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Increasing numbers of couples are chosing a budget wedding as normal weddings are becoming more expensive each year, the average cost being about six months salary if you are earning 25,000 a year. As this is your special, unrepeatable day, you are naturally drawn to the absolute best and most luxurious of everything. Not only for yourself, but to give your guests a really beautiful day to remember. You have to concentrate on your budget and focus on some key things where you need to spend and other areas where you can save money. Below are some ideas where you could economise, you need not chose them all but pick and chose the ones that suit you the best.

One of the items which are never thought of in terms of budgeting, are the costs associated with a hand made wedding dress, which many brides sell anyway, soon after they are married. It is easy to buy a wedding dress that has only been worn once for less than half the price and the beauty of this is that providing you don’t have any accidents, you can probably sell on at almost the same price that you bought it for. Another option available is to hire a dress from one of the many stores that specialise in dress hire.

The largest single cost is that of the wedding reception but even here savings are possible. You may not believe it but statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend so when you are planning your cheap wedding, this is where most savings take place. Don’t invite everyone you know, in particular relatives that you haven’t seen since you were a child or people who are just acquaintances. Where the meal is concerned, why not have a buffet instead of a full, waited on, three or four course blow out. Further reductions can be made in the choice of the wedding reception venue. Instead of a fancy hotel, it could take place in a friend’s house or a local club where money could be saved on both food and drink if you either make them yourself or get friends to help.

Although most professional photographers are employed for the entire day, this isn’t really necessary as the majority of guests are more than happy to take photos on behalf of the couple, and they will be ‘natural’ shots as well! You could, if you are brave, dispense with the services of a photographer completely and ask a friend or relative who is a keen photographer who will should be happy to do this for you!

Your wedding stationery is a prime area for making savings, providing you have access to a computer and a good quality printer, however it is probably a false economy to choose cheap paper as people like to keep them. Presentation is everything so always get the best you can afford. Your word processor should be able to handle the normal type of invites etc., but you could also be more creative by incorporating photos or graphics.

Flowers will take up a considerable piece of the budget as they are used in many different ways. Doing the arrangements yourself or with friends is a classic budget wedding option, although it will have to be a last minute item as you do not want your flowers to wilt on the big day. If you can find out where there is a flower arranging class being held, you could ask for volunteers who will probably be willing to try out their new found skills.

You may be surprised at just how expensive a lavish wedding cake can be, so for the budget conscious a good alternative could be a large sponge or chocolate cake. Are any of your friends good in the kitchen? They may be honoured if you asked them to prepare your wedding cake. Failing that, you could buy some ordinary fruit cakes and then ice them yourself, adding the pillars and toppers the night before.

It is probably every girls dream to arrive at the church in a Rolls Royce or other limousine but this is another expense that could be easily shaved off the budget. Ask around your friends if they have a decent car or if they know somebody who has and would be willing to give up a couple of hours to drive you. You may be having a budget wedding, but as long as everybody has a good time, they will not care that lavish amounts of money have not been spent, only that you will be happy for the rest of your life.

Last 5 posts by Sean Lamb

• How To Choose Your Wedding Favors. - June 16th, 2008
• The Best Wedding Photography Tips - May 6th, 2008

Tags: Marriage and Relationships