Wedding Tips

From Christmas to Valentine’s Day many couples decide to take the plunge and get engaged. This then leads to months of planning, spending, and stressing out. There are numerous things that you can do that will prevent you from spending more than you have to on a wonderful wedding. So if you are getting married or know someone who is, we pass on this information to you, to help you save a little money for the honeymoon.

Like most anything else, organization is key. Start a wedding binder full of folders and paper. You can gather information and compare notes to find the best deals. Then you are going to want to set up your wedding budget. Determine how much you can afford and what your priorities are to make your day special. You can go online or create a budget worksheet yourself. It should feature all the major categories associated with weddings; flowers, invitations, gifts, attire, rehearsal, reception, etc. There are many other categories and sub-categories that will specifically pertain to your individual plans.

Like the key to any successful marriage, communication is important. So why not practice now. Discuss with your partner what each of you think are important elements of your wedding. The next element of marriage is compromise. By knowing what each of you wishes and coming to an agreements on the conditions, then it will be easier for each of you to find ways on how you can save money on it.

Setting the date will be the most efficient way to help you plan. You can save plenty of money by choosing a date that is not one of the most popular months. Think about having a fall wedding or spring wedding instead of the popular and over saturated summer months. The longer you wait to have the wedding the more time you have to save and plan. The day and time will also save you money. If you are not planning on a big wedding, why not have it on a Sunday or during the middle of the week. Morning weddings followed by a lunchtime reception will not cost you as much.

Many cities have bridal showcases in late winter to early spring. These are definitely worth checking out. Everything you will be looking for is all under one roof and many of the businesses offer coupons and discounts. There is generally a formal wear modeling show, and many raffles for big prizes.

The number of guests you invite will have a significant effect on the amount of money you spend. A smaller guest list gives you many options to save. You can have your reception in a smaller hall or even a restaurant. You will not need to buy as many invitations and will save on the amount of food you will need to serve. If you are buying or assisting in the wedding party attire, you can save by limiting the number of your wedding party. Don’t feel pressured to have a big wedding party. Just because you were in a friend’s wedding doesn’t mean you have to expand your wedding party to include them.

A lot of saving will come depending on how much of the work you want to do yourself. While many people welcome this work, there are some who just simply don’t have the extra time to commit to all the extra work that can come with planning a wedding.

Tune in next month where we will continue with more wedding tips.

We continue from last month with more ideas on how to save money when planning a wedding.

Flowers:

Buy flowers that are in season as they will be cheaper. Consider a smaller amount of flowers for bouquets and boutonnieres. A bridesmaid carrying a single flower can look just as wonderful as a full bouquet.

Consider using silk flowers. They are considerably cheaper and they will never die. If you have an abundance of wildflowers that grow in your area you can use those in bouquets.

Reception:

If you are looking for a place to save money then food is usually a good idea. Most guests hardly remember what the meal for the reception was and would be happy with an array of meat and cheeses. Comparison shop and negotiate. Use competitor’s prices against each other to get the best deal.

Be aware of extra charges and set limits. If the coffee or juice runs out towards the end of the night they may fill it back up and charge you for it, even if nobody drinks anymore of it. So agree ahead of time to set the limit of how many times to fill beverages.

You can save a lot of money by doing the work yourself. You can buy meat, cheese, and buns in bulk, and if you find a good price on it you can freeze it for a few months before the wedding. Have a few family members prepare an array of salads or side dishes. You may be able to purchase large party-style sandwiches from a bakery or restaurant that will be cheaper than hiring a caterer.

Attire:

If you are fortunate enough to know a seamstress, take advantage and ask for their help in lieu of a gift. You can make a dress from scratch, update, or add-on to older or department store dresses. There are many discount gown stores that feature many gorgeous gowns at reasonable prices.

Decide how important formal wear is for the groom and his groomsmen. You can save by having groomsmen wear a suit and tie, instead of renting spendy tuxes. Ushers and ring bearers will still look nice in a polo shirt in wedding colors and nice khakis.

Invitations:

Invitations are another expense that deserves a lot of attention for finding ways to save. With home computer software, you can create professional invitations in a few simple steps. Many office supply stores have wedding-invitation kits that include all the envelopes and papers that you need. It is important to itemize how much home kits will cost (including ink for your printer), and compare them with professional invitations. There are many online stores where you can find great looking invitations for a reasonable price. If professional invitations are in the same price range or even a little more than what it would cost to do yourself, it may be worth it to buy the professional ones to save you time and hassle. Another way to save is to have a postcard invitation. You send out a nice postcard and setup a website or message line where people can RSVP. This saves you with expensive invitations and you only have to pay the postcard postage rate.

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