10 simple ways to save money and cut your wedding costs

Introduction

All of us would like to make our wedding ceremony a truly grand affair, don’t we? The function should ideally be resplendent with glory, full of decorative delight, and draw murmurs of appreciation from the guests at the ceremony. However, we should also consider the wedding cost and our ability to spend on planning our marriage ceremonies. An unplanned wedding can bring about unnecessary and exorbitant expenses. However, even if the wedding budget is limited, it is still perfectly possible to have a great wedding party, just as the one we wish for. One needs to be economic in wedding expenses, and opt for cost-effective options, so that he/she need not compromise on the splendor of the occasion. Cheap weddings that are nevertheless attractive are indeed popular among many marriage parties. There are quite a number of ways to cut down on the total wedding costs. Ten such broad ways to save money during a marriage ceremony are:

Inexpensive wedding Drinks

10 steps to cut cost on a wedding ceremony:

a)    List of Wedding guests – Adding every name to the list of wedding guests to be invited adds to the overall expenses. Hence, unnecessary additions to the guest list to be avoided. One should not feel bound to invite every people who are somehow related to friends or relatives. A prudent trimming of the wedding guest list is an absolute must,
b)    Wedding dress selection – Wedding dresses are, by nature, rather expensive. One should extensively search for attractive wedding attire that are available at reasonable rates. There is a wide range of information on wedding dresses and accessories online. Hence, searching on the web is likely to be cost-effective,

Inexpensive wedding dress

c)    Choosing the wedding day – In order to save money, weddings can be scheduled on days when the demand for wedding venues is relatively low. A Sunday (or any weeknight) is ideal for this purpose,
d)    Invitation procedure – One can avoid the rather unnecessary costs on postage by not inviting guests by sending letters. In fact, telephonic or online invitations are deemed to be much more cost-effective,
e)    Homemade decorations – There are plenty of wedding decorations that can be designed by the marriage party itself. Hence, expenses on hiring professional help can be avoided,
f)    Venue decorations – If a wedding is scheduled soon after (or, before) a major Christian festival, decoration costs can be cut down. This is because, at these times, churches are already well – decorated,
g)    Online help – From decorations to dresses to other important wedding elements, one should always search online for cost-saving solutions. Indeed, most of the required wedding materials are available on EBay, that too at extremely reasonable prices,

Wedding Gourmet

h)    Print invitation styles – In case one opts for inviting guests via letter, costs can be cut down by designing the letters in a plain fashion. Simple computer prints can be used in place of showy, expensive engravings and embossed arts,
i)    Food and Drink – One should be absolutely candid about his/her financial position with the wedding caterer. In case one wants a cheap wedding, the food and drink can be made available at reasonable rates. In case guests do not drink, dry wedding is also an option,
j)    Looking Around for advice – Often, some friend, relative and/or other acquaintance of a wedding party can have in-depth knowledge about organizing cheap and affordable marriage ceremonies. Advice from such people needs to be taken by the organizers.

The wedding budget of a marriage party may be limited, preventing one from going overboard with wedding celebration expenses. However, there are many ways to cut down on wedding costs and save money, and having an attractive wedding party at the same time too.

Hire Wedding Photographers at Affordable Rates

Popular Beach wedding Destinations – a guide to an exotic and affordable wedding

Beach Wedding Music Parade

All of us would like to make our weddings a grand and memorable affair, won’t we? If you are looking for a truly attractive, exotic and romantic theme for your marriage ceremony, beach wedding provides an ideal solution. There are quite a number of popular beach wedding destinations where marriage ceremonies can be held. Indeed, at many amazingly attractive and classic beaches, marriage functions are legal, and in fact, quite popular. Broadly speaking, destination beach weddings are non-religious civil ceremonies, which need certain legal approval to be deemed valid. However, if you are looking to have a simple yet beautiful wedding day, a beach wedding is what you should opt for.

In order to have a non-complicated, memorable destination beach wedding ceremony, certain factors need to be given careful consideration. These factors are:

Lovely Bride and Groom at the Beach

a) Beach wedding planning à Over the recent years, beach wedding has become increasingly popular. The many exotic and beautiful destinations to choose from, with their unique attractive features, have been the major cause of the growth in popularity of beach weddings. Although the destination choices are seemingly endless, along with the manifold attractions they offer, careful planning is required to choose the ideal destination for just the type of beach wedding you want to have. Certain resorts also offer a package of beach weddings and honeymoon. Couples also need to decide whether or not to choose such resorts as their destination for beach wedding. With detailed planning and carefully thought-out details, destination beach weddings can indeed be made days that would be remembered for a long time.

Another most important aspect of a Wedding is the music, which can take your celebrations to a new level and can stop your guests from leaving early. It is always a better decision to choose a local Disc Jockey service provider because they can play the local music for a change and can entertain your guests with variety.

A Beach Wedding Party

b) Popular beach wedding destination à There are numerous beach wedding destinations that are truly attractive, and are ideal for a cozy, memorable and romantic marriage ceremony. Couples often have multiple choices for their destinations for beach wedding. They can opt for a quaint, romantic city or a tropical, exotic location as the venue for their destination wedding ceremony. Greece, Italy and Cyprus (and other such Mediterranean locations) are extremely popular destination wedding spots among Europeans. Places like Fiji or Thailand hold great attractions for Australians who are looking for a destination for their beach wedding. Couples from US and Canada generally opt for Vegas, Florida Hawaii or the exotic Caribbean islands as their intended beach wedding destinations. Dominican Republic and Alaska are also popular for a slightly different style of beach weddings.

A beach wedding party

c) Things to remember for a beach wedding - In order to make a beach wedding ceremony absolutely perfect, certain issues need to be kept in mind. These issues are:

i) Comfort levels - The hosts need to make a beach wedding ceremony as comfortable for the guests. There should be adequate seating arrangements on the beach, so that guests do not have to keep standing throughout the ceremony (such indeed has to be done on certain beach wedding locations). Special consideration need also be provided for older guests, who might feel awkward and uncomfortable. Ideally, the list of guests should be on the small side,

ii) Dresses à It is extremely important for the marrying couple and the guests to decide what to wear during a beach wedding ceremony. The attire of the couple should be in keeping with the mood of the destination wedding party,

iii) Heat-related issues - Beach weddings should ideally be held during the morning or at dusk. This is because, during the day the sands of the beach and the air temperature may become too hot for comfort for the guests,

iv) Sand quality - In case the sand at your chosen destination for beach wedding is abrasive in nature, and/or has bugs or insects, guests need to wear sandals during the wedding,

v) Actual location of the ceremony - The actual ceremony and wedding oaths need to be taken at a spot slightly removed from sea-waves. This is important, so that the noise of the waves do not make the wedding oaths inaudible, and

vi) Legal rights - A couple needs to obtain the requisite legal rights before actually holding a beach party at any particular destination.

Beach weddings are stylish, attractive and much different from the usual, run-of the mill wedding ceremonies. Couples can easily choose the destinations according to their tastes and preferences. If the necessary arrangements are also taken care off, beach weddings can indeed be truly grand and memorable events indeed.

Click Here For Finding a Local DJ For Your Wedding & Party

Homemade wedding centerpiece Ideas

Beautiful Candlelight wedding Centerpiece

Weddings are very special and every bride and groom tries to make it more beautiful and personalized. Making your own wedding centerpieces not only gives a personal touch to your special day but you can also save a lot of money too.

The quality of your homemade centerpieces will depend on the amount of time you can afford in making them; as well on the quality of the products you are using and own skill. With a little help it is not very difficult to create these inexpensive wedding centerpieces. You can get ideas to make homemade centerpieces from bridal magazines or search a bit online. Let us start you on the way:

Customized homemade centerpieces

You can easily create a customized wedding centerpiece by using things that portray your personality or maybe stuff that is special to you. Like if you met your love on the beach you can create a centerpiece reminiscent of those days with shells, sands, etc. White candles really go well with shells.

Homemade beach wedding centerpieces

Candles of different varying sizes placed in glass holders can make a very beautiful wedding centerpiece.

You can also make wedding centerpieces using seasonal fruits and matching them with wedding flowers. Each table can contain a unique centerpiece made of seasonal fruits placed in glass boxes and teamed up with wedding flowers of contrasting colors. They can give a totally new look and theme to your wedding.

You can always make your wedding centerpiece from floating candles. Add a dash of food color to the water and scatter flower petals in the bowl and around the bowl on the table to make it even more beautiful.

You can take ideas of making your centerpiece based on the season. If you are having a winter wedding you can try creating your centerpiece from pinecones or holly branches. For an autumn or spring wedding you can try the seasonal fruits wedding centerpieces.

Inexpensive wedding centerpieces

Beautiful Rosebowl Wedding Centerpiece

For inexpensive wedding centerpieces you can try creating the centerpiece from wedding flowers. You can use inexpensive wedding flowers for these centerpieces. You can arrange the flowers in a loose bunch and place them in a wicker basket or a pail. Some flowers look beautiful when they bound together tightly with a floral tape or floral wire and place them in a vase.

You can get your flowers from the local florist or even order them online. You can get all your other supplies for your centerpiece online as well, or you can even try at the local craft supplies shop. Decide on your idea and then go shopping online, you’ll be able to compare quality and prices as well in order to hit on the best deal. Go ahead and give your wedding a really special touch.

Click Here For Professional Help From Wedding Planners

Plan a Wedding at Mardi gras – Enjoy the carnival along with your spouse

So at last the special day is going to arrive. And you really want to make it very special for your guests too and want that your guests shouldn’t forget it soon. So, why not kick the fun a notch up by having an authentic Mardi gras wedding.

Mardi Gras Hotel & Restaurant

Mardi gras wedding planning

Mardi Gras is the parade season in New Orleans, so you can organize a destination wedding by having it in New Orleans it self. There are many top hotels and banquets where you can have your dream wedding. Go through this article in detail in order to gather more Mardi gras wedding information to find out more about hotels that you can transform into your Mardi gras wedding destination.

Information on top Mardi gras hotels and banquets for hosting your wedding

1. The Columns Hotel
   

   Mardi Gras Party celebration

1. Hotel LeCirque

1. Intercontinental Hotel

1. Royal St. Charles

1. Parc St. Charles

1. Astor Crowne Plaza

These are the top Mardi gras hotels and banquets which you can choose as your Mardi gras wedding destination. But it really might not be possible to have a destination wedding or your wedding might not be falling in the parade season but still you can very easy have a beautiful Mardi gras wedding right where you are and whenever your wedding is.

Mardi Gras Hotels and resturant

Tips for a great Mardi Gras wedding

1. Start with the traditional colors of Mardi gras, the colors purple, gold green, use these colors to set the mood of your wedding. You can use a golden bridal gown instead of the traditional white. But if you don’t want to do so, you can use the colors for the gowns of your bride’s maids. You can use only one color or mix and match, your maid of honor can wear an all golden gown to set her apart. You can also use golden beads for your own white gown and veil. The groom, the best man and the ushers can wear accessories inspired by the Mardi gras theme.
2. You can tie the white and ivory flowers with golden ribbons. It would have a stunning effect. You can also incorporate beads into your wedding bouquet. You can also put a mask in your bouquet to make the Mardi gras theme really stand out.
3. You can have a parade from your church to the reception area. Hand confetti, balloons, parasols and masks to your guests. You can ask them to line on both sides of the street while you two and your attendants walk down. You can also toss chocolate doubloons and beads towards your guests.
4. You can incorporate the New Orleans touch to the food that is served. With proper notice to the caterers they can very easily give the authentic Mardi Gras Cajun touch to the food. Along with the wedding cake you can also offer your guest King Cake. The King Cake is basically sweet bread adorned with gold, purple and green sugar. One of the breads contains a plastic baby doll, tradition has it that whoever finds the baby doll has to host the Mardi gras party the next year.

Am sure this article will be able to give you plenty of ideas in planning your Mardi gras wedding. Your wedding will not only be special for you but will be special for all your guests too.

An American Wedding in Indian Style – Third part

A few good moments captured in the camera during the wedding ceremony. A wedding is the day which is celebrated with lot of fun and enjoyment. Some nice pictures during the wedding function in Indian style are posted here.

Lovely Lighting of the Wedding reception arena

An American couple after Indian WeddingA bridesmaid in green

A newly wed couple on the dance floor

A lovely American Wife in Indian Saree

Mehendi on beautiful hands

The Pair of hands of the couple.

An American Wedding in Indian Style – Second Part

According to Indian traditions, the bride performs a dance (along with other friends) under a piece of Indian fabric (usually held up by the bride’s friends). Another notable feature of these Indian-style American weddings is the richly embroidered jewelery and other accessories that the females present at the wedding often wear. Maroon and gold are two of the most popular colors noted in Indian-style weddings.

The couple standing on the Dias.

Indian-style weddings, as devised by wedding planners, are never devoid of music either. Indian tunes are played by professional DJ-s all through the ceremony, especially when the groom, accompanied by his family, moves along the wedding aisle. The guests can also be treated to popular versions of Indian rock music at these American weddings.

These typically Indian weddings are also notable in the colours that are observed. As evening sets in, pretty little tree lights, candles and designer lanterns light up the ceremony. Comfortable chairs and pillows are arranged for guests, with rose petals often enhancing the beauty of the long tables.

American Wedding in Indian Style

Any description of an Indian-style wedding in the US would be incomplete without a mention of the culinary delights. Traditional and tasty Indian dishes, like chicken tandoori and saag paneer, are extremely popular in these weddings.

As can easily be deduced from the above discussion, an Indian-style American wedding is stylish, colourful, chic and yet, extremely simple and cost-effective. With popular and traditional practices, these weddings are extremely pleasing to the eye and are gaining in popularity. Indeed, if the marrying couple, along with their friends and family, wants to make their wedding a grand, memorable affair, an Indian-style American wedding plan is the best option.

American wedding in Indian style – A colorful way of celebrating the most beautiful day of your life!

An Indian-style wedding is, arguably, one of the most colorful, traditional, entertaining forms of wedding among all. Indian weddings are typically resplendent in colors, extremely vibrant, and are always accompanied by mouth-watering culinary dishes. Hence, Americans can, and often do, crave for an Indian-style wedding.

American Wedding Altar in Indian Style

American weddings are generally typified by small gatherings, a common feature of any US wedding plan. However, an Indian wedding style is often arranged for by the wedding planner, especially if the marrying couple desire large, colorful, joyous celebrations.

American Wedding in Indian Style

Indian-style American weddings are, as usual, seeped in rich traditions. A canopy (in the form of a stylish mandap) is created for the ceremony. Pretty and well-decorated pillows are present in the altar. Traditional Indian dresses, like kurtas and sarees, are also seen in these types of weddings.

Things to look for a winter wedding

A wedding plan between the fall and the winter is considered best by the majority; unless you have a fascination on getting married on a beach in a warm, summer afternoon, and then the time between October and January can make you witness a synchronicity in white. Besides, it is when you can flaunt your riches to the max.

wedding on the snow

However, that requires you to consider many-a-things; agreed that snow can add quite some magic to your wedding, but if the setting is wrong, even the photographs shall lack the stunning effects to turn sour the finest assortment of ideas. Therefore, a few words on a fall as well as a winter wedding plan.

• The good things of a fall wedding

Fall or autumn is the season when the older leaves fall from the trees making way for newer, breathtaking displays? The nature’s palette emphasizes more on the deep reds and oranges facilitating more ornate decorations accompanied with rich menus that are not always safe during the summers.

Or think about the fall wedding favors. People love receiving them; so whether it’s mere bookmarks or candles or the things in between, fall gives you a chance to make even such simple things appear more gorgeous than in any other time of the year. For example, a mere box of soap can transform to cute leaf-petal soaps or an ordinary candle to an apple-sapped one – but more than anything, they can even double as an effective fall wedding decoration. Extra decorations for free; it certainly makes an enticing offer.

winter wedding celebration

• Making an attractive winter wedding plan

On the other hand, a winter wedding plan saves a lot of costs while not making the invitees feel a whiff of it. Let us take the flowers into consideration to explain it better; despite the choice being limited in this particular season, you can go whole hog with roses and lilies, the most traditional ones, with artificial snowflakes and ice crystals forming outer filigree.

A winter wedding also gives you the freedom of keeping all of your favorite foods in the menu without posing a health risk to others besides adding certain winter specials like squash and pumpkin recipes. Eggnogs or spiced wine or hot chocolate with or without alcohol shall definitely spice up your reception. And since it’s winter, you can make things go all white including the wedding cake, and the embellishments; as wedding favors, you can have sugar sculptures or tins of hot chocolate. But even if you are planning for something else as a wedding favor, there’s no such season, which shall allow you for decorating the reception with Christmas trees, ice sculptures and crystal bouquets.

Popular wedding colors

“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” – Pablo Picasso

That explains somewhat the change in public preferences regarding the wedding colors and their variations every year, if not seasonally. 2008 has marked blue as the foremost choice in wedding colors and in 2009, it’s going to continue as well. And that includes every shade of blue – from bright and cobalt blue to turquoise and rich indigo. And if you find it hard believing the accounts aforementioned, let’s see what the First Lady has to say.

A colorful wedding photograph

Michelle Obama’s convention speech came from shades of blue and it’s so far, the most memorable one. To be precise, it was more on the greener side of blue, but nevertheless, it heralds the shades of things to come, the outer periphery touching every possible bright, strong and saturated tone.

But blue itself can appear boring if there’s not present a contrast to compliment it; that way, lighter and neutral shades (cream, bone and champagne; even tan) stand shoulder to shoulder with light gold and even beige. It’s the undertones that bring in the harmony. However, there’s another shade that compliments blue the most and it’s gray; but it’s best to avoid the shade unless you are an outright rebel planning your wedding in a moonlit graveyard. A better option would be steel-gray or gunmetal or maybe even brushed silver; these shades shall provide a matching contrast even with the conventional black tuxedo.

But unless you are in for giving people a shock, avoid contrasts with lemon yellow, or pale peach; stitch your entire wedding gown in solid shades of these if you can’t avoid by any cost.

At the end, it is always the wedding colors reflecting the joint personality, which you cannot sacrifice to please your personal ego. And when you have to sacrifice it up to a certain extent soon, why not start trying right from the time of exchanging the rings?

Get very colorful photographs of your wedding, compare photographers for wedding at your locality.

Wedding Planners – Practical importance of a low budget wedding

Think about your first recognized date and the related expenses; it shall give you a somewhat clear idea regarding the dough you need to shell out for your wedding. In simple words, a wedding costs a fortune and to people who can afford, it’s not a big deal; however, problems arise if you are someone like me, living on a shoestring budget. And we comprise the greater part of this civilization; what do we do if wooed by the call of the bride?

Low cost wedding

A friend and a well-wisher advised me to start saving money – “you know something, it’s the little droplets that create an ocean”; true, but accumulating droplets are not much feasible if you are a resident of the deserts. So I embarked upon finding means to establish a cheap wedding plan.

I must thank the barman at the local pub; he had hit the nail right on the head. “What amount do you think you’ll be comfortable as your wedding cost?” I gave out an approximate figure; – “All right, then you must see which parts of an arrangement shall help you save money so that you may have the cream first and the cherry later.”

So his advices followed:

1. Create certain items yourself. That includes the wedding invitation and the wedding favor. Uniqueness needn’t come expensive and vice-versa; if you have a penchant for it then no point looking back; else, there must be someone in your circuit who can get it done for you. Treating him to a Jack Daniel’s or two shall definitely work out cheaper.

1. Arrange for a buffet instead of a full fledged sit-n-dine reception. This is one of the tricks for a cost saving wedding; in the sense, you do not require to hire that many numbers of people to serve and can also save on the part of hiring a great number of tables, chairs and related paraphernalia. And still better, if you can ration alcohol; an even measure of it shall also restrict consumption of food up to a great extent.

And that was my initiation to low budget wedding plans, without cutting out on the fun. And guess what; my honeymoon received an extra rosy shade with what I could save on the wedding.