Ways to Cut Costs When Planning a Wedding
The average wedding costs couples more than $25,000. If you want your wedding to be memorable, but don't have that kind of money to spend on your big day, there are many different ways to cut costs. By using a little creativity and choosing your splurges wisely, you can still have the wedding of your dreams -- without breaking the bank.
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Trim the Guest List
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The more guests you have, the more money your wedding will cost. Therefore, in order to have the best wedding your budget can afford, it's important to keep the guest list as small as possible. By limiting your guests to only close friends and family, you may be able to afford a nicer reception venue and better food to serve your guests.
Make Invitations More Efficient
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Instead of sending separate invitation cards for your wedding ceremony and reception, combine them on one card. This will result in double the savings, because you will have one less card to be printed and the envelope will be lighter, making postage cheaper. You can also opt for traditional, no-frill envelopes, instead of those with fancy lining, to decrease costs even more.
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Pull Your Resources
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Use your creativity to cut costs. Make the table centerpieces for your reception yourself. Hire a creative friend or family member to design your invitations. Ask around and see if anyone you know has connections to a local florist, baker, caterer or photographer. If so, these professionals might be willing to provide their services to you at a discount.
Choose Off-Peak Times
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Saturday nights are the most expensive time of the week to have a wedding. You can often save 10-20% by having your wedding on a Friday night or a Saturday afternoon. You can also save money by having your wedding during an off-peak month. These months vary according to the area where you're holding the wedding, but May through August are typically the busiest months of the season.
Find a Wedding Dress Online
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Although this goes against tradition, more and more brides are saving money by purchasing their wedding dresses online. Many websites offer deep discounts on designer gowns or other, equally beautiful dresses that are not sold in stores. Make sure to order from a store that accepts returns and has a refund policy, in case you are not satisfied with the dress when it arrives.
Shrink the Cake
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Elaborate wedding cakes are very beautiful, but also very expensive. To cut the costs of your wedding cake, order a small, fancy wedding cake to use for pictures. Then order a sheet cake to serve to your guests. They will never know the difference, and you will save yourself a lot of money.
Narrow the Alcohol Selection
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Instead of having an open bar at your reception, limit the selection of alcohol that your guests have to choose from. Select one or two types of beer, one or two types of wine and one signature cocktail for the drink options. This will significantly cut down on your wedding costs, as picking up the tab for an open bar can be very expensive.
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