Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Spending Smarts!

A recent sidebar from Martha Stewart Weddings magazine talked about "spending smarts" and suggestions for a budget-friendly wedding!

Venue -- choose a location that can accommodate both your ceremony and reception to save some money on more than just the venue, such as rental fees, decor, and guest transportation!  Also, sites that host weddings will often times already have chairs, tables, a bar, and maybe even linens already built in to the price.

Date -- every location has an off-season rate, and getting married during the off-season time can save some significant funds!  The day of the week also matters -- Thursday, Friday & Sunday weddings typically cost less than those on Saturdays!

Food & Drink -- serve the meal family style to cut down on waste.  Rethink drinks and serve wine and beer only.  If possible, buy your own alcohol.  You may still pay a corkage fee, but it is usually the less expensive option.  And, many liquor stores will allow you to return unopened bottles/cases after your wedding.

Flowers -- buy once, use twice!  The same blooms that decorate your ceremony space can be re-purposed as decor for the reception.  For the best prices. focus on varieties that are in season such as tulips in the spring and amaryllis in the winter.

Honeymoon -- it's never proper to ask for money, but you can request help with a trip through sites like honeyfund.com.  Also, if you have a traditional registry and wind up not receiving everything on it, check in with your stores -- many may offer to sell you the remaining items at a discount!

What is your favorite trick for a budget-friendly wedding or event??!


** Thank you to www.marthastewartweddings.com for sharing this information!! **