1 of 41

Write now Article Tools

Every girl dreams of the perfect wedding a beautiful location, gorgeous flowers, great food, and, of course, a breathtaking dress. However, the cost of throwing a wedding to remember can be daunting and wedding budgets tend to be thrown out the window as planning progresses. Good news! It is possible to plan a beautiful wedding for less. Having just planned my own budget wedding, I found some great ways to cut cost and still have the wonderful day I dreamed of. Below are some great budget saving ideas:

-> Consider getting married around noon

By getting married earlier in the day, you can have a lunch reception, which costs roughly half of a dinner reception. Many places are willing to consider meals before 3pm to be "lunch", allowing you to have your ceremony around noon. If you are planning on a short ceremony, you still have time to take pictures before the meal. Depending on the size of your wedding, this can save you thousands. People also tend to drink less at lunch, which can save you on booze. If you want to have a dance into the night, consider serving finger foods later in the evening.

-> Have a buffet instead of a plated dinner

Buffets often cost less than plated dinners and allow your guests more choice and more food. Many places will let you pick 3 different entrees and a selection of bread, salads, and deserts. My hubby and I had a buffet at a highly acclaimed private golf resort for only $19 a head. We got tons of comments on the food and everyone ate what they wanted! This is definitely something I would recommend for saving money without compromising quality or quantity.

-> Get a friend to make the cake

Right after I got engaged my best friend offered to make my wedding cake. She had gotten a cake-making book for Christmas and was convinced she could do it. I was immediately scared; I didn't want my wedding cake to look homemade! But I gave her the benefit of the doubt and gave her a chance to prove herself. She bought 2 round stryofoam layers, a round cake pan, special slicing knife, and rolling icing from Michaels, all for about $50. Professional cakes can cost up to $1000. The secret is in the icing; practice rolling it out and covering the cake smoothly. You can get tips from books or online. She ended up creating a beautiful 3-tiered cake with black ribbon trim and gerbera daisies, all in about 2 hours the day before the wedding! So just recruit a friend or two, have her (or him) do a trial run, and you're good to go! Another thing to think about is if you want guests to eat the cake the actual wedding cake, or if dessert will be included in your dining plan. You can save money by getting a cake that is styrofoam covered in icing with an edible top layer for the cutting-of-the-cake photo.

->Make your own invitations and programs

Of course you want great looking invites. But face it, most people look at it and at best, stuff it in a drawer. Getting invites printed usually costs from anywhere $2-$10 each and then you still have to buy all the stamps. Order some great textured cardstock online (The Paper Mill Store has tons of great options) and print your own. My mom, sisters, and I spent a day making mine and ended up spending about $100 on 200 invites, complete with envelopes. We got a ton of compliments on them and people were shocked when they found out we had made them ourselves. Now, I know what you're thinking, "I don't want to send out cheap looking home-made invitations!" Well, here are some tips for making great looking invites: Use interesting cardstock (heavier than paper) something with flecks, or in a colour. Recycled paper is a great option Look at invitations you like (online or in magazines) and use a similar font and layout Find ribbon you like and use a low heat glue gun. This lets you attach the ribbon firmly and if you use a thin line of glue, it's invisible! Print on paper and glue it to cardstock in a different colour. The layering looks great, just make sure you use a paper cutter to avoid crooked borders.

->Use a website to manage RSVPs

On your invitations request that people RSVP online instead of by returning a card in the mail. Sure, snail mail RSVPs are traditional, but online RSVPing is easier for everyone AND it saves you money on both RSVP cards and postage. Many wedding websites provide free webpages for engaged couples. People can access your page and let you know if they plan on coming and how many people are in their party. You can log in at any time to see who is coming and who is not. It lets you keep an accurate

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Wedding planning on a tight budget?
We want to hear your view. Write now!