| With the current credit crunch in full swing you | | | | deliver those that you can and if you are feeling |
| may think this is not a good time to have your | | | | creative make your own. Just don't spend a small |
| wedding, but planning your wedding within a | | | | fortune on embellishments for the invitations, it |
| budget and dare I say even cheaply is a great | | | | isn't needed, the time date, and where are all you |
| way to be creative and to avoid starting married | | | | need. |
| life in debt. | | | | Some photographs of the day would be good and |
| To start with you may need to take your | | | | this can be expensive. If you go with a |
| wedding glasses off, the ones that make you | | | | professional, shop around, don't be afraid to |
| think all the wedding stuff being produced is a | | | | negotiate on the price and ask for the negatives |
| necessity because I am going to let you into a | | | | on a cd so you can do your own re-prints. Don't |
| wedding secret - you don't need to have all the | | | | automatically go with their set packages, think |
| extras to have a fantastic wedding. | | | | about when and where you want the photos |
| It is a good idea to start with a wedding budget, | | | | taken. Make sure you see their portfolio to ensure |
| one that you can afford and that is realistic, how | | | | their style fits with yours and try and get out of |
| much do you have saved so far and how much | | | | having their wedding albums, they cost a fortune! |
| can you save before the wedding? When you | | | | Making your own album is good as you can mix |
| have the figure, you will need to stick to it. | | | | photos taken by your wedding guests and your |
| Write down all the essential expenses to get | | | | professional ones, giving you a real picture of the |
| married; the ceremony and the wedding rings, | | | | day. |
| you don't even need the wedding rings to be | | | | Now that you have planned your wedding |
| married but you will probably want them. Now | | | | ceremony there is the celebration, or wedding |
| how much of your budget is left? You have paid | | | | reception, this can end up being the single biggest |
| for the absolute basics but you may want more? | | | | expense of your wedding budget. The key is to |
| A wedding dress and a new suit are nice, dresses | | | | try and keep it simple, don't invite everyone you |
| can cost thousands and that would blow your | | | | have ever met, invite the people that are |
| budget, to get a gorgeous dress at a bargain | | | | important to you both. There is an increasing |
| price you will need to shop around. Visit the local | | | | trend to have a cocktails and canapés |
| bridal shops and wedding fairs, think about the | | | | reception rather than the big sit down meal. Think |
| dress that you want, you can even try them on | | | | about having your reception in the evening where |
| to make sure, just don't buy it! Go away and | | | | you can have your speeches and cake cutting at |
| think about the dress and the cost, can you find | | | | the beginning, followed by a buffet and dancing or |
| the same dress cheaper online? Can you find your | | | | have an afternoon reception, serving afternoon |
| dream dress being sold second hand? Even | | | | tea. |
| Oxfam have bridal shops if you are looking for a | | | | It is important that you keep your wedding |
| cheaper ethical dress and they are not just the | | | | reception within budget as this is one of those |
| lace creations from the eighties! Vintage wedding | | | | areas that is so easy to overspend, negotiate |
| dresses are very fashionable at the moment, | | | | with the venue, a wedding during the week is |
| worth asking friends and relatives if they have a | | | | cheaper than at the weekend and if you book in |
| dress that you could borrow. When you have | | | | the quiet times like early January there will be |
| found the dress at the best price and it fits into | | | | room for more negotiation. |
| your budget go ahead and buy it. One last check | | | | Wedding cakes are a traditional part of a wedding |
| before you do - could you hire the dress instead? | | | | celebration and if you can't find a wedding cake |
| Sure you won't then have the dress to keep - | | | | that will fit within budget at a bakery take a look |
| but do you really need to keep it? | | | | at those on offer at your local supermarket. You |
| A new suit for your wedding is more of an | | | | will be able to buy a plain cake that you can |
| investment if you have a suit that you can wear | | | | decorate with flowers or buy a cake topper that |
| again, spending a fortune on hiring top hats and | | | | fits with your theme. |
| tails for all the males in the wedding party is not | | | | Wedding flowers are nice and flowers for the |
| needed. Wearing their own gorgeous suits with | | | | bride are part of most weddings, again shop |
| matching ties or coordinated ties looks great and | | | | around, find a new florist that is building up their |
| is a fraction of the cost. | | | | reputation or keep it simple and carry a single |
| Transport to the wedding in the basic sense is a | | | | stem. You can then use your bouquets to |
| necessity but it doesn't have to be a vintage or | | | | decorate the top table or the cake table. |
| classic car or horse and carriage. These are nice | | | | Decorating the tables with a mirror tile and |
| but unless you have always dreamed of turning | | | | candles is a simple and inexpensive decoration for |
| up at your wedding in a classic Rolls Royce they | | | | the rest of the tables. |
| are more expense that you could save. Using | | | | Don't feel you have to have wedding favours, if |
| friends' and family's cars is a nice alternative and | | | | you have some wedding budget left then great, if |
| they can still look the part washed and decorated | | | | not a simple hand written thank you note is |
| with wedding ribbons. | | | | perfect. |
| So you can get to the wedding wearing your | | | | If there is a part of your wedding that you have |
| wedding dress, do you want anything else? | | | | always wanted find a way to fit it into your |
| Guests would be nice and inviting your guests | | | | budget, having a cheaper wedding can still be |
| could cost you the rest of your budget, you don't | | | | about having your dream wedding, spend you |
| need complicated folds, reply cards, or save the | | | | wedding budget on what is important to you both, |
| date cards. Send a card per family rather than to | | | | save on the rest and enjoy your day. |
| individuals as this can increase the cost, hand | | | | |