| Your wedding dress: | | | | decorations your cake has the more expensive it will |
| Start shopping right away. You won't feel rushed or | | | | be.Buy your own drink it will work out a lot cheaper |
| pressured into buying something, and you'll be able to | | | | then paying the caterers or venues prices.Photos: |
| shop smart.Simple plain dresses are usually less | | | | Compare hourly fees and package deals to see |
| expensive then the ones with lace, pearls/beads | | | | which is more cost-effective for you.Give disposable |
| etc..You could buy a plain dress and add lace, beads | | | | cameras as wedding favours. Then you can get |
| etc.. yourself. Or get someone to do it for you.Rent or | | | | copies of the days events from family and |
| borrow a dress. If you like your mother`s, sister`s or | | | | friends.Have a professional photographer take the |
| friends dress ask them if you could borrow it. But don`t | | | | formal pictures and shoot the ceremony; have guests |
| be offended if they refuse as a wedding dress is very | | | | take all reception photos.Visit your local college`s |
| sacred to most women.Look around second hand | | | | photography department and check out some of the |
| shops/charity shops. You`ll be surprised at the amount | | | | students' portfolios. They will do your photography a lot |
| they get given, and they are usually inexpensive.The | | | | cheaper and just as good as a professionalAsk |
| venue: | | | | friends and family to video the big day for you.Flowers: |
| Book the ceremony/reception well in advance you | | | | Use flowers that are in season and/or locally grown |
| may be able to negotiate a better price then you | | | | they're less expensive than out-of-season flowers that |
| would if you left it to the last minute.Have your | | | | must be shipped to your area.Have bouquet with just |
| wedding on off-peak months. November to April rates | | | | a few large flowers, like orchids, tulips, lilies, or |
| will probably be reduced. Christmas weddings are | | | | sunflowers, tied with a ribbon.If you are marrying at |
| more expensive though so if you are planning a | | | | Christmas or Easter, your church may already be |
| Christmas wedding you will have to cut your | | | | decked out beautifully.Arrange to share the cost of |
| finances.Instead of a grand ballroom or banquet hall, | | | | ceremony decorations with the couple marrying |
| think less-expensive venues, like publicly owned | | | | directly before or after you that day.Use silk or dried |
| buildings and parks, registry office, the church or temple | | | | flowers instead of fresh ones in table |
| hall, the backyard, the beach, a restaurant's private | | | | centerpieces.Music: |
| room. You may have to get a permit to marry in a | | | | DJs are less expensive than live bands.Ask a family |
| public place, but it will be less than a private banquet | | | | member or friends child to sing at the reception.Hire |
| room.Catering: | | | | music for the evening reception only. People are |
| Look around for caterers. Get different quotes before | | | | usually to busy chatting to notice any way.Ask at the |
| you decide on one.Choose cheaper entrees, like | | | | local college/university for young musicians.Invitations: |
| prawns instead of lobster, vegetables like broccoli | | | | Send invitations that are light enough when completely |
| instead of asparagus will cut the cost, too.Cut down on | | | | assembled to require only a single stamp for |
| courses. If you're having a cocktail hour, do you really | | | | mailing.Make your own invitation cards. They are |
| need an appetizer course? Do you need soup and | | | | cheaper and more personal.If you are having a themed |
| salad?Instead of waiter service, have a buffet | | | | wedding make cards to do with the |
| bar.Think ethnic! Mexican, Indian, Italian, or Chinese food | | | | theme.Transportation: |
| is fun and much cheaper per person than the traditional | | | | Limousines are cheap enough to hire for an hour. Find |
| wedding menu. See if your favorite restaurant caters.If | | | | out in advance how long the ceremony will take.Only |
| you are having a themed wedding create your menu | | | | hire a limo for the bride and groom; have attendants |
| around the theme.Have the wedding cake only as | | | | driven in relatives' cars, or have them drive themselves |
| dessert and eliminate any other sweets (eclairs, | | | | in groups.You might be able to hire a horse and |
| pastries, etc.).Consider a wedding breakfast or brunch | | | | carriage for just as less. Check the Yellow pages for |
| (omelettes, muffins, pancakes, French toast), or a tea | | | | any in your area.We hope these are of some use to |
| (a variety of tea flavors, finger sandwiches, scones | | | | you. |
| and jams, etc.) to save money.The more tiers and | | | | |