How to Plan a Simple Inexpensive Wedding

As children, young girls dream of the day they will have their perfect wedding. What they don't dream about is having to remortgage your house to get the fairytale wedding they have always wanted. There are things you can do to cut costs for any wedding.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• notebook
• creativity

1. Find a small wedding cake for decoration on the cake table. Then order a large sheet cake to cut and serve. Forget any other sweets and use the cake for the desert. There isn't any reason to have a gigantic wedding cake and a grooms cake when everyone is going to be paying attention to the bride and groom.

2. Make as many things as you can. The pew bows, programs, bridesmaid dresses, ring bearer pillow and so forth can all be made. Get friends and family to help in this part.

3. Borrow things such as serving set, cake knife, toasting glasses, brides shoes and so forth. You don't ever use these items again, at least not for years, so there is no need to spend money if ones you know already have them.

4. Instead of hiring a florist, make items or contact a local floral design school and hire them to provide your flowers. Carry a small bouquet or one flower and have your attendants do the same. The bridesmaids bouquets can double as flower arrangements on the head table.

5. When shopping for dresses shop J.C. Penney and Chadwick's catalogs, consignment shops, discontinued gown racks, the Internet and newspaper ads. Remember, it is always great if you can count on Dear Aunt Sally or your Grandmother to make them too! I am sure they would be honored.

6. When setting the wedding date you may want to consider choosing a Friday rather than a Saturday as it usually trims off about $3 per guest at your dinner reception. Choose a buffet or plate dinner versus a sit-down dinner. Serve chicken or pasta; it is less expensive. In addition, you may want to decide on a morning or afternoon reception and serve cake, punch, and hors d'oeuvres. Serve beer, wine or just host a cocktail hour. Purchase your liquor from wholesalers. It may be wise to check with culinary and bakery schools in your area to see if they can help with food preparation; many will prepare the food for its cost.

7. Rent a Cadillac or other luxury vehicle just for the bride, groom, maid or matron of honor and best man to save on the expense of a limousine. The other members of the Bridal Party will most likely want to ride with their spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend to the reception.

8. When choosing your wedding invitation, select one that will only require one stamp. Another great tip is to have your reception information added on the ceremony invitation to eliminate the expense of the reception card.

[almommabear]

on 12/13/2008 I agree with what everyone said! We had a very budgeted wedding, and I was already stressed about what little details there were....I can't imagine a big wedding. I wouldn't even enjoy it! Thanks for the very informative and true tips.

[jkg0679]

on 11/7/2008 We had an inexpensive wedding. Inexpensive doesn't necessarily mean cheap and tacky. We had a lovely wedding with the little bit of money we had to spend! I wouldn't have had it any other way! :)

[Gardengates]

on 10/27/2008 Good article. And sometimes the smaller weddings make better memories than all the stress and expense of the bigger ones.

[GreenGardenChic]

on 10/27/2008 Lovely article for planning a wedding. We don't need the glossy magazine wedding and we don't need 300 guests either.

[LilacGirl]

on 10/27/2008 Planning a simple inexpensive wedding should be easy with the detailed and helpful tips in your article.