Tips!

Imagination has the ability to take a bride anywhere; the French island of Martinique surrounded by friends and family who are watching you take your vows with hot pink orchids in your hair, on soft white sand, and a single cellist playing Canon in D. Images like this are enough to make any bride sigh. This is a dream, a starting point. But when it comes down to making the decisions to plan a wedding of this magnitude, the cost can be overwhelming if the bride and groom aren’t careful.

Write down the top three non-negotiable items. No matter the combination of details there are various ways to cut back and still have a beautiful wedding. Count your bridesmaids, if you’ve included the second cousin you feel obligated to have standing next to you during your vows, give them a different task. Delegating tasks such as guest book attendant or making a toast are all things that close relatives can do instead of including them in the wedding party.
Check your guest list, if you want to spend some extra money on one of your top three items cut out the co-workers, “and guest”, and non-live in boyfriend/girlfriends. Connect with your guests by starting a wedding website. WeddingWire is free and easy to use, not to mention you can look up your vendors while narrating your love story and checking RSVP’s.

If you want to save on food, ceremony, and reception, find a place that includes them all or find a caterer who will make your favorite childhood foods like sliders, chicken tenders with special sauce, and cup cakes. Present them on a silver platter with colored napkins and a flower garnish.
Save and stick with monochromatic themes and initial everything! This personalizes your décor and makes for an elegant look. Using one type and one color flower in a great flower pot and an initialed tag can really make for a great center piece and accent it with mini-framed pictures of you and your beau.