10 easy ways to cut the cost of a wedding

"Got a wedding in the future? Here are ten ways to make it a lovely and meaningful experience that won’t plunge the happy couple or their parents into years of wedding debt.

1 Scale back. There is something inherently elegant in simplicity. Think: fewer attendants, fewer guests and a slightly smaller scale for everything.

2  Bridal gown. Borrow or rent your dress. Search the phone book or Internet for a rental facility in your area.

3  Venue. Museums, libraries, public building lobbies, parks, arboretums, universities, beaches and fields are all low- or no-cost venues for a wedding. You may need a permit, so plan accordingly. 

4  Flowers. Get your flowers from a discount warehouse club like Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s the day before the wedding. Have friends arrange them in buckets, vases and other containers for that random, country look.

5  Music. Create your own special  playlist instead of hiring live musicians. Got musically talented friends? They might love to perform as their gift to the bride and groom. Or keep it simple with a single professional guitarist—especially appropriate at a beach wedding. Contact the music department of a local college or university to hire a senior perfor-mance major if you don’t know someone.

6  Reception. Plan the reception for a non-meal hour (like 2:00 p.m.). Create a lavish dessert bar reception or an old-fashioned ice cream social. Afternoon high tea in the English tradition is also a great cost-cutting idea.

7  Cake. Order a small plain   tiered and iced cake from your local bakery in either white or ivory and have it delivered. Then decorate it yourself with fresh flowers and ribbon. Supplement with a variety of sheet cakes from Costco.

8  Photography. Have a stress- free, professional portrait of the bride and groom taken at the photographer’s studio or other beautiful location the week before the wedding. Then, ask guests to come prepared to take photos and videos of the wedding and reception to share with you.

9  Negotiate. Everything on your list is negotiable these days if you have money to spend, as opposed to credit. Respectfully ask for discounts. Memorize this line, then use it often: “I need a better price, what can you do for me?” And if you can possibly trade services with anyone, do it. These days bartering is back in vogue.

10  As you plan and prepare,  remember that after every wedding comes a marriage. It’s what you put into the marriage that will matter long-term, not how much you spend on wedding fashion, flowers and food. Decide now that you will not spend money you don’t have to buy things that won’t last, to impress people who don’t care."

Reprinted in its entirety with permission from Mary Hunt and www.DebtProofLiving.com. 2009.