ALT-26 Best Ways to get Married on a Budget
When a bride hears the words: wedding and budget in the same sentence, it usually results in tears and a meltdown worthy of a soap opera actress. But before you start panicking that you are going to have to make your own wedding dress with sewing skills you have not used since you were in Girl Scouts, stop and take a deep breath. There are definitely areas that you can save money and still have the wedding of your dreams.
• Guest List: When getting married on a budget, be very frugal with your wedding invitations. This is not the time to invite your next door neighbor's daughter's boyfriend. Invite the people who are close to you and whom you genuinely will miss if they are not there to witness your big day.
• Location: Instead of renting an expensive banquet hall, why not rent out a nice park area for an outdoor wedding. If there is no shelter provided, then renting a tent for your guests will still cost less than even the most budget banquet hall.
• Decor: If you have the artistic skills, consider making your own wedding invitations, party favors, bouquets and centerpieces. Roses bought at warehouse discount stores such as Sam's Club or Costco are a bargain and will add an elegant touch to any wedding. If you are arts and crafts challenged, then tap some talent from art students at your local college or university. College students are notoriously willing to work for cheap.
• Wedding attire: Consider renting your wedding dress and tuxedos. There are many high end rental shops where you can find the couture dress of your dreams at an affordable price. If you are looking for a more sentimental option, borrow a beloved relative or friend's wedding gown and with their permission, have it altered to make it uniquely yours.
• Food: If it is going to be a small and intimate family wedding, consider making the wedding a potluck meal with everyone making their specialty dish. A new trend in weddings is just to serve themed food, such as just having an over the top dessert table.
You can also save money by holding your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday afternoon rather than the popular Saturday night. Also having your wedding during the off season in January through April, you can also see a dramatic price reduction at popular halls. With all the money you save, you will be able to splash out and have a really exotic honeymoon!
