by Natalie OConnell

Created on: September 02, 2009

Saving money on a wedding reception isn't easy but it can be done. I know this as I am getting married next May and am on a budget. Through lots of research I have found many ways to save money on the reception.

PLACE- My first suggestion would be to find a church with a hall as it would majorly cut costs. Why pay for two places if you can pay for one and have both? If you have decided against getting married in a church, look in your area for places that wouldn't be too expensive like fire halls, legions, etc. Shop around. It would amaze you have expensive some places are and how much cheaper others can be.

PHOTOGRAPHER- One thing I'm learning fast is how expensive a photographer can be. The only suggestions I can give is either look on craiglist or local classifieds and try to find a new photographer who has cheaper prices or let someone in your family take photos for you and then all you have to worry about is the processing photos fee. A family member taking the photos will save you hundreds of dollars.

DECORATIONS- This is something I've learned a lot about. If you shop around you can find good deals. Check ebay, google cheap decorations and check local classifieds. I have found that vases with silk flowers as a centerpiece for a table or candles are a cheap way to go. You can look at a local dollar store or a department store. If you have a lot of tables, it would a good idea to look into bulk decorations.

WEDDING FAVORS- This can be very expensive. I will be having approximately 80 guests and it's crazy how quickly it adds up. I have found that buying in bulk or doing a very simple wedding favor is the best way to go. One beautiful, simple idea is organza favor bags with mints or candy in them. You can get cheap, nice organza bags on ebay (I got 100 for $13 CDN) or on fetpak and bulk candy/mints you can check out online (bulkfoods.com has reasonable prices) or you can check your nearest bulk food store.

FOOD- Catering these days are very expensive and having a sit down meal can really add up too. My suggestion would be to have a buffet. It would cut costs but still be really nice. You can make your own trays which would cut costs as well or you can have them made if you'd prefer.

CAKE- Wedding cake prices are out of this world in my opinion! I have researched this carefully and my main suggestions would be make your own (you can google this and find instructions on how) or find a bakery where they make cheaper wedding cakes or you can find a bakery that makes slab cakes (which are VERY reasonable priced) and decorate it yourself or add a cake topper. Another idea is cupcakes. It's cheaper (you can make your own!) and it still looks great and you don't have to worry about whether there will be enough for everyone.

This is what I've learned about reception thus far. With a little research, you can really cut costs and save money.

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