When DIY Can Save Your Wedding

By: Brenda Frezell
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:24:00
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

DIY stands for do-it-yourself and it can save you a fortune on your wedding. According to the Association for Wedding Professionals International, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is now between $18,000 and $21,000. Unless you have a personal trust fund the size of a hotel heiress, you may want to investigate ideas to trim costs for your wedding.

One of the easiest ways to trim costs is to do some of the work yourself. But I’m not crafty – you may say. Well take heart! These days, craftiness can come in the form of kits sold in most craft stores that will do anything from help you design your own invitations to decorate your own cake. If pre-packaged kits aren’t your thing, you can always check with your family or friends. Everyone knows someone who is crafty. And best of all, you can buy supplies in bulk when they go on sale instead of paying full price for someone else to do them for you.

Another option is volunteers. Instead of asking for wedding gifts, let your guests know that if they wanted to volunteer to help with the wedding in some way, you would love it! One friend may volunteer to provide the candles for the ceremony, while others can help decorate. Someone can give you the gift of the bridal bouquet and flowers while yet another can bake the wedding cake. Allowing your family to pitch in and help with the wedding will be a much better “gift” to you in the long run than any toaster or towel set could provide. And your family will enjoy the experience all the more because they had a part in making it happen.

If catering is costing you a fortune, call a favorite family owned BBQ or restaurant. These businesses are always honored to do a wedding and their prices reflect it. Another option is having a daytime reception and serving lunch instead of dinner. Sunday brunch is also an elegant option for a wedding. Ladies auxiliary at your local church or through a local service organization like Kiwanis will sometimes provide catering at cost instead of the markup you would pay with a professional caterer. When all else fails, go for a finger food or deli food reception. Light and simple can save you both on money and on stress.

Who needs huge floral arrangements on tables blocking the view of other guests? Instead, a simple display of candles and rose petals can make an elegant statement and will cost you a fraction of what a floral arrangement would cost. Other ideas include putting bowls of fresh fruit or seashells as a centerpiece. Adding inexpensive chocolates or other food snacks to the table will also dress up the reception tables in addition to occupying your guests.

Skip the professional wedding cake. Buy a plain white cake at a supermarket or small bakery. You can decorate the cake yourself without spending a fortune on “wedding cake” fees. Flowers are a simple way to decorate a wedding cake, as is buying your own inexpensive wedding cake topper. Grated white chocolate over a plain cake is also beautiful with a few well placed silk flowers purchased at your local dollar store.

Your wedding will be beautiful no matter what you do. However, it is important to decide how you want to finance that dream – by spending your time or your money. If you are low on funds, spend the time to make your wedding memorable by doing it yourself.

Brenda Frezell is a freelance writer, travel buff, and former frugal bride. You can find her online at http://www.shoestringbrides.com or http://www.railtripper.com

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Marriage category

  • The Effects Of Divorce On Children Part 2 - By: Paul Friedman
    My personal view is that we must change divorce courts considerably. Presently the first step in the system is for one parent to file an "order to show cause," a lawsuit against the other parent. This step should be made unnecessary except for rare and extreme situations. But everyone is afraid of being taken advantage of
  • The Effects Of Divorce On Children Part 1 - By: Paul Friedman
    There are very few tragedies that impact a child more than the splitting of his or her parents. The foundation for a child is their parents; both of them.
  • Relationship Advice for Newlyweds Part Two & Relationship Advice for Marriage Counselors - By: Paul Friedman
    Forget those people who tell you how your love and passion will take a back seat to the so called realities of life. What do they know! Just because "everybody" says the same thing doesn't make it true either. Remember not too long ago "everyone" believed if you sailed too far west you would fall off the edge of the world. Ignorance is ignorance no matter where it comes from. You have the ability to have increased love in your marriage and it ain't hard!
  • Marriage Compatibility Test for Daters - By: Paul Friedman
    Some people even go to psychics or palm readers to get info from "the other side" or wherever it comes from. Compatibility is very important. So I have come up with the ultimate test for marriage compatibility.
  • Marriage Help for Men & Signs Of a Healthy Relationship - By: Paul Friedman
    During my live practice as a mediator, I focused on bringing marriages back together instead of helping people get a divorce. Approximately 50% of the calls I received were from men. Interestingly, men seemed to be more desperate..
  • Marriage Advice For New Parents 2 & The Marine Core Divorce Rate Is Up - By: Paul Friedman
    The reason why some couples have a difficult time when they first have children is because what they know and don't know about being married is being tested. If you go out on a sailboat on a beautiful day when the winds are just right and the water is flat, you won't have any problems...
  • Marriage Problems & Marriage Compatibility Test - By: Paul Friedman
    It is very interesting how people think if they solve their marriage problems everything will be OK. You see, marriage problems aren't the problem with problem marriages. Marriage problems are the stink that comes from those things that don't belong in your marriage...
  • Marriage Compatibility Test - By: Paul Friedman
    Brace yourself. I'm about to yell at you! Why do you want to take a marriage compatibility test? Don't you have enough problems without looking for areas of incompatibility?...
  • Marriage Problems are Not What They Seem & Questions To Ask Before Ending A Relationship - By: Paul Friedman
    Fear is one of the greatest killers of happiness. If we allow an idea or negative feeling to take hold in our mind it can grow far beyond the actual threat. Fear can turn an ordinary man across the street into a killer just waiting for his opportunity to ambush you. Watching TV stimulates the imagination into negative streams of thought...
  • Relationship Advice for Those Who Are Breaking Up - Have a Happy Marriage Instead - By: Paul Friedman
    Happy marriage is not an oxymoron. It is a reality for those who understand how it is constructed and what all those little knobs are for.