Useful information - Costs - Guide to reducing your wedding costs

The following articles have been written for the USA however much of it is still very true for the UK, we hope you find it informative and helpful

CUT WEDDING COSTS

by Rose Smith

A wedding, as we all know, can be a very expensive undertaking. Here are few ideas to help you cut your wedding costs.

a) Rent a Lincoln or other nice large car instead of a limousine. They provide more than enough room and at a much cheaper rate. You also have the added benefit of keeping it for at least 24 hours (or longer if you choose to do so), whereas a limousine is only rented for an hour or two at most.

b) If you are using real flowers in your wedding, why not try your local grocery store's flower department? Many will create centerpieces and bouquets for weddings and at a fraction of the cost.

c) Don't use real flowers in centerpieces. Use silk ones instead. They are usually lower in price, look just as nice and will stay "fresh" forever.

d) Make your own invitations. You can purchase very nice looking blank invitations at stationary and various craft stores. Search the net for a small poem or saying that you can use, or make up your own. Go to ArtToday.com ( http://www.arttoday.com ) and sign up for their free 3 day trial and find some nice wedding graphics that you can use on your invitations (and thank you notes, wedding favor tags, etc.)

e) In addition to the invitations, create your own wedding programs too. This can save you a ton of money.

f) Instead of a sit down dinner, have it catered with a buffet style set up. The food is just as delicious, the guests won't mind getting their own plates, it costs half of what a sit-down dinner costs, and you usually get more food as an extra bonus.

MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR WEDDING FLOWERS

Copyright 2001, by Rose Smith

a) Find out if another wedding will be held at your church or synagogue that day or the day before your wedding. If so, you can contact that bride and find out if she would like to share the cost of the flowers with you.

b) After the ceremony, arrange to have the flowers taken to the reception location.

c) Instead of a full bouquet of flowers for you and your bridesmaids, carry one or two dramatic flowers instead. They look just as elegant and the cost will be significantly less than full bouquets.

d) Try to use flowers that are in season.

e) Use garlands of ivy or evergreens for decorating, instead of flowers - it's less expensive and can be used to decorate doorways and the front of tables.

f) Use potted plants instead of cut flowers. In fact, if you start early enough, you can grow your own flowering potted plants.

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This directory is to help you from your initial engagement, buying your wedding ring, dress, tiara etc. Booking your venue for the reception ordering the wedding photographer, cars, and flowers, booking the entertainment be it a magican band or singer. sending out invitations on your chosen stationery and the final touches such as choosing favours table decorations such as balloons etc. and of course planning for your hen and stag night parties. You can also download wedding planning software to make it all come to gether