Tips For Weddings on a Budget

Navigation

You are here: Free Article Directory » Society » Weddings » Tips For Weddings on a Budget

by: SeanLamb | Total views: 6 | Word Count: 733 | View PDF | Print View
Share This Article

Increasing numbers of couples are chosing a budget wedding as normal weddings are becoming more expensive each year, the average cost being about six months salary if you are earning 25,000 a year. As this is your special, unrepeatable day, you are naturally drawn to the absolute best and most luxurious of everything. Not only for yourself, but to give your guests a really beautiful day to remember. You have to concentrate on your budget and focus on some key things where you need to spend and other areas where you can save money. Below are some ideas where you could economise, you need not chose them all but pick and chose the ones that suit you the best.

The wedding dress is an area where huge amounts of money are often spent as brides, quite naturally, want a unique custom made outfit. As this is something that will only ever be worn once, a previously owned dress is worth considering. It is easy to buy a wedding dress that has only been worn once for less than half the price at a specialist bride shop. You can then sell it on at not much less than you paid for it. Another alternative is to hire your wedding dress but remember to arrange to get it back to the shop on time to avoid penalty payments.

The largest single cost is that of the wedding reception but even here, savings are possible. You may not believe it but according to statistics, on average 189 guests attend a wedding reception, so when you are planning your budget wedding, this is where most of the savings can be achieved. Don't invite everyone you know, in particular relatives that you haven't seen since you were a child or people who are just acquaintances. Where the meal is concerned, why not have a buffet instead of a full, waited on, three or four course blow out. Further reductions can be made in the choice of the wedding reception venue. Instead of a fancy hotel, it could take place in a friend's house or a local club where money could be saved on both food and drink if you either make them yourself or get friends to help.

Although most professional photographers are employed for the entire day, this isn't strictly necessary as the majority of guests will be taking photos anyway and would be willing to share them. You could even dispense with the services of a photographer completely providing you have a friend or relative who is a keen photographer and who would be happy to do this for you.

Other areas where you can be assured of saving money, are wedding invitations and other stationery. With today's home computers and printers you are able to provide near professional results. There are a range of inexpensive and sometimes free software so that you'll be able to enter your own text and graphics. Don't forget to preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes.

Flowers will take up a considerable piece of the budget as they are used in many different ways. Doing the arrangements yourself or with friends is a classic budget wedding option, although it will have to be a last minute item as you do not want your flowers to wilt on the big day. If you can find out where there is a flower arranging class being held, you could ask for volunteers who will probably be willing to try out their new found skills.

You may be surprised at just how expensive a lavish wedding cake can be, so for the budget conscious a good alternative could be a large sponge or chocolate cake. Are any of your friends good in the kitchen? They may be honoured if you asked them to prepare your wedding cake. Failing that, you could buy some ordinary fruit cakes and then ice them yourself, adding the pillars and toppers the night before.

As a last cost saving measure, ask a friend or relative who has a nice car, if they would be prepared to decorate it and use that instead of a limousine, they will be more than happy to play an important part in your big day. Yours may be an inexpensive wedding but it can still be enjoyed by everyone that attends and they won't have noticed it was arranged on a very tight budget!
Share This Article