How To Plan a Cheap Wedding

There's no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive; the cost these days is between twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars on average, which can put couples off. Many couples just do not have that kind of money to spend on their wedding; the day should be about the couple, not what they have spent and a cheap wedding can still achieve this. If you follow the advice provided here, that bill could be reduced considerably; ideas that could help you achieve your dream day for less;

A Used Wedding Dress

Fortunately there are several options available to help reduce this cost, including the option of a dress that has been worn before. Selling previously owned wedding dresses is an area which is becoming more popular; when a bride-to-be realizes she can have a quality handmade dress for half the cost of a new one or even renting it for the day, this begins to make sense.

Planning the Reception

The most expensive area is the wedding reception but savings can be made here as well; when you start to arrange your cheap wedding, pay careful attention to the number of guests you want to invite. Don't invite everyone you know, in particular relatives you haven't seen since you were a child; as far as the meal is concerned why not have a buffet instead of a full, waited on, three course meal.

If you intend holding the wedding reception in an expensive hotel then stop and look at the available options; consider holding it at a club perhaps or even book a restaurant where you can keep an open bar to a minimum by only serving beer, wine and soft drinks.

Images of the Wedding

Photographers are expensive but there is generally no need to hire one for the whole day; why not have your friends and relatives take pictures during the reception. An alternative would be to go one step further and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all; why not ask your guests to take photographs of the occasion all day?

PC Produced Contemporary Stationary

Cutting down on costs can also mean creating your own wedding invitations and seating cards etc; a personal computer combined with a home printer means it is quite easy to produce very professional looking results. With the correct programs, all the work can be checked fully before it is printed out; this means that often costly errors and adjustments that are often required in the early stages of the work are not made.

Floral Arrangements

Flowers can be another expensive outlay especially with the alternatives on offer; why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden and buy plain gold or white gold bands as these are the least costly. There is no reason why a friend or relative can't bake the wedding cake; this will save more money plus the traditional fruit cake does not have to be used as there are many other fillings that people enjoy.

Wedding Cars and Limousines

Most people, when asked, feel proud if their car can be used as wedding transportation; it is surprising how impressive this can look when done properly.

Cheap weddings are a real possibility especially when you have other plans for the savings you make; your guests will still enjoy the day and everyone will be happy!

For more tips on how you can save money on your wedding, Click Here

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_E_Woods

The Green Wedding Gift List

With more and more couples opting for an environmentally friendly wedding, guests are increasingly finding themselves faced with the difficult question of what to give as a suitably green gift. Even at the best of times, buying a welcome gift for a bridal couple isn't the easiest task. Do they already have one? Will it match their colour scheme? Can I afford it? These are all questions you'll need to raise in order to find something suitable. But when it's expected to be an environmentally friendly gift, and you're not a 'greenie' yourself, the problem becomes far greater.

The following are ideas that will help, and hopefully get you on your way to thinking up some of your own.

Plain, White Cotton Bed Linen
This should match any colour scheme, and organic bed linen is always welcome। The same goes for towels.

A Time Capsule
Create a time capsule containing items from each of their childhoods and tell them it's to be opened on their 25th wedding anniversary.

An Organic Gardening Kit
Seeds, hand tools and a beginner's guide to organic gardening.

A Composter
Buy a small bin to use in the kitchen too. Nobody likes to run out into the garden every time they peel a potato

A Rain Butt
Re-cycling water is important for the environment and plants prefer it to tap water.

A Gift Certificate
While it can sometimes appear rude to give cash, a gift certificate still allows the couple to make their own choice. This is especially useful if you're unsure of what they need or what their taste is.

A Donation to Charity
If they already have most of what they need (and few couples haven't already set up home by the time they marry, these days), make a donation to their favourite charity instead of buying something they'll never use.

It's also a nice idea to wrap gifts in something re-usable like a wicker basket, bath or kitchen towels or a canvas bag instead of the traditional wrapping paper. Not only will you be helping the couple keep their day green, they'll be receiving an extra gift, too!

For the sake of the world we live in, going green isn't a bad thing. With just a little thought you'll be able to find an appropriate gift for the couple and, who knows, maybe you'll find yourself buying green wedding gifts for non-green wedding, too.

You know what they say: every little helps.

~~+~~

Sharon Jacobsen is a full-time freelance writer living and working in Cheshire, England.

Although environmental and social issues are Sharon's first choice of subject, for a competitive fee she'll happily write engaging, informative articles on any subject from organic gardening to allergies.

To contact Sharon, or to download samples of her work and her rate card, please visit http://www.sharon-jacobsen.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Jacobsen