13 steps to make your wedding more economical
Weddings can be memorable and elegant without breaking the bank
Writer’s note: The following interviews were completed in November 2009 when I had an online column as the Chicago Relationships Examiner. This post has been repurposed and edited as needed. View the original post here for pages 1 and 2.
The day after your fiancé has gotten up from bended knee and the excitement has worn off, the panic starts to weigh its ugly head in. You now have to plan a wedding. You start a list of things you'll need to pay for:
bartender fees
beverages (including liquor)
church fees
deejay or musicians
flower arrangements for the wedding party
honeymoon
invitations
photographer
reception full-course meals
reception rental fees
shoes
table arrangements
thank-you gifts
transportation to and from the church
tuxedo for the groom
videographer
wedding cake
wedding dress
wedding rings
You add up all of the expenses, and it's about the amount you'd spend on a reasonably used or new automobile. This should-be-happy occasion instead makes you wonder whether you want to go bankrupt or head to the nearest courthouse and ditch it all!
Don’t worry. There are 13 ways to save without making your wedding look cheap.
Tip One: Ask about local dress designers. You don't have to buy your wedding dress from a bridal magazine or some fancy wedding designer who doesn't even live in your state, and you have to drive miles and miles to get measured. Your great great aunt may be the best dress designer you know of for good reason. Check out some of her other work and pricing. Decide if you want to spend less and experiment or spend thousands more on a dress you'll only wear once.
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Tip Two: Talk to a gardener instead of a floral arrangement company to see if she'd be willing to create your flower arrangements. You may luck out with someone who is willing to part with their flowers, especially if it's not a big deal for them to grow more. Get the bridal party involved in decorating the floral arrangements by purchasing decorations at your local craft material store.
Recommended Read: “10 irrational gardening thoughts ~ Unsolicited facts from my social isolation gardening days”
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Tip Three: Talk to a photographer who also specializes in videography to see if you can get better rates for this person to do both. Or, consider letting a family member or friend who has taken and passed video editing courses. Check out their videos on YouTube or some past class projects. If they can do the job, why not hire them instead of an expensive photographer who will charge per shot? Same goes for a photographer.