Ten Tips for Trimming Your Wedding Budget

Are you planning a wedding but have limited funds? There are several ways that you can reduce expenses while still having a beautiful wedding.

First, consider your wedding gown choice. If you can, use your mother's gown or one from another relative which would be free unless alterations are required. Ebay or consignment stores can also have great deals on wedding gowns. You might also consider renting your gown from a costume rental shop. Besides a wedding gown costume, gown in other themes such as Southern belle may work perfectly for you.

Flowers can grow your financial outlay significantly. Silk flowers are generally cheaper than live flowers, and you will be able to keep your bouquet and flower arrangements indefinitely. Or, consider using cut flowers for the bouquet and silk flowers for other arrangements. Carrying one single rose instead of a bouquet can also be elegant and costs very little. You may be able to borrow or rent centerpieces from a florist instead of buying them.

Serving alcohol at your reception can be costly. Consider only offering wine, beer, and soft drinks. Or, you might choose to forgo alcohol entirely at the reception. You could always invite your closest friends to join you at your favorite bar for a post-reception bash. You can also use sparkling grape juice or a sparkling white wine in place of more expensive champagne for your toast.

June is the most common month for weddings. It's also the most expensive and books the fastest. Winter is the cheapest time to hold a wedding. And, your guests are less likely to have other commitments at that time of year.

For food, ask your friends and relatives to bring a dish to the reception. Most people will be glad to help if they know that your financial situation is tight.

For your wedding photos, try to find a skilled amateur or part-time photographer. These people can often do quality photos for much less than a professional photographer. Decide what shots are important to you and ask for them. You may not want a huge selection of photos (nor may you want to pose for that many pictures.) Also, you can put disposable cameras on the reception tables and invite your guests to take pictures at the reception. These candid shots can be much more memorable than posed pictures.

For your transportation to the reception, consider forgoing the limo. You might be able to convince a friend or family member to loan a luxury car or even a vintage car., Or, you could rent a luxury car for cheaper than a limo. You could always get a friend to be your chauffeur.

A huge, gorgeous cake can be very expensive. You could have a smaller scale, equally gorgeous cake made and then have sheet cakes available to feed your guests. Or, you could opt for beautifully decorated cupcakes.

Schedule your wedding for the afternoon. Food costs will be lower since you will only have to provide snacks versus a full meal. Alcohol costs will be reduced since most people drink less during the day. You won't need to provide entertainment for as long since people will not expect to be partying into the night.

Hiring a band may be cost-prohibitive. You might be able to find a talented friend or relative to sing or play an instrument. A DJ can provide tunes for the ceremony and reception instead of hiring singers and musicians for the wedding plus a band for the reception.

For a last bonus tip, if you are really strapped for cash, consider not having a formal wedding. After all, your goal is to get married. This can be done very cheaply at the Justice of Peace, or you could elope. Another possibility is getting married in your minister's study with a few witnesses present. If you are not "wedded" to the idea of having a big wedding, you may not miss all of the stress and expense associated with a formal wedding. You could always hold a reception at a later time, or have a re-marriage ceremony when you can afford to do so.

Don't start your marriage off with dreaded debt from your wedding day. Use some or all of these tips to help you conserve precious cash,