Room With a View

Last weekend I attended a wedding reception held in the upstairs of an old warehouse. The views from the large windows were spectacular, and the couple had draped the walls and ceiling with long wisps of fabric to give the old building a smattering of color. It was definitely low cost, but tastefully done.

When planning your reception location, don't overlook lower cost options such as parks, gazebos, and company gathering places. You might be surprised at what you can find in a community center or school.

Look for the best options and plan accordingly. You don't have to spend big bucks to get a big payback and a nice room with a view for your reception.

Make It Yourself

As you prepare for your wedding, don't overlook the possibility of making your own accessories. Brides can do so much themselves and save a lot of money in the process.

But how?

Well, how about visiting ehow (yes, that's www.ehow.com). This little web site is devoted to helping people improve their lives by making their own. Here you can find dozens of great ideas, patterns, and instructions for making just about anything.

Give it a try and see what you can make!

Big Greek Wedding

If you've seen the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you know that some traditions invite the father of the bride to make a gift to the couple. Of course, most couples don't expect the father to do this, but I've known a few couples who have had some tremendous offers from parents.

One couple I knew some years back had their choice of a large wedding, or a downpayment on a house. They chose the large wedding. They were divorced three months later and financial stresses were the primary cause.

I wonder how their marriage would have been different had they chosen the downpayment on a house instead of going for the big fat wedding . . .

If you have the prospect of a nice wedding gift like this . . . think before you opt for the one day and out. Some gifts can have a much longer impact on your life and marriage.

More Beach Wedding

This week a father told me that he and his daughter saved money by switching to Geiko. Well, actually, he told me about his daughter's beach wedding in Florida, the fifteen guests (total), and the great time they had sharing this special time together.

The beach wedding wasn't about saving money (though they saved thousands) but as he put it:
"What could be more beautiful?"

He and his wife had a beach condo, so the reception was held there. Great beauty, big savings, and hey, no cleanup either. Sometimes bigger isn't better, and when it comes to weddings, you can't beat the beach for living large.

Fall Flowers

I had a most insightful conversation with a bride a few years ago. She told me she was able to find all of her reception flowers and flower decor at a much-reduced price by buying flowers from Wal-Mart that were at the end of their season (petunias etc. in late August).

As she put it: "They always put seasonal flowers on sale when the fall flowers arrive."

Great advice. If you are planning a late August or early September wedding, don't overlook the possibility of getting your flowers on the cheap. You can save hundreds.

You Write the Songs

If you are looking to save some money on music (by eschewing a DJ or a fancy sound system) try using your favorite songs on your iPod. Or, download some great wedding/reception music for a few dollars and load these onto a PC to play over the speaker system.

If you have access to a system in your reception hall, take advantage of it and use your own music instead of bringing someone in from the outside. You'll save money and you get to choose the music.

Who can argue with that?