by Kate Johns

Created on: November 12, 2008   Last Updated: January 09, 2009

Cutting wedding costs is easy! Think about what you want, and how you can cut costs for each item you will need for the wedding day. It will be worth all the extra effort, because you will save a lot of money, possibly enough for a romantic honeymoon.

Here are TWELVE awesome ways to cut those wedding costs to super affordable prices:

1. Ask everyone you know for help. Ask your friends and relatives if they already have items you can borrow. Does a friend, or a relative already have those special toasting glasses for the bride and groom to use? Does someone have a wedding cake knife, so you don't have purchase one that will be used only one time?

2. Find a beautiful wedding dress for less than half the money you would pay for in a bridal boutique. Peruse second hand stores for a wedding dress. Look through the classified ads in your local paper, or on the Internet. Women are always selling their bridal gowns for inexpensive prices.

3. Have the wedding party wear dresses of their choice. Just as long as the dresses are pretty and look good in pictures together is really all that matters. Usually bridesmaids dresses are only worn once anyways.

4. If you don't want to keep your bridal gown in a box for many years to come, consider renting your wedding gown. What a great idea, to rent what was once a super expensive gown that you will only wear once.

5. Renting several limousines on the day of the wedding can really add up. Instead, ask friends and relatives if you can utilize their really nice, big expensive vehicles. Who knows, you might be able to get a caravan of great looking SUVs together for the day.

6. Consider throwing the wedding reception at a local park or a local beach. You can have the wedding and the reception outside in the spring, summer or fall. Then have the reception outside also. Rent an outdoor pavilion at a local park or beach.

7. Have the reception at a relative's beautiful backyard, and everyone can bring a dish of food to pass. While having the reception at a hall, order buffet style service for dinner because it is cheaper than sit down service.

8. Ask a friend or relative who has beautiful flowers in the front or backyard to donate some for the wedding. Every member of the bridal party and the bride can hold a few beautiful flowers. Then you can use the flowers in inexpensive vases as decorations in you like.

9. Have your groom and all the groomsmen rent their tuxedos. They can also wear suits they own for that special day, Renting a tux costs a lot less than buying a one.

10. Do you have any friends that play music or that sing? You could have them sing and play music at your wedding for free. You can even have a friend or a relative suggest someone they know who can do a stellar performance.

11. Consider having an artistic friend or relative that can bake, create a beautiful cake for your wedding day. You can also have a fake cake made, and have a piece to cut for those pictures.

12. Have your family and friends create the invitations. If you have kids already have them create their imaginative cards. It's also a great way to get them involved in the wedding plans.

It can be done! You can have a beautiful wedding of your choosing by being creative and doing things differently. Marriage isn't perfect, and you don't want to be paying off an expensive wedding for many years to come. Everything will be fine. Just remember that it is the actual marriage that counts not how expensive it is.

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