It's easy to sink $10,000 into a wedding. It's an art to do it for $2,000. Unless you're a die-hard traditionalist, you can save hundreds by cutting the cost of showy formalities like bridesmaid dresses (your friends will thank you) and even corsages. A backyard reception can be just as fun -- and more intimate -- than one in a restaurant or banquet hall, where the space will cost you. Try balancing the kind of wedding you envision with the kind of honeymoon you want (i.e., a backyard wedding may equal a lavish honeymoon; a weekend in a bed-and-breakfast will make a larger wedding possible). And if you're saving up for a house, the honeymoon can always wait a year.
To avoid postmarital bankruptcy, check out the following list of suggestions for keeping costs down. Decide what's crucial, what's tempting, and what's extraneous.
DIY invites are becoming more and more popular among brides, and sometimes the most creative projects actually cost the least to make.
Invitations:
- Find a good printer. The invitation is one of the first things guests see that's connected to your wedding, so it should look nice, but this isn't the place to go overboard. People will remember the event, not the invitation.
- Do it yourself. DIY invites are becoming more and more popular among brides, and sometimes the most creative projects actually cost the least to make. Consider the resources you already have and check out our new DIY photo gallery for inspiration.
Favors:
- Think fun and memorable, not fancy. Your wedding guests will be honored to have the chance to party with you and help you celebrate your marriage. Favors are meant to be parting gifts; they don’t have to be extravagant purchases. Some edible favors are yummy and affordable, and charitable favors can save a life and a little room in your budget. What beats that?
- Consider skipping favors? This issue is a hot topic for brides. Take a look at some thoughts from the ongoing debate among Knotties, and then weigh in on the boards.
Reception Venue:
- Consider being flexible with the time or day. Saturday night is the most sought-after time to wed. If you can swing the reception for a Friday night, Saturday morning/afternoon, or Sunday, you'll not only save money, you may also have more choices for dates.
- Don't overlook the obvious. If you're up for having a less traditional reception (and your guest list isn't too long), think about places that are familiar to you. Is your cousin's backyard perfect for a BBQ-style reception? Does a friend own a small restaurant where you and your guests could be VIPs for the night?
Transportation:
- Borrow a friend's ride. Wedding transportation is always a good place to save. Leased Bentleys and horse-drawn carriages are kind of corny anyway (unless you're a debutante or Cinderella, of course). Instead, call up a friend who can loan you a nice car for your getaway.
Flowers:
- Shop for your own fresh flowers. Go with a florist for your bouquet inspiration, but if there's time, have a trusted friend get your flowers at the local greenmarket on the morning of the wedding, and then set them up at the ceremony/reception sites.
Catering:
- Consider dinner alternatives. Along with the menu, discuss the cost of service (and tipping), liquor, the wedding cake, overtime, and insurance when you meet with prospective vendors. Also, a brunch, luncheon, or hors d'oeuvres reception will probably cost less than a dinner.
- Serve dinner buffet or family style. Both options, in many cases, will save you money and could allow you the chance to showcase great recipes of some family members (preferably those that don't have other responsibilities in the wedding).
Music:
- DJs tend to be less expensive than live bands. If you really want to save money in this area and you're having a more intimate reception, rent speakers to plug into a high-quality stereo; then have fun switching back and forth between his and her playlists.
Photo + Video:
- Just record the ceremony. Don't skimp on photographs or you'll regret it forever. Your wedding video is another important keepsake you won't want to pass up; however, taping only the ceremony will save you some cash.
-- The Knot
See More: Wedding Planning Basics
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sunnyaustin96
I would recommend not making your own invitations unless you keep them simple. I made my own and through creeping elegance ended up with time-consuming invitations. The sheer volume of them is what is taking so long. Also, I spent a lot of money on the supplies to make them. Think simple if you want to do it! I could have saved if I had them made for us. Also, we had post card RSVPs, but for $20 for 100, we could have had envelopes and cards for that. Not a big deal, just not a huge savings in postage.
KellyMcW512
Instead of floral center pieces we're using small lanters from Ikea. It gives off a little more light that the typical candle center piece and adds to the ambiance. We're just decorating with a couple flowers instead of a full blown floral arrangement which is saving us a bundle!
jesbar11
A beautiful wedding dress isn't always a wedding dress! I've noticed that many bridesmaid's dresses come in white, and especially the floorlength sheath dresses look just like standard wedding dresses - but because they're technically a bridesmaid's dress, they're a lot cheaper! That's what I'm doing, and if you're really set on matching the style of your bridesmaids, it's perfect! Also, making the bouquets, boutonnieres, etc yourself from silk flowers saves a ton of money - some craft stores like Michael's and JoAnns have classes in it, and it can be a fun thing to do with your bridesmaids, or a good way to include other family members who aren't in the wedding party.
nszortyka
My mother, bridal party and I are doing almost all of the decorating ourselves. We are doing simple square vases in different heights with a single large bloom (like a hydrangea) in each with some sand or colored glass pebbles in the bottom for the tables. The best part? We got all of the items for this at Goodwill, second hand stores, and flea markets! We spent maybe $50 for what would have cost us much more to rent and have someone else do. If you have time I recommend these places for lots of your items. You would be amazed what you can find that is still new!
marja_williams
When our wedding is all said and done it will come in just under $2000 (including my $550 dress). I am a stay at home mom so I did all the invitations (pocket fold) myself, manogram aisle runner, photo card box, coloring books, favors, cup cakes, cookies, food, you name it I've done it. We hired a dj that is just starting out real cheap. My uncle used to be a photographer and his kids (they are still in high school) are taking after him so we got them to do pictures for free. My aunt is making the cake and only charging us what it is going to cost her.