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Having the pleasure of saying those two little words in front of a priest or minister, is unfortunately often on the whole an expensive affair. Although it sounds absolutely crazy, spending 30 grand or even more on a wedding isn't that unusual these days. It isn't so strange then, that many people are also looking to have the wedding of their dreams on a smaller budget, without having to sacrifice the things they desire the most.

Weddings on a budget does not mean that you will have to settle for the next best thing. There are many ways to save money while still getting the wedding of your dreams. There are just a few things that you are going to have to do first.

Finding a lower price


Before you start a number crunching and budget cutting exercise, you need to figure out which elements of your wedding are most important to you. Consider such things as the cake, the location, flowers, food, the dress, the tuxedo, the honeymoon, invitations, music, a photographer and someone to video tape your wedding. Sit down and rate these items in order of importance so that you have a better understanding of what your expectations are.

After you have picked out the perfect wedding gown, you should go online to see if you can find the same item for less money. There are many reliable bridal retailers online that offer good customer service while offering brand name gowns at extremely competitive prices. Follow the same procedure for your shoes and accessories. Many online retailers even offer free shipping without sales tax.

What can you do without

When planning a wedding on a budget it is important to honestly be able to say that there are some things that you actually do not need.

For example, although having a professional photographer documenting your wedding definitely is a nice touch, perhaps having a reasonably competent friend do it will suffice. If you are going to treat your guests to alcoholic beverages, you can save a lot of money by buying wholesale or by getting your caterer to charge a corkage fee.

Doing your own wedding favors isn't really all that difficult either, and can even be both fun and interesting. Compared to paying three dollars a person for them this can be a huge money saver. For the thank you cards you can usually get a considerably lower price by purchasing them boxed from a bookstore rather than having those that have already been personalized.

If your guests are not into dancing, do not get a DJ or a band. Hire a solo musician for a romantic touch instead.

If your ceremony or reception will be outdoors, use potted plants instead of expensive floral arrangements. You will not only save money, but you can also take them home and watch them grow. Have your reception at a local restaurant instead of paying to rent everything from table cloths to chairs.

By spending your money wisely you can still have the wedding of your dreams. A wedding on a budget does not have to mean moping over things you where not able to afford. Simply make the most of it with what you've got.

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About the author: When you want to save money on a wedding (yours or that of a daughter, good friend etc.) Monica Hawkins recommends that you follow the wedding planning guide by Erica Yoon.

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