If you yearn for a magical, elaborate wedding, your wedding expenses may quickly add up to far more than you can afford. There are a number of things that you can do to keep within your wedding budget. Take heed of the advice that is contained here to bring the wedding budget back under control, while you have a day to remember.

For a more affordable wedding, consider setting a date outside the traditional season for weddings. Traditionally, weddings take place between May and September. These are the times when wedding venues are most expensive. To help ensure you are able to book the perfect venue, plan well in advance.

When you are planning your wedding festivities, think hard about the kinds of alcoholic beverages that are going to be available, and also how much of a price tag they will carry. An open bar that is available all evening can quickly become a very costly endeavor. Ask about the different serving options your venue offers regarding alcohol.

If you are making the food for your wedding, try shopping at stores like Costco. You will get more food for a better price if you shop wholesale. Think about asking friends to help you out with food costs.

You save large amounts of money by purchasing your wedding dress online. However, it is crucial that you do it far in advance, should it need any alterations. It is perfectly possible to purchase a gown for a few hundred dollars and have it altered for as little as $200. Make sure the additional costs are allowed for in the budget.

Personalize your wedding by including things that represent your spouse-to-be, and the bond between the both of you. Pick out a theme that reflects your time together.

Have your wedding at a location owned by friends or family. If you know anyone with a farm or a large back yard, you can drastically reduce or even eliminate a major wedding cost. Your only cost will be hiring someone who can come in before the wedding to set up and stay after to clean.

Table Seating

When you are planning table seating, try to set guests in pairs, so you can ensure every table has an even number of those sitting at it. Another thing to consider when arranging your table seating is the age of the people at the table. Try to group the same aged people at each table.

Ensure that all guests understand the scheduling of events by emailing everyone involved an itinerary of events; include maps for those who may be unfamiliar with the area. Make sure you tell everyone where they will be needed, for instance at the rehearsal.

Keep your guests happy while waiting for food by giving them a tray of sweets. Sugar roses, sugar petals or even crackers will do.

If the groom and bride come from different cultural backgrounds, embrace each background by incorporating the traditions of both in the wedding and reception. This will ensure that all parties are happy and satisfied.

If you decide to give a wedding speech, be sure to plan and practice sufficiently. Without the right amount of planning and practice, you can easily lose the audience, get caught with your foot in your mouth, or just bomb the speech with nothing but stuttering and a confused look on your face.

If your wedding is held outside, make sure you have another plan for bad weather. Rent a few tents or find a venue that has a hall, as well as a park. By placing wooden planks onto the ground, your guests can have their footwear protected from the mud.

Extend the overall aesthetic of your wedding day to all elements of your decor, including your flowers. A retro feel requires bright, stunning flowers that speak to days gone by. These include aromatic pink and yellow peonies, bright daisies and red poppies.

It is important to think about whether you want children attending your wedding. This is crucial because you can save aggravation as well as money by not having children present. But be aware that some parents may not have access to a babysitter so you could offer names of available babysitters to out of town guests.

A good way to save some money on your big day is to use an alternative to expensive floral arrangements. Use a ribbon in place the wreath for the flower girl. Another way to save money is to purchase silk flowers rather than real flowers. They are more cost effective and can last forever. You can store them away and use them for another future ceremony.

Your wedding location is important when you are planning details like flowers. For instance, intricate flowers arrangements might look great at indoor venues; but they will likely not withstand windy outdoor settings. You may have to have specialized tools and equipment in order to secure your decorations in outdoor venues.

Families are all too willing to push family traditions on you for your wedding, but gently remind them this is your wedding and try to compromise. Let your family know that you appreciate their support and input, but kindly and firmly tell them that the final decisions will be made by you and the person you’ll be marrying. By doing this you can reminisce on your wedding without feeling any regrets.

Credit Card

Try getting a credit card that has some reward points before buying anything for your event. Weddings can get expensive, but you can offset some of this cost by paying with a cash back or other incentive-based credit card. If you use the rewards card for everything related to your wedding, you should soon earn substantial rewards.

You don’t have to go to extremes to have the wedding of your dreams. Just use some of the tips provided here, you will have a beautiful wedding without spending more than you had planned.

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