Economic Wedding Ideas

There are so many details and elements to a wedding that it’s impossible to talk about each one in its own section, so we’re going to go through some miscellaneous details here and talk about additional ways that you can save on many items for your wedding and reception.

Get Away From Expensive Stores

If you’re ready to shop for a wedding dress or bridesmaids’ dresses you probably thought about heading off to the local department store or bridal store.

Sure, these places have beautiful dresses but at the steepest prices.  On the other hand you can find dresses that are just as beautiful at outlet stores and online.  Never rule out eBay, Craigslist.com, and other such places to find dresses from outlets or those that are used.  If you’re not crazy about wearing someone else’s wedding dress keep in mind that very often these sites have dresses that are new with tags still on them; usually they’re discontinued styles or ones from a wholesale company.  Typically you can find designer dresses on these sites for pennies on the dollar.

Many retail stores have also jumped on the wedding bandwagon by offering affordable dresses on their sites as well.  This includes Target, Ann Taylor, and J. Crew.

Even some of the more affordable retail stores such as J.C. Penney or Macy’s may have dresses that are appropriate for the bridesmaids, and you can shop anywhere that sells prom dresses or formal dresses for these, not just bridal stores.

These online sites and discount retailers are also a great place to get accessories such as your veil, shoes, hose, and jewelry or anything else you need for your outfit.

Cut the Guest List

For some this just isn’t an option but for many couples there are ways to trim the guest list if you give it some thought.  Having immediate family and only a small handful of friends is not unusual for many couples today.

What some are doing as well is having a nice party at their home after their honeymoon for those they needed to trim from the list.  This might be something casual such as a barbecue or a cocktail reception with drinks and appetizers.  This is a good way to “formally” introduce your new spouse to those friends and extended family the way you would at a wedding and is a way to let them know that you’re not giving them the cold shoulder now that you’re married.

Watch the Unnecessary Extras

Getting postage stamps with the Love design probably won’t cost you anything extra but there are many small items and elements that many brides buy that are just completely unnecessary.  Here are some common ones:

• When ordering invitations you don’t need blotter paper, the thin piece of tissue that goes in the invitation itself.  This small item originated centuries ago when items were printed by hand and the ink was often still wet when the paper was put in an envelope.  This thin piece of paper helped to soak up that extra ink.  Today the item is really useless and unnecessary.

• As a matter of fact there may be many items in the invitations that are unnecessary.  Many brides are having the reception’s location printed right on the actual invitation rather than a separate sheet.

• Unless you’re having a procession of entertainment and friends and family come up the aisle before you, there’s really no reason for you to have a program.  You can of course print up something yourself if you want but paying a printer to do this is probably pointless.

• A menu for your reception is probably also not needed, but if you do need one you should of course consider doing this yourself as well.  Remember that you can probably make up one for an entire table rather than making individual ones for every guest.  Remember that there will probably be a lot of time between the time they arrive and when they place their dinner order so they have time to review the menu.

Set a Time Limit for Professionals

When it comes to something like the photography for your wedding, you no doubt want to capture every single moment on film or video, from the moment you wake up that morning to the moment you and your new groom leave for the honeymoon.

Considering that this is a good 14-hour span of time, it’s no wonder that wedding photographers and videographer charge so much!

Usually you can set a time limit for all the professionals you hire for your event, from the caterer to the bartender to the photographers and anyone else.  This too is why it’s a good idea to set a time limit for your reception overall, but you can also have a list of important things that need to be covered before they leave and make sure those are finished.  As an example, write out all the events you must have the photographer capture - the first dance, the bouquet toss, etc. - and do all those things first during your reception.  The photographer doesn’t need to then stick around all night to capture your cousin Charlie make a fool of himself on the dance floor or really to even see you and your groom off for the honeymoon.

You can do this for all your professionals.  Have the caterer box everything up and go home before the reception is over; do the same for everyone that you’re paying and see if this doesn’t reduce their bill somewhat.

Use the Internet

You probably have a handful of older relatives or those who don’t have a lot of computer savvy or may not be used to using the internet for anything and everything.  But you might also have a good number of friends and relatives that can and do use the web and see no problems with corresponding via email.

As a matter of fact, some brides use the internet for invitations and responses as a matter of concern for the environment.  Printed invitations mean trees used for paper and gas used in the vehicles needed to deliver them.

If you can, set up a website that has your wedding information and use it to invite the friends and family you know are very internet savvy and who won’t see it as tacky.  You might still want to print out some invitations for those who are uncomfortable corresponding online and to have some souvenirs and mementos, but chances are the majority of your wedding guests will be very comfortable with responding online.

Learn to Dress Up

No, not you, but the items you use for your wedding and reception.

Here’s what we mean.  Suppose for your reception you are renting some very affordable tables and folding chairs.  They don’t look as elegant as you would like, but fancy tablecloths and bows for the chairs are very expensive.  So get some very inexpensive tablecloths of various colors and layer them for an elegant look.  Or buy rolls of wide ribbon at your craft supply or sewing supply store and run it around the edges of the table for a festive look.  If you own the tablecloths you can use hot glue to keep them in place, otherwise a few unobtrusive pins or some Velcro can do the trick.

Fabric ribbon can be strung around the chairs to dress them up.  If they’re just metal folding chairs you can use yards of fabric remnants and just drape this over the chairs like a slipcover and pull it in the back, twisting it around with a hair ribbon or tie to keep it in place.

You can get creative when it comes to covers and cloths.  Even professional designer often use bed sheets and other linens to dress up furniture and areas of a home; just because a piece of fabric isn’t advertised as a tablecloth doesn’t mean you can’t use it as such!  Fancy pillowcases can be slipped over the back of inexpensive chairs to dress them up, or you can use very inexpensive tulle netting material over them as well.

Here are some other ways to dress up items for your wedding:

• For the bridal bouquet, avoid the very expensive lilies and even roses.  Carnations are beautiful as are daisies and even sunflowers.  Talk to your florist openly and honestly about your budget concerns.  A very inexpensive bouquet can look chic and elegant if it’s tied with a long piece of ribbon or if it has baby’s breath, ferns, and other accents added to it.  The bridesmaids’ bouquets can even be one elegant flower instead of an entire bouquet.

• If you are having wedding favors at the reception and want them to do double duty as a centerpiece, be sure to wrap them in beautiful wrapping paper that matches your wedding’s color or tone.  You can tie them with ribbon or even colorful yarn.  Stack them neatly in the center of the table or in front of each guest’s plate to dress up the table; because they’re wrapped so nicely they look like decorations rather than just favors.

• When it comes to a very affordable location, the right decorations can make even the cheapest bingo hall look elegant.  If it’s really an eyesore, lower the lights and use candles everywhere instead.  Be mindful of safety but also keep in mind that everything looks better by candlelight!  Large candle stands can be rented as can many candle stands for the larger tables.

• Never underestimate the aesthetic value of confetti.  Many party supply stores sell confetti in silver and gold or other elegant shades.  Sprinkle it around the buffet table.  Be careful of using it where people will be eating as it has a tendency to spread and can easily get into food but if its’ strategically placed around serving dishes or along the table where there are gifts, it can go a long way toward sprucing up an entire venue.

• Other simple items can also go a long way toward dressing up your venue.  Simple lengths of ribbon can be scattered on the table or can be used to tie the cutlery or napkins.  Fabric remnants can be used as table runners or fancy placemats.

• Mirrors are a great way to add mood and lighting as well.  You probably have a lot of decorative mirrors around your home or can purchase them very inexpensively at a dollar or discount store, or even a flea market.  Remember that they don’t need to match.  Put them in the middle of the table and put candle on top of them for a beautiful ambient glow in the entire room.

Dress Up the Dress

Your dress and your bridesmaids’ dresses are some of the most expensive parts of a wedding; even if your bridesmaids are paying for their own dresses this can still cause them to have an unnecessary financial burden that you’d rather not impose upon them.

A good way to save on your dress is to purchase something that is a bit plainer and have a professional dress it up.  This might mean adding lace or silk around the waistline, some beading or even an addition to a shorter skirt along the hem.  Sewing a bow or bunch of flowers on the back can dress up that area as well.

Many brides today are finding it very fashionable to have a sash of a deep rich color; colors of autumn such as rich brown or rusty red are popular choices.  If you purchase this material separately and have it sewn onto your dress this can give it an elegant touch and be much more affordable than buying it that way.  It may not even need to be sewn but can be tied elegantly in the back and adhered with a few strategic pins.

You can do the same for the bridesmaid dresses as well.  Purchasing a plain dress and fixing it up yourself with accessories is going to be much more affordable than purchasing them already done.

And of course this is one area where you probably want to use the services of a professional.  Someone that knows how to sew is going to be worth the investment than just assuming you can easily use hem tape on your dress or can put a few strategic stitches here and there.  Using a seamstress for small details like this is still probably going to be much more affordable than buying that big fancy dress on its own.

Tip from the experts: It’s not that difficult to find a seamstress near you; many who do this type of thing out of their house or in a small shop will advertise in the weekly classifieds or have an ad on CraigsList or other internet site.  The best thing to do is meet with him or her well in advance of your wedding and even before you’ve purchased your dress.  Talk about what options they can offer you by way of dressing up the dress.  They may have done this very same thing for many other brides in the past and may even have some specific suggestions in mind.  Ask for references if possible.

You can also check local sewing supply stores that offer classes as usually those who teach those classes are very experienced in doing this same type of thing.

Mix and Match

One common mistake that many brides make is thinking that everything at their reception needs to match - every table must have the same centerpiece, the bridesmaids all carry the same bouquet, and so on.  By mixing and matching your items you are not only going to save money but you are going to add a very unique and personal touch to your reception and ceremony as well.

Here’s an example.  Suppose you want to use candles as centerpieces for your tables.  If you can mix and match the candleholders and vases you use you can buy items you find at a discount or at resale shops and flea markets.  Since you might not be able to find enough in any one design, by opening yourself up to the possibility of mixing and matching these items you’re going to be able to afford everything you need at these discount places.

Borrow, Borrow, and Borrow Some More!

Let’s again use the example of having candles as your centerpieces.  Will your friends and family loan you candlestick holders, candle stands or vases you can use?

If you’re going to use mirrors on tables to help set a mood, do you have friends that have decorative mirrors you can use?  Many people have smaller ones hanging from walls and might not mind letting you use them for the day.

The same goes for so many other things you might need.  Does a relative have a nice collection of tablecloths you can borrow?  What about tables and chairs for your wedding at home?  What about a friend that sews - does she have fabric remnants or lengths of ribbon you can borrow, or even purchase for a very affordable price?

What about blooming plants for centerpieces?  If you know a friend or relative that has some beautiful plants can you borrow them for the day?  And it’s not quite the same as borrowing but someone with a nice flower garden might not mind letting you cut some for the big day - you may not want to go through and get all their flowers but certain having some for vases or bouquets can mean cutting back your budget quite a bit.

Your parents or grandparents or other friends and relatives may even have things stored away in a basement or attic that you can use and they may not even know it.  Ask if you can rummage around and remember to keep an open mind as you do.  You might find a beautiful painting that would really dress up your venue or some Christmas lights or decorations you can use in some way.

Shop Early and Shop Often

Most of the things you’ll need by way of decorations, clothing and accessories, and so many other items can be purchased well in advance of your wedding day and stored.  Once you have some ideas for decorations you can begin shopping resale stores, flea markets, and even garage or yard sales for items.  It’s surprising how often you can find candles, vases, silk flowers, and so many other items at resale shops or garage sales sometimes months ahead of your ceremony!

But of course those types of items aren’t going to find you - you need to go out and find them.  Hunt down resale shops and flea markets in your area and make time on the weekends to hit local garage sales.  Have your list with you so that you know what you need and won’t purchase anything unnecessary.

Use the Internet

Never rule out eBay, CraigsList, and all those other great websites that sell things very cheaply.  They can prove to be a treasure chest of items you need at a fraction of the cost.