Backyard Wedding Reception

You may have noticed that the costs for everyday items are at an all time high.  Unfortunately the expenses relating to weddings have also increased as our economy has struggled.  While fancy catered dinners and designer wedding gowns can take a big chunk out of your overall budget, engaged couples are often shocked to discover that rental fees on locations used for weddings and receptions have skyrocketed.  What’s a bride to do?  Many thrifty brides are deciding to cut costs and save money by having their receptions in their own backyard.  A backyard wedding can be just as beautiful as one in a rented area, but does require more work.

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101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 12: Wedding Decorations

The best time to plan your wedding decorations is when you have settled on what your wedding theme would be.  This way you have your colors and style in mind.  The next step is to think about how to save money on your wedding  decorations.  Here are few ideas – Part 13 of our series on 101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding  (click on image to enlarge).

Wedding Decorations

83. Print your own place cards – You can easily print your own place cards at home and print decorations on them, or decorate them with ribbons.

84. Skip the place card holders – Use place cards that fold in half and stand on their own in place of fancy place card holders

85. Arrange your own centerpieces – You can arrange the flowers yourself for the centerpieces at your reception. Buy silk flowers so you can take your time putting them together.

86. Get creative with your decorations – Instead of flowers, you can decorate with candles, Christmas lights, fruit, seashells, or any number of creative items. Go to a craft store and browse around for inspiration. One way to start is with a fishbowl or shallow dish on a mirror. You can fill the bowl with water and floating candles, or sand and seashells.

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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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Destination Wedding: Jules’ Undersea Lodge

Two months ago, I wrote about “Undersea Adventure Wedding Theme” and I was pondering if this wedding should be really underwater or above water with decorations mimicking an underwater scenario.  I opted for the later with the thought that I would write about planning a “real” undersea wedding in the near future.  Well, this is the near future and for today, I have a treat for you, scuba lovers or even those who have never before dived but want a unique, unforgettable and private wedding   – an underwater destination wedding combined with the comfort and convenience of a dry setting at the Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo Florida. [Read more]

Country Wedding Theme

Country Wedding Theme is our day 4 installment of our 12 days of Creative Wedding Theme.

For the bride who wants warm, relaxed, and down-home wedding, country wedding theme fits the bill.  Country wedding does not mean jeans and cowboy boots, although you can wear these, too, if you fancy yourself getting married in these clothes.  Nothing wrong with that, but what we want to share with you here is the more conservative country wedding – with the gowns, lots of fresh flowers and country music.  Here’s the list:

Location:  Choose a rustic country with open wood beams and large, cozy fireplaces, an old farmhouse or a big barn-style building. [Read more]

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