10 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs

There are two types of wedding couples: Those who have unlimited finances to throw the party of their choice and those who have to remain within a budget. If you are the latter, there are ways to have the wedding you desire without going way into debt to do so. But it will take a bit of compromise. Here are 10 ways where you can cut costs in certain areas to free up money to put elsewhere into something you really want for your wedding ceremony or reception.

1. Choose Your Invitations Wisely. A good rule of thumb to save on costs is to keep it simple. Keep in mind that you'll be paying extra, both in printing and postage costs, for added adornments, like liners and enclosure cards.

2. Shop Budget Places For Your Wedding Gown, or consider renting your wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses instead of buying them. You can save a large sum of money here and your bridesmaids will certainly appreciate not having to shell out a lot of money for a dress they will probably never wear again. Some places to shop for low cost gowns and accessories are consignment shops, sample sales, designer closeouts and even Internet shops.

3. Minimize the Blooms. Flowers can also make a big dent in your wedding budget, especially if you choose expensive or exotic blooms. To cut costs, select more greenery and less flowers. And ask the florist which flowers are more economical to purchase.

4. Choose a Buffet instead of a sit-down dinner. The costs you save can be put towards hiring a full orchestra for the reception, or other preferences that are important to you. You might also want to consider serving a varied assortment of hors d'oeuvres and a dessert bar if your wedding ceremony is being held at an off time from traditional meal times. Other great options are a high tea, a brunch, or a luncheon.

5. Let Them Eat Sheet Cake. The cost of the wedding cake can take a huge chunk of your budget. A less costly alternative is to have a decorative "dummy" cake (only the top is made from cake, the rest of the tiers are forms) and serve guests sheet cake. With this option, the bride and groom can still cut the cake (the top portion) and the guests will never know they are being served sheet cake.

6. Just A Toast. Rather than have an open bar at the reception, save a bundle of money and just have an elegant champagne toast. You can also have a cash bar available for your guests who would like other drinks.

7. Hire Amateur Talent. For such things as photographers, videographers, musicians, and even the cake, consider hiring amateurs or college students who are learning the trade. You'll pay much less than a professional. Just be sure to ask for photos or samples of their work to be sure the quality and style meets your expectations.

8. Edit the Guest List. This can easily get out of control when you consider all the relatives and friends on both the bride's and groom's side. Keep in mind, though, that every person you invite is going to drive up the cost of invitations, favors and reception. When trying to edit the guest list, ask yourself these questions: When was the last time you saw the person? Would you invite the person to your home for dinner? If you haven't seen someone since you were a youngster, or if you're not friendly enough with them to invite them over to your house, it's probably wise to cross them off the guest list.

9. Get Crafty With Centerpieces. Rather than spend a lot of money ordering floral or other traditional centerpieces, consider making them yourself. Not only will they be more meaningful, but it's an activity couples can do together, or brides can invite their bridesmaids over for a "girls only" party and have making table centerpieces as the activity. A visit to a craft store reveals numerous possibilities, including forms to decorate with accents or spray paint. Other ideas can come from flea markets or yard sales. Look for things that can be spray-painted and/or filled with silk flowers or candies, like teacups (it's okay if they don't match), teapots, vases, jars, wine goblets, champagne flutes, or even hurricane lamps. Another cost-effective idea is to spray fresh fruit and vegetables, like apples, pears, oranges, and pumpkins, in the color scheme of your wedding and arrange them in a glass plate or bowl.

10. As A Favor. As the saying goes, the little things add up. While you want to give your guests something nice as a sign of appreciation for sharing in the joy of your wedding day, you don't want to go over budget doing so. Some cost-saving ideas for favors that are also a nice memento from your wedding day are: Hershey kisses wrapped in tulle and tied with a pretty ribbon with an attached note that says "a kiss from the bride and groom"; Glass ornaments in which you can write your name and wedding date on with a paint pen; Mini plants or flowers in a pot with a note touching on the "love grow" theme; Votive candles, which you can decorate with a special message using a label printed from your home computer; or Heart-shaped cookie cutters with a cookie recipe and a special creative message fitting for the bridal couple. Browse discount stores and craft stores for inspiration, or scour magazines or Internet bridal sites for ideas.