Weddings can be crazy expensive, but with a little creativity, you can save big without having to sacrifice style or your vision for your dream wedding. Here are some creative tips on ways you can save money while still creating a beautiful and elegant wedding that will still fit your budget.
Invitations
Your wedding invitation is most likely the first thing that guests will see that connects them to your wedding. You want your invitations to be pretty, but this isn’t the place to go wild with the budget. Guests will remember your wedding, not the invitations. The first thing you want to do is find some reputable invitation companies or printers and compare prices. Even craft stores have huge books of invitations to look through for ideas. To really save money and get the invitations that truly represent your personality, DIY invitations are a wonderful choice. They’re becoming increasingly popular among engaged couples, and you’ll find that sometimes the most elaborate projects cost the least.
Favors
Most weddings include some type of unique favor, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on them. It’s better to select or make wedding favors that are whimsical and memorable rather than something they will never use. You might also want to give your guests are parting gifts as they leave. A little bag of chocolates tied with a satin ribbon with your names and wedding dates is a perfect choice. There are many favors available that are both edible and affordable. Charitable favors are also another wonderful option that allows you to give within your budget and possibly save a life or plant a tree. This is definitely a win-win situation.
Reception Timing and Venue
The prime time and most expensive time for weddings is Saturday night. If you can be flexible, and plan on having your wedding and reception on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon, you’ll not only save money but you will likely have more choices for dates for that venue you’ve been dreaming of. Also, if your guest list isn’t too long, and you want a more casual or natural theme, you might consider having an outdoor BBQ-style or picnic reception in your family or friend’s backyard. A casual backyard reception will definitely save money and be tons of fun.
Wedding Gown
If you must have a couture wedding dress, you can often save big by simply switching out the fabric. For example, a wedding gown made of poly satin instead of silk satin will save you hundreds of dollars. You could also consider getting a wedding dress from last years’ collection from your desired designer. If you are looking for this year’s style, it’s worth shopping online at some of the more reputable discount wedding gown dealers. This will still give you your dream couture dress, but at a much better price.
Flowers
The cost of flowers can add up fast. One way to cut costs is to swap a costly type of flower for a less expensive kind and use less flowers per arrangement. You or your florist can add more greenery if they look too sparse. For example, if you plan on having 10 roses per centerpiece, only have five of them and put a less expensive option in its place. It’s a small change that could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Be sure to ask your florist what all your options are. Remember that most of your flowers will be departing with your guests, so although you want the tables to be beautiful, they won’t be on display for very long. If you, your friends, and relatives) are creative, you could also save even more money by making the centerpieces yourself.
Wedding Cake
Elaborate wedding cakes with tiers and fondant decorations can be very costly. You can get an equally beautiful and tasty cake by choosing to have a smaller cake for the cake cutting ceremony. Ask your florist to add some extra real flowers instead of frosted ones. Then have a few sheet cakes made of the same flavor and have them cut for your guests behind the scenes. Then have your caterer decorate each plate with a decadent, flavored sauce instead. It’s a much less expensive cake option that will still greatly impress your guests.
After the Wedding
Hopefully you can use some of the money you saved by following these tips for planning your dream wedding towards your dream honeymoon. When you get home from your honeymoon, don’t forget to preserve your wedding dress to forever capture the magical memories of your special day. Wedding dress preservation can be more affordable than you might think. Just make sure you use a reputable wedding dress preservation specialist. Be sure to check online reviews from real customers. You can send in your wedding dress right after your wedding and have it delivered to your doorstep soon after you return from your honeymoon.
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