Money Matters, Simplified.
Planning a Winter Wedding? Here're Ways to Cut Costs
Planning your nuptial can be just as exciting as nerve-wracking. But be prepared for some extra leg-work if you wish to save. The Money Times guides you on how to trim your winter wedding budget.
Sun, 01/30/2011 - 17:16 by Gunjan Mehra
Decorations for the venue can consume a huge chunk of your wedding budget, so keep it simple and yet elegant. The two good things about planning your wedding during late winters are that you get a reason to get cozy and that you can pull some great discounts.
Tips to Buy Your Wedding Gown
-Wedding gown is important as it is the first thing at least half of the wedding's guests will notice and remember forever. Here are a few tips.
-Be wary of buying a dress over the internet. While there are many respectable outlets selling them, it's really something you have to see and feel to make sure it's right. With the myriad of different fitments, size combinations and materials available, it isn't a decision to make from miles away. The internet is great for research, and for selecting dress shops to visit, but don't buy one online.
-There are plenty of stores around that sell them at a discount, or at lower prices than a wedding shop. Even Wal-Mart sells wedding dresses. Don't ignore wedding boutiques though, they are still the best place to find that perfect dress.
-Using a mothers or grandmothers dress is an ideal way to work within that theme, honor your family and save a bit of money at the same time.
- Consider buying a cheaper dress from a cheap store and modify it to suit.
The period between January end and March are great to tie the nuptial knot. While most weddings are typically scheduled between September and December, planning during the slack season might be an intelligent decision after all.
If you have planned it well in advance and have already put your heart and soul into it, there is no way anything can go wrong.
Here are a few tips that can ensure that your special day is made super special without compromising on elegance or style.
Table Decorations
You should have a clear idea of how many tables you will require and also the number of invitees turning up for the wedding. Once you have the numbers, you can get down to decorating yourself.
-Collect cones and a few ferns and twigs. Spray the cones and twigs in silver glitter, and ferns in green sparkle. Now buy as many oval mirrors as the number of tables. Stick the ferns, cones and twigs on the mirror artistically to get an apt center table decoration piece.
-Your wedding crockery can be used to add some color to your winter wedding Select colored glass preferably for your plates, glasses and goblets.
-Buy elegant laces, either in blue or green and sow them to the edges of your napkins. If you have an aunt who does some crochet, request her to knit some laces for you.
Decorations
Decorations for the venue can consume a huge chunk of your wedding budget, so keep it simple and yet elegant. You can consider getting cut-outs of snowflakes made or look for them in stores that might have some left over Christmas decorations.
You are bound to find some in varied sizes at throw-away prices. Use them to fill the entire venue. You can also add some strings of curled-up ribbons.
Keep the lights at the décor dim and in shades of green or blue or a combination of both. Use the naked trees around to add to the venue’s ambience. Dress up their branches with lights.
Make sure that the chairs at the venue are covered in a lighter shade of purple or mauve and tied with dark blue ribbons. The table covers or napkins should also be in the same shade as the chairs.
Photography and Music
Photography and music are two areas the responsibilities of which can easily be passed on to some close friends whom you can trust and ofcourse who have some knowledge on the respective topics.
You could compare and contrast the features of your camera with that of your friend and use the one that promises better results.
As far as the music is concerned, go through your own collection and also that of your friend. If you think you need to buy some more DVDs buy them and ask you friend to create a CD comprising of music pieces ideal for each occasion at the wedding.
Just make sure that your friend handles his responsibility well and knows where to stop the system and when to run it.
Eatables and Desserts
Since you are planning your wedding when the actual wedding season has bypassed, you can win some great deals from caterers who are bound to be on a look-out for more orders.
Make the most of the slack season to serve your guests the most sumptuous meal at the least possible price.
As for the desserts, you can just have your wedding cake and no more. Even your wedding cake can come at quite a discounted rate due to low demand. So, make sure you get the best one.
These tips should go a long way in pruning your wedding budget. And since you have already saved so much, why not buy your dream dress which too might be available at a heavy discount.
