Community Centers

Here's one of the latest I've seen on big savings for your wedding/reception. Rent a community center gymnasium. Usually low cost, lots of space and available restrooms, plenty of parking.

There are also plenty of rooms for men and women to get dressed, space for refreshments, and room to roam.

For big weddings, especially, might be a great place to begin a search for a wedding site.

Matrimonial Mulah

If you are looking for a way to create and save extra money for your wedding plans, why not use your hobbies as a starting point. Most people have hobbies that could, potentially, net them a few extra dollars.

For example, perhaps you are good at scrapbooking. Why not create a class, or offer to organize other people's photos and memorabilia for a fee?

Of maybe you enjoy babysitting, cooking, or working in the garden. There are many people who could use your services, and would pay for it.

Consider your hobbies. They might be your money in the bank.

Wine

Many brides and grooms serve wine at the reception, but a recent study conducted on expensive vs. inexpensive wines showed that most people can't tell the difference. What does this mean for wedding parties? Simply this . . . serve the cheap stuff in nice glasses. Most of your guests simply won't know the difference, and this applies to champagne as well.

Don't worry about labels, appearance, nose or other assorted "snooty" wine reviews. Save the money and buy a case of what you find tasty and appealing.

Budget Busters

There are many ways that couples can bust their budget when they are making their wedding plans. Without a clearly understood budget detailing the total to be spent and what they will spend the money on, it's far too easy to get distracted or swept up in the wedding craze.

Many couples, for example, discover that their budget is already busted by the time the bride purchases a gown. The bride fully intended to spend a thousand dollars on a dress, but opted for the five thousand dollar version. Budget busted!

Or, perhaps, the groom fully intended to book the honeymoon adventure on the beach for two grand, but once he noticed the travel brochure to Greece, he opted for the two week cruise in the Meditteranean that cost ten grand. Budget busted!

Couples will always do well to have a clearly understood budget before they begin their shopping and hopping! Otherwise, it's just too easy to opt out of the plan and grab for the glitter.

Don't let your budget get busted. Set a budget. Stick to it.

Need Counseling?

Most couples will go through premarital counseling before they walk down the aisle. But not all couples can afford the type of in depth counseling that might be truly helpful. However, for those couples who want to be pro-active, how about reading some books together.

Here are two low-cost options for couseling I can recommend:
The first is my own book, Before You Say "I Do" (by Todd Outcalt). This is truly the best book of its kind on the market and you can easily find a copy at Amazon.com

I would also recommend The Five Love Languages!

You can't go wrong with these resources.

Two for the Price of One?

Recently I read about two sisters who were getting married just weeks apart. As they made their wedding plans, they often asked the question: "How can we help each other?" and "Can we save money by shopping together?"

Short answer: Yes. There are deals to be found out there when brides work together. How much can be saved, also, when families stop to consider items that can be used or reused? There are many bridal shops that offer discounts when more than one gown is purchased, and the same often holds true for tux rentals and dozens of other wedding items.

Don't overlook the concept of working with a friend or family member to save money on wedding items...especially if your weddings are close together.