DRESSES AND WEDDING DRESSES
Wedding dresses are very expensive. However, there are many options you can use to get what you want and save money.
-
Do you have a friend or family member who sews? Involve them, and in return, give them the honor of serving as an attendant at your wedding party.
-
If you buy a dress on the Internet, you will probably find beautiful dresses at a reasonable price. Before you decide to make your wedding dress to order, go to the department stores and check their sales and the discontinued corner.
-
Occasionally department and bridal stores have sales samples and clearance wedding dresses. When they do, you can buy a dress at a fraction of its original price and save a “ton” of money. Do not be shy. Ask the manager of the bridal salon when they plan to have an end-of-season clearance sale. They need to make room for the new styles. Another option is to buy a sample dress that was used for a fashion show or display.
-
If you still can’t find that special robe, consider purchasing a plain robe. Or check out wedding announcements and auction sites on and off the web. You will probably be able to buy a dress that was only worn once or even a new one for the “peanuts.”
-
To save even more, you can consider a “prom” or a bridesmaid dress.
BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES
Today it is customary for bridesmaids to buy their own dresses and shoes. Since you probably intend to gift your bridesmaid and bridesmaids, accessorize them. It is convenient to give them personalized jewelry that goes well with their dresses or dresses. Whether the jewel is a necklace, a bug, or a bracelet, it doesn’t have to be expensive. However, it must be of good quality and look good.
BOYFRIEND AND MEN
Depending on the reason for their wedding, the groom and the bride and groom may wear a dark suit and a dress shirt. If your wedding requires tuxedos, ask the men at the wedding party to rent the tuxedos and shoes. Again, you should gift them the accessories. Many rental venues will provide groom appeal for free if all the men in the wedding party rent at the same time as a package. So, have all men order and adjust at the same time. Even if you take them out for lunch after the test, having the boyfriend attraction for free will save you money.
flowers
-
Choose flowers that are in season and grown locally.
-
You can save money on your flower arrangements if you are willing to be “original” and creative.
-
If any of your guests create flower arrangements even as a hobby, ask them to arrange flower arrangements for your wedding.
-
If you cannot find a capable guest, you will need to purchase the bridal bouquet and altar flowers from a reputable florist.
-
Transfer the flower arrangements from the ceremony to the reception.
-
Consider gifting mixed seasonal flowers to bridesmaids. They are available in supermarkets and even Costco and Sam’s Club at a fraction of the price a florist charges.
-
Place vases on reception tables and ask your bridesmaids to insert their bouquets into these vases to serve as centerpieces for reception tables. Your bridesmaids will please him and after the reception they will take home his flowers and vases as well. The flowers won’t last forever, but the vases will become your wedding favors and you will save a lot of money.
PHOTOGRAPHERS and VIDEOGRAPHERS
When it comes to photographers and videographers, choose your professionals very carefully. Your wedding day will come and go and the photos and video will serve as keepsakes and memories of your big day. By seeing them, you will relive it and can share it with your children and yours by building a family history.
Before hiring a photographer or videographer, give them an insight into the lease. 3. Compare their work, prices and references. Choose the best that is within your budget. Even if you need to choose a smaller package, this is where you want the best. Go for it. Just as personalized wedding gifts and accessories will become treasured memories to share and give to your children, so will your photos and videos.
Most wedding bursts have cameras on their cell phones. Ask them to take pictures too. These images will generally be real and spontaneous, reflecting your wedding as seen by your guests.
THE PLACE
The reception is the most expensive part of your wedding. Food is the most expensive part of the reception. However, you can plan it within your budget and have a memorable event. You must be very particular when choosing the site. It should be appropriate and fit with your reception plan. It does not have to be a traditional salon. How about having your wedding in a historic home, park, museum, fairground, public gardens, on the beach, at your place of worship, in a clubhouse, etc.?
You also need to know if the place provides you with all of your furniture and dining needs. Otherwise, you must calculate the rental rates.
When choosing a wedding site, choose a slow period and a Friday evening, Sunday afternoon, or weekday. When the catering service providers are not busy, you can negotiate the best deals with them.
FOOD and BAR
-
If you invite some good cooks to your wedding, you can ask them to prepare their favorite recipes for your reception.
-
If you invite some good bakers, ask if they can make sweets and desserts or maybe even your wedding cake. You will save money and they will be honored to ask you for it. In fact, they will probably be happy to serve as well.
-
If you have your reception catered for, you need to consider: the number of guests, the time of day, and how the food will be served.
-
It will be:
-
just snacks,
-
just dessert,
-
light snack,
-
one sitting,
-
A buffet?
-
Will you serve alcohol?
-
Will the bartenders serve alcohol?
-
Will it be an open bar?
-
Who will pay for the drinks for you or your guests?
-
Or, instead of having an open bar with hard liquor, serve only champagne, wine and beer. If you buy these, ask the retailer if you can return the unopened bottles. Big Box retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club accept returns.
There’s a huge price difference between a light brunch, a five-course meal, and everything in between.
Here are some tips you can check out to fit your budget.
-
Have an early brunch or lunch. Serve fruits and vegetables, salads, eggs, cheeses, pastries, coffee, tea and cold drinks buffet style.
-
Have a late lunch and you will only need to add a few meats and poultry. If you like, you can still serve it as a buffet or as a sit-down meal.
-
For a reception dinner, you can serve a buffet or a sit-down dinner. A catered dinner is by far the most expensive option.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FAVORS
Most of the time, you will find that people will be honored to be asked to contribute their talents and connections to their special day. When I got married, my brother’s best friend who is a DJ was more than happy to serve us as a wedding gift for me and my boyfriend.
See if you can borrow accessories from a friend or family member. Something as simple as a headpiece, a veil, or jewelry can be very expensive when purchased new. It will have a lot of “Something New” elements, but it needs “something borrowed”. So, look for someone who has an accessory tucked away in their closet and who will be more than happy to loan it to you as their “borrowed something.” “Something old”, “Something blue” and sixpence for your shoe. For my wedding, my father-in-law replaced it with a dime. I have been happily married at 55 years old. So I guess the dime served me well.