The cost of a wedding in this day and age can be astronomical. All the element involved can end up blowing your budget out of proportion. There is an abundance of resources out there for you to use that most brides are unaware of. You do not have forfeit the wedding day of your dreams just to save your wallet. By using the following tips and techniques you can have a beautiful wedding day without having to worry about paying for it in years to come.
The location of a wedding can be a costly discussion. Although it does not have to be. Consider performing your ceremony at a local park or at the beach. Most local park & recreation facilities will allow you to perform your ceremony at these locations for a very low fee. In some circumstances they only ask for a deposit.
If hosting your ceremony outdoors is not an option, check with your local town hall for a list of local halls and recreation centers that can be rented out for a day. Make sure you visit all the sites that you are considering before making your final decision. If you are decorating the space yourself, ask if you can have access to the site the night before your wedding. This will give you extra time to set up.
Get all the information and details on what is included in the space. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that they space may be large enough for you to have your reception there also. They may also be able to provide you which other items you can use, such as tables and chairs. This can be an immense help when trying to stay within your budget.
One of the most important decision for a bride to be can be picking out the wedding dress. It can be a very expensive one also. To keep your cost down, consider shopping at local consignment shops. If you do not have any success there, try shopping online. There are many fabulous online bridal shops. I purchased a dress for my wedding three years ago from bridalonlinestore.com. It was very elegant & perfect for my wedding day. Be sure to check out the clearance sections. Even if you end up having to get a dress that is one size off, most seamstress and tailors can resize up to three sizes. Most alterations can be done for very inexpensively.
Cutting cost on where you purchase your wedding cake is also an option. Inquire at your local grocery store bakery, Wal-Mart Super Store or at a local community college. The culinary arts department will be more than likely be happy to have the opportunity to help you design and create a lovely wedding cake that will fit into your style & best of all your budget. They may even be interested in helping you with the catering.
If you are hosting your wedding reception at a hotel or formal reception hall a sit down formal dinner might be less expensive. If you are hosting your wedding reception at a rented facility, such as a recreation hall or a community center it may be more cost effective to have a buffet style menu with your own caters. The guest can also choose what they would like from a variety of foods. If you have chosen to serve alcohol at your wedding, an open bar can run up your tab quick. As an alternative have a drink table.
Ask the catering company if a member of the catering staff can monitor the table for you. Buy the alcohol, wine and champagne in bulk at a discount super store, such at Sams Club, BJ"s Wholesale, or Costco. Consider renting a frozen drink machine from an party equipment rental company. You can then serve frozen cocktails also. The two machines I used for my wedding were rented for only $35.00. This turned out to be a great idea.
You may also want to try to cut cost on the photographer. Shop around, do not choose the first one you see in the yellow pages. Ask friends and family if they know any photographers. Another option would be to inquire with local photography schools or a colleges. You might be surprise to find a student willing to lend their services. If you are worried about the quality of the photos as the student photographer for samples of their past shoots. If you go with a professional photographer ask if you can buy the negatives. This way you can choose the a smaller picture package to purchase. If you have the negatives you can always make plenty of copies after the wedding is over.
When it comes to decorating your ceremony or reception site there are many options you can try. Shop online for special decoration elements that can add beautiful touches to your reception. Fabric rose petals scattered over the guest tables or throughout the entry way can make a lovely statement for your guest. You can make your own centerpieces by simply placing a medium size vase with an arrangement of flowers in it.
