Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding

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  • user warning: Incorrect key file for table './bedrupal/cache_filter.MYI'; try to repair it query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p><img width=\"160\" vspace=\"5\" hspace=\"5\" height=\"120\" border=\"0\" align=\"right\" src=\"http://billeater.com/sites/default/files/images/IMG_2136_y_0.JPG\" class=\"ibimage\" alt=\"\" />Financing a wedding can easily get out of hand -- if you let it. In 2009, according to The Wedding Report, the average U.S. wedding cost $19,581, which is actually down from 2007&rsquo;s $28,732. Luckily, you don&rsquo;t have to go into debt to get married. Shop around, compare prices and take a non-traditional route for a dream wedding at a budget price.</p>\n<h2>Inexpensive wedding locations</h2>\n<p>A local park or nature preserve usually requires only an inexpensive group permit. Some even have areas specifically for weddings. The one drawback might be the need to rent everything from tables to china and possibly a tent.</p>\n<p>A local banquet hall - not a chain - is often more budget-friendly than you&rsquo;d expect. They provide everything, often including centerpieces, and you have only one person to negotiate prices with. Some even work with a local bakery and DJ who give discounts to the hall&rsquo;s clients.</p>\n<h2>Inexpensive wedding dresses</h2>\n<p>Don&rsquo;t blow your budget on your wedding gown. If you won&rsquo;t be preserving your dress, rent it. In some areas, you can rent a $1,000 dress for about $250. You can rent bridesmaid dresses, too.</p>\n<p>Other options include vintage dresses, sample sales or even local classifieds. You might even find an entire &ldquo;set&rdquo; of wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses from a cancelled wedding.</p>\n<p>For your bridesmaids, consider choosing a color and hem length, and letting them each find their own dress. Since one style rarely suits all attendants, this can be both cheaper and prettier than identical dresses.</p>\n<h2>Inexpensive wedding flowers</h2>\n<p>Pick local in season flowers, and buy them from your grocery store&rsquo;s floral department, many of which create gorgeous arrangements very cheaply. Repurpose the ceremony flowers for the cake table.</p>\n<p>If you are crafty and have the time, make your own silk flower arrangements.</p>\n<h2>Inexpensive wedding photography</h2>\n<p>Hire a professional photographer for the ceremony only. Ask if your preferred photographer has an associate shooter whose services are less expensive.</p>\n<p>If you know any good amateur photographers, ask them to take pictures at the reception as your wedding gift.</p>\n<h2>Inexpensive wedding food</h2>\n<h3>The cake:</h3>\n<p>Supermarket bakeries can make beautiful wedding cakes. Also, buy only a small-tiered cake and supplement it with a sheet cake, if necessary.</p>\n<h3>The dinner:</h3>\n<p>Buffets are not always cheaper than sit-down dinners, because the extra food involved can offset savings from fewer servers. Focus on the food itself, not how it&rsquo;s served. Done right, a simple salad followed by a classic chicken or pasta dish is satisfying and inexpensive.</p>\n<p>Limit the bar choices to beer, wine and maybe one cocktail. Even better, skip the open bar, especially if it&rsquo;s an afternoon wedding. Wine with dinner should be sufficient.</p>\n<h2>More budget wedding tips</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Limit the favors:</strong> Give only one favor per couple or make a small charitable donation and leave a card at each place setting to inform your guests. Or skip favors entirely; most guests probably won&rsquo;t even notice.</li>\n<li><strong>Get invitations from a party store:</strong> Selection may be limited, but you can save one-third or more off the cost of a card shop.</li>\n<li><strong>Think small:</strong> Limit your guest list to close friends and family. Not only can you save dinner costs of $30-$60 or more per person, you might actually get a chance to talk with all your guests.</li>\n<li><strong>Pick an &ldquo;off&rdquo; date:</strong> Demand sets prices, so avoid the popular June and Saturday evening dates. Many vendors, including banquet halls, caterers and musicians, offer more flexible pricing for off-peak dates.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>With a little creativity, you can create a beautiful day at an affordable price.</p>\n', created = 1328773298, expire = 1328859698, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '2:f3105f213079c81f09fbf3b0f1aa6088' in /var/www/billeater/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
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Apr 2010
19

Financing a wedding can easily get out of hand -- if you let it. In 2009, according to The Wedding Report, the average U.S. wedding cost $19,581, which is actually down from 2007’s $28,732. Luckily, you don’t have to go into debt to get married. Shop around, compare prices and take a non-traditional route for a dream wedding at a budget price.

Inexpensive wedding locations

A local park or nature preserve usually requires only an inexpensive group permit. Some even have areas specifically for weddings. The one drawback might be the need to rent everything from tables to china and possibly a tent.

A local banquet hall - not a chain - is often more budget-friendly than you’d expect. They provide everything, often including centerpieces, and you have only one person to negotiate prices with. Some even work with a local bakery and DJ who give discounts to the hall’s clients.

Inexpensive wedding dresses

Don’t blow your budget on your wedding gown. If you won’t be preserving your dress, rent it. In some areas, you can rent a $1,000 dress for about $250. You can rent bridesmaid dresses, too.

Other options include vintage dresses, sample sales or even local classifieds. You might even find an entire “set” of wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses from a cancelled wedding.

For your bridesmaids, consider choosing a color and hem length, and letting them each find their own dress. Since one style rarely suits all attendants, this can be both cheaper and prettier than identical dresses.

Inexpensive wedding flowers

Pick local in season flowers, and buy them from your grocery store’s floral department, many of which create gorgeous arrangements very cheaply. Repurpose the ceremony flowers for the cake table.

If you are crafty and have the time, make your own silk flower arrangements.

Inexpensive wedding photography

Hire a professional photographer for the ceremony only. Ask if your preferred photographer has an associate shooter whose services are less expensive.

If you know any good amateur photographers, ask them to take pictures at the reception as your wedding gift.

Inexpensive wedding food

The cake:

Supermarket bakeries can make beautiful wedding cakes. Also, buy only a small-tiered cake and supplement it with a sheet cake, if necessary.

The dinner:

Buffets are not always cheaper than sit-down dinners, because the extra food involved can offset savings from fewer servers. Focus on the food itself, not how it’s served. Done right, a simple salad followed by a classic chicken or pasta dish is satisfying and inexpensive.

Limit the bar choices to beer, wine and maybe one cocktail. Even better, skip the open bar, especially if it’s an afternoon wedding. Wine with dinner should be sufficient.

More budget wedding tips

  • Limit the favors: Give only one favor per couple or make a small charitable donation and leave a card at each place setting to inform your guests. Or skip favors entirely; most guests probably won’t even notice.
  • Get invitations from a party store: Selection may be limited, but you can save one-third or more off the cost of a card shop.
  • Think small: Limit your guest list to close friends and family. Not only can you save dinner costs of $30-$60 or more per person, you might actually get a chance to talk with all your guests.
  • Pick an “off” date: Demand sets prices, so avoid the popular June and Saturday evening dates. Many vendors, including banquet halls, caterers and musicians, offer more flexible pricing for off-peak dates.

With a little creativity, you can create a beautiful day at an affordable price.

 

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