Cutting costs is on all of our minds, like it or not. Getting married can be expensive, but there are many alternatives that can make your day just as special. The images that enter our minds about weddings often stem from movies and celebrities. In other words, we think big- we think Hollywood. A wedding is a special event, between two people. As long as you stay realistic, you can still have a beautiful ceremony without going broke.
Consider getting married at home. Rental prices of reception halls, clubs, chapels, and other buildings is where your wedding budget begins. Minimize or eliminate that portion of the bill by getting married at a friend or relative’s home. If the house is a little short on space, an outdoor wedding might the best course of action. I actually was married in the front yard of my best friend’s house and they did not charge me a thing. Everything was in bloom, and it was a beautiful wedding.
Make your own food. Do not get stuck thinking you have to serve a full course meal to each guest. Though it would be nice, there are many other reception foods that are perfect suitable to feed several. Cocktails sausages, cheese with crackers, a meat tray, a cheese tray, sandwiches, and spinach dip in a breadbowl are favorites at many other kinds of parties. Wedding cakes can often be over two hundred dollars, so go cheap by making your own cake. In fact, you could have a chocolate, vanilla, and cheesecake if you wanted.
Wedding favors can sometimes find themselves lost in the budget of a wedding. There are many ways to thank your guests for coming by making favors yourself. Cookies are a year-round favorite and are cheap to make. Find a recipe for any type of wedding and wrap individually to give to your guests. Seed bags are also a great homemade favor because they are great for the environment and a great reminder of your wedding.
Do your own invitations. I did this and everyone was very impressed at the quality of the invitations. I purchased a do-it-yourself invitation kit from Target complete with fifty invitations,envelopes and response cards. It came with two or three sample sheets so you would not waste any trying to adjust your printer. The border was a simple, embossed design and the inside was, of course, blank. I arranged a few simple lines in a scrolly font and printed them out. Totally worth the twenty-five dollars I paid for it!