Just because you're strapped for cash, doesn't mean you can't have a wedding day filled with style and class. With a little creativity your day will have everyone talking for years to come.

To get you started thinking about ways to save without sacrificing style, here are some great tips:

- Ask your guests help you with a creative wedding favor. A great idea for a very inexpensive wedding favor is to ask your guests to send back their favorite recipe with their RSVP card. Compile them all, group them by type (appetizer, main course, dessert) and print them on your computer. You can then have them spiral bound at your local print shop. Definitely something people will use for a long time to come!

- Carry a single flower instead of a bouquet. For a simple but elegant look, carry just one perfect bloom. To make this work choose a flower that is stunning by itself such as a calla lily or spray of orchids. Finish the look off by tying a ribbon around the stem in a color that co-ordinates with your bridesmaids’ dresses.

- Find a creative way to make your own place cards. There are lots of great options for creating your own place cards so you don’t have to buy expensive, printed ones. If you know someone who does calligraphy that can be a beautiful option. Or design something unique and graphical on your computer and print them out.

As the old saying goes “today is the first day of the rest of your life”. When planning your wedding, don’t lose site of the fact that this is the beginning of your new life as husband and wife.

No matter how much you spend, your day will be one of the most memorable of your life. So focus on creating a unique day that celebrates your love for one another and the life you’re creating together.

Enjoy and have fun!

 

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You've dreamed of this day since you were a little girl. The white gown. The mile high cake. And of course your prince charming.

What you probably didn't realize is that the price tag would be something nightmares are made of!

The average US wedding now costs more than $25,000. If you can think of better things to do with that kind of cash, here are some great tips for planning a day that is high on style while being easy on your bank account…

- Use your company’s discount on stationery. 
Most companies get a discount on stationery products. If they’ll let you use it, you should be able to find supplies to create your own invitations, ceremony programs, place cards, menus and thank you cards.

- Use flowers from your own garden. 
If you – or someone you know – has a beautiful garden, choose some of your favorite flowers and use them for your wedding. Some good choices are tulips, hydrangeas, roses, magnolias, apple tree branches and dogwood branches.

- Don’t choose a photography package just because it sounds like a good deal. 
Every photographer offers a slightly different package for weddings. It may include features such as multiple locations, more than one photographer, both color and black and white photographs, and albums for the couple and parent’s. Before you automatically take the full package, consider carefully whether you need everything that is included. If not then you’re paying unnecessary fees. Instead negotiate with the photographer to remove or substitute options.

- Turn your wedding favors into centrepieces. 
A great idea for unique centrepieces that won’t add a cent to your budget is to use your wedding favors. Simply stack them neatly in the center of the table or put them in a pretty basket. To add some height to the display, opt for a raised tray or cake stand. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

- Buy your rings as a set. 
Many rings are available as a set that includes the engagement ring and the bride’s wedding band. Or you may even be able to find a set that includes the groom’s band as well. Buying a set can save you as much as half price off the price to buy them individually.

- Don’t overlook dollar stores and other bargain shops for decorations. 
Remember, you’ll only use these items once. You don’t need them to hold up over years of use. So take advantage of dollar stores and other bargain shops to get a great deal. You’ll be able to save on pillar candles, tea lights, vases, baskets, silk flowers and lots of other decorative items. Most of these are exactly the same as you’ll get at bridal shops – only you’ll pay a fraction of the price.

The key to a budget conscious wedding is learning where you can cut costs without sacrificing style. Most brides actually find that they’re weddings are more unique and better represent who they – and their husbands to be – are when they stick to a strict budget.  Instead of simply choosing the most expensive options they spend time carefully selecting the elements that will make their day one of a kind.

 

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Planning a wedding on a budget? Worried it can't be done? With a little creativity, you can create the wedding day of your dreams on any budget. Get started planning your wedding with these budget conscious tips…

1. Give guests lottery tickets as your wedding favor. What better gift than a chance to strike it rich! Giving lottery tickets is becoming a popular wedding favor choice. They’re only $1 each so you can’t beat the price.

2. Use free resources as much as possible. One of the best sources of free information is the Internet. There are hundreds of great sites that will give you ideas on creating a fabulous wedding on a tight budget. Look for bridal forums where other brides share what has worked for them to get great tips. Another good source of free information is your local library. You’ll find they have books and magazines on wedding planning, crafts, floral arranging and other helpful topics. And don’t forget to visit the websites of the big bridal magazines. They often have promotions where the send out copies of the newest issue at no cost.

3. Hold the ceremony and reception at the same location. Avoid the added expense of renting two venues by having them at the same place. Most locations won’t charge you any extra to have the ceremony there as well. And you’ll save on decorations!

4. Order flowers from an online wholesaler. If your heart is set on fresh flowers, you can save by ordering them from an online wholesaler. A few of the most popular options are http://www.onlinewholesaleflowers.com, http://www.freshroses.com, http://www.theflowerexchange.com and http://www.sommerflowers.com. Keep in mind that you will have to do the prep work such as removing the leaves and trimming the stems yourself.

5. Keep floral arrangements inexpensive by using lots of greenery. If you’re creating your own centerpieces, do it like the pros. They start by placing the greenery and then they add the flowers. This way you’ll need fewer flowers to create a full look. Or use all greenery such as hosta leaves or palm frawns for an inexpensive but elegant arrangement.

These are just a few ways you can keep the costs down when planning your wedding. Hopefully they have sparked your imagination. Above all else, remember that this is your wedding day. Spend some time making it yours and it won’t matter how much you spend.

 

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It's easy to get so caught up in the planning of your wedding that you forget what's most important - you're getting married! Even if you can't afford a lavish wedding, with some creativity you can make it the perfect way to start your new life as husband and wife.

Here are some great tips for creating stylish weddings on a budget:

- Limit the number of locations where photographs are taken. Most photographers charge extra for each location where they are required If you’re on a tight budget it’s probably an unnecessary expense to have a photographer at the location where the bride and/or groom are getting ready. Unless of course you are doing your formal photos before the ceremony.

- Look for stores that offer the groom’s tuxedo for free. If several people in the wedding party will be renting tuxedos, look for a store that gives the groom’s rental for free. The requirement is typically if you rent a minimum of 4 tuxedos, the groom gets his for nothing.

- Appoint a friend or family member as your coordinator. There is no doubt that a wedding planner can make your big day run much more smoothly. After all, when problems occur on the big day most people naturally run to the woman in the big white dress! But it’s an expense you can do without. Instead ask a trusted friend or family member to help you by being your honorary coordinator. Give her an itinerary, checklists and phone numbers for all your vendors.

- Educate yourself on what things cost. Before you purchase anything, shop around to see what the going rate is. Unless you know what several different places are charging, you have no way of knowing if what you plan on spending is reasonable. Doing this can also give you bargaining power.

- Cut down or cut out the appetizers. At most weddings there is so much food people can’t possibly eat it all! Reduce your costs by cutting down the amount of appetizers or hors d’oeuvres you order – or consider not bothering with them altogether. If you do want to serve them, simply cut down on the number of different kinds. No one will notice whether there were 5 or 10 different options and you’ll save a bundle.

- Ask your florist to do a “market special”. If you like to have everything organized down to the last detail, this option is not for you. A “market special” is when your florist goes the day before the wedding and chooses whatever she can find on sale at the wholesalers. You never know what you’re going to get but if you’re working with a florist who shares your vision this can be a great way to save.

- Opt for simple but elegant rings. The most inexpensive option is the classic gold band. For these you can expect to pay from $150 to $300 each. If you want a white metal choose white gold instead of platinum (which will cost twice as much). Another option is to choose silver bands. Although silver is not as durable, there are many styles to choose from that wear well. If you want your wedding ring to have a stone, consider semi-precious stones such as opals. It doesn’t have to be diamonds to be beautiful.

Getting married is one of the most wonderful times in your life. So enjoy it! And remember that it is possible to create an elegant, stylish wedding on a budget. All you need is creativity and a willingness to think outside the box.