A grand, no-expenses-spared, fairy-tale wedding is every couple's dream, for those who're well-off, this is a superb way of celebrating your love!
However, as we all know, a costly wedding is not a vital or even necessary ingredient for a perfect marriage - the two have nothing whatsoever to do with each other.
Nowadays, with weddings becoming more and more expensive, couples who just simply want to put a seal on their love together are looking for more affordable, greener ways to get hitched.
There is a brilliant way to give friends and relatives a good time, have a classy, memorable, fairy-tale wedding, put aside enough to get on the property ladder, and save the planet while you're at it.
Your Family and Friends
I've chosen to discuss this first because in order to have an affordable, green wedding, it is vital that you first inform your family and friends about this decision and rope in all the assistance you can get. Letting them know from the start that you will need their help and involvement (work promises) in every step, to make sure that everything runs smoothly, is a crucial way of preparing for the first day of your life as husband and wife. In order to take some of the stress off the wedding, it makes absolute sense to put different people in charge of various aspects of the event, which I will explain as I go along.
The Venue
The cost for your reception adds up to about half of the average wedding expenses. To be able to cut costs it means that this area has to be seriously considered. While not compromising the perfection of your wedding, the reception does not have to be at expensive venues to which your guests need to travel. Here are some beautiful, affordable options.
Local Gardens
If you contact the local authorities in advance, you could have your wedding at the local gardens. You would have no need to buy flowers as you would have the exquisite aroma of blossoms on trees, and flowers still in the ground, waving in the wind. Fresh air, daisies popping up from the grass, birds chirping, and at certain times of the year, even swans gently gliding by. No matter how much money you forked out, you couldn't get that backdrop in a rented hall.
The Beach
Many couples are now choosing the beach as the place to tie the knot. The liberating feeling of open space, and the peaceful sounds of waves gently splashing the shore are totally therapeutic. The simple idea of being able to run bare foot along with your brand new life partner in the cool water is exhilarating! You'll always remember the joy of your wedding day every time you smell or think of the sea. What a cheerful, profound investment.
Local castle grounds
Gorgeous, well-kept and affordable castle grounds spell freedom, class and beauty. You do not need to use the house/castle as this would obviously make your costs soar. We will discuss venues to which you can go for the reception as we go along.
Sports Ground or the Ice Rink
If you are fond of sports, why not ask to have the wedding ceremony at your local sports ground? I am certain that you would be accommodated as long as you're not interrupting a big match.
The Reception
The Village Hall
The village hall will charge a fraction of the cost of many wedding reception venues, and wouldn't lessen the fun the guest will have even by one iota, as the perfection of your wedding is not marked by how grand your reception hall is, but how total and profound your love for each other has been. If you can, having the reception party in the middle of the week, means that distant relatives who would only otherwise put in an appearance for the free food, won't think it worth coming.
Local Sports/ Leisure Center
Here is where the bride and groom could take the plunge literally. Everyone could be asked to come dressed as their favourite sports personality. You could put up sheets of paper at the door and have guests vote for the best costume, with the winner getting a prize.
Family or Friend's Large House
If you are lucky enough to have family or friends with a large house/gardens, why not ask them, as a wedding present to you, to allow you to have the wedding reception there. You could make sure that you get other family members to help clean up after the reception. Having this in the evening means that you won't need to have a sit down meal. You could have organic, posh, stylish finger foods instead, easily bought from the super market. Marks and Spencers' in the UK is the perfect place for wedding catering. They stock an extensive range of exclusive, first-class finger foods and even do wedding cakes.
