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Here are some helpful ways to save money when you have champagne and caviar dreams on a beer and hot-dog wedding budget.

If you are a budget-savvy couple you are probably looking to save money anywhere you can.  Most couples want to use their wedding day as not only a place to declare their love, but as a way to showcase their own uniqie style.  And what a better place to start than the invitations.  It’s usually the first glimpse into the wedding’s theme and overall tone.

Invitations:     While party and stationary stores are a great place to see a variety if invitations, they’re not the only place you can buy them.  Kinkos, Staples and other office supply stores offer the same exact invitation for less or can make one just as nice.  I suggest ordering a sample to see the quality of paper and print before you bye.  Another way to save money on your invites is to order just the basics.  Add your own embellishments and bows.  Most craft stores carry a large selection of wedding items that you can add to decorate your invitations for less the the stationary stores will charge you.  Instead, go for the classic clean and simple look.  This will save you hidden assembly fee’s, extra work for you and additional postage.  Avoid lined envelopes although they are a traditional element of wedding invitations,  it’s a detail that few notice.  Save  money by skipping this part.

RSVP Cards:     Rather than a folded card with an additional envelope use a postcard.  Not only will this save on weight for you invitation postage but you’ll save aproximately $0.15 in postage for each RSVP.  That may not seem like alot at first but if you have a large wedding guest list this will add up.  You can save even more if you use an email or phone RSVP system.

Reception Cards:     More and more couples are doing away with this extra cost.  You can add a small note on the bottom corner of the invitation.  If the ceremony and reception location are the same you can simpy write “Reception to Follow”.  If the locations differ you can write “Reception at Sea Side Club at 5pm” and  then include a photocopied map.  This saves stationary costs and extra postage.

“Do It Yourself Party”:     Throw a “pitch in party” where you ask your friends, family and bridal party members to be apart of your wedding by helping you assemble favors, centerpieces, programs, invitations and anything else you can make yourself instead of buying them pre made or hiring someone to make them for you.

Save Money On The CAKE:     You can literally save hundreds on your wedding cake by using decorated dummy (styrophome) cakes for all your tiers except for the one the bride and groom cut.  Then have sheet cakes in the back that you’ll cut and serve.  No one will no the difference.  Sheet cakes are so much less expensive then a tiered cake.

Save Money on Church Decorations:     By having your wedding near a major holiday, most churchs will already be decorated.  On other days, look for simplicity.  A candlelit ceremony can be romantic and inexpensive. 

Day of and location:     Having your wedding on a weeknight or Sunday will most-likely save you money.  There is less demand for these dates, so your vendors will often be willing to give you a better rate.  Also consider using a restaurant or park.  Some restaurants will reserve a section or sometimes the whole place for a wedding if it is on a slow day for them.  A park is another alternative.  Many parks allow you to have a wedding for a nominal fee.  Look for ones that have a covered patio, fountains, trees or a grassy picnic area.

Guest List:     Last but not least, trim your guest list.  I know this will be a last resort as far as saving a little money but it can be the most cost effective way to do so.  Each time you add a name to the guest list you are increasing your budget significantly.  It’s in the catering, centerpieces, favors, rentals etc.  Don’t invite anyone you haven’t talked to in 4 years.  Don’t feel obligated to let anyone single bring a date.  Keep children limited to the closest family members (nieces, nephews etc).  An alternative to children so there are no hurt feelings is to allow them to the ceremony but have an adult only reception.  Every adult can appreciate a few hours to themselves anyways.  After the ceremony,while the parents take their children to a sitter, this time can be used to have your posed pictures taken and a few moments alone with your new husband/wife.  I have seen this done many times before and it works out nicely.  For those guests who don’t have a sitter because they came from out of town or for another reason, you can arrange a small group of teens (neighbors, children of friends etc) to watch the smaller children at a location of choice.  

Now lets talk about the whole wedding budget:     A wedding budget is absolutely essential to planning your wedding.  Infact, I think setting your budget is one of the first things you should do.  There is a certain percentage of your total budget that you should apply to each category.  However, it is almost impossible to stick to this protocol.  It really depends on each couple, what is important to them and the style of the wedding.  The basic rule is;

• 50% to reception,
•  10% to attire,
• 10% to flowers and decorations,
• 10% to music
• 10% to photographs and videos
• 2% to favors and gifts
• 3% to ceremony
• 2% to stationary
• 2% to rings
• 1% to transportation

For help with the budget, visit my website for a printable budget worksheet.  You can take it with you to all your vendor meetings, shopping days and refer back too when needed.

Thank You for reading.  Check back soon for the upcoming blog posts jammed pack with information and tips.