With the tough economic times we are experiencing, many brides find it necessary to reevaluate their wedding budgets. The following ten cost-saving tips will help you trim the wedding budget “fat” and stretch your hard-earned dollar.
1). Purchase flowers that are local and in-season. Incorporating orchids into a winter wedding is going to cost you a pretty penny. Instead, visit your local flower market and select seasonal white Calla Lilies or deep red roses to form your bridal bouquets or table centerpieces.
2). Have your wedding favors double as your place cards or guest escort cards. Indicate the guest’s name and table assignment on a label or hang tag and attach it to the favor box or bag. Place the wedding favors / place cards on a central table at the entrance of the reception room. Guests will learn of their assigned seats as they pick up their unique wedding favors.
3). Avoid couture bridesmaids’ dresses and instead peruse through the clothing racks of popular national clothing retailers. By selecting a color and style that the bridesmaids can use after the wedding day, you’ll assure that they can prolong the use of the dress and thus get extra value from it. Best yet, your bridesmaids can shop at their convenience at their local retailer.
4). Consider a Friday evening or Sunday day wedding. This alone can save you tons of money.
5). Craft the wedding invitations yourself. Many discount stores now offer stylish wedding invitations, thank-you cards, and wedding ceremony programs that you can print yourself in the comfort of your own home. Purchasing a box of inexpensive embossed wedding invitations is now as easy as shopping for copy paper and staples.
6). Have several family and friends arrange your bridal bouquet, bridal party bouquets and boutonnieres as well as table centerpieces. A word of caution: to avoid wilting, make sure to arrange the flowers no later than the night before. By assigning this task to a group of trustworthy individuals, you can certainly save hundreds of dollars.
7). If you know a friend or family member who has great interest in photography as a hobby, they may be willing to photograph your wedding for free.
8). Avoid using invitations with an odd shape. They only increase your postage which will add to the cost. Use standard-sized invitations instead.
9). Apply your makeup yourself, and style your own hair.
10). Limit the size of your bridal party to family members and best of friends. Have the others take tasks that are just as important, such as passing out the programs and escorting guests to their seats.
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