Wedding gown
A bride’s gown is something she dreams about for years. She wants to feel like a million dollars on her wedding day — and she can, without spending it! Look through wedding magazines for inspiration and tear out the styles you like. Instead of lamenting the fact that you can’t afford the gown, find a seamstress that can create a similar look for a lower price. If you or someone in your family sews, even better; simply shop for the right fabric. Vintage is an extremely fashionable style, especially in wedding gowns. Search auction websites such as www.ebay.com.au, attend auctions and markets, or simply have a look in your own mother’s or grandmother’s wardrobe. You never know what you’ll find. Don’t forget to look at renting a wedding gown. It is often a cheaper alternative to buying and while you won’t have it forever, you will have endless photographs and memories. Finally, explore other possibilities than the traditional wedding gown. Shop in boutiques and designer stores and try on a number of styles. You may find an elegant evening gown that costs less than a wedding dress and looks just as beautiful. The best part is that you can wear it again with ease!
Photography
When hiring a photographer, ensure you do your research and compare hourly rates and package deals to see which is more cost-effective. You can also save by having a photographer take formal shots for just a couple of hours and then supply disposable cameras and ask your guests to take candid shots with them. If you don’t have a lot of money to hire a wedding photographer, you might want to consider hiring an amateur or student photographer. It’s great work experience for them and they will not charge very high rates. A video is a lovely memento of your day but can be very expensive. Many digital cameras have video features. Ask someone to take snapshots on video that you could then edit yourself to create a moving yet cheap video of your day.
Invitations
Often things that have been handmade hold the most sentiment. Make the invitations yourself by buying some nice paper and envelopes and printing the details. Alternatively, think of a friend or family member who is creative and ask them to make them for you!
Receptions
There are a lot of creative solutions to saving money at your wedding reception. The most obvious is to limit the number of guests you invite. Although the guest list is often the most difficult task for couples, it may be worth it to really concentrate on making it as select as possible. Also, consider the alternatives for when you hold the reception. A beautiful morning brunch will set you back less than dinner. Also, people usually drink and eat less at lunchtime and meals are less expensive, so a lunch reception will save a considerable amount. Think about having your wedding reception at your
home or a friend’s home. A marquee in someone’s garden with buffet-style catering can be cost-effective and equally as fabulous as an expensive reception at a hotel. If you do book your reception at a venue, ask about package deals. They can often provide music, cake, decorations and more. This cuts costs and headaches in preparation for you. Decorating the venue can often cost more than it needs to. Keep it elegant and classic, and have a creative friend or family member make table centrepieces.
Cake
Your wedding cake is another expense that can be reduced. The cake can always be served as dessert to your guests, avoiding the need for dessert to be included in your catering costs. Also, consider having a small cake for show, simply for the cutting ceremony, and serve normal dessert to your guests. If you have someone close to you who’s a whiz in the kitchen, ask them to prepare the cake for you.
Music
Music at your ceremony is important and a perfect time to showcase the talents of someone you know, or a friend of a friend, who can play the guitar, piano or sing well. If you’re being married in a church, check if they have a choir or any musicians and see if you can have them included in the hire fee. Music at your ceremony can be either a band, a DJ or you can provide your own with a computer, iPod or CDs. If you have a technology-savvy friend, ask them to make some playlists for you from downloaded music or CDs and play them off a laptop or stereo at the venue. This is also a good way to personalise your music.
Honeymoon
Why not get your guests to pay for your honeymoon? A honeymoon registry works just like a wedding registry but instead of buying you china, your wedding guests buy you a trip to China (or the honeymoon destination of your choice). Websites such as www.notanothertoaster.com.au offer guests the opportunity to contribute to your honeymoon funds. Another popular idea is to have a wishing well at the reception. With your invitation, include a small envelope and a note explaining that if people do not want to buy a gift, they’re welcome to put some money in the envelope and drop it into the wishing well on the day.
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