101 Ways to Save on Weddings
Due to numerous requests from our readers, we are reprinting our article “101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding” in its complete form. Thank you for asking… 
With the cost of weddings spiraling upwards s of $27,000 (depending on where you plan to have your wedding), and the unstable economy, many engaged couples are looking for ways to save money on their wedding. We, at Completely Weddings, have listed 101 ways to cut your wedding cost and thereby saving you money to use somewhere else such as your honeymoon or savings for your first home.
Planning
1. Set a budget. Before you begin shopping and planning, set a goal for yourself of how much you want to spend. Make an effort to keep your costs in your budget, and remember that any additional money you save can go towards your honeymoon or your first home together.
2. Determine your priorities. Sit down with your fiancé and determine which area are most important to you. Do you both value traditions or could you do without a lot of them? Is a DJ the most important thing to have at your reception, or is it a full meal? Chose where you want to cut costs and what things are too important to you to skimp on.
3. Make your own traditions and ditch the old ones. If there are certain traditions that you don’t enjoy, such as throwing the garter and the bouquet (especially difficult if you have a very small wedding), don’t feel obligated to include them. You can create traditions all your own.
4. Don’t hire a wedding planner. If you are planning a small event especially, you don’t need a wedding planner. Invest in an accordion file and a wedding planning book from a bookstore and do it yourself.
5. Keep your eye out for bridal shows. Bridal shows are a great place to get freebies, gather information, and enter contests. The least you’ll walk away with is a better idea of what you want in your wedding, so find your next local bridal show and mark your calendar!
6. Order online. For everything from dresses to flowers to favors, you can get some great deals when you shop online. Do your homework before you make a purchase at any store and see if you can’t find the same thing cheaper on Amazon, EBay, or Overstock.com.
7. Take your time. Don’t rush into decision making. You may fall in love with all of the first things you see because you’re so excited just to be planning a wedding. Take time to make sure you’re getting the right wedding and reception items for your personal taste, and look into getting the best deal for each item.
8. Accept offers from friends and family. If you have particularly talented or crafty people in your family, chances are they will be jumping at the chance to offer their services. If you know that they’re good at what they do, take them up on their offers and enlist their help with DIY wedding projects.
9. Speak up and negotiate. Negotiation is not a lost art. Stand up for yourself and try to get the best deal possible with all of your vendors.
10. Befriend your local librarian. Before you go spending all your money on bridal magazines and books, go to your local library. Here you can browse etiquette and wedding planning books and magazines to your heart’s content without spending a dime.
11. Shop wholesale online. Search for wholesale retailers for everything from flowers to ribbon, and you can get a great deal online.
Invitations and Announcements
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Design and print your invitations at home. You can buy blank invitations at any craft store, Target, or Wal Mart. If you or someone you know is handy with Photoshop or graphic design you can even create a very personal picture or logo for all of your wedding correspondence.
15. Print your own announcements. If you did this with your invitations as well, it will be especially easy to make them match. Invitations only need to be one simple card.
16. Eliminate the RSVP card. Have your guests RSVP by phone or online. This will save you the expense of printing the response card and including the extra envelope as well as on postage for the return envelope.
17. Opt out of an inner envelope and tissue paper. The inner envelope and tissue paper are sometimes considered an outdated inclusion. You can easily get by without one or both.
18. Include only the basics. Save on your invitations by only including the very basics on the paper invitation. Put ceremony and reception information on the same invitation.
19. Get an inexpensive personal wedding website. Provide the web page address and include the invitation and all the details online. To get more information on choosing the personal wedding website for you, read our blog “Creating A Wedding Website“.
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.
21. Know what’s seasonal and local. Choose flowers that are in season at the time are your wedding, and that can be locally grown. You can save a lot by avoiding exotic flowers out of season.
22. Incorporate greenery and ivy. You can fill out your bouquets with greenery and ivy. These are cheaper than using flowers only in your bouquet. This will work especially well if you are planning an “eco-friendly wedding” or to include green in your wedding colors.
23. Reuse your flowers. Consider using some of the same flowers decorating your ceremony to decorate your reception. Assign a few helpful friends to transport the flowers after the ceremony and set them up for the reception.
24. Don’t decorate the head table. Instead of decorating the head table with flowers, use the bridesmaids’ bouquets, set in vases along the table.
Food and Drink
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 of beef. 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. Having 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!
32. Save champagne for the toast. There’s no need to keep the champagne flowing all night. You can serve one glass to each guest for the toast, and serve other beverages the rest of the time. For a non-alcoholic toast, consider serving Martinelli’s sparkling cider. It looks like champagne, tastes good and it’s way cheaper.
33. Serve a limited bar. If you don’t want a dry wedding but aren’t ready to spring for a full bar, just serve wine, beer, and soft drinks to cut your costs.
34. Shorten your cocktail hour. Though it is called the cocktail “hour” you can limit the time during which you serve drinks and hors d’oeuvres to save a little money, and prevent your guests from filling up before the meal!
35. Bring your own alcohol. Many locations do not allow this, but if you do your research you may be able to have your reception in a place where you can bring your own alcohol. Wine and liquor can be purchased much cheaper by the case.
36. Select a seasonal menu. Try to include items in your menu that are both locally grown and in season. You can really work down the meal price if you select your fruits and vegetables carefully.
37. Use smaller plates. If you serve your meal on 8 inch plates instead of 10 inch plates, you can serve less food while still providing a plate that looks full.
38. Go for the keg. For large groups it will be much cheaper to buy beer buy the keg – not the bottle.
39. Cut down on servers. Only hire the minimum number of servers needed. Other than serving the meal, they won’t be doing much besides racking up your bill.
Location 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 here 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.
44. Have a garden wedding. If you choose a garden location for your wedding, you can save on decorations. You may not need any! Let the beauty of the location do it all for you.
45. Use your church. If you belong to a church, they will often provide function halls, some with complete kitchens, free of charge to their members.
46. Have it at home. Getting married at home may seem like an outdated tradition, but if you or your family has a large house or yard, it can often be the perfect location. You will have the freedom to decorate however you want, and your wedding will be a very private affair.
Cake
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.
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.
Attire
52. Wear an heirloom or vintage dress. Vintage wedding gowns are in for 2009. See if any of your female relatives have a wedding dress they want to pass down to you. Ask your fiancé to do the same. His mother or grandmother may be thrilled to see you in their gown, especially if he doesn’t have sisters.
53. Rent tux’s from the same bridal shop you got your dress from. Many bridal shops will offer a discount on the men’s tuxes if you rent them from their location.
54. Let them wear suits. Instead of tuxes, you can save money for your groom and groomsmen by letting them wear suits instead.
55. Casual groomsmen attire. If you are planing an outdoor wedding, especially, you have a lot of options for the men’s attire. Consider a colored button down shirt and black pants or khakis. Ties are optional.
56. DIY jewelry. You and your bridesmaids can make some of your jewelry yourselves. Buy the thread, beads, and clasps and get all the girls together to craft their own jewelry. This way you will match, while still allowing each girl to have their own personal touch.
57. Go barefoot. If you’re planning a beach wedding you can ditch the shoes altogether! Have the girls go barefoot and consider making barefoot sandals instead.
58. Get a tiara at the mall or online. Avoid bridal shops and fancy jewelry stores. You can find a great tiara at department stores or online at Bridal ‘N Beauty.
59. Rent a wedding dress. You can save hundreds or even thousands by renting a wedding dress instead of buying one. Your wedding dress can be a very sentimental item, so not everyone will want to go this route, but if you’re able to it’s a surefire way to save.
60. Let the bridesmaids choose their own dresses. Many people will now simply choose a color and let their bridesmaids run with it. This works especially well if you have a color like black that’s easy for everyone to match.
61. Borrow your jewelry. You need something borrowed anyway, why not make it one of the more expensive accessories? Ask friends and family members if you can look through their jewelry for your “something borrowed”. They will likely be flattered and you can find some great pieces!
62. Don’t limit yourself to bridal shops. You can find wedding dresses now in most department stores and even online at places like Target! These dresses are a lot less expensive and often look just the same.
63. Choose a non-traditional dress – Your wedding gown can really be any dress that you love and feel beautiful in. If you love vintage clothing, consider any lacy vintage dress for your wedding gown. If you’re getting married outdoors or at the beach, you can even wear a more casual dress.
Hair and Makeup
64. Have a friend do hair and make up – Instead of hiring a professional to do your hair and make up, you can take a more DIY approach. Many people are often best at putting on their own makeup and know exactly how they like it. Or consider having a friend help with the task.
65. Go to a local cosmetology school – Consider getting your hair and makeup done at a cosmetology school instead of a licensed professional. These students are often just as good and will put extra effort into their work to impress their instructors.
66. Get a group mani/pedi’s – Make an appointment to get manicures and pedicures together with your bridesmaids. Let the salon know you are a bridal party. You can often negotiate a discount for the group of you, or get the bride’s free.
Rings
67. Shop for your rings online – Purchasing rings online, especially from a place like Amazon.com can save you a bundle.
68. Opt for simpler rings – If you and your fiancé are on a tight budget, skip the giant diamonds. Get small, simple rings for each other. If you’re a girl who secretly longs for that perfect diamond, you can agree to get new, custom designed rings on your 1, 5, or 10 year anniversary when you may be more secure financially.
69. Use an heirloom – Many families have heirloom rings that they want to pass on. Your only expense may be resizing it.
70. Reuse stones – If you don’t want to use an heirloom ring, consider using the stones from an inherited ring to create your own.
Music/Entertainment
71. Put together your own music – Skip the DJ and play music from a CD you’ve burned for the occasion, or hook up your iPod and set it to a special wedding playlist.
72. Have a friend or family member announce you – If you’re playing your own music, enlist a friend or family member to announce the wedding party as they enter.
73. Make your own short video – Rent a projector (or borrow one from work if you can!) and put together a short video of the bride and groom together. Set it to music and play your video after dinner.
74. Set up a slideshow – Rent or borrow a projector and set up a slideshow or pictures of you and your husband. Set it to loop so guests can catch all your pictures throughout the reception.
75. Enlist a local band – If you know of a good local band, or are friends with any musicians, enlist them to play for the ceremony or reception.
76. Hire student musicians – If you want live music for your ceremony, you can often find a beautiful rendition of traditional of classical music by looking for talented students. Many high schoolers are much better than they get credit for. Contact a high school band director and ask him to see if any of his best students are interested. They will likely do it for a very affordable price. Make sure you get to hear them play your selected piece a couple times before you hire them.
Photography/Videography
77. Hire a student photographer – Many people will urge you not to skimp on your photos. While this is true, hiring a student photographer or even a talented family or friend isn’t a bad idea if you look at samples of their work first and know that they are good at what they do. Students often do better work because they are anxious to build up an impressive portfolio and impress instructors and future employers.
78. Get pictures from your guests – Encourage your guests, especially close friends and family, to take lots of pictures and send you copies or burn them to a CD. Oftentimes, it’s these people who get the best candid shots. Look through their pictures before you purchase everything from the photographer.
79. Use disposable cameras – Don’t hire a photographer for the reception and instead set out disposable cameras on all of the tables. Your guests will have a great time capturing your special moments. You can also enlist one special friend or family member with a digital camera to catch specific moments that are important to you.
80. Purchase the negatives – Negotiate a deal with your photographer where you can purchase the negatives. This way you can make as many prints as you want in a variety of sizes.
81. Get a picture CD – Purchase a CD from your photographer with all of your pictures on it. You can edit the pictures on your own computer, or take the CD to a drug store and use their software. This way you can print the pictures at your convenience and get reprints at any time. Wait for your CVS or Walgreens to run a special and take advantage of their great deals.
82. Enlist friends and family – For video of the wedding and especially the reception, compiling several videos from guests can often be more fun and personal than paying someone else to do it.
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.
87. Have your wedding near a holiday – If you have your wedding near a major holiday like Christmas or Easter you can often save on decorations because the church, or other venue, will already be decorated beautifully. Choose wedding colors that will complement the seasonal decorations.
88. Share your decorations – If there are other weddings taking place in the same venue on the day of your wedding get in touch with those couples and see if you can arrange to split the cost of some decorations and share them for the day. If you want to keep any of these items, be sure to make this clear ahead of time.
89. Decorate with pictures – Instead of flowers or candles, incorporate artistic pictures of the happy couple into the decorations. These can be edited at home on your computer and printed out at your local drugstore.
Favors
90. Make your own favors – Many craft stores sell a variety of small bags, ribbons, and candies. You can save a bundle by filling the bags yourself with chocolates or mints and adding cute ribbons in your wedding colors.
91. Have decorations double as favors – This route is a perfect two-for-one money saver. Place candles at each place setting in a holder with your wedding date engraved on it. Set candies in small decorative glass bowls. You can even make a floral centerpiece out of several small potted plants set together. All of these decorations can become your favors at the end of the night and go home with your guests.
Attendants
92. Buy your attendant gifts online – Shop online at theknot.com or other online bridal stores to find great deals on attendant gifs. Most offer free personalization
93. Have a small wedding party – Opt for only asking your two or three closest friends to be in the wedding party. The fewer attendants you have, the more personal your experience will be.
The Ceremony
94. Print your own programs – Your wedding programs can be a simple trifold, or several pages tied with a pretty ribbon. Any way you do them, these are simple to print at home and put together yourself. Invite your bridesmaids over and make a party of it. If you’re having a small, nontraditional wedding you can go without programs entirely.
95. Give them bubbles – Instead of rice or flower petals, give your guests bubbles. You can buy small bubbles for just this purpose at craft stores or Wal-Mart. Many come with wedding bells or doves already crafted onto the lid. You can decorate them further with ribbons or paint.
96. DIY Guestbook – Buy a guestbook at any craft store and make it your own. Add ribbons or lace to the cover, and decorate the front page. A guestbook that doesn’t specify that it’s for weddings will probably be cheaper, and exactly the same in every other way.
97. Make your own ring bearer’s pillow – If you have a ring bearer, don’t spend a lot of money on the perfect pillow. This is the perfect item to make and decorate yourself. It doesn’t need to be elaborate or complicated.
Extras
98. Skip the limo – You can hire town cars instead of a limo for your transportation.
99. Have a friend drive – Enlist a friend with a nice car to be your driver for the event, and save on a limo.
100. Buy simple thank you cards – If you want a personal touch, print your own thank you cards. For an even easier approach, simply buy a box of simple thank you cards from a craft store. Even stores like Target and Wal-Mart carry these.
101. And lastly, but not least, avoid anything labeled “wedding” from gowns to shoes to cakes, the word “wedding” adds extra costs and usually without added benefits.
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Jenny's Illustration Board
My niece, Jennifer Nalus, is getting married in January, 2010. I was so excited when she asked me to help her plan her wedding. The wedding is in the Philippines and I am in California, so that is a bit of a challenge. All my wedding vendors are in the US and I am not familiar with wedding vendors in the Philippines. However, with my talented sister-in-law and my other nieces helping their sister, everything is working fine. Jenny’s wedding planning is coming together.
Black and White Wedding Colors
Jenny chose black and white as her wedding colors. She and her bridesmaids will be wearing white. The bridesmaids will have black lining on the dresses while the MOH will wear black of the same design with white lining. The groom will wear a black barong tagalog. Barong tagalog is a native formal wear. The flower girl will be carrying a black and white basket filled with white petals while the ring bearer will be carrying a black and white ring pillow.
The reception will be held at the elegant Shangri-La Hotel with 200 guests. The tables and chairs will be covered with black linen accented with white dinner plates and white napkins. A white pillar candle embellished with white butterfly, white silk flowers and pearls will be the main centerpiece. White rose petals and silver-wrapped chocolate kisses will be scattered around the centerpiece to give a colorful contrast to the black table top. The pillar candles will also be surrounded by cute bride and groom votive candles.
Wedding Gown, Bouquets and Cake
Jenny chose a local designer, Olan Roque, to design her bridal gown; and did I say it looks fabulous! The wedding gown is made with Mikado silk and chiffon with cut beads and stones hand sewn into the halter neckline. As for the wedding bouquet, the bride will be carrying red roses, her favorite flower, dotted with stephanotis. The bridesmaids and MOH will be carrying white calla lilies wrapped in black and white satin handle.
The white wedding cake will be decorated with cascading red roses and black ribbons. Replica dolls of the bride and groom will be added to the base cake tier. I was told that the cake is designed and will be made by one of Jenny’s friends. It looks splendid!
Reception Menu
Since Jenny is marrying a chef, isn’t any wonder that the menu is so mouth-watering? It makes me hungry just reading about it! Here is the menu:
Salads and Appetizers
- Selection of garden greens with various dressings
- Potato Salad with croutons, bacons and spring onion
- Coleslaw
Soup
- Pumpkin or Mushroom soup
Main Courses
- Lasagna
- Chicken with homemade barbeque sauce
- Sesame breaded snapper with pickled Mayo
- Kingdao Spareribs
- Lechon
Desserts
- Assorted cakes and pastries
- Fresh fruit platters
More details of the wedding planning later …
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With more and more couples waiting longer to get married, they typically already have the usual wedding gifts such as pots, pans, linens and household items. Thus, many engaged couples are skipping the traditional wedding gift registries and are opting for the modern “honeymoon registries”.
Honeymoon registries allow your wedding guests who would normally buy you sheets and pillow cases to instead purchase part of your honeymoon experience. This is not the same as asking your guests for cash, which is often frowned upon as unacceptable wedding etiquette. Honeymoon registries are as courteous as gift registries. Items on the honeymoon registries can vary widely just like the items you choose in a traditional gift registry.
What Can You Include in your Honeymoon Registry?
After picking the location of your honeymoon, you can register for items such as:
- Hotel stays or bed and breakfast accommodations
- Transportation such as limos and rental cars
- Romantic dinner for two
- Tickets to local shows
- Spa massages for two
- Entrance fees to tourist attractions
Your honeymoon registry isn’t limited to the items seen above either! If you’ve always wanted to do something crazy like skydiving, you can add it to your list and go for it on your honeymoon. Also the more details you give on your registry the more the person giving the gift will feel involved. Don’t just say you want to visit a museum while on your NYC honeymoon, but say you want to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead of saying you want three nights at a hotel, you can say you want to stay three nights at the beautiful 5 star St. Regis overlooking Manhattan’s world famous Fifth Avenue.
There are many online services that will help you plan your honeymoon registry. Some even have example registries so you get a feel of how your registry should look. Don’t be afraid to compare companies either before deciding which one to register with, this is your honeymoon you are planning. Pick a registry site that is trustworthy. Here is a site that compares popular honeymoon registries: Creative Honeymoon Ideas
Registering with a travel agency in person is also an option. It may make you feel safer knowing you can speak with someone face to face about your trip. With the right planning, you wedding guests can help you have the honeymoon of your dreams, and you won’t even have to return five crock pots to get it!
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A popular way to celebrate a friend’s last days as a single girl is to honor her with a bachelorette party, otherwise also known as a “hen party”. This event is usually hosted by one or more members of the wedding party, or any friend in honor of the bride-to-be. Although the bachelorette party is never hosted by the bride-to-be, you can participate in its planning.
Generally people think of bachelorette parties as a night of alcohol and watching male strippers. Now a days, it is becoming more of an opportunity for “female bonding” with activities that are fun and appropriate for bridesmaids and friends of any age. If you are looking for alternative activities for your bachelorette party, here are four great ideas for that special girls’ night out.
1. Spa Night
A night at the spa is a popular theme many brides are choosing for their bachelorette parties. Spas are now opening up for private events and will cater to the party requests of soon-to-be brides. Many women find that a facial, pedicure, manicure, and massage not only helps them to de-stress before the big day, but is also an activity that tops a night out in a crowded smoky club. The next day you and your girl friends will be glowing and refreshed instead of nurturing a hung over.
2. Sleepovers
Sleepovers are no longer for thirteen year old girls. Today’s brides are inviting over their best girl friends of all ages for a night of chick flicks, pizza, and secrets. Play some games in between the movies and trading secrets. One such game is “toilet paper bride”. Women team up in pairs of two, each team gets a roll of toilet paper, and the teams try to come up with the prettiest toilet paper wedding gown. You, as the bride-to-be gets to pick the winning team. Another version of this game is to see which team can wrap up their “bride” the quickest with the toilet paper, mummy style. These ultra hip slumber parties aren’t just limited to houses either, for a fun twist have the sleepover at a hotel and order ice cream from room service.
3. Karaoke Bar Fun
For bridal parties that still want to party but want to skip the traditional strip club, a karaoke bar is a fun alternative. You do not need to be an “American Idol” to stand up and belt a tune or two. Who knows, you, one of your bridesmaids and / or girl friends might have a hidden singing talent that is waiting to be discovered.
4. Group Cooking Class
For the undomesticated bride, group cooking classes are a unique idea. Not only will the bride learn some handy kitchen skills, but she can also learn a tasty recipe to cook up for her new husband. If the bride cooks like a pro, substitute the cooking lessons for group scrap booking classes. The bride can learn how to make a beautiful wedding scrapbook instead of having to pay a professional. Bridesmaids can also discover their inner scrap booking or cooking talents in the group class.
Bachelorette parties are no longer just about drinking and watching male strippers. Brides are skipping the traditional party themes and instead are going with a more modern approach. No matter which party theme you choose, you’re wedding group is bound to have a blast!
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Many environmentally conscious wedding couples are choosing to have “green” weddings instead of traditional weddings. Couples are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, protect the Earth, and still have an unforgettable event. Having a wedding that is beautiful, traditional, and also eco-friendly is a possibility if couples plan ahead and exchange regular options for green options.
Start with the Invitation
Traditionally the wedding couple picks out the most beautiful invitations and doesn’t concern themselves with materials used. A green option is to go with invitations that are not only pleasing to the eye, but are also made from recycled materials or hemp. In green weddings it is also acceptable to skip hand held invitations and send out e-invitations through email. E-invites can also say you money on not only invitation costs but also postage.
Eco-friendly Wedding Gowns
When it comes to the Bride’s beautiful dream wedding dress there are also green options available. Gowns made in natural materials, such as organic cotton, silk, and silk satin, are becoming very popular. Hemp is also an option, it absorbs moisture, naturally resists mold and mildew, and therefore stores better. Renting a gown or using mom’s or grandma’s dress is also an environmentally friendly option.
What to Serve On Your Reception
Organic food is easy to come by. Many cake makers already cater to eco-concerned parties. Tell them your concerns and watch them create special dishes just for you that are both delicious and organic. Organic options may also fit into special diets some of your guests may have.
Eco-Friendly Confetti
As the Bride and Groom exit the reception it’s traditional for confetti to be thrown. A green option is bird seed. It’s classic and it feeds the local birds. Never throw rice as once a bird eats rice it can expand in their stomach and make them sick or worse. Bird seed is a safe green option that is also very traditional.
Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors
Lastly, and just as important as any wedding aspect, is the wedding favors for the bridal party and guests. Green ideas are endless in this department. Any organic gift or gift made from 100% recycled materials is acceptable. Some popular organic gifts are organic candles, seed packets, a tree sapling, organic soaps, organic candies and chocolates; even organic food baskets. Your wedding guests would never forget getting a Lucky Bamboo plant at your wedding. For the bridesmaids a gift basket of organic beauty products would be spectacular.
Having a green wedding is just as easy as having a traditional wedding. You can have the wedding of your dreams and still be environmentally conscious. If you plan correctly, your green wedding will be just as elegant, if not more so, than traditional weddings. Your guests will never forget the “green” wedding they attended and you will know you did your part to protect the Earth.
Photo Credits: Elegant Green Wedding by brideadvocate on Polyvore.com
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Most people view “prenuptial agreements” or “pre-nups” as distasteful or as a sign of distrust between a couple planning to get married. There’s always the connotation that this piece of paper is insurance when the couple’s “happily ever after” take a turn into a battle in the divorce court; and that it is for the truly wealthy and celebrities only.
Will you put car, home, health and life insurance in the same light? I don’t think so. Prenuptial agreements are similar to these insurances – no one anticipates an accident, fire, major sickness, death or divorce. We certainly do not want to talk about it, but it can happen and sometimes it does happen to us when we least expected; and it is best to be prepared.
Pre-nups is a protection, just like car or life insurance. It may not protect you from every conceivable problem, but if properly drafted, it will certainly limit them. Pre-nups are not prelude to divorces. Any pre-nup which promotes divorce is unenforceable. Yes, a pre-nup is a legal document, just like your marriage certificate. Although you do not need a legal counsel for your marriage certificate, it is best to consult a competent counsel for your prenups.
Before you run to your legal counsel, let me summarize what is the point of prenups. Then you decide if you need it:
- Protection of property. This includes waiving community property rights (for those states that have them), such as real estates, businesses, retirement plans and intellectual properties.
- Providing for (or not) spousal support.
- Preservation of separate property and debt. This ensures that what is yours is yours and that you will not inherit your spouse’s debt in the event that he/she forfeits payment.
Do you get the feeling that pre-nups is about money or assets and debt or liabilities? If so, you are right. What makes pre-nups difficult to talk about before the marriage is that most couples do not want to discuss it. But, guess what the most common topic that couples fight about? You are right – money. It is best to be frank and open about both your finances up front. Then there will be fewer things to worry about later.
There are a lot of things that cannot go into pre-nups. Even if they are stated in the pre-nup, they are not enforceable. These are the following:
- Limitations on child support
- Custody
- Religion
- Promotion of divorce
- Damages for cheating
To get to know more about prenuptial agreement, I recommend Arlene Dubin’s book Prenups for Lovers: A Romantic Guide to Prenuptial Agreements
In the words of the author, a pre-nup is “… a private agreement between a couple contemplating marriage. The couple arranges, in advance, financial matters in the event of death …”. Prenuptial agreements are no longer exclusively for the rich and famous. They are increasing becoming commonplace for those not so rich and famous, too.
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We all know that brides-to-be have a lot to prepare for their wedding – from their veils down to their shoes; not to mention all the wedding accessories like wedding rings, flowers, reception menu and all the little details that will make their wedding stand out from the rest. One of those details is getting a manicure or acrylic nails that will shine as they hold their bridal bouquet, be on center stage during the traditional ring ceremony, the wedding toast and the wedding cake cutting ceremony.
Have you thought about what type of design will you chose for your wedding? Will it be something “simple” that you will feel comfortable wearing or will you choose “adventurous” designs that most brides wouldn’t dream of wearing? Or, will you choose designs that are “middle of the road”?
To start your “search for the perfect wedding nails”, here are a sampling of bridal designs created by seven nail artists based on the most popular themes – beach, country, fantasy and garden.
View more wedding nail designs at Nail Magazine. Pick one or two of the designs and take the to your nail artist. Per change, the designs could inspire her to create one especially for you. How “out of the ordinary” is that?
Let us know what you finally chose and wore at your wedding. Better yet, send us a picture or two that we will add to our blog with your name and wedding date to inspire other brides-to-be.
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We can trace this tradition to the ancient times of the Pharaohs to the Roman times and up to this modern age. This tradition of exchanging rings at the wedding ceremony remains a symbol of love and commitment.
The ring is traditionally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. There are also various historical notes that attest to the reasons why the fourth finger is chosen. The most popular is the thought that the vein of love or “vena amoris” flowed from the third finger of the left hand directly to the heart. Since everyone believes that love comes from the heart, it is no surprise that this romantic historical anecdote is the most popular belief. When both wedding ring and engagement rings are worn, traditionally, the wedding ring is worn below the engagement ring to signify that it is closer to the bride’s heart. Other customs suggest wearing the wedding ring on top of the engagement ring to include the engagement into the marriage and also to show that the ring will stay where the groom has placed it on at the wedding ceremony.
The rings were not always made of precious metals. In the ancient times, hemps or a vine, and was replaced whenever it wore away. Iron was also used by ancient Romans to symbolize the strength of the couple’s union. The British were believed to have started creating the wedding ring from gold. Diamonds are later added to the simple round ring. These days, some couples choose colored precious and semi-precious stones to embellish their wedding rings. Others even forgo the metal ring and opt to have the design of a ring tattooed onto one of their fingers. Albeit this is a more permanent commitment and a cheaper one at best. One wonders, though, what happens if the couple later on decide to part ways and the marriage ends up in divorce. Tattoo removal is not only expensive, but also painful.
Okey, couples do not marry with the intention that they will divorce if the marriage do not work out, at least the couples I know. So, let’s get back to the topic of wedding rings. What is becoming popular is the eternity ring – it is characterized by a band of stones that usually wrap all the way around, symbolizing the “eternity” of one’s love. The traditional eternity ring has stones all the way around the band. Some wearers prefer the “half” eternity ring because the thickness of the full eternity ring makes it impractical to wear.
Though other precious stones such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires are popular choices, diamonds are the most common stone used. For the “cost-concious” couples, there are designer-inspired eternity rings as budget-friendly choices. These are usually made sterling silver instead of gold and set in diamond CZ stones.
The choice of rings is a personal matter, however, the sentiment conveyed by an eternity ring is the most romantic and important part of the gesture.
For more choices for wedding rings, visit our CW Bridal Store.
]]>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
Sae on Your Wedding Cake
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.
Photo Credits: Wedding Bells
Next Topic: 101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 7: Wedding Attire
Prior Topic :
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 1: Wedding Planning
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 2: Invitations and Announcements
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 3: Wedding Flowers
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 4: Food and Drinks
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 5: Location and Time
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
Wedding Location 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.
44. Have a garden wedding. If you choose a garden location for your wedding, you can save on decorations. You may not need any! Let the beauty of the location do it all for you.
45. Use your church. If you belong to a church, they will often provide function halls, some with complete kitchens, free of charge to their members.
46. Have it at home. Getting married at home may seem like an outdated tradition, but if you or your family has a large house or yard, it can often be the perfect location. You will have the freedom to decorate however you want, and your wedding will be a very private affair.
Read All Previous Topics:
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 1: Wedding Planning
Next Topic: 101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 6: Wedding Cakes
Photo Credits: Backyard Reception and Cerritos Public Library from At Your Service Wedding Catering; San Diego California Naval Base from Alyn Stafford Photography.
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