| With the cost of an average wedding in the USA | | | | Instead of hiring a wedding planner, do it yourself. |
| at $23,687, today's wedding couples are looking | | | | Use web sites such as for tips and help in your |
| for ways to host their dream wedding at an | | | | wedding planning. |
| affordable cost. Besides the obvious of working | | | | Cut the fat: Ask yourself if you really need |
| with your budget, it is possible to have an | | | | certain items such as wedding favors, elaborate |
| amazing wedding using common sense, cutting the | | | | invitations with all the enclosures, china or |
| fat, setting priorities, and having a plan. | | | | elaborate floral decorations on every table. If the |
| Set your priorities: What is important to you? A | | | | answer is yes, then cut the cost. |
| large wedding reception? Dancing? Alcohol? Music? | | | | There are inexpensive wedding favors in the |
| Your dress? A big wedding album? Write down | | | | market or make your own. Candy kisses |
| the priorities in order, budget the largest amount | | | | wrapped in tulle make cute inexpensive favors. |
| to that category and then cut the fat. Have the | | | | Buy the candy in bulk, buy the tulle and tie with |
| wedding you can afford without going into debt. | | | | ribbons from the craft store. You can print tags |
| The day of the week and the time of day will | | | | on your computer with your names and wedding |
| raise or lower the cost of your wedding. Saturday | | | | date, put in a hole with a paper punch and tie it |
| evening is the most expensive time to host a | | | | on the ribbon. You savings? A lot! These can be |
| reception, since its the most popular day to have | | | | done in advance using your family or friends as |
| a wedding. Scheduling the wedding on a Friday | | | | helpers. |
| night or Sunday afternoon will significantly lower | | | | Wedding invitations don't need to be costly. You |
| your costs. If you aren't planning on serving food, | | | | can buy attractive invitations online for $58 per |
| don't schedule the reception for meal time or | | | | hundred. This is a significant savings over printing |
| your guests will expect to be fed. | | | | them yourself. Add up the cost of the blank |
| Cut your guest list. You will pay a per head cost | | | | invitation, the printer ink and factor in your time |
| per guest, so cutting your guest list to a | | | | and having them printed can be a big savings. |
| manageable list will save you thousands. | | | | Remember postage costs have gone up, so |
| An open bar will raise your reception costs. | | | | make sure your invitation will not have oversize |
| Consider instead having a champagne toast, | | | | or overweight postage. If you invite everyone to |
| putting bottles of wine on each table, having a | | | | the wedding and the reception, you can have |
| spiked punch fountain, or limiting the open bar to | | | | your reception printed on the invitation as a |
| one hour only. | | | | footnote. This saves you the cost of reception |
| A disc jockey will cost you less than a band. | | | | cards, which is a big savings on the card AND |
| Some disc jockeys will also include dinner music | | | | postage. |
| and a video in the cost of their fees. A good DJ | | | | Flowers at the reception can be a huge budget |
| will keep the party going, ask for references. | | | | buster. Every table doesn't need an elaborate |
| A buffet is less expensive than a sit down dinner. | | | | floral arrangement to make a statement. Use |
| Two main dishes will be less expensive than three | | | | some ingenuity for your centerpieces and think |
| main dishes. | | | | outside the box. You can float flower heads you |
| Wedding flowers in season will be less expensive | | | | buy at the market in a fishbowl from the dollar |
| than just having to have your favorite flower | | | | store and add a floating votive candle. Or order |
| flown in for your bouquet. Ask your florist to | | | | an assortment of 3 to 4 inch blooming potted |
| substitute your favorite flower in silk. The | | | | plants in season from a local grower and have |
| savings? Priceless, and you still have what you | | | | them put in a colored pot cover to match your |
| want! | | | | wedding colors. Group them on tables, varying the |
| You can save hundreds to thousands of dollars on | | | | heights or put one on each table. You can give |
| your wedding dress by buying a dress on sale or | | | | them to the guests to take home or take them |
| on clearance. All bridal salons have clearance sales | | | | home and plant them in your own garden after |
| usually in the summer and inventory reduction | | | | the wedding. |
| sales in December. Ask if there are any discounts | | | | Use bridesmaid bouquets on the head table |
| available if you take the stock dress. You can also | | | | instead of buying large floral arrangements. Buy |
| check eBay for bargains on new wedding dresses. | | | | large potted ferns for greenery and take them |
| If you are having a destination wedding, consider | | | | home for your own house after the wedding. |
| ordering a bridesmaid dress in white, ivory or | | | | Intertwine clear holiday lights at the head table to |
| champagne for huge savings and the look is the | | | | give the table a festive look without a lot of |
| same! | | | | expense. |
| Consider a destination wedding. Destination | | | | Use common sense and don't second guess your |
| weddings are less expensive and there's no travel | | | | choices. There is less chance of going over |
| time to your honeymoon, you are already there! | | | | budget if you keep to your original plan. |