
Barbecue in the back yard for the rehearsal dinner instead of going to a restaurant. Make iPod playlists instead of hiring a band. Have Aunt Edna make her delicious berry pies instead of ordering a three-tier fondant wedding cake. For save-the-dates, send e-mails instead of postal cards. What you can substitute for less money? Borrow or rent a nice new car that your brother can drive, rather than hiring a limo. What’s peripheral? Cut from the list things that aren’t really important to you. If you’re a foodie, find out how much the menu you have in mind may cost. If the dress of your dreams is key, get a sense of how much it will cost.

But if you’re sure you want to get married in your college chapel, find out how many it holds and limit the guest list from there. For example, if you want to be surrounded by your extended family and friends that go back to elementary school, make the guest list and estimate a head count before choosing a menu or picking a site.

What are your priorities? Of all the dozens of wedding-related things you can spend money on, decide on the three or four most important to you - because they will determine how you allocate your budget. The wedding website has such a list, as do most wedding planner books. What is there to spend it on? Find a comprehensive list of wedding-related expenses, from a dress and reception site to invitation postage. How much do you have to spend? Will your parents be kicking in? How much time do you have to save before the wedding? Do you feel comfortable putting some of your purchases on a credit card? What else is competing for the same money: The honeymoon? A down payment on a house? Furniture?
#Free clip art for mac n cheese free#
And it offers couples free wedding websites so they can scale back on paper and postage while passing on information to their guests. The site shows real-life lower-cost weddings. There’s a “budgeter tool” that keeps track of how much is being spent and reallocates money as plans change - for example, if the guest list is cut. While pictures budget-breaking wedding gowns and engagement rings, it also has features to help couples get a grip. Understand that maybe what you had in mind originally… may be too much for your budget.” Don’t spend a dime until you know who is contributing to the wedding and how much money you have. “You need to really sit down and determine your budget and be realistic about it. “It’s a huge mistake that most couples make,” Winikka told the Watchdog. Before they make too many plans - and risk disappointment - brides and grooms need to face the facts of how much money they have to spend compared with the costs of what they want.

These days, a newly engaged couple’s wedding fantasies are liable to be walloped by sticker shock, said Anja Winikka, editor of, a website devoted to all things bridal. You want a lovely wedding, but need to minimize how much you spend. The economy may be weak, but your love is strong, and you’re getting married.
