I learned to cut corners, and used my craft skills for many expensive things like invitations, programs, floral arrangements/bouquets, etc.
There are so many ways to cut the costs of weddings, you just need to decide on three things that are paramount to the day, and compromise on the rest. For example, photography, ceremony venue, and reception venue were the three where I put the most money. Add up your monthly earnings, subtract expenses, and then see what's left. From there decide how much each of you can afford to save.
Here are some of my money-saving tricks:
Ceremony: Have an early ceremony (around 2 o'clock).
*Your guests will have already have eaten lunch, and won't be expecting a huge meal. You then can serve light food such as finger food and desert. This is the only way that my fiance' could manage to feed our 180-200 guests without going way over our budget.
Wedding dress: I found a beautiful gown at http://www.groupusa.com/ for a little more than $300 (my splurge). They have beautiful gowns by wonderful designers from affordable to extravagent.
*Try places like GroupUSA, David's Bridal, and even eBay for knockout deals.
I just found this eBay store http://myworld.ebay.com/gianinarbridal
One dress is $39! Brand new. Add $89 for shipping from China and you have some knock out deals.
Bridal Jewelry: I found my crystal wedding jewelry at no other than Wal Mart. Originally I had been looking at genuine jewelry from big name stores, but decided to scrimp here to save money for the wedding gifts my fiance' and I plan to get each other.
*Don't forget retail sortes like Wal Mart and Target. My headpiece, earrings, and necklace by Crystal Collections came to $21.
Wedding location: I have four choices, a lovely place on the property of a family friend, the beautiful garden of a local inn, a church that has a SMALL fee and goes well with my wedding style, or on the mountain where my grandparents' grew up, married, and live.
*Look for unconventional venues; they'll be cheaper or even free. I opted for the for the garden for my English Garden theme.
Reception Site: I have two options here, one of which is the brand new mansion-style library in our town. It would cost only $199 ($100 refundable damage deposit, and $40 for a library worker to stay on site). The other would be our local arts building of the town center. They have several large and beautiful rooms and are roughly the same amount as the library.
*The same rule for venues applies here.
Caterer: My friends and family are fabulous cooks, and are going to provide a buffet-style meal for the wedding guests.
*Friends and family can really cut down on wedding expenses!
Cake: A friend of my fiance' and I is a baker, and would only charge us the price of the ingredients.
*If you don't have anyone who can provide this. Go for a two or three tier cake, and then have sheet cakes to cut for the bulk of the guests. That way you end up saving several hundred dollars. You can also have a two-tier cake, serving that only to wedding party, parents, and grandparents and serve guests with a cupcake tower.
I'm simply having a three tier cupcake tower and forgoing the cake.
Flowers: I am making my own bouquets. Flowers for a 30-stem wedding bouquet, toss bouqet, six 20-stem bridesmaid bouquets, arrangements, and 18 centerpieces (five flowers a vase would only run $288 before shipping costs from http://www.theflowerexchange.com. I am having a family friend do the arrangements for a fraction of the cost.
*Do as much as you can on your own! Http://www.theknot.com has videos and step-by-steps on how to make your own bouquets and arrangements.
Favors: For get then! Most of the guests toss these expensive trinkets.
*Instead I am making a candy buffet--something even my smallest guests would enjoy. You need a small table, glass vases shapes and sizes, candy from a bulk store like Sam's (in your wedding colors, if you like), scoops, and little bags or favor boxes. Mine will come to about $60.
Children: Do you want children at your wedding, but want the adults to enjoy the reception worry free?
*If so, enlist a teenage niece, cousin, or friend. They may help as a wedding present, or simply be happy with $50 or so. They can keep the children happy and occupied with toys or color books in another room. Alternatively have the kid's table covered in a paper table cloth with crayons at each place setting.
Invitations: You can purchase nice paper, envelopes, and an emblam, and an ink cartridge and make your own for about $50. OR you could go to http:///www.invitationsbydawn.com.
She has great deals and some of them come to a total as little as $100.
*Instead of $250-$350! Do what you can on your own, or look for budget-conscience resources like the one above.
I am making my own invitations using beautiful, old postcards from the early 1900s. One-of-a-kind, over a century old, and inexpensive at a total of $90.
DJ: My fiance's brother is a DJ, and will save us $975 by doing the reception as a wedding gift.
*If you don't have someone like this, consider cutting the cost by having premade CDs of the music you want, and have someone man the player.
Attendant Gifts: Try places like http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com
*I found my 7 attendants gifts for $35, because they were having a sale on freshwater pearl and silver bracelets =]
Centerpieces: Something simple. If you're having a fall wedding, vases filled with slender branches painted gold or silver is beautiful and inexpensive, and branches of berries can be added for winter. Spring or summer, simple vases with a few flowers.
*I found short, square vases and am putting five gerbera daisies in each. Total cost for 18 tables is $99, and they look gorgeous!
Have your bridesmaids' pay for their dress and shoes, and have a family friend who's good with hair or makeup help with that on the wedding day. Be sure to get them nice gifts!
If your attendants are on a budget, go to a place like http://www.groupusa.com for dress ideas. My attendants dresses cost $119 each, and they're something they can wear again and again.
Good luck!