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“Low Cost” Doesn’t Have to
Mean “Cheap” -
Helpful Tips For the Bride on a budget
When
you were six, you were going to have a fairytale wedding.
Now you’ve actually met Prince Charming and are preparing
for that fantastic wedding. Only, it comes at a fantastic price.
Planning carefully allows you to have a dream wedding on a
small budget. To start with, list everything you need. Then
tackle each item on the list, starting with the big-ticket
items.
What honeymoon packages does your travel agent have? Is there
an early bird discount? Is there an off-season discount?
When
it comes to your guest list, you must be ruthless. How many
of those people do you really want to invite? Have a separate “Ceremony
Only” guest list. You can ask nicely that guests not
bring children. Have a firm date for RSVP’s and
stick to it.
Can
you use someone’s home as the venue? Ask how you
would qualify for a discount if using a professional venue.
Often, decorating or cleaning the venue costs extra.
An
afternoon or morning wedding is less expensive than an evening
one. You can serve a light tea instead of a full meal. Have
a barbeque. Order sponge cake instead of a fruitcake. Have
a creative streak? Rent a special cake tin and bake and decorate
your own cake. Provide a bottle of champagne per table and
a cash bar.
Party
favors are cute but unnecessary. Do you know where half the
party favors you’ve received are? In need, go without.
A simple “Thank you” card for each person is enough.
If
you’ve
seen a design for a dress you like, take a picture to a dressmaker
and see if they can make it up for you. Have the dress made
plainly and do the beadwork yourself. If you want to be completely
non-traditional, wear a beautiful evening outfit/suit instead.
Keep the tables as simple as possible. Hire what you need.
Be creative - a glass bowl with floating candles and a few
floating flowers can replace a formal arrangement. Use flowering
pot plants in place of cut flowers. Decorate with driftwood.
Do
not skimp on the photographs. You don’t need the
photographer to document minute by minute, but have at least
one set of professional photos done. To supplement this, have
some disposable cameras handy for informal shots.
You can have your dream wedding without having nightmares
about paying for it.
By Fiona McKay
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