How to Reduce Your Wedding Costs

Today’s bridal couple have the same big dreams of a fairy tale wedding as all those that came before. The sad part, is most of us are using a limited or vastly reduced budget. What’s a princess bride to do?

This article will share with you some quick money saving tips. It’s best if you have at least 6 months lead time before your big day, but you can even turn this around quicker if you need to.

You can save literally thousands of dollars with some of these ideas. That could mean an international honeymoon, or even money towards your new home together.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3-4" Binder
• Computer with Internet
• Creativity

1. Skip the Wedding Planner. With a little forethought and the internet at your finger tips, not to mention a few friends/family to help, you really don’t need a professional planner. Instead, scour the internet for tips and ideas and make a giant binder. Separate it into sections using tabs: Food & Beverage, Location, Ceremony, Vendors (photographer, DJ, rental companies, florist etc) and any other that make sense. Keep track of everything: bids, signed contracts, your notes in this binder. This will be your bible for the next few months.

2. 

   Pick a Theme. Planning your wedding is so much easier when you have a style or theme to work with. Use the seasons as your guide. Are you planning a summer wedding? Consider using a beach theme! It can help you choose your colors, design your invitation, decorate your reception…the list goes on and on. If you and your fiancé are playful, be playful with your theme. Let it be a reflection of you as a couple.

3. 
   Custom Invitation

   Design Your Own Wedding Stationery. Sure you could go down to the local printer and have them custom made. But have you priced that lately? Not only will it cost you a fortune, you’ll be limited to designs used by lots of other people (yawn!) and if you change something at the last minute or add some embellishment…you got it, cha-ching! Make your own! There are fabulous companies out there that allow you download a pre-made piece, or even gather up different art pieces and make your own. One of my favorites (see link below) is WeddingDNA.com. They have completely unique designs, and you can also get matching Bridal Shower invitations, Programs…even PowerPoint presentations for your rehearsal dinner. Total one-stop shopping.

4. 
   Your Aunt Can Make This!

   Tap Your Resources. Do you have an uncle who is a photographer? A cousin who does video on the side? How about your Aunt, didn’t she take a few cake decorating lessons last year? Not only will your friends and family love to pitch in and help with your wedding, they will consider it an honor and will do it as a gift to you and your husband-to-be. Do some serious thinking about the resources that you have available. Don’t forget yourself! You can actually get a lot of stuff done ahead of time and set aside. Heck, throw a party and have your bridesmaids all help you make your favors, address the envelopes and make decorations.

5. 
   Make Your Dress

   Make Your Dress. If you sew, or have a family member who does, you can get a simple pattern and customize it based on your needs. No seamstresses in your family? No worries, sketch a simple idea of what you like based on other images. Or just cut and paste elements out of a magazine. Look in your phone book for a professional seamstress. They’ll make a muslin dress, fit it, then make your real dress. It will be less expensive and have the added benefit of being completely unique to you! Oh, one more thought: you don’t need a bridal shop for bridesmaid’s dresses. You can get them online from Chadwick’s, JC Penny’s and many other stores. They’ll just be called “party dresses.” That’s okay, you’ll pocket the discount!

6. 

   Skip the Caterer. Okay, granted if you’re having hundreds of people you’ll need a professional. But if it’s smaller? Make the food ahead of time, use wedding deputies to make the fresh food the day of. Then call around and find out if there are serving companies that you can hire to set out the food so it looks catered (and to replenish food as necessary). No one will no the difference and you’ve just saved yourself tons of cash!

7. 
   Backyard Wedding

   Think At Home Reception: Nothing is more intimate and fun then a reception held in a lovely garden at home. Do your parents have enough space? What about your grandparents? Brother’s house? Make sure you have enough parking, rest room facilities and space to mingle. If so, you can save a bundle by not hiring a “venue.”

8. There are a zillion other tips to save money, but that will get you started. With a little elbow grease and some help from your friends and family, you’ll have the magical day of your dreams at a fraction of the cost. Oh, and congratulations!

Tips & Warnings

• Keep organized, it will save your bacon!

Resources

• Design Your Own Stationery
• Great Bridesmaid's Dresses
• Blank Stationery
• Another related article on Wedding Planning

[jpersing]

on 5/14/2009 I did your no. 1 tip (skip the wedding planner) and no. 4 (tap your resources) for my wedding and these worked wonderfully to my advantage. Thanks a lot. 5*/R