What little girl doesn't dream of the day she marries? Pretty as a princess, dressed to the hilt and surrounded by her family and friends as she says "I do" to her soul-mate. As a child, we plan out every extravagance as if money is no object- when in fact, money is an object: A rather large and unsavory object in the way of most brides today. For many, its like "a rock and a hard place" with tulle and polished pearls.
In all reality and to effectively get the point across, all that is actually needed is a license, an officiant and a loving couple. But, in most situations, this alone just will not do. Frugality, common sense and "girlishness" are inherent necessities in today's wedding planning. From start to finish, beautiful nuptials and lasting memories can be accomplished without breaking the bank. Below, you will find an assortment of suggestions that can cut costs, while still allowing for beauty, style and creativity.
The easiest way to make a budget go as far as possible is to allow plenty of time between the engagement and the ceremony itself. Time can allow you to break your budget into smaller, more manageable chunks. As opposed to looking at your $5000 wedding budget as one lump sum, giving yourself a year or two lets you save a little every month to build up to your maximum amount. Time can allow a small budget to grow and increase through interest or dividends from an IRA, savings account or CD.
Time also allows for venue selection. Venue is one of the largest bites taken from a wedding budget, and with time on your side, you may be able to secure a better location at a discount, due to the "early bird" line of thought. Without time, you may be forced into spending an exorbitant amount of money on an unfavorable site- simply because you don't have time to bargain- hunt or shop around.
Invitations can also take a big bite out of your budget if you allow them to. If you live in the same locale as the majority of your guests- consider running an ad in the local paper, including an engagement photo and wedding specifics in lieu of purchasing invitation stationary. After the wedding, run another ad featuring a photo of the bridal party and announcing a "Thank You" to attendees. Reserve costly invitations for out of town guests or close family only.
High quality and original invitation sets can also be made at home using a print suite, photo quality paper and a computer and printer. If you do use a newspaper or other such similar publication as an invitation- consider passing out programs at the wedding ceremony for use as memorabilia. These too can be made at home or by a print company for nominal costs.
The reception can be a major money- pit as well. Consider an hors d'oeuvre only buffet, or cheesecakes and a topping bar as opposed to a traditional sit down meal. An extensive salad bar or even in- season fruit and vegetable trays with an assortment of dips and sauces can be light on the stomach and the wallet.
Flowers can be expensive if you are too particular. Some cut flowers can cost upwards of $25 per bloom, depending on the season. Tasteful bouquets and arrangements can be fashioned from artificial flowers, which have come along way in quality in recent years. Aside from their durability, the centerpieces can double as gifts for parents and grandparents of the bride and groom or bridal party. If real flowers are non- negotiable, use live potted plants. These will hopefully live on for a long time after the ceremony itself and are also suitable for double duty as gifts.
When all else fails, ribbons and candles are inexpensive. You can buy cases of each, barely making a dent in any budget- no matter how small. Both ribbons and candles are versatile and beautiful. Ribbons can adorn chair backs, pews, live plants and even the candles themselves. White candles are always a good choice, although colored candles are widely available and can be used to accent dresses or blooms.
Let them eat cake! In the bakery department, make sure you have enough beautifully decorated pastry for the traditional feeding of the bride and groom- and from behind closed doors serve portions of sheet cake to the masses. This is a discreet way to save money when it comes to the masses. You might even skip the cake altogether- if you are celebrating in the fall you could serve fresh baked pumpkin pies or in the spring, fresh baked apple pies a la mode may fit the bill far better than a cake.
Photography can be done artfully and inexpensively in many ways. You can secure the services of a professional for only the stills of the bridal party, and give an amateur or family member free reign with a quality digital or 35mm camera. Be sure to specify the shots you want before hand to ensure you won't be disappointed afterwards. You may even be able to hire a photography or film student to alleviate the stress of using a amateur, while still avoiding the cost of a pro.