Wedding Budget: Making Less More

Posted by User Contributed

July 8, 2008

Wedding Expense Jitters

The average wedding nowadays costs about $25,000 and then some, but couples are finding ingenious cost-saving measures to stage elegant weddings. The first thing is to settle on how much you can spend, and from there, play your way around the figures, find better deals, and trim expenses on some wedding details.

Couples are always fazed by the wedding details because these are all equally important from the wedding gown, groom’s tux, rentals, cool groomsmen gifts and attendants’ presents, and reception, plus, there’s the guest list that’s the single large expense next to the wedding gown. There’s no reason to omit any of these; instead, know where to spend less to have more where it matters to both of you.

Where to Cut Corners

Wedding Dress - A $200 rental already includes alteration and cleaning. Online bridal shops offer trendy and classical selections which can be customized by adding bows or accents to reflect the wedding motif. Depending on your budget, you can rent gowns from $200 to $300.

Wedding Cake - The cake can be baked to serve from 50 to 700 guests and will cost about $200 to $1,000. Designer opalescent will cost you, but request the hotel’s baker or a baker friend create a scaled-down version of a celebrity cake. For the guests, nice sheets from the same cake recipe can be served after you have cut your wedding cake, served each other, and posed with the cake.

Bouquet and Corsage - Go for flowers in season for your bridal posy, corsage, and decorations; a single crimson rose for your nuptial bouquet is simple yet sophisticated. This is the rage today and is cheaper than those exotic and off-season blooms.

Decorations - Ask a relative or friend to allow you use their beautiful lawn for your wedding ceremony as a wedding present. This would do away with the cost for floral decorations.

Groomsmen gifts - Give a personalized touch to your gifts. There are tons of superior yet affordable items for your groomsmen. Engravable cufflinks and engraved Zippo lighters make great gifts that will make your groomsmen feel really cherished.

For the guest list, unless you can find a catering service or hotel that can accommodate discounts, you can invite more friends to your [party. Until then, you really have to go over your list and make a final decision. Who says then that you cannot have a classy wedding on a budget?

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