How to budget and save money on your wedding attire, flowers, photo-video, venue, and catering bar

WEDDING SUITS and DRESSES

Wedding dresses are very expensive. However, there are many options you can exercise to get what she wants and save money.

• Do you have a friend or family member who sews? Involve them and, in return, give them the honor of serving as attendants at your wedding party.
• If you shop for a dress online, you’ll probably find beautiful dresses at a reasonable price. Before deciding to make your wedding dress custom, go to the department stores and check their sales and the discontinued corner.
• Occasionally department and bridal stores have sample sales and clearance wedding dresses. When they do, you can buy a dress at a fraction of its original price and save a “ton” of money. Do not be shy. Ask the bridal salon manager when they plan to have an end-of-season clearance sale. They need to make room for the new styles. Another option is to purchase a sample dress that was worn to a fashion show or exhibition.
• If you still can’t find that special dress, consider a simple dress off the rack. Or comb wedding announcements and auction sites on and off the web. You’ll probably be able to buy a one-time-worn dress or even a new one for “peanuts.”
• To save even more, you might consider a “prom” or bridesmaid dress.

BRIDESMAID DRESSES

Today it is customary for bridesmaids to buy their own dresses and shoes. Since you probably intend to gift your bridesmaid and bridesmaids, provide them with accessories. It is customary to gift them personalized jewelry that goes well with their dresses or gowns. Whether the jewelry is a necklace, earrings, or a bracelet, it doesn’t have to be expensive. However, it must be of good quality and look good.

GROOM and GODPARENTS

Depending on the reason for your wedding, the groom and groomsmen may wear a dark suit and dress shirt. You should give them matching ties for uniformity and a tie clip and cufflinks as a keepsake gift. If your wedding requires tuxedos, have the men in the wedding party rent the tuxedos and shoes. Once again, you should gift them with the accessories. Many rental places will provide the groom’s attire for free if all the men in the wedding party rent at the same time as a single package. So, have all the men order and test at the same time. Even if you take them out to eat after the fitting, having the groom’s outfit for free will save you money.

FLOWERS

• Choose flowers that are in season and grown locally.
• You can save money on your flower arrangements if you are willing to be ‘out of the box’ and creative.
• If any of your guests create flower arrangements even as a hobby, ask them to make the flower arrangements for your wedding.
• If you can’t find a capable guest, you’ll need to purchase your bridal bouquet and altar flowers from a reputable florist.
• Transfer flower arrangements from the ceremony to the reception.
• Consider giving the bridesmaids mixed seasonal flowers. They are available at supermarkets and even Costco and Sam’s Club at a fraction of the price a florist charges.
• Place vases on the reception tables and have your bridesmaids insert their bouquets into these vases to serve as centerpieces for the reception tables. Your bridesmaids will please you and after the reception they will take home your flowers and the vases too. The flowers won’t last forever, but the vases will become your wedding favors and you’ll save a lot of money.

PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS

When it comes to photographers and videographers, choose your professionals very carefully. Your wedding day will come and go and the photos and video will serve as keepsakes and memories of your big day. By seeing them, you will revive it and be able to share it with your children and yours building a family history.

Before hiring a photographer or videographer, interview at least 3. Compare their work, prices and references. Choose the best that is within your budget. Even if you need to go for a smaller package, this is where you want the best. Go for it. Just as personalized wedding gifts and accessories will become treasured keepsakes to share and pass on to your children, so will your photos and videos.

Most of the likes of your wedding have cameras on their cell phones. Ask them to take photos too. These photos will usually be real and candid and will reflect your wedding as your guests see it.

THE PLACE

The reception is the most expensive part of your wedding. The food is the most expensive part of the reception. However, you can plan it within your budget and have a memorable event. You must be very particular when choosing the site. It must be appropriate and fit in with your hosting plan. It doesn’t have to be a traditional salon. How about having your wedding in a historic home, park, museum, fairgrounds, public gardens, on the beach, at your place of worship, in a clubhouse, etc.?

You also need to know if the place provides all your furniture and dining needs. If not, you must calculate the rental rates.

When choosing a wedding venue, choose a slow period and a Friday night, Sunday afternoon, or midweek. When the caterers are not busy, you can negotiate with them for the best deals.

FOOD and BAR

• If you invite some good cooks to your wedding, you can ask them to prepare your favorite recipes for your reception.
• If you invite some good bakers, ask if they could make sweets and desserts or maybe even your wedding cake. You will save money and they will be honored to be asked for it. In fact, they’ll probably be happy to serve, too.
• If you have your reception catered, you need to consider: the number of guests, the time of day, and how the food will be served.
• It will be:
• just snacks,
• dessert only,
• light appetizer,
• a sit down,
• A buffet?
• Will you serve alcohol?
• Will the bartenders serve alcohol?
• Will it be open bar?
• Who will pay for the drinks you or your guests?
• Or, instead of having an open bar with hard liquor, serve only champagne, wine, and beer. If you buy them, ask the retailer if they return unopened bottles. Big Box retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club accept returns.

There’s a huge price difference between a light brunch, a five-course sit-down meal, and everything in between.

The following are some suggestions that you can refer to to fit your budget.

• Having a brunch or an early lunch. Serve fruits and vegetables, salads, eggs, cheeses, pastries, coffee, tea and cold drinks in buffet style.
• Have a late lunch and you’ll just need to add some meat and poultry. At your choice, you can still serve it buffet-style or as a sit-down meal.
• For a reception dinner, you can serve a buffet or a formal dinner. A catered dinner is by far the most expensive option.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR FAVORS

More often than not, you will find that people will be honored to be asked to contribute their talents and connections on your special day. When I got married, my brother’s best friend who is a DJ was more than happy to provide his services as a wedding present for me and my boyfriend.

See if you can borrow a friend or family member’s accessories. Something as simple as a headpiece, veil or jewelry can be very expensive if bought new. You will have a lot of “Something New” items, but you need “something borrowed.” So, find someone who has an accessory tucked away in their closet and will be more than happy to lend it to you as their “borrowed something.” “Something old” “Something blue” and sixpence for your shoe. For my wedding, my father-in-law replaced it with a dime. I have been happily married for 55 years. So I guess the Dime served me well.