ALT-25 Best Ways to get Married on a Budget
If you're getting married on a budget there are many ways to cut cost and corners. You can find good buys on everything from the wedding dress to the decorations for your big day. You really can find good buys for everything you'll need for your wedding if you are patient and determined not to start your marriage in debt. The key is planning and planning way ahead of time.
Instead of having invitations and announcements made, make them yourself. This is a fun, creative way to cut cost. You can make it a group effort with your bridesmaids and your groom and his ushers. This will be a good bonding experience for the whole wedding party.
Look for a wedding dress at consignment shops. They usually have good quality clothing at a fraction of the cost of a new dress. Sometimes, you can find great sales at larger department stores or bridal shops. If you are not too picky you can wait till the cost of the newest seasons dresses are marked down when the season changes. If you know someone who has a wedding dress and you liked it, see if you can borrow it for your day. Give thought to having your dress made and the bridesmaid dresses as well. Nothing could be as special as having a beautiful dress handmade.
Think about buying a suit for your groom, rather than purchasing a tuxedo. He'll end up needing a suit for other occasions and it's a good investment. If that's not an option then rent a tuxedo, it is cheaper than buying one and having it sit in the closet never to be used again.
Decorations for weddings can be costly. If you're not careful, it can use up a large portion of your budget. A good thought would be to consider decorating only the necessary areas. You can find great decorations and party favors at dollar stores, or discounted party supplies businesses.
If you decide on live flowers, try to find discounted flower shops. You can find great buys if you are tenacious enough to look through tons of flowers. If you select silk flowers, have a day you and your bridesmaids get together, have them make up their own bouquet. Hobby Lobby or Michaels has a wide array of wedding flowers at a fraction of the cost compared to live flowers.
If you are serving food, consider having everyone bring a covered dish. Having a wedding catered will eat up a whole budget if you are not careful. If you have everyone bring a dish, this gets everyone involved in your wedding. Make sure you have asked someone to make a list of what is being brought so you don't end up with twenty salads and no main dishes. You can forgo a meal altogether and serve finger foods, cookies, and punch. Your wedding can still be successful and fondly remembered by keeping it simple.
So an awesome wedding on a budget is possible, just remember, your wedding is much more than a party, it's the uniting of two people who love each other.
