5. DIY - I know not everyone thinks they are a "Do it Yourself" type person, but if you want to save a ton of money try it out, or recruit some creative friends or bridal party members to help you out. We did our own centerpieces, favors, escort cards and even some misc. details around the reception. The centerpieces are one thing that really depends what you want to do. I found some small, round glass jars that I purchased in bulk online, same with a variety of sized pillar candles. We alternated the tables with the jars and candles. The candles saved a lot of money since the flowers were obviously more expensive and buying in bulk saved a ton of money too. The favors were my favorite DIY item, my mother-in-law, who bakes everything in the world, made tons of little heart shaped cookies which she wrote "Thank You" and our initials on. Then 2 days before the wedding I had all 10 of my bridesmaids come over and help me put them in little clear baggies and tie them with ribbons. We busted out over 400 cookies in just a couple hours. We gave each person their own cookie favor and then put the rest on our coffee station that was set up after dinner. Food favors are the best, not only does everyone love them but all I had to purchase were the baggies, some ribbon, and some baking supplies. Much cheaper then spending $5-10 (or more) per person, on something most people won't even use when they leave. The other DIY thing that saved me a fortune were the place cards. I bought a package of place cards from the local craft store, found a pretty font on my computer and printed all the cards myself. The package of printable cards was only about $10.00. Come up with a clever color code for your guests meal selection and you've got yourself some really cute seating cards for just a few dollars. Instead of purchasing a guest book, I bought a large picture frame and framed a small 5x7 picture of my and my hubby and used that in place of a guest book. Now its something we can display in our home! Here's a couple pictures of my DIY details from the wedding.
6. The Dress- Easily one of the most exciting things to buy when you start planning your wedding. The dress can set the tone of how formal of an affair you have. There are a couple things to keep in mind when buying the dress. Figure out your budget and stick to it! You may have to try on tons of dresses to keep it in your price point, but stick to your guns, there is a dress out there that fits in line with what you want to spend. Do yourself the biggest favor in the world and DON'T try on anything outside your budget, thats the best way to fall in love with something you can't have and be tempted to over spend. Another thing to consider, if the store you purchase from allows it, is to take the dress elsewhere for alterations. Maybe you have a family member or friend that can do it for free or much less. Alterations can really add up, so if you can, do what you do for every other aspect of your wedding and shop around.
7. Locations - I think it goes without saying to shop around for your locations, you want to find the place that best fits your style and budget, but its important to remember what different locations include in their prices. Maybe one place only charges $25 per person, but they start adding on per head for everything from open bar, to coffee stations, cake cutting fees, number of servers you need, etc and all of a sudden you are over $50 per head. Maybe the next place charges $40 per head but its all included in that price. The $25 may seem like a better deal up front but make sure you get the scoop on any hidden fees. Also, consider what they already offer. The place I hosted my reception in offered a house center piece if we wanted, you could use what they had or add to it. They offered things like tea lights for tables, they included white linens and your choice of over 25 different napkin colors to match. Finding out things like this can save you from having to hire outside vendors to come in.
Hope these little tid bits can help you save some money! Even if you can't execute all the ideas, just trying a few will add up! Happy Planning!
Cheers!
Stephanie
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