101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 6: Cakes

101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

This next 5 ways (Saving Ways numbers 47 to 51) of saving money on planing for your wedding cake will leave you thankful that you cut down on this costs.  Most brides, who spent a lot of money on their wedding cakes, list the price they paid for the cake as their number one “money waster” after their wedding is done. So, be forewarned

Wedding Cakes

47. Skip the bakery.  Any place that specializes only in wedding place is going to be expensive. Go to your local grocery store, culinary school, or even your favorite restaurant to negotiate a better deal.

48. Serve the entire cake. Saving the top layer of the cake is often considered a dead tradition. You can save a lot of money by serving your entire cake as dessert.

49. Use a fake cake.   Instead of ordering an expensive wedding cake, why not opt for a “fake wedding cake”? These cakes are made of styrofoam and are beautifully decorated. They can stay on display all day long, even outdoors with no worries about bugs or humidity. They look so real, your guests won’t even have a clue it is fake.

50. Use cupcakes.  Cupcakes for wedding cake are getting popular these days. They costs way less than the “wedding” cake and you can have them in different flavors that your guests can choose from.

51. Order extra sheet cake. If you want an elaborately decorated cake but can’t afford one big enough to feed everyone, go for a smaller cake on display, and have sheet cake in back for cutting and serving. If the icing matched, your guests will never know the difference.
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101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 5: Location and Time

101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

Here are 6 ways (Saving Ways numbers 40 to 46) to save money on your wedding venue.  Two things that stand out when you are researching for economical venue are the location of your ceremony and reception, as well as the date and time of your wedding.

Wedding Locations and Time

40. Book a block of hotel rooms. If you will have guests coming from far away to attend your wedding, find a hotel near your wedding that will negotiate a discounted rate for a block of rooms.   Advise your family and friends to make their reservations there.  If you and your new spouse stay there before or after the wedding this will not only save money for your guests, but for you as well.

41. Choose your day carefully. The most popular, and expensive, time to have your wedding is on a Saturday. Friday and Sunday will be cheaper, and Monday through Thursday is your best deal.

42. Avoid the peak season. The busiest wedding season is May through September. If you avoid these months, you can save a lot of money, and get better services for a lower price. There are also lots of great themes you can incorporate for an autumn or winter wedding!

43. Use the same location. Have your wedding and reception at the same location. This is often available in hotels and country clubs where you can have the wedding in their garden, and reception in a banquet facility. You can negotiate a great deal by having both in the same place, as well as saving your guests some travel.

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101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 4: Food & Drinks

101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 4: Food and Drinks

Here are 15 ways (Saving Ways numbers 25 to 39) to cut your food and drinks at your wedding reception. The biggest percentage of your wedding budget will go to food and drinks.  Choose your menu wisely and decide if you are going to offer alcoholic drinks in your reception.  Cutting down on alcoholic drinks will slash you food and drinks budget, saving you money on your wedding reception.

Food and Drinks At Your Wedding Reception

25. Go for the buffet. By selecting a buffet instead of a plated meal, you’ll save not only on the meal but on the servers as well. This is also a bonus for your guests who don’t have to decide ahead of time what they’ll want to eat that day, and can fill their plate however they want.

26. Skip the filet mignon. Chose chicken, fish, and pasta as your options. Consider including pork or less expensive cut of meats. Steak may seem like a very formal option but it will run up your bill more than it’s worth.

27. Serve fewer courses. You can serve a higher quality three course meal for the same price as a five course meal. There’s no need to over complicate things.

28. Skip the bar. Don’t feel obligated to provide your guests with a bar. Soda, tea, and water will often do just fine. If you have your reception at a hotel there is often a bar nearby that your guests can get drinks from on their own that won’t cost you a cent. Letting your guests pay for their drinks is usually frowned upon by the etiquette police.  Let your guest know that there will be a cash bar through “word of mouth” before the wedding so they would not be surprised when this happens.  They are coming to join you in your wedding celebration; not to have “free” drinks.  Another option, have a reception earlier in the day – during brunch or lunch is often a good excuse to have a dry party.

29. Have friends and family cater. If you don’t mind going for a less formal affair, you can have friends and family cater the reception. If this isn’t quite in line with your reception plans you can also consider doing this for the rehearsal dinner.

30. Have an informal rehearsal dinner. You can save a bundle by having a casual rehearsal dinner. Plan a cookout, potluck, or barbecue. Your guests will still have a great time, and probably enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.

31. It doesn’t have to be dinner. If you move your wedding to an earlier time, you can have the reception at brunch of lunch time. This will allow you to go for cheaper menu options, like fruit and tea sandwiches. If you want a buffet, consider setting up an omelet bar!

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101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 3: Flowers

101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding- Part 3: Flowers

Here are 5 ways (Saving Ways numbers 20 to 24) to save money on your wedding flowers – from your own bridal bouquet to your bridesmaids and flower girl’s  flowers, is to do them yourself.  There is no need to panic even if you have not done a single flower arrangement before.  Read on and find out how you, too, can make these beautiful bouquet with a little bit of practice and step-by-step instructions.

WEDDING FLOWERS

20. Make your own bouquets. You can purchase a wide variety of silk flowers at any craft store. These won’t wilt so you can take your time creating the perfect bouquets. Time your purchase during sale months, usually after Christmas or in January when craft stores want to get rid of their older stock to make room for their new ones.  If  you want to use fresh flowers, visit farmers’ markets or  grocery stores that offer floral products.  Their fresh cut flowers will cost much less than what your florist will charge. You can also save money by buying flowers wholesale.

If you are not sure you can make  pretty flower bouquet for you and your bridesmaids, here is a book I recommend: Creative Wedding Florals You Can Make by Terry Rye.

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101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 2: Invitations

101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding- Part 2: Invitations

Here are 8 ways (Saving Ways numbers 12 to 19) to save money on your invitations and announcements.  The first of our money saving ways is to cut down your guest list.  You probably heard this before and it is worth repeating.  The guest list not only dictates how many invitations and/or announcements should you buy or make, it also dictates how much food and drinks you will need, not to mention the size of your reception venue.  All these costs M-O-N-E-Y!  So, do keep this in mind.  On to our money saving ways for your wedding preparations:

INVITATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

12.    Cut down your guest list.  The quickest and easiest way to save money on your wedding is to cut down your guest list.  Have a small wedding with only family, or only invite very close friends.  Cut the people you never talk to, or all of your coworkers from the list.  If anyone is offended explain that it was a very small and intimate affair.

13.    Skip engagement announcements and save the dates.  These extra touches are cute, but no longer completely necessary.  Take the time to make a personal phone call to the most important people in your life and let work of mouth do the rest.  Or, if you must get the word out, use an email instead.

14.    Design and print your invitations at home.  You can buy blank invitations at any craft store, Target, Wal Mart or online. Here is a site I found that gives great step by step instructions on how to make your own invitations: Do-it-Yourself-Invitations.  This next site sells cheap, but elegant DIY Invitation kits that starts at less than a dollar a piece: Formal Invitations.   If you or someone you know is handy with Adobe Photoshop or graphic design you can even create a very personal picture or logo for all of your wedding correspondence.

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