Clever Ways to Save on Your Big Day

by Lauren Dahlinghaus on Nov 17, 2010 Almost every newly-engaged couple wants to try to find little ways to save money here and there. Sadly, weddings are almost always expensive and in bad economic times like this saving your money may be the only security you have. Here are a few helpful hints to help you cut on the costs. • Shorten your engagement or make it longer- If you don’t get caught up in the usual 11-month engagement it is harder to get wrapped up in planning a extravagant wedding. It may actually be cheaper to plan a last minute wedding so you don’t concentrate on unnecessary details. The longer the engagement the longer you have to analyze additional details you may want in your own wedding. You can also prolong your engagement to save money, and also take advantage of seasonal sales. There may be savings on silver decorations at an after-Christmas sale and then for your December wedding use those as decorations. • Schedule your wedding in an off-season- Many companies offer huge discounts for weddings occurring January through March, with the exception of Valentine’s Day. Since Saturday is the most popular day to get married, change up your day to either Friday or Sunday. • Save on your Wedding Dress- One of the most expensive pieces of your wedding is the dress! Instead of spending thousands on a dress you will wear once try to find savings. Many designers have sample sales where you can buy a $3000 designer dress for almost $300. A growing trend is renting or borrowing a dress. The odds are that the dress has only been worn once and you can usually get the dresses at least half off. • Limit your liquor- One way to throw off your budget quick is to serve an unlimited amount of alcohol. Most reception hall charge for every bottle opened; instead choose a signature drink of your favorite liquor and a few choices from the wedding party. Another great option is to serve just beer and wine. One of the most important decisions you face while on a budget is what to keep in your wedding and what to cut. Make sure if you really value photos then you don’t cut on the photographer costs. Or if you find your dream reception hall don’t cut cost there either. A lot of small cuts can add up to big savings on your budget. Picture Courtesy of: http://www.onewed.com/blog/savvy-scoop/category/budget-wedding-ideas/2010/04/28/man-registry-what-do-all-wedding-cash/