Congratulations! You are engaged! Planning a wedding can and should be a joyous fun event. However, the effort of planning and budgeting can make even the calmest bride a little crazy. Sure, you want a beautiful wedding, unforgettable, but maybe you can not afford to splurge on every detail. The following are some tips to save money and help your wedding budget.

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A. Food

1. Use expensive ingredients like lobster and shrimp hors d'oeuvres rather than main course.
2. How does it affect the price dinner is served. French service and regular service of the board are more expensive options. They offer family-style meals or buffet style dinner for cost savings.
3. Consider breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack or cocktail reception style. They are shorter in length and the fare is lighter and less expensive. With the exception of a cocktail reception, guests tend to drink less, early in the day.
4. Ask your provider for seasonal dishes. Order dishes that use ingredients that are in season, not only save you money, but will also be fresher and taste better too.
5. Check with your provider if there is a price guarantee. You want to make sure the price you sign today will not increase if the price of certain foods increases.
6. Consider a signature drink, or create a specialty drink (s) and serve instead of having an open bar. The cost of having a full bar can be quite expensive.
7. Limit choices of alcohol to wine and beer, which will satisfy most guests. Limit little champagne to toast the bride and groom first.
8. Instead of buying wine through its provider reception room, consider buying in bulk wine. Many companies offer discounts on large number of cases purchased. Some wines are available in magnum size, which reduces the cost per ounce of wine. If you decide to buy your own wine, talk to the provider the amount of the corkage fee is, but it is likely that even with the corkage fee, you will pay much less to buy wine directly from your provider.
9. If the lease allows it, shop around for a local baker. Your provider can charge a cake cutting in this way, but it is more likely to spend much less in general. If the food service does not allow it, do not take the additional option of the desert and serve only black coffee and cake for dessert.
10. There are several options to save on costs of cake. You can order a small cake, with an elaborate ornament cake cutting and a second sheet cake is cut in the kitchen for the guests. Or, only enough cake for the guests, with large sections on the bottom ice cream made from Styrofoam. (No one will notice the difference, and you have the tall cake for photos!)


B. Flowers

1. While the most popular wedding flowers are available year-round, some are seasonal. Talk to your florist in cost savings options in the season. It will be very expensive (and possibly hard to find) if you need a flower arrangement that is in season.
2. Make your flowers do double duty. Design parts to the ceremony can also be used in the reception tables.
3. No economic Mix floral decorations with flowers and bouquets to fill centerpieces. Check with your florist as to what is available and look better with flowers.
4. Think simple. If you want a fancy bouquet, maybe your bridesmaids can have something simple - like a rose or a few daisies tied with a simple loop.
5. Instead of floral arrangements on reception tables, group is in favor of a tower at the tables. With so many options for packaging very available, surely you can design a centerpiece to remember.
6. Candles single column or an array of votive candles projects a feeling of calm, peace in the tables. Check with your reception hall first though - some ordinances do not allow candles because of fire safety.
7. If you have a friend who has a talent for crafts and decoration, you can make it go to a local market on the day of the wedding and hand selecting seasonal flowers and the arrangements for you.
8. If you are planning on using rose petals for your wedding, consider using freeze-dried petals (which are the real thing) or high quality silk rose petals. Either of the two options that will save you money - and last longer than fresh rose petals. Both keeping a possible slip and fall (real rose petals are slippery) and non-staining.
9. Do not overlook standbys flowers such as carnations and daisies. They are available all year round, are usually very affordable and, when he organized a group of beautiful appearance.
10. Bulbs in a transparent vase hurricane stones can provide for an elegant central. This is something you can do with a little advance planning


C. Ceremony

1. Instead of hiring a band quartet, harpist or string to play at the ceremony, to see if they allow pre-recorded music.
2. Ceremony programs are not always necessary, some couples without.
3. If you want a ceremony program, print your own or have a calligrapher only cover design and print the inside pages and attach yourself.
4. Check with the place of the ceremony that the decorations (if any) that will at the time of their wedding. Depending on the season and the area - who already have decorations in use (as a church during the Christmas season)
5. Ask your flower girl throw silk rose petals instead of the real. This will save on costs, is less slippery and easier to clean.
6. Decorations aisle or bank are not required for the whole church or place - only used to reserve seats for important guests in the front of the location.
7. Rate ceremony location. If you are not married in a traditional religious environment, shop around for prices. A yard or park setting can be as romantic and cost less.
8. If you're hiring an officiant, get several estimates. If you like an officiant, in particular, to see if you can negotiate prices.
9. For his quest for votes around the quote and love poem sites to inspire you. Writing your own vows rather than hiring someone to do it.
10. See if your reception room or area can accommodate a ceremony as well. You can save on transportation costs and decorations can be moved quickly and easily to the ceremony to reception site.


D. Music

1. Instead of hiring musicians separately for the ceremony and reception, to see if they can accommodate.
2. DJ may be less expensive than bands. You will be able to have different styles of music - something that few bands can not be duplicated as a real DJ.
3. Check out local cover bands. Although not your typical wedding band, cover bands are doing covers, and can perform as well as a more expensive wedding ring traditional.
4. Look at the local high school or college bands. You may be able to make a great discovery - both in price and musical style.
5. Look for DJs who are new to the market. Beginners usually start with new equipment such as computers and digital music devices - which have hundreds and thousands of songs. If you do not have their songs, you can find it for you. Beginners will also offer better rates than more established businesses DJ.
6. Auditions - or choose the lot, or make an offer to play in the event.
7. If the reception area has the ability - to use your stereo. Many stereos these days will play through dozens of CDs in a row for the music lasts for hours. Make CDs of recorded music and simply press play. An alternative is to make playlists on MP3 device and just connect the player to the sound device. However, this requires a little maintenance during receipt, so be sure to designate someone to perform this task.
8. Check local ads and magazines girlfriend. Some companies offer discounts and bands.
9. Consult the reception site, some have DJs or bands to work with and offer packages.
10. References from friends and family. Maybe you do not personally know a band or DJ, but maybe not someone you know. Ask around, you can get a reference and a price of family and friends.


E. Transport

1. When hiring a limousine company check local newspapers and magazines. Many companies offer discounts.
2. Ask if they have wedding packages. Many limousine companies with standard packages that include limo for a certain number of hours, red carpet service, champagne and  or drinks.
3. Some companies may offer cheaper rates in low season and on Sundays. Limo companies can often book all or most of their limousines for Friday and Saturday nights, and therefore can not offer discounts on those days.
4. Skip the Bentley or horse-drawn carriage. Ensure that they be capricious, but if you're looking to reduce costs, there are two things you can live without it.
5. If you are looking for drinking, while with the driver and to see if you can bring your own liquor or wine of Champagne. Purchase through the limousine company more than likely be more expensive to bring their own drinks.
6. Using a personal vehicle to and from the desk and ask a friend to drive.
7. Do not buy the limo for the day. Payment of Fees per hour of waiting for hours limo driver is not only expensive - but it is a waste of your wedding budget. The contract to go to the ceremony will take you to the location shoot, and leaves you at the reception. If necessary, can arrange to pick you up after the reception in a sleek black car.
8. Before signing with a company, review the contract of their overtime rates. Make sure you stick within the time purchased, or even 15 minutes of extra time can be costly.
9. If you find a great price with a company that is a little out of your area before signing a contract with them to ensure that no extra charge per unit of time to get to and from your event.
10. Decide what type of limousine to fit your wedding without going overboard. If you can go with a smaller limo instead of a stretch of more do so. Or it could be cheaper to fit everyone in a big bus limousine hire several smaller ones.


F. Clothing  Accessories  Clothing

1. Accessories borrowed friends and family. This can provide your something borrowed
2. Find a designer dress sales, trunk shows and outputs. Browse chain stores, vintage shops, consignment stores and sales of the sample can also provide an economical solution.
3. Consider using her mother's gown. The cost of cleaning and alterations will be much cheaper than buying a new one.
4. Accessories and online comparison-shop. You may hit a good deal.
5. Consider tux rental centers offering free tuxedos to rent, x number of tuxedos.
6. Unless you plan on showing your feet, consider a simple convenient way under her dress. Nobody will notice much on the heels as it slides out of the league.
7. If your wedding is not considered too formal bridesmaid dresses or evening gowns.
8. If you have a design in mind, a local seamstress can often design something similar to fit perfectly with the body without the expensive designer label.
9. If your budget is $ 2,000 then you have to look at the dresses in the $ 1,000 to $ 1,200. You will need the extra money for the rest of their set and alterations, which can be quite expensive.
10. Replica jewelry may seem authentic without the expensive price tag.


G. favors  gifts

1. Homemade Favors can be as attractive as store bought favors. Think of sweets, chocolates, soaps and candles.
2. Comparison shop online. If you see a favor or a gift in a store, browse online for the item - with retailers for many out there, you can find a better price.
3. Ask a talented friend to make cookies or other edible favors and treats. Cookies should be baked in a week of service, so if you choose this route, do yourself, chances are you will not have the time to do just before your big day.
4. Favors Purchase left the previous year. Sure you may have seen that the cap of the bottle before, but last year's designs can be a little different than the same favor in a different style package marketed as new to the season. Prices tend to fall into the oldest favors like the new styles are released.
5. Skip the luxury package. Wrap your favors or gifts in a simple and elegant with a tulle, organza, or white on white wrapping paper.
6. Choose wedding gifts wholesale. Maybe you can get them engraved photo frames for the entire party with a quantity discount.
7. Search and settlement or make purchases at retail outlets. If you are thinking of giving an item such as Mikasa crystal, see if there is an outlet in your area.
8. Instead of giving someone a favor, consider a favor per couple. However, if the favor that you are considering is sold as a set, such as mountains, are a game in pairs. The elements laid down must not be split to save costs, after all, you would not go to a store and buy just a shaker or a coaster for you.
9. Limit the bridal party. Attendees only bridal party gifts again have to buy.
10. Scouts free shipping, low price guarantees, discounts and coupons.


H. Invitations  Stationary

1. Although invitations are the first thing your guests see, they are probably the last thing I remember. Although the invitations should look and feel good, do not have to cost a fortune.
2. Look at print your own invitations. Many companies sell complete do it yourself invitation kits at a fraction of the cost.
3. Go thermography ink style if you're getting the invitations printed professionally - is a profitable and very popular. Jump in the engraving.
4. Some couples jump on response envelopes - saving costs and expenses of sending the invitation. Rather, ask your guests to make reservations online, by email or by phone.
5. Go to save the date cards. Although quite popular these days, it's just an additional expense. Instead establish a line of wedding free website and announce to your friends and family of the date.
6. Cut the guest list. This will save in many areas - from catering companies, which favors the cost of the invitation. Rather than invite all your co-workers, neighbors and children - only invite those who mean the most to you.
7. In this digital age, most people are online. Jump invitations all together and create an e-card.
8. Perhaps you or a friend are lovers scrapbook - design and make their own invitations. Guests receive an invitation you are one of a kind.
9. Surf the Internet - many shops to work with the same print providers - and some are competitively priced - often saving you 25% or more off the sale price.
10. Postcard invitations is a unique way to invite guests to a destination wedding. In the front, a beautiful beach picture in the back, the details of the wedding. Han RSVP online or by email. You can save on costs of printing and mailing of postcards cost less than a mailing envelope.
11. Colored ink and lined envelope can greatly increase your invitation budget. Black ink on a simple invitation white or cream may seem simple, elegant and classy.


I. Photography  Videography

1. Hire a videographer for the ceremony only work through the first dance rather than for the entire wedding.
2. Place disposable cameras on tables wedding reception rather than the photographer take pictures at each table.
3. Consider hiring a photographer who is in his final year at art school or have graduated recently.
4. Some companies offer photography and videography as a complete package. A package can save money instead of hiring two separate companies.
5. Lose fingerprints and digital technology. Proofs costs money - that the photographer does his tests available in digital format, you can save money
6. Go to a photo studio for their engagement photos taken. Some department stores offer photo service, and usually offer coupons or packages.
7. Reduce the number of hours you hire the photographer. Instead of having to run after you while you get your hair and nails, have one of your bridesmaids to do instead.
8. Build your own wedding album. Depending on the photographer and the number of images you can save hundreds to assemble their own albums.
9. Choose a photography package instead of buying separate images. If anything is included that do not necessarily want to see if you can change it for something else.
10. If you have a trusted friend or family member who is good at video editing software and know how to use a video camera, consider letting it take over the wedding video


J. General Planning Tips

1. Fridays, Sundays and weekdays are cheaper for most services. Planning your wedding in those days, if possible. Winter weddings are cheaper than summer.
2. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. When you find the service or provider you want, negotiate the best possible price.
3. Give priority to aspects of the wedding are most important to you. By compromising in some areas, can afford to splurge on others.
4. Pay costs with a credit card that earns rewards or frequent flyer miles. Just be sure to pay the bill in full each month, comes in. You can make your honeymoon flight, and maybe even a hotel room, just for using their credit cards for your wedding expenses.
5. Think outside the box. Perhaps your wedding can be held in a non-traditional. Try to think of places that are different, but significant. Gardens, museums, parks, zoo, planetarium, aquarium, an amusement park, 50 retro-style restaurant, although a large yard of a friend could be potential sites.
6. In some states, for a small fee, a person can become a officant wedding. Check your rules of each state.
7. Be realistic in planning a budget. If you are not receiving financial support from your family for your wedding, look to the future. It is a downpayment on a house is more important You're paying a large debt wedding several years ago along with you and your boyfriend
8. Make a list of all the things you, your family or friends can make or do yourself. Perhaps the greatest part of the wedding can be prepared without obtaining professional help.
9. If your wedding is a year or later, start buying the items you have extra money to spend.
10. If you're considering a winter wedding, buying your accessories and other items at the end of the winter season the year before their wedding. Wedding vendors are looking to make way for the elements of the new season, and save yourself some money.
11. Plan ahead, making lists, and keep good records. By writing everything, you know exactly how much you spent, and the amount still needed.