Cost-Effective Weddings

You’ve dreamt of this day ever since you can remember and now he’s finally popped the question. Excitement fills you to the brim and you are ready to tackle the initial planning phase. As a special gift to you, your plus-size Aunt has offered to donate her lace and sequined wedding dress from her sixth marriage and you find it hard to say no to those offering help in areas you’d rather they didn’t. After scrawling down ideas which have danced in your head from your teenage years, you tally up the projected costs which spell B-A-N-K-R-U-P-T. How will you manage to spare the feelings of your loved ones and have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of without going broke?

Though I was once in a similar predicament, I managed to make a little thing called ‘creativity’ work to my advantage. The key is first knowing what it is you want and then finding cost-effective ways to accomplish your goals. Once you have mapped out the details, you can begin researching the proper resources.

List wedding specifics including attire, invitations, venue(s) and associated costs for ceremony/reception, expected number of guests, etc.

Tips:
(Attire) Scour reputable vendors for sale attire. David’s Bridal is well-known for its frequent bridal gown clearance sales. In addition, Filene’s Basement has become infamous for its Bridal Event where newly engaged brides come from all over the US and beyond to find designer gowns at less than designer prices.

(Invitations) Creating your own unique invitation is as simple as 1-2-3. Wedding invitation templates, low-cost stationary and invitation paper/card stock, offered in an array of colors and designs; make invitation design simple. In addition, the cost of having professional stationers print your invite, response cards, programs, etc. is eliminated and offers more flexibility in other areas of your wedding planning. www.michaels.com and www.uprint.com are both excellent resources for design ideas. In addition Michaels Arts & Crafts Store and office supply stores such as Staples, Office Depot and Office Max offer a variety of scored papers for your convenience. Simply find clip art or personal photos for the purpose of design, follow the easy printing instructions included with your paper/stationary/card stock, formulate wording as appropriate, align, preview and print. It’s just that simple.

(Venues) When choosing the location of your wedding/reception, one should consider all costs involved. This portion of your planning can be extremely taxing and one must take care to not overextend themselves. We all want that perfect backdrop (waterfall included), a live band playing the most romantic music or the soloist with scats that run forever. However, one must be conscious of the related costs which come at a ‘per person’ rate. It is always best to shop around and look to get the best possible quote, before making a decision. It is, generally, cheaper to have both the ceremony and reception at the same location. Some options for generally inexpensive venues include churches, park districts, museums and; in some cases; the home of a very tidy friend or family member.

(Guest List) More often than not, brides seek to invite every individual she’s known in her lifetime. From those last seen 10 or more years ago to her favorite dentist from childhoodâÂ?¦the guest list ends up resembling the sign-up sheet for the Million Man March. One way to cut back on the ‘who’s who’ at your wedding is to stick with close family and friends (hopefully all of whom you’ve at least said hello to in the past decade). Remember, for each attendee a meal could run you close to $35/plate on average. If costs for venues seem too overpriced, consider having someone you trust cater the affair. You have the option of formulating a menu tailor-made to suit your tastes and those of your guests. Chicken dishes, pastas, salads and dinner rolls are big hits. Sparkling Cider, sparkling grape and punch are great choices for non-drinkers. For alcoholic beverages, you definitely have to use discretion. Unless you’re financially endowed, there shouldn’t be $50 bottles of wine lavishly decorating the tables of your guests.

(Flowers) Buying wholesale floral supplies can provide some relief. However, one must be careful
when purchasing flowers out of season. You’d rather not run the risk of your flowers arriving damaged or dead. For that matter, you want to be sure you are able to secure your flower of choice. www.usifloral.com offers some ideas for your floral needs. In addition, the floral selection at your local Jewel Osco and Dominick’s may prove helpful. Again, if your creative; purchasing bundles of roses, cutting and binding them and decorating the stems with beading can be very cost efficient. Purchasing silk flowers is also an option and most Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores have an amazing selection. Again, browsing around can help you make an informed decision. Also, knowing someone talented in the realm of floral design is extremely helpful; when indecisiveness rears its ugly head.

(Decorations) Depending on your personal tastes, strings of white lights, wedding bells, luminaries, silk flowers, garland, candles etc. can really make a room come to life. Your local dollar store, Michaels Arts & Crafts, Walmart and wholesale vendors all offer wonderful selections at great prices.

(Music) Disc Jockeys, bands, organists, soloists, etc. can all be arranged at your discretion. One of the cheaper ways to go is to have someone you know play music throughout the duration of the ceremony and reception. It is not required of you to have a DJ or band. It’s usually easier to contract someone you are familiar with to handle music management. In addition, if you contact arts colleges; such as Columbia College in Chicago, you may be able to pay an instrumental music major to come out and play for you. Students are often looking for areas in which to gain experience. As another alternative, there are sites such as www.walmart.com that allow you to personalize cd’s, according to the types of music you will want to hear at your wedding. This is one way to get other people involved…asking them what they would like to hear during the reception and designing your cd accordingly. Wal-Mart’s site has an extensive selection of music and, once you have decided on your music; there is an option to personalize your CD cover for that special day.

(Accessories) This category is usually a bit easier and offers more flexibility. Depending on the type of shoe you intend to dance your fist dance in, there are many very inexpensive options. They Dyeable collection at Payless ShoeSource is an option as well as ordering shoes on-line. Visit www.payless.com or www.dyeables.com to view their Dyeable collection or try www.bridalshoes.com for Cinderella slippers fit for a princess. www.Davidsbridal.com, in addition to other bridal stores, offers its own selection of footwear.

Now that you’ve been given a broad list of options, you’re back to square one with the in-laws and various other family members. What is a bride to do? Some tips and tricks I’ve found extremely helpful are:

1.Try to include those individuals dead set on being a part of your special day. Perhaps some of those persistent family members wouldn’t mind being a host or hostess, an usher for your guests, the one to pull the aisle runner, the escort for your mother/grandmother, a makeshift DJâÂ?¦Whatever the case, there is sure to be some creative way to include them all.
2.Pacify those who may need pacifying with inexpensive gifts such as a memorable picture of the two of you sharing a hug or kiss housed in an antique picture frame, a box of their favorite chocolates, personalized handkerchiefs, coloring books for younger attendees, etc.
3.Instead of spending the duration of the reception toasting to the bride and groom, find a unique way to toast to your family and friends. Dance a special dance to their favorite song. Making the extra effort shows family and friends that you are honored to have them share in your special day.
4. Politely decline wearing your Aunts old wedding dress, drawing attention to how you would never forgive yourself if you ruined it in any way.

Hopefully, when all is said and done, everyone will walk away noting how memorable the occasion was. By following these handy tips, you can rest easy knowing that, in addition to saving money you’ve also lessened the chaotic experiences (to a certain degree, at least).