Every bride has a budget.   It is a given.  And that means you have to sacrifice some of your wants (just don’t sacrifice your photos!).  Here are a few cost effective ways to trim your budget and still have beautiful wedding photos!

 

Trim your wedding party. Big wedding parties are fun. But, every person standing up there is another bouquet or boutineer, another gift to buy, another person to feed at the rehearsal. Trim your party down to those truly special few. The other friends can still be at the wedding celebrating away! A few couples have even chosen to not have a wedding party at all. Your day will be special regardless of how many attenedants are at your side. On that same note, you don’t have to have a guest registrar. People will sign your book (canvas, globe, quilt, or whatever) regardless.

 

Forget the programs/menus!  Instead, do a chalkboard.  Or why not do a virtual program and put a link at the sign in table.

 

Skip the unity candle, sand ceremony, etc. How many of your married friends or family members do you know that have their unity candle or sand jar on display? Exactly. Skip this step and save the cash.

 

 

Borrow your goods!  Have a friend that got married recently?  Ask her for her decorations and then come up with NEW ways to use them.  Also, borrow mason jars, table cloths, candles, picture frames, or anything else you are using in bulk from family and friends instead of buying them.  You could even request it to be brought to your wedding shower! A lot of venues have things you can use as well.  It never hurst to ask!

 

Go light on the food.  Have your wedding at an earlier time and just do appetizers.  Or have it later and do a dessert buffet!  Skip the costs of that big meal and use it elsewhere.

 

Forget the favors!  Half of them don’t even get picked up, most of them get thrown away.  While the thought of your wedding guests planting that tree or pack of seeds or keeping that chapstick, deck of cards, matches, etc seems like a nice thought, most of the time they don’t.  If you skip it, no one will say a word!  🙂

 

Go ALL out on your bride/groom head table for the reception and go cheap on the rest.  This table is the centerpiece of the reception and will be in most of the photos, so give it the extra attention and then just go easy on the rest.  No one will notice!

Cut back on flowers.  I usually suggest that brides go ALL OUT on their bouquet as it is used in most of the photos throughout the day, but you can always skimp on bridesmaids.  A popular trend last year was a simple baby’s breath bouquet for the maids.  Or you could do a fun non-flower bouquet.  I have seen pin wheels, pinecones, cotton.  The possibilities are endless!

 

I hope these tips help you trim that budget!  If you liked this post, you might also like Rain on your wedding day or the pinterest complex.