Top Money Saving Wedding Saving Tips
RANK YOUR PRIORITIES
What facets of your wedding are most important to you? Focus on areas that make your heart go pitter-patter, and you'll feel OK about skimping on the rest. As for what guests tend to remember, according to a survey conducted by St. Louis Bride and Groom magazine, 81 percent of guests say the entertainment is the most memorable part of a wedding.
RECRUIT FRIENDS
Think of it as cost-free outsourcing. Gather your inner circle, play to their strengths (e.g., assign lettering to the friend with the most beautiful handwriting), and turn the prep into a party.
BE RUTHLESS WITH THE HEAD COUNT
Quick tips for whittling your guest list: Omit children and coworkers (making cuts categorically is less likely to cause rifts); and when it comes to couples, invite spouses, fiances, and live-ins only. Keep the numbers down for your wedding party as well: Fewer attendants means less money spent on bouquets, boutonnieres, presents, and transportation.
INITIATE AN OFFICIANT
There are many unexpected costs that can inflate your budget; an officiant can be one of them. If that's the case for you, consider having your vows administered by a trusted relative or friend. Universal Life Church (ulchq.com) and Esoteric Interfaith Church (northern way.org) are two organizations that "ordain" laypeople so they can officiate weddings, which most of the 50 states will recognize. Laws in a few states, such as Virginia, are strict, requiring officiants to be active in their ministry. To be sure you're in the clear, check with the county clerk about the laws where you'll be wed.
EMBRACE THE OFF-SEASON
Whoever decided that June brides had more fun, especially when there are 11 other equally lovely months clamoring for your attention? Those that don't fall during peak months will help out your bottom line. "You can save as much as 15 percent off high-season rates," says James Jay, director of catering at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Texas. Just remember, in places such as Florida or the Bahamas, summer is the off-peak season.
THINK OUT-OF-THE-BANQUET-HALL
"Pick a venue that already has a chic ambiance," suggests Abby Larson of wedding blog Style Me Pretty. "Restaurants are usually the best option. They have gorgeous tables and chairs, and the decor is often easy to fall in love with. You'll save an absolute bundle."
SWAP CITIES
After moving her wedding from Brooklyn, New York (her current home), to a beach town in Michigan (her native state), bride-to-be Vicky Sherman watched catering quotes drop from $140 per head to $40 -- a savings of $15,000, based on her 150-person guest list.
HIRE AN EXPERT
Save money by spending it on a planner? It sounds counter-intuitive, but wedding planners 1) are not shy when it comes to haggling, 2) can draw from years of experience working with brides on budgets, and 3) have working relationships with vendors -- all of which can amount to big bucks shaved off your final bill. Read More
(Adopted from Martha Stewart Weddings)
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