As seen on WNEP: Stretch Your Wedding Dollar
On March 29, 2011, I had the pleasure of waking up at 3am and talking with Ryan Leckey from WNEP about fun ways to stretch your wedding dollar. And really, who doesn’t want to save some hard-earned dough?
So let’s recap…
Invitations
Use postcards for your RSVP’s and Save-the-Date’s to save on envelopes and postage costs.
Avoid odd shapes like circles and squares – the post office will charge you extra.
Have several friends and family proofread. One of the biggest mistakes couples make is when they approve a design and miss a HUGE error, which means they need to be fixed and re-printed, and that equals DOUBLE what they should have spent.
Avoid specialty printing like embossing or engraving and look into more modern ideas like digital printing, which has come a long way since it was first introduced.
There is no longer a need for double envelopes when sending your invites. A single envelope is perfectly fine.
Save on assembly costs by getting together the guys and gals and DIY at home! Make it a fun night without too many papercuts!
By the way, how cute were the ones we showed today? Direct from Simply Designed – who has an awesome blog too!
Table Decor
If you’re going for a vintage-themed wedding, consider renting vintage and antique pieces instead of hitting up yard sales for three years.
Fabric can go a long way when it comes to affordable decor.
It’s ok to mix-and-match and don’t be afraid to break the rules.
Flowers
Go with flowers that are in season. It saves money and just makes sense.
If you are using a florist, know whether you are renting your centerpiece vase or purchasing it. Some awesome florists will just lend it to you, too – which really saves. But you need to ask!
Simple designs can be just as elegant as extravagant ones. Stay with your style.
Use those bridesmaids’ bouquets as added decor for your cake, place card, or gift table.
Open Bar
To save some money on your bar tab, offer beer, wine and just 2-3 signature drinks.
Have fun with your signature drink – and give it a fun name!
White russians or Eggnogs work great for winter weddings.
Mimosa’s or Bloody Mary’s are always appropriate for brunch weddings.
Dress up a simple drink with a fun straw or drink flag and a simple garnish like a lime wedge.
Cake
Depending on your bakery, decide which is the best buy for you: Cakes or Cupcakes.
Go with buttercream instead of fondant.
Instead of asking your baker to make sugar flowers, team up with your florist and use real flowers to add “beauty” to your cake.
Add interest by mixing the shapes of the cake tiers. Incorporate square and round for a unique look.
When shopping for your cake, compare price with taste. You get what you pay for!
Speaking of taste, Julie from Frosted has some especially delicious cakes!
In general…
If possible, plan your wedding for a Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday. Most venues offer discounts or a lower minimum guest count on those days.
Build a wedding website and include the website address on your invites, save-the-dates and thank you’s! It allows those tech-savvy friends and family to be up on all the fun details of your wedding without asking you a million questions – saving you time. And most are free to create, which is even better.
Stick to DIY projects that can be completed weeks or even months before your wedding. Avoid projects that require a lot of last minute details.
Know your budget before making any major decisions and stick to it. Debt is no way to start a marriage.
Prioritize what’s important to you as a couple.
Don’t go crazy with your guest list – it’s one of the biggest factors to your total budget.
Stay tuned for those awesome signature drink recipes from Dave! How awesome did they look?
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