by Ashley Burr

Created on: November 11, 2008   Last Updated: November 21, 2008

Dear Bride: Please invite me to your wedding if you do not have a budget

Oh the money. It plagues every bride. Whether she is paying for her own wedding, laden with guilt for the money her parents are pouring into it, or being told she can't have the wedding she dreamed of because of money, or lack of it, the money issue touches every wedding. Most brides tend to look at the words

budget advice as a dirty phrase, scowling and ignoring the restrictions it implies. But unless money really is not an issue for you-and if so, please send me an invitation to your elaborate event-a budget must be constructed.

Saving money on your wedding is really not as hard as you might think-especially if you are willing to eliminate things that you personally do not care for, but tradition dictates you must have; the non-conformist attitude that has become so popular in wedding planning can actually be a huge money saving device. Go low key and ask friends to donate their impeccable talents and manpower to the cause of your celebration; get rid of things like extra envelopes on the invitation that are merely matters of formality. Shop clearance wherever you go or surf.

Another popular attitude that you might want to adopt is to go Eco-friendly. Saving the earth is a very compatible goal with saving money.
Buy or borrow a used dress. Use fruit or plants that double as table decorations and wedding favors. Go somewhere close and easily accessible for your honeymoon.

If you are just trying to save money or you want to declare your dedication to saving the Earth, a wedding is a relatively easy place to implement eco-friendly/money saving policies; so much of what goes into a wedding is for the wedding only-a one or two day event. The most important underlying principle is to figure out ways to use something you already have, or to ensure that the things you use for your wedding will indeed be used again: a simple implementation of the good old reduce, reuse, recycle adage.
Here are some real practical tips to consider:

1-Have your dress made out of recycled fabric, or borrow someone else's

2-Hire a local/organic caterer and donate the leftover food

3-Print your invitations on tree-free paper

4-Use plantable trees or flower bushes as table centerpieces/wedding favors

5-Go somewhere close on your honeymoon

Ok, so you might not save the planet. But your wallet is a great place to start. The most important money saving maneuver you can implement is to create a budget before you start. Figure out exactly how much money there is to spend and exactly what you are willing to live withoutinevitably, there will not be room for it all. And again, if there is, please send me an invitation.

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