Planning Your Wedding For Cheap

By Author: Anika Molugu
Total Articles: 4762
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First, the shockers: the average American wedding costs almost $20,000, not counting the costs of an engagement ring, pre-wedding party and the honeymoon! For those in NY and other hip urban locations, the wedding party can leave you as much as a cool $40,000 poorer.

But, does that mean a memorable, fun-filled and well-planned wedding day is something only those with deep pockets can afford?

Forget about it! Which brings us to the shock absorbers: creative, practical and smart wedding planning ways that ensure cheap but chic wedding celebrations!

4 Fun Ways To Have Your Dream Wedding On The Cheap:

Tip #1 - Plan your wedding on a weeknight
In order to keep wedding costs low, it's advisable to book a wedding hall for a weeknight, like Wednesday or Friday. Or even an afternoon wedding, when most venues don't have a high booking rate even if they're booked full for the weekends.

Tip #2 - Bring your cake cost down by using fake tiers
This is one of the best areas to save on when planning a low-cost wedding. Wedding cakes usually set the couple back by a few hundred dollars, and not ...
... everyone is that enthusiastic about it, so it's a smart move to scrimp on that fantastically-huge 5 tier cake and go in for an affordable smaller one. Be realistic - not all wedding guests will want seconds, or for that matter be sober or energetic enough to gorge on wedding cake you've spent a fortune on, or hang around waiting for it to be served.

So, go for a 3-tier cake that has 2 fake tiers at the lower levels and a simple sheet cake cut in back for serving guests who are sure to be too busy enjoying themselves to spot the difference!

Tip #3 - Wise wedding dress shopping
You can save thousands of dollars when shopping for your wedding dress and still look like a million bucks! Here's how: remember that $5,000 designer dress you saw at the glitzy new bridal boutique uptown? Now think in the $500 to $700 range and get a dress that can be created on a budget by using cheaper materials and embellishments.

An alternative to getting a custom-made wedding dress tailored locally is to search for a discontinued dress or a sample dress, often found at designer stores with ready-to-wear outlets or consignment shops. Avoid the specialty bridal shops, which can be pretty pricey, and conduct some online searches for cheap wedding dresses available at discounted prices, or even vintage memorabilia stores if you want a particular look or style. In fact, brides who want a dress with sleek lines, such as a beach bride, can even buy a gorgeous bridesmaids' dress in white at great savings!

Tip #4 - Cut down wedding expenditures with another bride, or snag yourself a bargain
If you have a friend or relative getting married around the same time period as you, consider chatting with them about splitting costs for a shared venue, reusable wedding decor, limousine rental or even wedding band bookings.

The other way to cut wedding costs is to bargain with a vendor. Let's say the wedding florist, who could give you a $800 discount on your table florals and bouquets costing around $4500 if you can be sure to get them another booking for the same discounted cost a week down the line. Be creative, and you're sure to emerge with some major bargains!
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For more on weddings on a dime, and for favors that add up to the perfect choice for your next event, stop by FavorIdeas today at http://www.favorideas.com