ALT-9 Tips for a Great but Low Budget Wedding
Planning your wedding should be one of the happiest times of your life, but its often a time when brides and grooms stress over money and tiny details. When I got married, I knew that I didn't want to spend a ton of money but I still wanted it to be elegant and beautiful. I was able to have the wedding of my dreams for at least half the price of what it should have cost. Here are a few things I did:
Flowers: Make your own. There's no point in spending money on something that will be wilted by the time the reception is over and have to be thrown away. You may as well throw your money away. I made my boutineers, bouquets, alter flowers and corsages for the parents and grandparents with silk floowers. It took some time, but they looked just as good as real flowers and noone even knew that they were silk. Everyone was able to keep their flowers for days to come, and even a year later they still look great. Total cost: $50
Centerpieces: Be creative and don't be afraid to step out of the box. I used small ivy bowls and put some glass beads in the bottom. The day of the wedding, I ran down to the reception location and put a goldfish into each bowl. My fear was that one would be floating by the time we got back, but they all lasted until the night was over. I had the guests take them home after playing a game to decide who would take them. I put these on the head table too. Total Cost: $20 for 25 centerpieces
Rose Petals: These are often used as the bride walks down the aisle, or as a decoration on tables. Real rose petals can stain table cloths and carpet. Instead, use fake rose petals- but don't buy them in the bridal section of stores. Because the fake rose petals are already separated, the prices can be outrageous. To minimize costs, buy silk roses in the colors you want and then snip the petals off with a pair of scissors. They look exactly the same, and take only alittle bit of effort on your part. Total cost: $15
Veils & Accessories: I couldn't justify spending $300 on a veil that I was only going to wear for a few hours. I looked on eBay and was able to find a veil supplier and I ordered mine through them. It had a ribbon trim, and small crystals scattered randomly. For jewelry, I borrowed from a friend, and had my "something borrowed" at no cost to me. Check eBay, online shops, and with your friends/family. Total cost: $28
Reception Location: The location for your reception can get quite expensive. This is especially true for weddings on Saturday nights. Try booking for a Friday night, the price will be cheaper. If you need to go with a Saturday night, like I did, then find a venue which is 'all-inclusive'. The price I paid included use of the facility, clean-up, food, cake cutting (which is often a hidden fee that they tack on), and open bar. Total cost: $3000
Food: Our food was buffet style. This cut down on costs since we didn't have a served dinner. It may have been alittle bit more informal, but it was easier for everyone to get something they liked. Everyone was able to pick and chose what they wanted, instead of being committed to 1 plate of food. We were still able to have beef tips, chicken, appetizers, and an array of sides. We also had open bar, so that guests were able to have whatever drink they wanted instead of us selecting drinks or asking them to pay for their own.
Cake: Cake prices can be outrageous! A family friend is a cake designer, so she offered to make ours for us as our wedding gift. I found what I wanted online, and then printed the picture for her. It turned out beautifully and tasted just as good. If you have someone who is creative and loves to bake, let them give it a whirl. If you don't know anyone, check to see if your local college or 4-H group has a cake decorating class. They may be willing to make your cake for you for free or even at a discounted price. Total cost: $0
There are so many ways to save money if you have some time to work on your own. Weddings don't have to be expensive to look classy. We were able to save money on our wedding/reception and to spend it on our honeymoon.
