How to Save Money on Your Wedding Reception

These wise tips will help you save money on your wedding reception without making sacrifices that you will regret later.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wisdom
• Clarity on what is important now and in the future
• A Goal in Mind - a reward for cost cutting measures
• Flexibility
• Realism
• Wise family members or friends who have had weddings
• Networking Skills

1. Imagine the perfect reception, draw it or write down what you want to happen.
   
   Don't leave out anything in this step. Think about foods, decorations, activities, music, pictures, and the friends and family you want there. Also give some thought about things you don't want to happen, this might come in handy later.

2. Write a list of everything you want or think you want.
   
   Now that you list is complete, look over your items and think about what is really important. What do you want pictures or video of from your reception? Write down the important things to you - this might be a certain cake or a picture of the cake cutting, etc.

3. 
    
   Save Money for a Downpayment for Your Home - Heather Inks Photography

   Now edit your ceremony. Think of this step as customizing your ceremony, tailoring to you and what is really important. Having a budget or a goal in mind - like investing the savings into a home or retirement account might be helpful. If your relatives are paying, see if you can work out an agreement where they will give you 1/2 of your savings to place in a retirement account.
   
   Consider the decorations, can you cut back by using bowls with floating candles rather than a bouquet at each table?
   
   Could you network and see if a family member or friend (or a friend of a friend) can take the pictures or video? Make sure to view their work first because pictures are usually the most important saved memory since people display them for a lifetime. Buying disposal cameras and paying for developing is usually a waste because guests are not professional cameramen and they don't care about the same things as you.
   
   Write down the pictures that are important to you, like throwing the bouquet or cutting the cake or the bride with grandma to make sure they are captured.
   
   Network to see if family or friends can do music, decorations, deserts, catering, etc. Sample work and thoroughly check them out before committing.
   
   Consider making your own money tree or gift box to save money.
   
   Consider eliminating buying special cake cutters or goblets unless you plan on displaying them and taking proper care of them because they rust and tarnish. If you have them initialed, who will use them in the future or want them in 100 years?
   
   Consider eliminating alcohol completely, this can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars. It will also prevent people from puking later, getting rude as the evening goes on, and doing behaviors they could regret for a lifetime or have lifelong consequences.
   
   Instead of paying a deejay, invest half of the deejay fee into purchasing your favorite artists and playing it yourself. Just burn some CD playlists of your favorite songs in the right order and mix.
   
   Invite only who is important to your reception. Or hold two receptions, a big gift opening one in front of everyone and a personal one invitation only for a special meal.
   
   Consider having the reception at relatives home that is beautiful.
   
   Or consider skipping the reception and dinner so that you can start your honeymoon when the wedding is over. Spend half your savings on the honeymoon and the other half on your home or retirement.

Tips & Warnings

• Financial problems are one of the top reasons for divorces, so avoid taking any debt or much debt for your wedding or honeymoon. Houses, education, and retirement are better options for spending money.
• Remember it is YOUR wedding reception, especially if you are paying for it, you make the finals decisions. If an Aunt wants steak and chicken, but you just want chicken, then your choice rules unless she is paying for your reception.
• It is the only time in your life to have a huge cake, so if you dream of a fancy cake - this may be the time to splurge here.
• Buying disposal cameras and paying for developing is usually a waste because guests are not professional cameramen and they don't care about the same things as you.

Resources

• How to Save Money on a Fall Wedding
• How to Have the Best Wedding Skin - Hydration Tips
• The Best Hot Weather Makeup for Honeymoons
• Sexy Hats for Tropical Honeymoons
• How to Have a Beach Wedding for Under $500 - the WHOLE thing
• Health, Fashion, Green Articles and More by Heather Inks
• Convenient One Page List of Heather Inks' Articles

[heatherinks]

on 8/29/2009 Wedding receptions can be lots of fun without lots of waste - save the money and spend it on something more permanent like an education, home, or retirement account. God bless.

[brahdah]

on 5/12/2009 my friends daughter is getting married in june, told her about your article and she liked it very much. told me to thank you. 5* REC.aloha

[heatherinks]

on 4/25/2009 That is right, it so important to remember the reason for marrying and not to bring a lot of silly debt into a marriage. In the end, I would rather have an excellent education, a nice home, and a nice retirement. Retirements last longer than wedding receptions, so I hope people will learn to save money on their wedding receptions.

[cygnetbrown]

on 4/25/2009 Great tips on how to save money on your wedding reception. An important thing to remember is that what's more important than the wedding is the reason for the wedding. The worst thing that we can do to a marriage is to bring into it a lot of debt just because we splurged that special day.

[jull14]

on 4/23/2009 Wonderful tips on how to Save Money on Your Wedding Reception, this is a great article for those that are planning to get married this year, thanks so much for sharing with me. Julia