10 Money Saving Ideas for Brides on a Budget

Weddings are supposed to be a celebration of a joyful union between two people, yet there are many stories around of young couples paying off loans taken out to fund a big wedding for years into their marriage. Rather than just grin and bear the hefty cost, you might consider a few ways to enjoy your big day without the hassle of a big price tag.

Here are 10 inexpensive wedding planning ideas that can help reduce the cost of your wedding.

1. Trim the Guest List
It’s become fashionable to tell tales of a grand wedding with hundreds of guests, but do you really need to invite your second cousin twice removed on your aunt’s side if you haven’t seen them for 12 years? Keep your guest list to immediate family and friends. These are the people who love you and want to celebrate with you anyway, so trim down your list to just these people and you’ll save a bundle.

2. Have Your Wedding on a Weekday
Weekend weddings have become a standard, but prices for everything from the church to the caterer are always much higher on weekends. Consider having your wedding on a weekday instead. A Friday celebration means lower prices and your friends will thank you for the extra day off work which gives them a long weekend.

3. Cut Out the Alcoholic Beverages
One of the bigger costs of most weddings is the alcohol. While you can still offer the celebratory champagne, you might consider cutting out the open bar in place of cheaper options.

4. Create Your Own Invitations
The advent of modern computers and printing equipment means you can create fabulous, professional looking invitations on your own. Definitely a great cost saver.

5. Have Your Wedding Ceremony and Reception at the Same Location
Many reception locations have stunningly beautiful gardens or scenery that would make an ideal wedding setting. When you hold the ceremony and the reception at the same location, you won’t need expensive cars to get you to your reception.

6. DIY Crafts
Floral arrangements, decorations, favors and even place settings and name tags can be created on your own at reasonable prices. You can check your local craft store for inexpensive craft projects or the internet for free wedding templates that you can print yourself on your computer.

7. Rent a Luxury Vehicle Instead of a Limousine
Renting a luxury car and asking a friend to drive you instead can save on expensive limousine hire as well as chauffeur costs.

8. Buffet Dinner
A formal menu with a three course dinner can be expensive. Make your wedding more of a fun party atmosphere celebration that people will remember by serving a buffet type selection of foods.

9. Wedding Cake
You can save on your wedding cake by ordering a plain white cake with no trim from your baker. When you get it, buy a wedding cake top and decorate it yourself with silk flowers or ribbon.

10. Wedding Gown
Buying a brand new wedding gown can be costly especially when you know you’ll only wear it once. There’s nothing wrong with seeking a wedding gown from a consignment shop or even from an auction on eBay. You know the dress you’re buying has only been worn once and should have been dry-cleaned before it’s sold to you. This makes it in brand-new condition at a fraction of the cost of a new dress.

Your wedding day can be magical and unique without costing a fortune. Take some, or all, of these suggestions, pair them with your own money saving ideas and enjoy the day of your wedding as well as the loan free years afterwards.

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