No one wants to pay more than they have to for anything, especially something as costly as a wedding. And if you're like me, and you had to foot your own bill, then you certainly want to keep costs down. I was afraid it couldn't be done, especially since my husband and I live in one of the most expensive regions of the country. But my wedding is proof that it can be done, and here's how:
Reception Venue
Look for non-profit organizations that host wedding receptions, since their rental fees are extremely reasonable. And many of them - the American Legion is one example - have gorgeous, well-maintained facilities. If you prefer an outdoor wedding, then skip the country club and go to a state or national park, where you can get beautiful landscapes at a fraction of the cost.
Catering
Many rental halls offer full-service catering, which includes linens and tableware, wait staff, all food prep and cleanup, etc. But unless you're at a non-profit (which hopefully you are, if you followed step #1), then this can be extremely expensive. Try to find a smaller catering company that typically does at-home meal service, since they know how to do things on a budget. And they are sure to give you excellent customer service.
Alcohol
You must, must, must buy your own alcohol. If you purchase it through your rental hall at retail price, you will be paying through the nose. If you have followed step #1, then you have most likely found a place that will allow you to bring your own alcohol, or will give it to you at a non-profit price. This is the only way to go.
Flowers & Decorations
Eliminate additional expense by keeping everything simple. There really is no need to have little party favors at each table, since hardly anyone remembers or appreciates those items anyway. And go easy on the flowers – having a few simple arrangements strategically placed can be very sophisticated and elegant.
Music
With the abundance of music available for (legal) download via the internet, it's easier than ever to create your own CDs to play at the wedding. It's great to have creative control over the music,and it gives you and your future spouse a project you can work on together. A lot of rental halls will have equipment available for you to play your CDs, but you can also rent this equipment fairly inexpensively.
Invitations
Save on invitations by only ordering paper invitations for family members. Everyone else, including your friends and extended family, can be invited via email. You may think it's tacky, but it'sreally the best way to get an accurate headcount. It's much easier for people to respond to an email than to have to mail back a response via snail mail. But still use the paper invitations for your family, since this is the more traditional route. You can get very inexpensive invitations these days through various printing websites.
In addition to the recommendations I have listed above, there are many other little ways you can save. For example, going to discount bridal stores for your dress, getting a friend to make the wedding cake, etc. - but I have found that trying to micro-manage every little item on your checklist will make you crazy. So just keep it simple with the big items that I listed above, and you will have the ultimate dream wedding – a beautiful venue, excellent food, plenty of beverages, your favorite music, all on a budget!
Rachel Greenberg has a background in business and finance, and she received her MBA from Duke University in 1999. She writes fun and informative pieces for her website http://www.bargainfamily.com - which she created with her husband Lee. The website provides advice and recommendations for families on various products and services for their homes, lives, and businesses.
10 Mistakes to Avoid when Planning your Wedding Reception
LovingHeartCollection.com Creates Sentimental Gift and Cherished Moment for Brides to Express Love to the First Man in Their Life on the Wedding Day -
LovingHeartCollection.com encourages a cherished moment between brides and their father on the wedding day through the giving of a unique and sentimental gift, the Loving Heart? Pin
Bibhu Mohapatra in Sarasota to Discuss Wedding Gown designs for the Wedding of Tom Luzier and Allison Beard in Tampa
Bibhu Mohapatra, the design director for J. Mendel in New York, has been asked by Allison Beard to design her wedding dress for her wedding in March of 2007 to Tom Luzier in Tampa.
Luxury Hotel in Atlanta Unveils New Wedding Web Site
Engaged? Let the JW Marriott Hotel Buckhead Atlanta Host Your Big Day, Complete with the Four "E's"
Sparkle and Shine on Your Wedding Day - With Customized Wedding Day Original Jewelry by Kellie Sutton
It's coming up to that time of the year when spring and romance are very much in the air. With the upcoming wedding season right around the corner and with impeccable taste and timing, British Columbia's own jewelry designer Kellie Sutton has just unveiled her new Bridal collection through her "The Art of Jewelry" line.
Wedding Favors for Themed Weddings
In the event that you are planning to have a themed wedding ceremony and reception, you might want to consider providing wedding favors that are appropriate for the theme or era that you are trying to portray.
Wonderful White Gold Wedding Rings
The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. There's nothing quite like it.
Cheap Wedding Invitations
Your wedding invitations are your announcement to family and friends of your wedding date. A special day you want them to remember as the best wedding they've ever been to.
To Be Mr. and Mrs. Sometimes You Need Wedding Loans
The conception of wedding has changed over the years. Its conception, its configuration, the way it is planned – all have changed through the past times.
Wedding Speeches - Clues, Tricks and Techniques to Wow Your Wedding Audience
How wonderful to be able to express just how you are feeling in your heart to the wedded couple in a well put together wedding speech. To give a speech in front of a crowd for some people can be likened to standing in front of a firing squad without a blindfold. A wedding speech need not be a terrible ordeal for the giver of the speech, if done properly it can be great.
Wedding Speeches - Build a Long term Impression With These Marriage ceremony Speech Hints
Joy and good wishes are the order of the day when there is a wedding, and expressing these feelings are done through giving a wedding speech. Giving a speech for the majority of folks is like walking on a tightrope over a raging river with no net underneath you. Wedding speeches can be a fun experience and not a torturous ordeal if done in the proper manner.
Wedding Planning: Check the list
So the two mugs (only joking), happy couple finally decide to do the decent thing and get hitched. To give themselves that day to remember they have alot to do do and more importantly pay for. Unless you have a secret stash or the lottery has been kind to you then you need to watch where the money is going so it doesn't run out half way through. Then there is the cost of the honeymoon to consider. If you want everything to run as smoothly as possible, there is no better place to start than with a wedding planning checklist.
Signature Frames - Your Guestbook and Wedding Frame Together At Last!
So you have been invited to a wedding. Whether you are a friend, family member or the proud parents, one of the most important, if not stressful decisions is what to buy the new couple.
How to Choose Your Wedding Shoes
Wedding day is known as the most unforgettable day in human life. Most women wish that day could be perfect and hoping nothing would go wrong.
Invitations for the Wedding
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. I'm sure you've heard this phrase thousands of times, though not literally but enough to make your ears fall off. Weddings are an important time of most peoples' live and for the most part people want it to be perfect.