Cheap Wedding for a Bride with Expensive Taste
Save Money on Ceremony, Reception Décor and Vendor Bargains
Oct 26, 2009
With rising costs of everything from venues to wedding apparel, brides, grooms and their families are looking for ways to cut some of the costs without sacrificing quality or fun. Budget weddings are becoming the norm rather than the exception. More vendors are willing to work with couples to get the business. Weddings that don’t clean out the bank account will give the couple more options for housing, furnishings and other necessities without the stress of financial concerns.
Bartering for Services
If the bride or groom has a special skill that someone needs, take advantage of it and trade services with the vendor. Is the bride a creative website builder? Perhaps the DJ needs a stronger Internet presence. Does a restaurant need some carpentry work? This might be a great opportunity to offer the groom’s hammering skills in exchange for some meals during the reception. Take stock of skills, find a wedding vendor who needs those skills and make an offer.
Sponsored Wedding
For the bride or groom who doesn’t mind going door to door selling advertising, offer to place an ad in the wedding bulletin in exchange for a wedding cake or bridal gown. Having a sponsor for one substantial wedding item will help cut the bill quite a bit. Build a wedding website and advertise for anyone who is willing to sponsor the wedding.
Limit the Guest List
Each guest who attends the wedding costs money for food, favors and space for the reception. The bride and groom should come to an agreement about how many distant relatives, coworkers and associates they’ll invite. Let the guests know that they should make other arrangements for their children if they want to attend.
Cheap Wedding Invitations
Opt for regular printing rather than engraved invitations. Shop the Internet for some of the best prices. For a casual wedding create them with special inexpensive software.
Wedding Invitation Return Postage
Instead of affixing postage on a return envelope, encourage guests to reply via e-mail. Most people are willing to eliminate the extra step of taking the card to the post office and would be appreciate sending an electronic reply.
Cheap Wedding Dress
Several times a year, bridal shops offer sample sales, where dresses can be purchased for 20 to 50% off the original retail price. Other places to look for the wedding gown are Craigslist, eBay, thrift stores and consignment shops.
Instead of purchasing an expensive bridal veil, get a pattern and make one. The cheap veil can be as ornate or plain as needed.
Date and Time
Be flexible on the date and time of the wedding. Wedding and reception venues may charge a premium for a Saturday afternoon or evening wedding. Booking a wedding on a Sunday evening or a weeknight may significantly cut the cost of the event.
Church Décor
Most churches are decorated for religious holidays, so having a wedding during the holiday season will save money on flowers. Or opt for simple decorations, with a few candles and bows on the pews.
Crafty Decorations
Have a party and invite friends to come over to help assemble cheap centerpieces, craft inexpensive bouquets and make other reception decorations in exchange for sandwiches and chips.
Cheap Wedding Favors and Memories
Bridal favors don’t have to be expensive. Wrap small candies in tulle and tie with a ribbon in wedding colors to send home with each guest. Place one disposable camera in the center of each table and ask someone to snap a shot of everyone there. After the wedding, put the pictures on the Internet and send everyone a link.
Reception Food and Drink
Find a menu that isn’t expensive. Meet with the caterer or restaurateur and discuss the budget. Ask which would be less expensive between a buffet and dinner served by waitstaff. Consider having a drink limit with one or two tickets per guest, or perhaps have a dry reception.
Another option is to have the reception in the church fellowship hall and serve appetizers, dessert and punch.
Cheap Wedding Cake
Consider having a friend who loves baking make the cake as a gift to the bride and groom. Another trend is to serve wedding cupcakes on a tiered cupcake platter.
Discount Wedding for Peace of Mind
The purpose of a wedding and reception is to share the joy of the vows and celebration of two lives coming together as one. The amount of money spent on the wedding isn't as important as the love shared by all who attend.
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