How to Save Money on Your Wedding

Weddings today can really stretch or break the bank. Parents can no longer afford to foot the bill for their children's dream wedding. With our economy in turmoil people are struggling to keep their jobs and make ends meet. Wedding plans can cost thousands upon thousands of dollars. Most people planning a wedding have no idea about the costs involved and all the small details that go into the event.

Once couples get engaged they usually start checking out wedding and reception halls. They are frequently amazed at how expensive it is to get married. From the gown of her dreams to the ice sculpture and espresso/cappuccino table your dreams of staying within your budget are quickly dissolved.

Finding a way to save money for your wedding becomes your goal because you want every detail perfect. One way that couples save money is by getting their wedding favors from a craft shop or making them themselves. You can easily purchase the supplies needed to make beautiful wedding favors at your local craft store. They have different color netting and ribbons that you can use to hold candy coated almonds or Hershey kisses. If you have the extra money you can have the ribbon ties imprinted with your names and the date of the wedding.

Another idea would be to purchase candy Bars and then add your own home made wedding labels. You can create the new candy bar wrappers using your computer and printer. They can sport your favorite poem or the title of your wedding song along with your names and the date of the wedding. This is a very inexpensive way to save money on your wedding.

A bride can save money by shopping around for her wedding dress or using her mother's gown. Sometimes with just a few alterations her mothers dress can look like new and not to mention how much it would mean to mom. If you don't have one to borrow there are actually stores nowadays that rent Bridal gowns. This way you can have a more expensive dress that you might not have been able to buy for your special day. You just won't have a dress to pass down to your daughter when she gets married.

Another way to save money is to make your own flower arrangements. Use silk flowers from the local craft store and have them match the color scheme of your reception hall or bridal party. By doing it yourself, you can save you hundreds of dollars and then they can be taken home and used for display by some of your guests. Going with silk for your bouquet and the flowers for the bridal party will let you keep them forever. Some brides dry out the flowers from their bouquet but if you had silk it would save money and you can display them in your curio cabinet or on a shelf for years to come.

Having your wedding on a holiday or during the week can sometimes save you money too. Always ask if the hall has any days during the year that they are looking to fill. Sometimes you can get a deal on a holiday like Halloween or 4th of July. It could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Remember though that people tend to take their vacations around holidays so you might not get as many attending your wedding as you thought you would.

You can save money on the food if you stick to a basic menu. Do not go overboard with lots of choices. Keep your appetizers and desserts simple too. Check with local culinary schools as they might be able to cater your event as a teaching tool for their students. You could end up with gourmet food for a fraction of the real cost.

Photography is another way to save money. Leave disposable cameras on every table and ask your guests to click away. Then have them drop them in a basket when done. This way you have tons of candid shots that you normally would not get from a professional photographer. While it's nice to have the professional photo book - you can create fantastic ones yourself these days with any of the online photo stores.

Remember not to stress yourself too much over saving money for your wedding. It will be beautiful and special no matter what you choose to do. Give yourself enough time to save your money and do your research. After all, an educated consumer gets the best deals.