How to have a Classy yet Frugal Wedding
The word 'wedding' can invoke fear into the hearts of wallets everywhere. No matter what it is, if it is associated with a wedding, it is bound to be expensive. It doesn't have to the be that way anymore, you can plan afantasticwedding and not go broke.
Dress
Since this is one of the most important aspects of the wedding, from the bride's standpoint, this is the first stop on cost cutting. Instead of setting your sights on a dress more expensive than some people's homes, focus on getting something custom made for you. Start with a used/vintage gown. The search is easily performed in a second hand shop, yard sale or online. Who cares if it was used? You are going to take it to a professional seamstress, or someone you really trust like a friend or family member, and have it changed into the gown that has "you" written all over it.
Another approach is to either make the dress yourself out of materials you pick out, or have someone make the dress for you. This means from scratch; all new material and you sitting down to design how it is going to look. On a side note: a special one of a kind gown made by hand is something precious that you can be passed down from one generation to the next. Each generation can add their own unique flare to the dress.
Venue
Choose a venue that will not cost you a dime. For example a loved one's beautiful backyard. It is understandable that you want a special place for your reception; a place loved ones can gather to dance, eat and have a good time. Who says that fun like that has to cost so much? You can easily find a spot that will not cost anything. If you are worried about needing a place big enough to accommodate a lot of guests, then consider having a block party!
Another great place to have a reception is a public park or community area. These places generally do not charge very much, if anything, to use the spot for an event like a wedding reception.
Decorations
Whoever is in charge of decorating can find beautiful decorations at discount stores and online. Some of the decorations can be handmade, which is a great way to get friends and family involved in preparing for your big day. The first thing you need to do is decide on what theme you want and then start shopping around for all those special pieces that will come together to create a lovely backdrop for your wedding.
One idea is to save money on flowers is by using beautiful silk flowers and centerpieces for the tables. Another idea is to make tablecloths from vintage sheets (clean and unstained). You just might be surprised at some of the gorgeous designs sheets used to be available in.
Food
This one might seem impossible to do in a frugal way, but it is possible with a little creative thinking. Perhaps rethink having steak and lobster, or shop around for a cheaper catering service. If your wedding is small enough, then consider asking friends and/or family members to do some, if not all, of the food preparation. Food might be where you end up spending a good chunk of your wedding money. You can cut corners by offering less expensive meal options like fish (instead of lobster) or even opting for a picnic setting instead of a fancy sit down dinner during the reception.
One really thrifty idea is to check out the deli section of your local grocery store. These sections usually have nice party platters with a little bit of everything on them. You can pick up several of those and voila! This may eliminate the need for a pricey catering service and save you some money.
Entertainment
It is nice to have a live band or a DJ at your reception, but unless you know the members of a good band personally, maybe not so much. Save the money you would spend on entertainment and ask a friend to run the CD player or maybe ask a friend to sing a few really nice songs (preferably a friend who can actually sing).
An outdoor reception can be really nice because people can mingle and enjoy the fresh air. Think outside of the box, how many people do you know that really enjoy being all dressed up, and feeling like they can't eat or drink for fear of ruining their clothes? Let yourself and your guests be comfortable during the party.
Honeymoon
No one wants to skimp on their honeymoon. You shouldn't have to skimp; if you are a wise shopper, then you will already be looking for great deals on mode of travel, accommodation and activities. If you have managed to plan out a nice and frugal wedding, then the money you saved can go towards your perfect honeymoon.
One idea to save money on the honeymoon is to ask guests to contribute to it, in lieu of bringing wedding gifts. Who knows, you just might end up with a pretty nice trip to kick off your new life as a married couple.
Some people seem to have the notion that being frugal means being cheap. This is not only false, it's actually funny. The reason it is funny is that it would seem like some people view being frugal (wise with money) as something terrible. It is a really good idea to save money when you can, you never know when an emergency can happen.
You can plan a wonderful wedding without having to take out a second mortgage and a third loan. All you have to do is figure where you can trim some expenses, without having to sacrifice class. A handmade dress will not only be stunning, it can also become a family heirloom, trading expensive real flowers for quality silk flowers can save you a small mint alone. Happy frugal planning!
