by Cristina Mohr

Created on: November 14, 2008   Last Updated: October 09, 2010

Your Wedding Day can be challenging enough on its own without worrying about costs. While the special occasion should be meaningful and memorable, you can have a beautiful wedding without having to give an arm and a leg.

The trick is to sit down and pre-plan what elements of "the perfect wedding day" are important for you. Are there any elements or traditions you don't mind leaving out? What are you willing to save on and what are you wanting to splurge for? Once you've figured these issues out, you should have a good idea of where to start.

Are you the type of person who likes to have control over every aspect of the wedding? Or are you the type who stresses at the very thought of wedding planning? This discovery will help you determine whether you want to save on having a wedding planner or perhaps invest in a less costly wedding planning book and ask a good friend to be your support during the planning and the micro-manager for the day of the wedding.

Next, create a list of your friends' talents, even down to the most minute hobby. If any of them have careers in their talent, might they be willing to give you discounts? Or, if a friend does an activity as a hobby, would that person be willing to give their services in exchange for a favor you could do for them or for an untraditionally low fee? For example, do you have a friend that creates beautiful bouquets for her home? If so, you might ask her to display her talents on your bouquet and for table-scapes.

Consider visiting your local craft stores. Do they teach classes? Perhaps cake-making classes? Ask the class instructor for phone numbers of their top students or consider the instructor themselves. This could be a much less expensive way to get your wedding cake.

Are there basic to advanced sewing classes at that craft store? You might be able to find someone to do your wedding dress at a less expensive cost. If not, consider going to a discount dress shop, like the Dress Barn, find a basic white dress. Purchase some beads, sequins, and/or lace at that craft store and turn that store design into your own creation! Perhaps find a gown at a thrift shop and revive the dress into a new gown.

Look at that craft store for your decorations. Think outside the box. Don't just go down the wedding craft aisle; look through all of the aisles! Many craft stores have decorative stones, rocks, glitter, beads (including Swavarski Crystals), candles and candle making tools, fabric like tulle for an elegant tent. Making

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>