Budget Wedding Tips

Despite what many bridal catalogues, wedding websites, friends, family members, celebrities, etc., might have you believe, you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a nice wedding. I personally planned my husband's and my vow renewal ceremony (since we eloped, this ceremony was our "wedding," with almost all the trimmings) for under $2,000. It can be done.

The average cost of a wedding today is $22,000. Many couples actually take out loans to pay for their weddings. I'm of the personal opinion that, unless you just have a lot of extra money lying around, you shouldn't have to pay nearly this much for your wedding. Most couples can't realistically afford it, either (hence the loans). Why put yourself in debt for something that's going to last only a few hours, when you could save that money for your marriage, which will probably last longer, unless you happen to be Drew Barrymore.

For those of you looking to plan a wedding on a shoestring budget, don't worry...there are quite a few resources for you, including books and websites. I've also decided to post my personal tips here for you to peruse and consider.

Location
The price of your ceremony and reception location(s) can make or break you, budgetwise. Don't expect to get a great deal simply by renting out the church you've been attending since childhood, either, although there are always exceptions. If you can get a good price from your church, great! If not, here are some other options:

-museums and art galleries, especially smaller venues
-local colleges (it doesn't have to be your alma mater, either; a lot of colleges rent out their facilities for such functions)
-historical houses
-state parks
-botanical gardens
-zoos (they usually only rent out for receptions)
-local hotels
-theatres/concert halls (not movie theatres; the stage kind *wink*)

This is just a very small list. Be creative; think outside the box! Drive around your area with the purpose of looking for possible locations. You'll be surprised at what you see as possibilities! And never underestimate the power of having a "friend of a friend of a cousin" who has a huge, beautiful mansion. The main thing is to ask!

Also, a lot of locations will give you a deal of sorts if you agree to have both your ceremony and reception at their site. Some will even provide catering for the reception for a discount if you go with this option. You must ask about all of these things; ask them for deals, for discounts. The worst they can say is "no."

Dress
There are tons of discount bridal shops on the Internet. Also, there's probably a David's Bridal near you; be sure to check them out, as they often have lovely dresses for low prices.

A lot of designers have a separate "informal" or "destination wedding" collection, and these dresses are almost always under $1,000, and usually much cheaper than that, even directly from a bridal shop. Also, look for bridesmaids dresses in styles you like, as they are much cheaper than wedding gowns.

If you buy from a bridal shop, be wary of alteration costs. Ask up front about these costs.

If you buy from the Internet, be sure to do so at least a couple of months before your wedding, even if they promise "lightning-fast" delivery, just to be on the safe side and to allow time for alterations.

eBay always has a huge selection of bridal gowns, but be wary: some of these so-called "designer" dresses are not actually by the promised designer. Also, eBay has many bidders who are "professional" bidders of sorts and who will sneak in during the last few minutes (even seconds) of an auction and bid a dress right out from under you, leaving you with no time to outbid them. I've seen my share of brides-to-be heartbroken after losing their dream dress in an auction. So just be aware of that.

Also, if you know someone who's a fabulous seamstress, why not have your dress made? You can get a pattern from McCalls or a similar design catalog, or--if you're especially creative--come up with a design yourself. Or you can go with an old standby, and try on dresses in a bridal shop and get someone to (inconspicuously) take pictures of you in the dresses, then take the pictures to a seamstress.

Invitations
Invitations are often brides' budget-breakers, because many people don't expect them to be as expensive as they are. You can easily avoid these costs by either ordering your invitations off of eBay or making them yourself. You can find great invitation stationery at stationery stores (and at Target!) for budget prices, and you can either use your own printer or go to Kinko's. There are also several invitation kits for computers that will help you with design and layout.

I personally feel that handmade invitations are much more meaningful, and often much more attractive, than "professional" invitations. You have the freedom to do whatever you want, and there's just something very special about that personal do-it-yourself touch.

Favors
Make your own! Again, eBay has wonderful sources for wedding favors, and you can also get supplies from Michael's, Target, or any craft store. Most wedding sites have tons of favor ideas.

The cake
If you're having a small wedding, you might consider making the cake yourself, or getting a friend or family member with culinary talent to make one.
Publix also makes beautiful wedding cakes for great prices. For example, 3-tiered cake is a flat rate of $159. Compare that to most bakeries, where you'll pay around $7-$10 per slice (on average).

Decorations
eBay, Michael's, Target... As far as flowers go, remember that you will save tons of money by only having flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding.