Wedding Budget Tips

Before you begin planning your special day, the very first thing you need to do is set a budget for your wedding. This task will prove to be difficult. The pressure to create the perfect wedding day tends to short circuit the brain in the areas of sensibility and reason.

Keeping a level head isn't easy, but unless you plan to pay for your wedding over the next ten years of your life, keep some perspective, set a budget and stick to it.

Wedding invitations can be extremely expensive. A beautiful invitation is important, however, it ultimately ends up in the garbage. So select something that suits your style, but doesn't break the bank. Or spend a day with your bridesmaids and make your own. Remember postage alone will cost you close to a dollar per invite if you choose to include a return stamp, which I highly recommend to encourage your guests to reply promptly.

Wedding flowers cost thousands of dollars. Between the bouquets, boutonnieres, church flowers and reception centerpieces a large portion of your wedding budget is consumed. Consider creating table centerpieces using candles, rose petals, vases filled with citrus fruits or sand and shells. With a little thought and creativity the possibilities are often more interesting than the usual floral arrangement but at a fraction of the price.

Transportation, i.e. limousine, stretch Hummers and horse and carriage are fun to look at, but dollar for dollar probably the most wasteful wedding expense. Couples pay for several hours of service but are only in the vehicle for a small fraction of time. Look for a way to eliminate this expense by asking friends and family for a unique vehicle to borrow.

Cost cutting is easier in some areas more than others. Though it's one of the toughest areas to stick to a budget, one of the quickest ways to save a few thousand dollars is on the wedding dress. The dress is important, very very important, but few will know the difference between a $1500 and a $5000 dress. Avoid high- pressure boutiques and shop trunk shows, off the rack and on-line options. David's Bridal has an abundant selection at very affordable prices.

If your wedding hall doesn't offer cake with your package, you're able to bring in your own. Buy a small designer cake for the bride and groom cutting, but buy a large sheet cake for serving. Costco and Sam's club sell truly delicious cakes at very low prices, and now one will ever know the difference.

Spend your money in areas that will truly count. Only you can determine what is most important on your wedding day but your guests will remember if they danced and if they ate and drank well, so be sure to budget appropriately for a great DJ and a reliable reception hall. The day will go by so quickly for the bride and groom, money is also well spent on a talented photographer that will capture the details of what is otherwise a hazy day.