Wedding Times

Little extravagances combined cost big money. While you may think you need them, in reality they won’t affect the magic of your day. Stay within budget by cutting these twenty-five things.

1. Professional Ceremony Music

It can also be a nice touch to have a piece of music played at the ceremony. Whether you want to have a musician or a singer, it’s not necessary to have a professional perform these services. Church organists usually come cheap and provide all that’s really needed. For a less traditional or non-religious ceremony check out the local high schools and papers to find a suitable part-timer or just stick to recorded music.

2. Live Reception Music

It is nice to have live music but when you’re looking to reduce your expenses, a DJ will fit in nicely and can play any style of music you want!

3. Ring Bearer and Flower Girl

While very cute in their little dresses and tuxedos and no, their outfits and accessories come at a cost. Get rid of all of those expenses. Let the best man carry the ring for the bride and the maid-of-honor carry the ring for the groom.

4. Ceremony Decorations

Save money by having a space that is already decorated. Get married in a garden, on a beach, or in a church around the time of a holiday and limit the amount of decorations you need.

5. Fancy Food

Keep the food simple. Instead of offering an asparagus side, offer broccoli instead. It’s refreshing and tasty but not nearly as costly.

6. Floral Centerpieces

Fresh flowers are truly divine but have them everywhere and they’ll do a number on your budget. Replace floral centerpieces with candles, favors, or fruit.

7. Dessert and Cake

Dessert and wedding cake is unnecessary and costly. Serve your wedding cake as dessert and let that be it. Instead of paying a lot of money for one huge wedding cake that will feed the entire crowd, purchase one small wedding cake to use for cutting and offer your guests sheet cake that has been cut into pieces.

8. Wedding Videography

How often will you watch a video of your wedding? Spend money on quality stills from a good photographer and have a friend tape your first dance instead.

9. Wedding Planner

Wedding planners are a huge help but are not really necessary. Anyone with Internet access can easily become their own wedding planner with a little bit of research.

10. Wedding Transportation

It’s a nice dream to be whisked away from your wedding in a rented limousine or Rolls Royce but to save some money, use your own car or rent a car that is nicer than your own but not a luxury model.

11. Open Bar

While it’s quite certain that you are thankful all your guests came, that doesn’t mean you need to buy all of their alcohol. Have a bar but let your guests pay for their drinks themselves.

12. Custom-Made Dress

If you can find an off-the-rack dress that you love and that fits you, you will be much better off financially buying that one instead of having a dress custom-made. You will still need to pay for alterations but you will still save money in the long run.

13. Out-of-Town baskets

It’s nice to look after your guests but out of town baskets are generally packed with things your guests don’t need. What they do need they will have already brought with them.

14. Saturday

Saturday is the most popular day to hold a wedding. Choose a different day and you will save a lot of money booking venues and vendors.

15. Chocolate or Champagne Fountains

These fountains have becoming popular due to their double-duty of providing both decoration and food. They are costly and a luxury you can do without.

16. Ice Sculptures

Another nice decoration; they will melt quicker than you think and are quite expensive. No one will notice the missing ice sculpture if you don’t have one.

17. Separate Ceremony and Reception Flowers

Instead of purchasing one set of flowers to decorate the ceremony venue and another set of flowers to decorate the reception venue, use the same flowers by taking the decorations from the ceremony site and using them to decorate the reception venue as well.

18. Gifts for Your Fiancé

Agree not to buy each other anything but maybe do something special for the day instead. Write each other a poem or just spend a few quiet moments together before the ceremony to thank each other for their love.

19. “Soon to Be…” Hoodies

You won’t wear them that often and they are useless after the wedding. Show your pride and excitement about your engagement in a different way.

20. Chair Covers

Few people notice these decorations and a ribbon tied around a chair is a great alternative.

21. Disposable Table Cameras

These can be a great way to get shots your photographer may miss, but the quality of any photos won’t compare to the professional ones. These are an unnecessary expense that will only entertain your guests briefly.