Tip - Honeymoons Following the Deals

With many newlyweds on a tight budget, consider fun locations to travel on your honeymoon that are offering discounts. You can stay at any W Hotel in NYC w/ 50% off every night following a regular rate night. This is for 2 nights, 4 nights or beyond. The special is available now through September 30, 2009. You can also check out sites, like SpaWeek.com which offers spa discounts via newsletter registration which may help you find a fun spa destination honeymoon location! They offer regular specials and ongoing events like this week's current event offering signature packages at $50!!Photos courtesy of W Hotels, Spa Week

Tip - Visit The Bride's List

The Bride's List is a comprehensive site listing wedding treasures for search or for sale. The site was started by two sisters who know how difficult it is to get everything you need for your wedding and stay within your budget. The ladies are closing down the site in mid June, so be sure to get your wedding treasures now. Also, the domain name is for sale, if you're interested.

Tip - Cuisine Budget

If you're looking for ways to cut your budget, ask your chef what kind of price discount they can offer if you chose a self-serve meal option rather than a plated dinner. Considering that this can cut back significantly on wait staff you could save $8-12 on average per plate. To mix up the styles, you could offer passed appetizers, salads to be served plated first and then allow guests to get up, socialize and get their sides with carving station options.

Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Toasting Savings

Toast to this budget deal for two wedding day must haves. These genuine Australian crystal and highly polished silver plate love flutes and server set are $39.99 right now from Things Remembered.

Tip - Cutting Food Costs

When looking for ways to cut cost on your menu without eliminating items, reduce the number of carving or interactive stations. Interactive stations don't just require food costs but also additional staff expenses.

Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Survey Says - Did You Get Help With Your Budget?

Did you get help from friends and/or family with respect to budget?

My mother gave me $15,000 towards the event. – Michelle, married March 2007

Yes, both dad’s helped. - Melanie, married June 2007

Yes, my father paid for the entire wedding day. My husband’s parents paid for the honeymoon and rehearsal dinner (not included in the budget) and my mother paid for all the excursion the week before the wedding (not included in the budget). – Lauren, married May 2007

Both sides of our families were able to contribute to our wedding, which was very helpful and much appreciated. Also, my mom made decorative table runners out of a fabric I chose. Not only did that help us save on decorative costs, but I have beautiful mementos of our wedding to use for decoration in our own home. The runners also made perfect gifts for family and friends after the wedding! – Amanda, married October 2007

My parents helped with most of our wedding, and my mother-in-law helped with the rehearsal dinner and also gave a little bit extra to help out. – Julie, married September 2007

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Survey Says - What Was the Biggest Way You Cut Costs?

What was the biggest way you cut costs for your wedding? Would you do this again or would you have spent more in this area?

We didn’t do a wedding video because we are an older couple (47 and 51) with no children and after watching other videos and talking to our married friends we found out of the 10 couples we talked to only one actually watched the video more than once and they only watched it on their first anniversary and they have been married 20 years. - Michelle, married March 2007

We used people we knew for certain aspects of the wedding. I have a friend that did our invitations; Nate and his dad are musicians, so we had a live band of people that they knew so they cut us a deal on what a band normally would have costed; my bridesmaids and other friends who are already married were a great source of information for ways to cut down on costs, and what is and is not worthwhile on the do-it-yourself stuff. – Melanie, married June 2007

We made our own centerpieces. Yes, I think it was a good use of money & time. Also, the wedding was in Mexico, so this was the only way I could ensure that we would be happy with the outcome of the centerpieces. – Lauren, married May 2007

We limited our guest list so that we could have the type of wedding we wanted on a budget we could afford. In retrospect, I am completely happy with how we handled the guest list with respect to our budget and would not change a thing. - Amanda, married October 2007

Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Survey Says - Did You Exceed Your Budget?

Did you exceed your budget? If so, by how much (percentage is fine)?

By about $15,000.00. - Michelle, married March 2007

We exceeded the amount given to us by about $10,000. - Nona, married August 2007

Yes, by $7,000. - Lauren, married May 2007

We did exceed our budget by about $1000. - Amanda, married October 2007

We were $2K over the amount that my parents gave us, but we really didn’t have a budget.
- Julie, married September 2007

Oh yes. By about $8,000. - Bree, married November 2007

Photo courtesy of Profinish Design

Tip - Purge Programs

If you're looking for ways to cut costs, or even DIY time, consider ditching the programs. While they add a nice touch of personality to your big day, the reality is that most people will glance at them and then toss them or use them as a fan if it's a warm day. If you want to include programs, consider only creating one program for couples. This could cut your costs significantly. Have your ushers hand them out as guests are seated and they can distribute accordingly.

Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Frost Yourself!

Every bride wants to look like a princess, feel like a star, and shine in some brilliant baubles on her wedding day...just not every bride can afford the real thing (or wants to waste precious wedding funds on some fantastic jewels not easily worn again). But no bride wants to look tacky in some horribly fake and ill made feaux jewels. Thankfully, today's bride doesn't have to sacrifice quality and style for lack of funds. The answer? Emitations Jewelry, "affordable elegance" featured in top magazines like In Style, Cosmo, Glamour, Marie Claire and the list goes on and on. It is a must see and a definite "go to" for fashionable, chic and undeniably well priced bling.

Some of my personal favorites:

Boisseau Pear Chandelier Earrings $74

Crystal and Faux Pearl Vintage Bracelet, $35

Triple Row Rhinestone Headband, $32

Large Pave Dome Ring, $315

Rose Cocktail Ring, $29

Yard Layered Necklace, $74.95

All photos courtesy of Emitations.com.

Respect the Budget

As little girls growing up we dream about our wedding day. We hope and pray that Prince Charming will come and we will be swept away and have a glorious wedding day. Or whatever your version of that fairytale is. And then you get engaged and reality sets in. Or at least it should. For some it doesn't.

While it is grand to have a dream and the desire to have the beautiful fairytale day, you have to be smart about it. I have seen girls run over those supporting them (whether they be parents, grandparents or all those in between) in the desire to get what they want. You have to be conscious of what you're doing. You have to be sensitive to what you are asking. All of our parents/guardians want us to be happy. They want to give us what we want. But sometimes they just can't. Sometimes it is just beyond their means. Be aware of that when you are asking for that extra $1000 for your dress. And do what you can to not make your family feel guilty about it. It can be so hard for us as brides to not cling to or get upset about ideas or dreams that we may have. But one the most important things we can remember is that this beautiful day will be beautiful whether or not I'm standing in the $30 shoes or the $300 shoes.

Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Survey Says - What was Your Total Budget?

What was your total budget? Does that include your honeymoon and rings?

My dad and stepmom and Nate’s dad and stepmom took care of the wedding and reception. We paid for our own honeymoon, and the rings we bought as our Christmas gifts the year before the wedding. ---Melanie, married June 2007

Each set of parents gave us $10,000. This did not include the rings and the honeymoon. --Nona, married August 2007

$20,000. No, that doesn't include either. -- Lauren, married May 2007

We originally set a goal of $15,000. I know that is a little low (comparatively) these days, but I am quite a savvy girl and I was convinced I could do it. Not too long into the planning process we decided to increase our budget to a more realistic figure of $20,000, which did not include our honeymoon or rings. My engagement ring was a gift to my husband and myself from his grandfather (the ring had belonged to my husband’s grandmother). -- Amanda, married October 2007

All in all, we wound up paying around $30k for everything. -- Julie, married September 2007

Honestly we didn't really set a number. In hindsight we should have. He bought my rings so he set that budget (my e-ring and wedding band cost about $1500). I bought his so I set that budget ($600). We tried to stay around $25,000. -- Bree, married November 2007

Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Tip - Know Your Postage Cost

Something that people often forget when budgeting, is postage costs. When selecting your invitations, be sure to find out the cost to mail those invitations, based on size and weight. A 6x6 invitation will cost more to mail than a 4x6. Take a sample to your post office (not a mailing center) and have them tell you for sure.Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Survey Says - What Did You Use To Track Your Budget?

What did you use to track your budget? Did you have a worksheet, planner or something on your computer?

I kept track of expenses myself with a notebook. I did not use anything on the computer or the internet. - Nona, married August 2007

We used an Excel worksheet that we created.
- Lauren, married May 2007

Yes. A friend of mine, who is an event coordinator, loaded a wedding planning program (Easy Wedding Planning) on my computer which allowed me to keep track of all expenditures.
- Amanda, married October 2007

I used an Excel spreadsheet. - Jennifer, married September 2007

We kept track of what were spending, but I found website worksheets to be grossly off base of what things really cost. It was very difficult to try to base a budget off the worksheets I found in books and on websites. - Julie, married September 2007

I tracked everything we spent on paper. My mom and I tracked each expense.
- Bree, married November 2007

Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Backyard Wedding

Brides and grooms to be are always looking for the ideal venue for their dream wedding. What about an intimate backyard wedding? You may have or know someone who has the perfect backyard for your big day. What better way to save money and incorporate beautiful outdoor elements this summer? Stephanie & Ron's wedding is a perfect example of an informal, ideal, comfortable, intimate wedding. Their vision came to fruition on May 17th, 2008. As the guests entered through the garden gate, adorned with a hydrangea and calla lily heart shaped wreath, they were greeted with lemonade and enjoyed a “pre-social” of appetizers and chilled fresh fruit. As guests mingled, they were asked to write their wish for the couple and to hang the note card by pretty ribbons from the Wish Tree.

Stephanie and Ron wanted an informal feel to their wedding, so the 80 guests stood through the ceremony and encircled the couple as they exchanged their vows. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the guests were asked to make a private wish for themselves as a stunning Monarch butterfly release took place.

Centerpieces were in keeping with the garden theme by using galvanized tubs and Mason jars to hold flowers of rust hued astromerias, calla lilies, orange gladiola blooms and gerbera daisies. The arrangements nestled on a bed of moss with polished stones for accent. Orange “glads” were a favorite of the bride’s grandmother, so individually wrapped orange gladiola bulbs (freshly dug from the fields in Wisconsin) were given as favors. Garden pathways were lined with candles in varying sizes of Mason jars. The wedding cake was definitely another show stopping focal point. Stephanie worked with the baker by providing the wedding invitation, so that a pearlescent vine and leaf pattern could be replicated onto the cake. A few colorful silk butterflies were added as accents to this piece of art.

As the evening grew darker, the setting twinkled with candlelight and guests thoroughly enjoyed dancing under the stars and celebrating all the many wishes bestowed upon the newlyweds.

Coordinator: Lora Ward, A Day to Remember
Photographer: Allison Stahl Photography
Caterer: All Seasons All Reasons Fine Catering
Florist: Katie Edwards w/Ambience Floral Design
Bakery: Ettore's
DJ: Brian Gibson w/Encore Entertainment
Garden Accent Lighting - STL (Sacramento Theatrical Lighting)
Invitations: Kendra Pfeiffer-Wershing w/Pfeiffer Event Planning
Butterflies: Swallowtail Farms
Officiant: Honorable Talmadge Jones

Bridesmaid Butterfly Feet

Being a bridesmaid is not a cheap endeavor. There is the dress, shoes, jewelry, and hair. Not to mention the mounting costs of a shower, bachelorette party, wedding gift, and any travel/lodging costs. When you add up all the expenses, it is not uncommon to spend $1000 on being a bridesmaid.

For my wedding, I aimed to be cost-sensitive where my bridesmaids were concerned. I found the dresses at Macys, which has some great color and style options if you are start looking early and are willing to wait for the right dress to come along. For the shoes, I found some cute, heeled slides at Nordstrom. The BP ‘Butterfly’ Leather Slides come in black, silver, and gold and are only $40. The best part is that they are incredibly comfortable and have a wide heel so your maids don’t have to worry about getting stuck in the grass or tripping down the aisle.

Tip - Budget Alignment

Make sure that you and your fiance are on the same page regarding budget and payment scheduling before sitting down with a vendor. If you're not on the same page, a vendor may have a hard time creating a vision for you without guidance.
Tip provided by Dynamite Weddings
Photo courtesy Profinish Design

Tip - Know your Wedding Gown Budget

Know your budget before you start shopping for your wedding gown. Make sure you tell your bridal consultant your budget before you start looking so that she doesn’t grab a dress that is way out of your price range. You don’t want to try on a gown that you fall in love with and then realize that it’s over your budget.Tip provided by Bella Donna Bridal Salon.
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists.

Tip - Know What's Important

Budget Early and Spend Money on What Will Last - When I was getting married my husband and I paid for our wedding ourselves. We got married a little later than most of our friends and family and so our parents had spent their money elsewhere by the time my Prince Charming arrived. When we sat down to make our budget I knew what was really important to me because it was going to be the only record of my wedding – my pictures! I knew a great photographer I wanted to work with and knew I had to find a way to afford her.

With a TINY budget I was forced to prioritize and get creative. I couldn’t afford a lot of thing that I’d dreamed about, but I made it work. I borrowed my dress, had a good friend who had been a florist all through college help with the flowers and made the table linens myself (which we later turned into quilts and donated).

Despite a lot of “DIY” my wedding turned out just the way I wanted, and I have the amazing pictures to show for it. When you’re making your budget think about the things that are going to last into your future together. No one will remember what they ate 10 years from now, but you will remember how you felt on that day when you hire a photographer who can capture those memories and preserve them for you in an album.

Tip and photo provided by Sarah Maren Photography

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#1 - Budget is a top worry for brides.

* You may not have any idea what a wedding costs, so you may need to do some research first before you set your budget. Decide first on the one word that you would want to describe your wedding: elegant, fairytale, relaxed, intimate, fun, “bling”, cheap, traditional, etc. Whatever word best describes your vision for the wedding will set the tone for your budget. Make sure that you set a realistic budget from the term you’ve selected. If you want a fairytale wedding with 400 people and have set yourself a $6000 budget, realize that this may take some trimming from certain planning categories. Once you do set a budget, set priorities in order of importance decided by you and your fiancé. Track your spending according to your priorities.

* Once you’ve decided on what size & style wedding you and your fiancé want, make sure to plan ahead. Brides are planning further out, up to 18 months in advance, so plan ahead to guarantee you get the vendors you prefer.

* Drawing up and trimming down the guest list is one of the top worries of brides (per Peggy Post). Have discussions in advance about guest size and sticking to your plan.

Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography