Inexpensive Wedding? Yes, please!
So if you have been dreaming of a fairy tale princess wedding your whole life that includes horse carriage rides, fireworks, and a three course meal, I cannot help you. But, if you are like me, and you want a simple, inexpensive wedding, I have some tips for you. Weddings do not have to drain your bank account. You just have to be a savvy spender.Reminder: These tips are for SIMPLE weddings only.
Step One: The location. Locations can be very expensive if you want something fancy. However, if you or your future husband/wife belong to a church, they may simply request a donation to the church or a small fee. Some bigger churches do have set amounts that they charge, so this all depends on your situation. If you do not belong to a church, the best thing to do is to ask as many places that you can about their prices and accommodations. You don't want to miss out on a great deal!
Step Two: The food. Like I said, I am all about simple weddings. I will be having very simple food at my wedding (no big meal -- only finger food). The nice thing about weddings is that you normally have a lot of people offer to help. One idea is to make a list of all the food you would like (fruit plate, vegetable plate, mini rolls, chicken fingers, etc.) and have people sign up to bring certain items. This will definitely help you out! Also, if you use small plates, people are more inclined to grab less food.
Step Three: The flowers. Real flowers are extremely expensive. Fake flowers, which can be found at Michael's, are very inexpensive. I know, I know ... some people stick up their noses when it comes to fake flowers, but trust me, you can find some that are actually very pretty and realistic. The advantage to having a fake bouquet is that you can keep it forever, and it will continue to look just like it did when you said, "I Do."
Step Four: The dress. For me, I wanted my dress to be white and pretty. I wasn't extremely picky like some brides are. Stores such as David's Bridal have $99 sales where dresses that were once $400+ go on sale for only $99. Keep an eye out for sales like this!
Step Five: The pictures. Pictures can definitely end up being one of the most expensive parts of a wedding. Many professional photographers charge $2,000 to $3,000. The good thing is that there are a lot of photographers out there. You may have a friend who will either take pictures for free or cut you a deal. Also, just because a photographer says that their wedding packages start at $2,000 doesn't mean that's your only option. Many photographers are willing to work with you to create a package that you will love and be able to afford.
Something that many people are doing is scheduling a "day after" session where the bride and groom dress up in their wedding attire on a day after the wedding is over (doesn't have to be the exact day after), and they take some pictures just the two of them. This can help a lot because sometimes weddings are so hectic that you don't end up with as many bride and groom pictures as you would like. Also, "day after" sessions are usually pretty inexpensive (no where near the $2,000), so if there is a photographer that you are in love with, chat with them about this option. After all, which wedding pictures are the most important to have? Bride and groom.
And that fake bouquet can definitely come in handy with a "day after" photo session!
