by Grace Brentley

Created on: August 01, 2008

It is easy to get carried away when planning your wedding. After all, every bride wants their day to be perfect and every groom wants their bride to be happy. It is very possible to have a beautiful wedding even if you are on a budget, and one of the easiest places to cut costs is the reception.

An easy way to save some cash is to find an inexpensive location. If you are having a church wedding, consider using the church's fellowship hall. Most churches allow members to reserve the building for a discounted rate or even use it for free. If you are having an outdoor wedding, consider having your reception outdoors as well. Many state and city parks have pavilions that can be rented for the entire day for a minimal amount. Another untapped resource is local universities, especially if you and the groom are alumni. Many college campuses have areas designated for rental. Some colleges will also throw in the use of their catering service at a discount.

Another easy way to cut reception costs is to take over the decorating yourself. Instead of hiring an event coordinator, scour your local bookstore, the internet, and magazines for ideas on how to make your wedding special. At my own wedding, we wanted something simple and elegant. Our centerpieces consisted of frosted glass globes with floating candles surrounded by fake rose petals, all of which was purchased at a local crafts store. Enlist a creative friend to help you with floral arrangements, and don't be afraid to go with artificial flowers. High quality, realistic versions are available at a fraction of the cost of real flowers.

Food is the single most expensive wedding item, but it doesn't have to be. You can load up on tasty, quality appetizers as well as pre-cut fruits and vegetables at your local wholesale club. You can also buy crackers, chips, spreads and dips in bulk. That way you can take a big bite out of the budget and leave the cake to the professionals. You can also look up great punch recipes online or in cookbooks and call on friends and relatives to set everything up since you will be busy. While at the wholesale club, check out their selection of plastic plates, cutlery, and napkins. If you choose to have your napkins printed with wedding details, compare prices online to find the best deal. Most online printing companies are very quick and highly accurate.

Another way to save money is to forgo the band. Instead, consider making a master mix of songs that are meaningful or enlist a pal to act as dj. One wedding I attended even made copies of their master cd and handed them out as wedding favors.

With all the stress of planning a wedding, you can almost forget to enjoy the big day when it gets here! So, most importantly, remember to relax and enjoy your reception. Even if you do go a little overbudget, the memories you make will last a lifetime!

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