Saving on Wedding Tips from a Wedding Consultant, Part 2

Here's part 2 of some thoughts on saving on wedding expenses from Pam Tremble who runs Scrapbooks by Pam. She received her certification as a professional wedding consultant from the ACPWC in the mid-1990’s.  During the six years that she ran her own wedding planning business, she helped to plan over 50 weddings.

• Dressed to the Nines.  The average cost of a wedding gown (and all that goes with it/under it) is $1,500.  There are many ways to cut that price dramatically.  Buy off the rack rather than custom order.  Buy a non-traditional gown by shopping in the prom dress or bridesmaid departments and order the dress in white. Or better yet, check the local clothing stores at prom or homecoming season to find bargains off the rack. Also, don’t buy your shoes at the bridal store – hit the shoe store instead and save hundreds of dollars.  Same goes for the veil and tiara.  Don’t buy from the bridal store; check out fabric stores that cater to seamstresses who make wedding dresses on the side for bargains.  For the groom, find a tuxedo rental store that will give you the groom’s tux for free if the bridal party orders from the same store.

• Add Personality.  A traditional wedding with all the “chutes and ladders” is the most expensive type of event.  The bridal industry has exploded with profit because everyone wants the same type of wedding and will buy all the typical wedding-themed merchandise. However, by simply looking somewhere other than the wedding isle at the store you can save money and add personality to your special day.  What hobbies, passions or recreation do you and your groom share?  Golf? Scuba diving? Baseball?  Technology? Antiquing?  Figure out what you both love to do together and find a way to share that experience with your guests.  A traditional floral centerpiece for tables at your reception could cost as much as $200 each.  But a low glass bowl filled with brand new baseballs and surrounded by low votive candles as a centerpiece is much more interesting and your guests will remember it longer than they’ll remember the roses and orchids.  And why pay $3-$5 for a fancy store-bought favor to give your guests when something like a music CD burned with your favorite songs is something they’ll treasure every time they listen to it.  Be creative and think outside the “wedding” box.  Not only will your wedding be more personal, it will also save you a truckload of money.

• Don’t scrimp on the Photographer.  After your wedding, what will you have left to remember your most special day?  You’ll have each other and you’ll have the photographs.  My #1 piece of advice to the brides I worked with was “Don’t scrimp on the photographer.”  I have seen far too many couples saddened by poor wedding photos.  Nothing can fix bad photos. You could get a refund, but that still doesn’t bring the photos back. Know that the most important thing you can do for yourself is to hire an outstanding photographer.  Don’t trust Uncle Bob to do the job.  Hire a professional.  Even if it requires sacrificing in other areas of your wedding, this is the most important thing you can do for yourselves.  Skip the limo, cut back on the menu, scale back on a full bar or have fewer bridal attendants – do whatever it takes to squeeze enough out of your budget to hire someone you can rely on.  (Ok, so this isn’t a money saving tip – but it’s a “Memory-Saving” tip.)

Click here to read part 1 of this series.

Comments

[FamilyFinanceBlog]

I agree with these. My wife got her wedding dress for $150 in Chinatown and it was a gorgeous dress. And we spent $500 more for a professional "professional" photographer and absolutely adore our photos. Find the 2-3 things most important to you (for us food and photography) and spend your money there. Save on everything else.

[Eric]

My wife and I saved by holding our wedding on a Sunday. Caterers and photographers generally will discount their services on this day because they aren't as busy.

My wife also bought silk flowers and did the arrangements herself. This was the biggest source of savings in our wedding.

[Wedding consultant]

Perfect list! I am going to direct my readers to this entry if they need help planning their wedding.