1. Low Cost Venues: If you want to have a larger wedding, then you will need to have a good sized venue. Instead of hiring a cheap ugly school hall, rather think outside of the box when you need to cut costs. What about a garden somewhere or a park that allows weddings. You could have your wedding on a beach nearby or even in a forest. Some of these will be free venues, but if you do have to pay, the costs will be far less than at a hotel.
2. Affordable Gowns: Wedding gowns are expensive but very bride wants one. To feel like a special princess you don’t have to break the bank. You don’t have to compromise with a store bought day dress either. You can find second hand gowns in classifieds, borrow from a friend or family member, or even hire your dream dress.
3. How to Afford the Flowers: The flowers you want might be very costly especially if you have centerpieces. One way to afford all the flowers you want is to adjust your centerpieces so that they don’t have as many flowers, or use mainly the cheapest flower. You can also cutback by using silk flowers for the wedding party.
4. Cheap Wedding Favors: Every wedding has wedding favors. To get cheap wedding favors can be tough though. One of the best ways to get wedding favors done cheaply is to make them yourself. You can create little bundles of incense sticks, write poems, make a special craft, or bake some goodies like fudge or brownies. Your guests will really appreciate the time and effort gone into the favors.
5. Cutting Cake Costs: The cake can be made cheaply if you find a willing aunty or friend. Bakers charge a lot to make wedding cakes, so if someone else can do it for you, this will help a lot. You can also bake cupcakes instead and layer them onto a special tier holder to make a cake out of all the little ones.
6. Meal on a Budget: The meal is by far the most costly part of any wedding. Even if you have a small wedding, this will take up the largest chunk of your budget. To get around this you can choose to have a morning or afternoon wedding where you can get away with serving snacks. You can also have a huge lamb spit for a beach wedding which is cheap.
7. Cheap Decor: The decor makes any wedding special and creates the perfect mood. To decorate cheaply find things you can use from your home or ask friends to help. You can borrow off cuts of fabric from a store, or find out about hiring decor items like candle sticks and fabric.

With some creativity, you can still have your dream wedding without breaking your bank.

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Two weeks before your wedding day, you can start picking up a few things from the list here and there while you’re out.  Rest assured, all of these suggestions will eventually be used since they are all everyday items.

What should be included in your bridal emergency kit?

• a tote bag to hold the items (zip closure is better)
• makeup bag (put sample size makeup and skin care items)
• Straws (so you can drink without messing up your lipstick)
• insect repellent (for outdoor weddings – be sure to test the scent)
• white chalk / baby powder (to hide stains)
• pantyhose
• clear nail polish (to repair a manicure or pantyhose)
• instant stain remover (such as a Tide pen)
• safety pins
• nail file or emery board
• miniature sewing kit
• fabric tape
• scissors
• breath mints
• tampons and pads
• pain reliever
• dental floss
• tweezers
• baby wipes
• comb/brush
• hair spray
• hair pins/bobby pins
• antacid
• tissues
• crackers / power bars
• batteries and memory card (for digital camera)
• ink pen
• a list of phone numbers for all of your wedding vendors and your attendants
• contact lens solution
• eye drops
• duct tape
• scotch tape
• dark socks (in case you have any forgetful groomsmen)
• extra car keys
• bottle water

Keep the emergency kit handy throughout the day.  Rest assured, you will have a perfect and stress free wedding day.

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Have a List of Priorities

When you are on a tight budget it is vital to prioritize. Set your theme or what kind of wedding you want. Then decide what you really have to have, what you want to have, and the things you really don’t care that much about. Cut out things that you don’t care much about. If you have the money for things you want, then go for it. However, make sure that you spend the most and focus on the things that you must have for your wedding.

Try Buying Online to Save

Another great option that can help you out when you are planning a wedding on a budget is to shop online. Many of your needed items can be bought on the Internet. The great thing about purchasing online is that you can really save a whole lot of money. Spend some time comparing what you find, and which shops have the best of the deals. You will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of cash you will save, with the amazing deals you are able to buy your wedding needs with on the Internet.

Make Your Invitations

This is one area of your planning that you can save a bundle by doing your own invitations You really can save money for something else on your list. Just design and print your invitations on your computer and printer. You just need card stock, greeting card software, and of course your printer; using the software design your invitations and then print them off. You will probably save several hundreds of dollars by doing this.

Cut Back on the Guest List

Just cutting back a bit on the guest list can really provide you with some savings and help to keep you within your wedding budget. Just invite the people you are closest to. You don’t have to invite all the relatives just your closets ones, nor do you have to invite everyone you work with. Invite the ones that mean the most and you can cut down on wedding costs by a huge margin.

Hopefully these few suggestions will help you plan your budget wedding. You will have the wedding you have always desired, but save money at the same time. You can still have the wedding of your dreams while planning on a tight budget.

Look at Wedding Book

To get the whole panoply of tips to save thousands of dollars on all your wedding costs, consider to invest in buying a Wedding Book. You can just go to your bookstore and ask what they have in stock, or you can go online and download within a few minutes to your hard drive an eBook with all wedding planning information needed to plan a memorable and cheap wedding. Wedding Book is an investment your will not regret.

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In short, drinking adds to the general merriment of weddings, not to mention a few funny moments. But what happens when funny moments progress into not-so-funny, drunken embarrassments? Other than clubbing your guests and your groom on their caveman heads, you can only watch in frustration, right?

Well, actually no. Since prevention is always better than the cure, you can always take the necessary steps to ensure that booze does not ruin your dream wedding.

#1 Cash Bar

With a cash bar, you will be hitting two birds with one stone. First, you can save on wedding reception costs because your guests will pay for their own drinks. You need not worry too much about the booze budget. Second, your guests might limit their own alcohol intake since they have to pay for them. No freebies, no overindulgence. Either way, you can have a win-win solution to the drinking provided.

But (there are always buts in a wedding, as you well know by now) you have to prepare yourself for either of two things. First, you will be seen as a Scrooge-type cheapskate who will not indulge her guests on her wedding day with some good old drinking. Second, your guests might leave early to seek merrier company elsewhere. Then again, is it such a bad thing to save your checkbook wallet from excessive use in these recessionary times and to be rid of guests as soon as possible?

#2 Limited Bar Hours and Selections

If you are reluctant to make your guests pay at your own wedding reception, you can always opt to limit the number of hours the bar is open and/or limit the number of booze selections available. Either way, you can satisfy your guests’ need to drink and be merry while you can save on costs and chagrin.

You can do these in so many ways like: a) Have the master of ceremonies announce when the bar is open for drinks. Either you can have it open for short intervals throughout the reception or just at the beginning of the reception for a longer period; b) Stick to the basics of wine and beer. This way, you can control how much alcohol flows from the bar to the bodies; c) Provide for a specific number of wine/beer bottles per table and stick to the plan.

In all these methods to control drinking at your wedding, just be sure that your guests will not have to pay for the traditional wedding toasts of champagne. Now that would be extreme Stooge!

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Setting a Budget

No wedding should be planned without a concrete budget in place. Even if you aren’t sure of the exact amount you will have to spend on everything, a ballpark figure or estimate should be considered before the planning phase even begins. The budget doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a few simple sheets of paper in a notebook will suffice, but if you are computer savvy, by all means use one to create your wedding budget for the easiest and most convenient option.

Organizing Your Budget

Much like a wedding needs to have a set budget, that budget must also then be broken down into categories with dollar amounts assigned to each. Instead of saying you have $8,000 to spend on the wedding, break that down by expenses such as the food and cake, the reception site, the wedding gown, the invitations and decorations, and don’t forget to add a section for the honeymoon.

Planning the Wedding Yourself

By enlisting the help of family and friends, as well as your fiancé, you can easily plan a wedding of any size without the need for a professional wedding planner. This enables you to spend their fee, which depending where you live, can be rather steep, on something else needed for the wedding. Consider assigning specific tasks to different people, checking in with each periodically to note their progress, and when planning the wedding yourself, be sure to start as early as possible as the longer you wait, chances are the more money you’re going to end up spending.

Paring Down the Guest List

There’s no set rule that says you must invite every person the both of you has ever come in contact with during your lifetimes to your wedding. And, as far as coworkers are concerned, it usually just isn’t feasible for both of you to include everyone in the office or everyone you work with so it’s important to set a “rule” as to these guests and who to invite. Some couples settle on inviting only their bosses or immediate supervisors while others on a strict budget opt for omitting coworkers from the guest list altogether.

Shopping Smart

When buying what you’ll need for the wedding, such as wedding favors, invitations, decorations and the bridal party’s attire, you’ll soon notice that those things marked with the words “wedding” or “bridal” are mysteriously more expensive than other similar items.

For this reason it’s important to be creative in your wedding planning efforts and think outside of the box and instead of heading to the bridal shops, first begin your search online where you have the opportunity to save a considerable amount of money as well as a lot of precious time. Check your local dollar and discount stores as well as the newspaper to find a host of bargains.

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Does the wedding planner receive “Kickbacks” or “Commission” from vendors?

If she does, you should not hire her. Most vendors who pay commission to wedding planners usually mark up the rate higher in order to cover the commission being paid. So, now you know the commission is actually paid by you, not the vendors. That means, you pay the wedding planner twice. Let’s not just say money, the quality and services from these vendors are also questionable. If their work is so good, they must get a lot of “natural” referrals and always fully booked. I don’t see any point that they need to pay the commission to the wedding planners if they are so good.

Unfortunately, it’s very common for wedding planners to receive kickbacks. So, you must ask that in person and read the contract clearly before signing. It’s not just common in wedding industries, but also in funeral services. When I was studying floral design, my teacher told me that floral designers, who want to get the jobs from some funeral homes, have to “bid” for the top 3 position on the vendor list. Don’t you feel sick when you know that people earn money in this way?

Liene at Blue Orchid Designs and Becker, a photographer blogged about this in more detail. I would suggest you take a look at their blog posts, it definitely helps you to be more educated.

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4 Benefits of Buying Online

1. Dot com retailers selling diamonds online have the ability to offer considerable savings simply due to the fact that there are none of the usual costs associated with operating the traditional brick-and-mortar type of business.
2. You’ll have the ability to see a far greater selection of rings and settings than you normally would at a conventional jewelers.
3. Comparison shopping also becomes considerably easier as many retailers conveniently list their diamond’s certification ID numbers so you are truly able to find the best deals.
4. You don’t need to deal with the salespeople, who may be helpful, but also pushy at times.

7 Tips for Buying Diamond Online

1. Spend some time in a few conventional jewelry stores to see the different cuts, settings, and styles of rings that are often used so that when you begin your search online, you’ll have a much better idea of what to start looking for.
2. Join Pricescope Forums to learning more about diamond pricing and grading. If you tell the online sellers that you are member of Pricescope Forums, they always offer a very special discount.
3. Check the company’s return policy before making your purchase. Inquire as to their shipping and handling policies as well, and ask about insurance, or what will happen if the ring is damaged or lost during shipment.
4. When buying diamond for wedding, always place your order in plenty of time to allow for returns if necessary.
5. When making your final decision, always check to see that the company’s website is secure, meaning that your information will be kept safe and private. You should be able to see “https” at the start of the address bar on their browser and locked padlock when completing your order form page. The 128-bit SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) gives you the highest level of protection.
6. Using a credit card to buy your diamonds is a wise choice, as in the event the ring isn’t as it was described, or some other unforeseen problem arises, most credit card companies will give customers a refund and also help take care of the issue with the vendor.
7. Be sure to have the ring appraised as soon as you receive it to ensure you’re really getting what you paid for.

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Favors are usually sold in quantities. In most cases, the more you buy, the less your cost per favor. So if you want to save money, it’s best to buy one kind of favor for all of your guests. Here are some ideas for lovely yet inexpensive favors:

• Keychains – These make wonderful wedding favors. They’re inexpensive, they can be found in an infinite number of colors and themes, and everyone uses them. Whether your wedding theme is whimsical or ultra-romantic, you can find a keychain favor that fits perfectly with it.
• Bookmarks – Those little gold and silver bookmarks that clip onto the top of a page make elegant favors. They look expensive, but they are actually very reasonably priced. If you are the crafty type, you could also make your own custom bookmarks. All you’ll need is some card stock paper, embellishments, a laminator, and your creativity to make a one-of-a-kind bookmark favor.
• Picture frames – Wallet-sized picture frames are a great wedding favor choice. Guests can use them to display your wedding photo or one of their own pictures. You can find very nice, festive frame favors at low prices online and in stores.
• Candles and candleholders – Candles make practical yet romantic wedding favors. You can often find candles with their own holders at reasonable prices, or you could buy the candles and holders separately.
• Candy - Filling small tins, pails, or boxes with festive candy makes a thoughtful and inexpensive gift for your guests. Nuts, candy kisses, or mints are some of the things you could fill them with. Adding some pretty ribbon or tulle will make these favors extra special.
• Placecards or placecard holders that double as favors – It doesn’t get much more economical than finding a dual purpose for your favors. There are placecards and placecard holders available that double as picture frames, for example. These provide a clever way to save money. You could also use postcards related to your wedding theme as placecards, writing your guests’ names on the back of them.
• Coaster sets – You can find coaster sets in a variety of themes online or at a wedding supply store. These are very useful for your guests, and they are often inexpensive.

Giving your guests wedding favors is thoughtful, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. In addition to these ideas, there are lots of other favors that you could make yourself. Whether you choose to make your own favors or buy them in bulk, they will serve as a precious token of your gratitude.

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The time you choose can help you save. Carefully plan the time of your reception to be at a time when you do not have to serve a meal. Planning a wedding during the afternoon or mid-morning is much cheaper, food wise. You can serve appetizers and skip the main course, which will be much less expensive.

Make some of your wedding items yourself. If you’re especially crafty, you can create your own favors, centerpieces, and even possibly bouquets and other decorations saving you a lot of money. The supplies themselves can usually be found inexpensively at craft stores; it’s the labor that you are paying the big bucks for.

Keep your guest list small. Remember the more people you invite and feed, the more money you will put out. A small intimate wedding can be just as enjoyable as a large one; you can even skip the huge party and just go for a small reception. Having the wedding and the reception at the same location can also save you money.

Plan ahead. Most items you will purchase for your wedding will require either half payment upfront or a deposit. Remember this while planning so that you will not be caught in a difficult place. In addition, if you plan you can shop sales, or purchase items a little bit along to help stretch your budget.

Choose attire carefully. Sure, the dress in the magazine looks wonderful but you can just as easily find something beautiful in a local resale shop, during a big sale or even have something sewn especially for you.

Skip the entertainment. You do not have to entertain your guests. They came to celebrate with you and should understand doing so how you choose. You can just as easily have a special time to mingle with your guests during the reception rather than going all out with a big band or by hiring a DJ. Do not overdo and you can surely stick to your budget.

The ways to spend wisely on your wedding are unlimited. If you have other budgeting tips, please share it here.

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