Cost Effective Weddings

Many people believe that weddings have to be costly. But who says that they have to be?

All those fancy bridal shops, magazines and adverts on TV, want you to believe that you need to buy the very best of everything to have a good wedding. But, of course they say this! They want you to spend lots of money with them!

But don't believe them! You can have a fanastic wedding, and at a price range that you can afford. Sure, if you are a millionaire, it would be nice to buy the best of the best, and have a fairytale wedding. But not all of us have that much money. It doesn't matter! There is no need to take out a loan for what should be one of the happiest days of your life.

Firstly, why not talk to your family and friends and see if they'd be willing to help you with table-cloths and decorations? Nobody said you have to have silk table- cloths. Cotton or even paper table-cloths can be quite nice these days, and they won't break your bank account. The table-cloths are only going to get dirty anyway, so why waste money cleaning expensive table-cloths, when you could just use paper table-cloths and throw them out at the end?

Oh no, I can hear people out there, gasping in horror! I can't use paper table-cloths!

Of course you can! They are only table-cloths, and when you think about it, they aren't really that important. All that really matters is the bride and groom.

So what's next? Ahh yes, dinner settings. These can be very expensive, but you really don't need costly dinner settings. After all, who's going to remember what plates they ate off at your wedding?

Well, why not ask family members to bring dinner settings they have? Everyone has an aunt or relative somewhere that has a dinner setting gathering dust in some cupboard. Why not see if you can borrow them?

Or maybe go for plastic or paper plates. They are only going to get dirty, after all!

Now, in regards to food, it's nice to have it catered, but that can cost and arm and a leg. Why not approach your family and friends and ask how they would feel about bringing a plate of food for everyone to share?

Stop thinking that this would offend people, because it will save you a LOT of money. And the people you ask will probably feel honoured to be able to help out on the day anyway!

We all know how expensive food can be these days, and I am sure your family and friends will be more than happy to help out in any way that they can.

With dresses and suits, all I can say is you should hire, or find a resale shop somewhere. (Or, if you are so inclined, even make your own) You can always add things to a plain wedding dress that you buy from a shop, and personalise it if you want. You can still get great suits and dresses, at a fraction of the price, just by getting them second hand.

Finally, you can save quite a bit of money by buying silk bouquets, rather than bouquets made of real flowers. Silk bouquets look very lifelike these days, and you get the added bonus of being able to keep the silk bouquets after the wedding, as a memory of the great day. (A Bouquet made of real flowers will not last long without expensive drying)

The main thing to remember is that you should not be too concerned about saving money wherever you can. It's hard to believe when you are actually planning the wedding, but PEOPLE DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVEN'T BOUGHT EXPENSIVE SUITS, TABLE-CLOTHS, CATERING OR BOUQUETS! All they care about is whether the bride and groom are going to be happy. Weddings are about people, not the type of dinner setting you used!

Peta D'Silva has been making silk bouquets for over 14 years. She is the webmaster of http://www.visionsofsilk.com/Articles.shtml; http://www.visionsofsilk.com, a website featuring a catalog of bouquets that can be bought, as well as easy- to-understand articles about all aspects of weddings.

---

How to Choose Your Wedding Shoes

Wedding day is known as the most unforgettable day in... Read More

50th Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas

A 50th anniversary gift commemorates a milestone most married couples... Read More

Replacing Your Lost Wedding Ring

Imagine it's Halloween evening and you've just gone to the... Read More

Your Wedding Flowers - What Are Your Choices?

Your wedding flowers usually tie to your wedding theme. When... Read More

Infidelity: How ?My Marriage Made Me Do It? is a Cop-out

Ask someone why they had, or are having an affair... Read More

Getting Married? Read this 1st.

Original gift ideas for your Bridesmaids and Bestman.What better way... Read More

Wedding Loans in the UK ? Saving Future from the Present Wedding Expenses

It is wrong if you thought that typical British weddings... Read More

Wedding Planning: Prioritize to Stay Within Your Wedding Budget

So you're planning your wedding and a thousand decisions must... Read More

Diamond Hunting

Diamond hunting can be quite traumatic for the uninitiated. It... Read More

Choosing The Right Music For Your Wedding

OverviewI suppose a typical Christian wedding in the UK can... Read More

How to Have a Sizzler of a Honeymoon! Article No. 4

When Maria Callas first appeared on the international scene, she... Read More

Meaningful Wedding Gift Ideas

A wedding is one of the most special days planned... Read More

Expressions of Devotion: Buying Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, and Wedding Bands Online

Ritual symbolism abounds in everything we do; this is particularly... Read More

Bridal Jewelry: Fulfilling a Wedding Tradition

'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.' This is... Read More

A Wedding For All Seasons

In times gone by it wasn't uncommon for young couples... Read More

Engagement Party Ideas To Wow The Crowd!

He's proposed, and most likely you're flashing your new engagement... Read More

A Unique Diamond Engagement Ring ? In Platinum

Diamond engagement rings for many years typically came in the... Read More

Titanium Mens Wedding Rings ? The Contemporary Look for the Modern Man

The wearing of a man wedding ring is a relatively... Read More

Doing Things Your Own Way

No one said that you had to follow the rule... Read More

Las Vegas Casino Weddings

If you are at all familiar with Las Vegas, you... Read More

You?re Making Your Wedding List and Checking It Twice?What Have You Forgotten?

Preparing for a wedding, large or small, is overwhelming! A... Read More

Shopping For Elegant Mother Of The Bride Dresses

There are many places to shop for elegant mother of... Read More

Extreme Age Differences In Marriage Can Lead To Infidelity

"Extreme age differences between husband and wife may lead to... Read More

Focus On What Is Important ? Your Wedding Disc Jockey Choice

Your true love got down on his knees and asked... Read More

Planning a Maui Wedding

Just as there are a variety of wedding packages available,... Read More

How to Save Money on Wedding Photography

All brides want that one photograph that perfectly captures the... Read More

The Second Time - Another White Wedding?

That first wedding was a dream, a gorgeous long white... Read More

The Key to the Perfect Wedding

There are many answers to this question, it all depends... Read More

Legislating Morality: The Sanction of Marriage

Biologically, a coupling between male and female (with some very... Read More

Get Swept Away on Your Wedding Day: Rent a Sailboat or Yacht!

For a day you'll never forget on that special occasion,... Read More

3 Steps to Marrying the Right Person

Marrying for love, financial security and/or companionship does not guarantee... Read More

Help Your Marriage Survive The Rough Spots

Every marriage has its ups and downs, its rough periods.... Read More

How To Hire A DJ For Your Wedding

Hiring music entertainment can arguably be the most important booking... Read More