the reception that will usually not break the bank. Ask friends and family who live near your area to suggest spots. Several factors to keep in mind: Kitchen/food service facilities, available bathrooms, parking, lighting, sound systems, distance between ceremony site and reception site and any need for security. What looks like a real steal on paper might end up costing far more than a traditional venue when you add in the extras.
The Cake:
To stay on a budget and still have an elegant cake keep these thoughts in mind. The taste of the cake is as important as the look... ask to sample! Yummm! A creamy cake with your choice of fillings can be ordered from high end grocery stores, usually for much less than from a conventional bakery. Wedding cakes from specialty cake stores cost a fortune. Sometimes. Shop around. A simple cake adorned with fresh flowers and a stunning cake topper of the couple's initials can make a much grander statement than cakes that are overly busy with piped icing and a million buttercream flowers. And they cost so much less since every flower is accounted for in the final price of most cakes.
Photography:
No, don't skimp on quality here. Find the best photographer you can who shoots the type of photos that you like. Just hold off from ordering the most expensive package he or she has to offer. Make a list of the photographs that you want to have and who should be included. Use his samples of past weddings as inspiration. Then adjust that list so that all of your special moments will be captured, but the 'cute' shot of the bartenders chugging the champagne or the ring bearer and junior groomsman going head to head in the church playground can be left out. Save those snaps for your amateur friends.
If you know someone who takes pretty good pictures or, even better, great pictures, ask if they will take the candid shots at the reception. If these are digital, they can be emailed to you and then later developed at picture kiosk near you. Also include on the guest tables at the reception disposable cameras so that your guests can take photos of each other. These can be some of the best candid shots of your guests. The cost of the table cameras and developing should be compared to the cost of the photographer to calculate your true savings!
Food:
A buffet service will cost less in the long run than a seated dinner. The menu will determine the price as well, with a dinner that includes a meat entrée being at the top of the price point. Depending on when and where you are hosting this reception, a full meal is not expected mid or late afternoon or after the 'dinner hour'.
Keep in mind that presentation is everything and the simplest of offerings can look grand when placed on a lovely tray with a doily and pretty garnishes. 'Building up' the display is a trick caterers and event planners use and can be copied using stands or pedestals that create height. Even bricks can be used and dramatically draped with the same fabric as the tablecloth to give interest. Get inspiration from reception magazines and from online photos.
Flowers:
Another potential budget breaker, flowers really set the stage for a lovely wedding. The main consideration when you are planning the look of your wedding is to stay true to your season. In other words, a winter wedding should not feature tropical flowers unless you live in the tropics. Why? It looks silly for one thing, but more importantly out of season flowers are huge budget biters. In winter consider using evergreens and berries, in spring there are endless choices. Summer is easy with so much available. Fall offers the opportunity to use foliage, squash, pumpkins and gourds.
If you have talented friends, they may donate their services to arrange cut flowers for you. Grocery stores, farmers markets and wholesale clubs offer cut flowers at considerable savings... if you can find someone to arrange them for you. These stores will also be able to tell you what will be in season when you are planning your colors and theme and some will even special order for you. Use lots of greenery in season, but keep in mind that fern is not the only greenery suitable. Look outside and see what is available. If you have a green thumb and the patch of dirt, grow your own! Flowering trees such as crepe myrtle make a dramatic statement and have the added bonus of being used in the garden afterwards. In some locations, large trees and plants can be rented.
A sneaky cost savings? A wedding the during Christmas week (but before New Years) will allow the frugal bride to take advantage of the decorations already available in the church and to remember that country clubs and restaurants are also decorated. This savings alone may allow you to have the reception at a venue previously thought to be out of your budget range. Mix and match!
Favors:
Not surprisingly, more and more brides are not only offering a favor from the wedding, they are offering an entire selection of party favors. Favors are the 'thank you' from you to your guests for coming to share your special day. Do it yourself favors don't break the bank and offer an opportunity to gather friends together to help! If you have budget issues, you don't have to have more than one favor per guest. This isn't the Oscars so you need not have a red carpet gift bag. A simple box tied with a lovely bow can house the treat of your choice, from a handful of your favorite jellybeans or mints to home baked cookies or brownies. A soy candle wrapped in tulle or tissue and tied with a bow and a card is a lovely gift. By getting creative and buying in bulk online, you will be able to say thank you to all who came to share your day.
Weddings are a joyous occasion. Planning and judicious shopping will yield a wedding to remember... and not because you are paying for it for years! Best Wishes for a beautiful wedding!
About the author: Marilyn Lewis is a professional Interior Designer with over 27 years of experience. an event planner, and owner of the online retail shop http://www.LovedTheParty which features favors, decorations, invitations and gifts for parties and events. Marilyn has been been planning, designing and executing weddings, fundraisers, debutante parties, birthday and corporate events for her clients for more than 20 years.
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