Ways to save money on wedding?

Question

What are some ways to save money while planning a wedding, without the wedding looking cheap?

Answer 1

Find what is most and least important to you so you will know where money is being concentrated and be sure to budget.

Answer 2

look at all your options. it really depends on where you live. i work in a downtown hotel and the holiday weekends you can get great deals on our ballroom - the same with the summer months. someone said finger food versus sit down.... that is not always the case. finger foods can actually cost MORE then a plated sit down dinner. don't discount looking at hotels and full venues. you won't have to rent china, gass, silver, tables, linen, etc. i've done both and generally the hotel is more cost effective.



do NOT skimp on the photographer - they are ALL that will be left after a year - the food, booze,e verything else -- gone!



think about an afternoon wedding - less booze and meals are "lunch" if served before 2pm. the portions are generally only 2 oz smaller and the price is an easy $10+ cheaper!



look for packages - inclusive packages - they are generally priced out very well. compare yourself though - ask for their ala carte menus as well.



the cake... depending on how many people if it's over 200 -- have a darling cake that's oh so pretty and would feed MAYBE 50-75. then in the back there is what is called a kitchen cake - same cake, frosting etc, just not as elaborately decorated.



check with the hotel or church or whichever venue's you're using and see if there are other weddings that day. ask to have the name of the bride or yours given. see what can be done about the same florals - they don't go bad in a few short hours and splitting the cost it often a great blessing.



use a credit card that either pays you back - discover - or gives you rewards. if you are not comfortable with CC wel.... get comfy. it took a while to be discliplned but you can do it.... when you make the purchase - write a check! granted when the bill comes they may get 2-20 checks but you will not have to worry about interest and you can often get your honeymoon taken care of,.....



cake cutter goblets - stuff like that -- honour your parents or grandparents and ask to use one of or a set of theirs!



good luck!

Answer 3

Make your own cake (perhaps a small round cake and then LOTS of cupcakes!!!). Shop resale shops for a gown, and department stores like JC Penny and DEB for bridemaid dresses. I've purchased nearly ALL of my flowers from DOLLAR TREE!! (the selection changes constantly!) The DOLLAR TREE in my area also carries ring pillows, flower girl baskets (and petals) as well as a few other decorations.



Check out Oriental Trading Company for things like table clothes, napkins and God Knows what else.... HUGE selection.



Get married in a backyard, or a park. (park fees are MUCH cheaper than venue fees!) Or maybe a community center in your area. If you're having a Church Wedding you could limit the reception the cake and punch at the Church.



For a BIG reception, get a friend with a stereo to DJ.



Invitations and programs can be printed on a home computer.



Make Sure you tap all of your recourses!! Do you have an Aunt that sews? A Grandma with a great rose garden?

Answer 4

Do your flowers yourself. It's very simple to go to a farmer's market and pick out flowers, tie ribbon around the stems, and voila. Saves SO MUCH MONEY. Have a trusted friend or family member do your hair and make-up. Have a "stock the bar" party where your invites bring a bottle of wine for you and a bottle to share at the party, then use the wine at the rehearsal dinner. SHOP eBay for center pieces (so many brides just want a LITTLE money back, so you can find things that look great and cost way less on there!). My mother was very smart with our wedding and we saved THOUSANDS of dollars. We are considering writing a book! It's unbelievably easy.

Answer 5

(1) Have wedding and reception at same location. Decorating a special place in reception hall to exchange vows, saves big bucks on decorating church AND reception hall and still can be very elegante and candlelit even in mid day as many banquet halls may not have natural light.

(2) Purchase disposable cameras for each table and rely on the candid shots of guests to supply the photography of the wedding. Some of their shots were better than my photographer. You could hire a professional photographer for 1 hour to photograph the ceremony.

(3) Champagne punch in a flow fountain of frozen apple juice with ginger ale poured over it is delicious and mimics the real thing in looks without the guests getting intoxicated which can spell embarassment at the most elegante of weddings.

(4) Magnolia leaves are cheap but beautiful greenery.

(5) Use cheap clear wine goblets to hold lit votive candles for banquet tables or to illuminate a late evening outdoor wedding under a park gazebo. Attendants could carry these decorated with steamers instead of flowers for procession.

(6) A wedding on a well maintained deck can be beautifully casual and fun with a cookout reception and it photographs nicely too.

(7) With papers that can be bought and computers, making your own invitations, place cards, etc. is a snap and customizes your day with a really special touch.

(8) Remember that weddings between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 are acceptable for a h'orderves only menu and the least expensive when it come to serving. Brunch and evening weddings are more of seated affairs and therefore require catering with a plate count.

(9) Bunches of Helium balloons anchored with wrapped hex nuts and placed on tables and around reception hall instead of potted plants adds volume, glow and is festive. Satin Off white and white mixed - elegante

(10) Cut at least 3 CD's of good dance music and 1 CD of romantic dance favorites for first dance and you don't need a band or DJ.



Best wishes.

Answer 6

If there's something you know how to do and can do it, then I say do that. Personally, I felt the invitations weren't where I wanted to spend all my money, so I made them and they turned out really nice. I wouldn't chance the food or the cake. Things you'll remember forever or will forever be in pictures, don't chance on your own. You can get inexpensive, but very nice dresses at David's bridal (Mine was $350,not bad, but gorgeous!) and instead of favors (who uses those anyway!) I made a small donation to a charity (I chose the ASPCA) and they sent cards that were put on the table that said something sweet explaining that in lieu of a favor, a donation has been made in your name.



Congratulations!!!!

Answer 7

if you have friends or family good at something like cooking, baking, photos, anything that can contribute then ask them to offer their services as your wedding present instead of hiring someone.

do a reception at a non-meal time and serve just appetizers, drinks and cake. Just be clear on the invitation so people know!

take the wedding cake pic you like to grocery store bakeries and see if they can do it cheaper then a baker.

buy used wedding items like centerpieces, lights, veil to save (try ebay or craigs list)

have it in the off season (late November to early April)

if its a year away then go at the end of the season for on sale decorations at craft store (fall leave, snow flakes, whatever)

silk flowers over real, cheaper and last longer



good luck!

Answer 8

ok a big money saver is make your cake. my cousin made a 2 teir cake (she used a kit, they sell them in stores, and it looked gorgeous you could not tell that she made it) and then had a sheet cake for the rest of the guests. look around for sales on wedding dresses. also, david's bridal is seriously amazing... their prices you just can't beat. don't buy the bridesmaid dresses, have them go out and buy a little black dress, that way they can wear it again, they'll all look similar but not the same, and you can work any colors around a black dress. don't have your fiance rent a tux, just have him buy nice dress pants a dress shirt and a tie if he wants... have the groomsmen do the same, tuxedos are not a necesity... who wants their wedding to look like march of the penguins? as for food, look around, you can find gorgeous halls with affordable food options. or if it is a spring summer or fall wedding, if there is a town park or gazebo, it's very possible that residents of that town can rent it out for little or no cost. and remember, some things you are only going to use once, so while you want the cake cutter, toasting glasses, all those things to look nice... you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on them. and you have friends and family, make them useful. name the little inexpensive things you need to get and ask them to pick them up if they have a chance... it may not seem like they're spending much, but in the end it will save you a LOT.

Answer 9

Have an outdoor ceremony in a garden... this will save a bundle on rental fees... and you won't need to decorate much, since you'll be surrounded by flowers and it will be lovely. Get your gown on sale and let bridesmaids wear a dress of their choice that goes with your overall color scheme (have a general color scheme like "pastels" or "shades of blue" and they'll probably already have a dress that will work), let your groom wear a business suit that he can wear again or already owns, skip favors and centerpieces.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

Go to hobby lobby or michaels and get the plastic flowers. They will make the bouqets for you and they look awesome and do no look fake. Also make your own party favors. Use cds instead of a dj. Candles are also cheap and they also are very romantic. Go with finger foods and not have a full sit down meal.