Wedding Bells Are Ringing: 4 Ways To Save Money On The Big Day

You're getting married. That doesn't mean you have to break the bank for the big day. If you're on a tight budget, you might be intimidated by many of the costs associated with planning a wedding. Luckily, with some careful planning you can have a beautiful wedding and stay on budget. Here are four simple tips that will help you keep your wedding within your budget.

Don't Say Yes to the First Dress 

You want your wedding dress to be perfect. However, having the perfect dress doesn't mean you have to pay top dollar for it. Before you say yes to your dress, do a little shopping around. Many bridal stores will hold annual or semi-annual clearance sales where you can save hundreds of dollars on designer wedding dresses. Prior to your dress appointment, go online and look for sales and promotions. Once you find the perfect dress, go online and see if you can find it for less by ordering from a different outlet. Take the information with you to your appointment. You may be able to get the dress shop to reduce the price of your dress.

Ask Your Friends

If you have friends that are getting married around the same time as you are, take a look at their wedding receptions. You might find things that will fit in with your plans. If you do, don't be afraid to ask for some of their leftover decorations. Things like silk drapes, twinkling lights and canopies can be reused without anyone ever knowing that you borrowed them. If your friends have chosen similar colors, you may be able to borrow tablecloths and other accessories for the big day.

Rent the Decorations

You have the perfect decorations in mind. Now that you're trying to purchase them, you find out that they're more expensive than you thought. Don't toss your plans. Instead, try to find alternative ways to obtain the decorations. Check out local party rental companies. Many of them will rent accessories and decorations for the big day. If you have a community theater near you, check to see if they have items you can rent for your wedding festivities. This is a good way to get those hard-to-find items you want, especially if you're planning a themed or period-piece wedding.

Use Local Restaurants

When you're planning the food for your reception or rehearsal dinner, don't forget local restaurants. Restaurants can provide you with a full menu to choose from. When having your rehearsal dinner, you'll be able to pay menu prices while your guests enjoy their choice of foods. When calling for details, be sure to ask if they provide a discount for large catering orders.

You're trying to stick to a budget while planning your wedding. That doesn't mean you have to scrimp on your plans. The tips provided here will help you have the wedding of your dreams without going into debt.