How to save money planning a Wedding.

Weddings... Beautiful brides, dashing grooms, gorgeous flowers, good food, dancing... and LARGE BILLS! So sure, this blog is mainly about couponing and how to save yourself a ton of cash every week buying everyday items, but tis the season for weddings, and frankly, they are ridiculously expensive!

Realistically, you have to know your limits. Are you crafty? Do you suffer panic attacks when you come within 15 feet of a crafty store? Do you work 16 hours a day and have no time? There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG with "outsourcing" wedding planning and all the "jooys" that go along with it, however, I so suggest you do several price comparisons to avoid overpaying (and in some cases, grossly over paying).


Here are some money saving tips when planning a wedding.

Invitations
Many companies have come out with gorgeous print-your-own invitation kits. They're stunning, and man do they save you a lot. When the Mr and I were married almost 5 yrs ago, there were very few kits available, so I made ours using program paper, and hand tied ribbons. Beautiful, yes, big giant pain in the rear, absolutely. These new kits are easy peasy, and compared to $4-$10 PER invitation/save the date/reply from a printer, this is a great way to save some cash to use elsewhere.

Flowers
LOOK AROUND!! Determine what you like and the colors, and think about timing. For example, a friend of mine was married in the month of February, and wanted red roses as the flowers. KA-CHING!! Bad month for roses unfortunately! Do the legwork here, not only to save the money, but to see if you like the florist's style.

Groom's Attire
This one is great. This time of year there are always coupons out in wedding magazines for groom wear (tux). Lots of stores will also do a "Rent X number, and get the Groom for free". This one has been around forever, but is still a great deal!

Decor/Centerpieces
This is where you *need* to know your limits. I am a crafter, always have been, so we did most of this ourselves. Start with your "theme". Say you are having a fall wedding, time permitting, stock up when things go on clearance for the seasonal turnover. Michaels is fantastic for great clearance sales (and they have disount coupons). Little things add up, ribbon, vases etc. This is where frequent walk throughs will find you wonderful bargains!

I couls break this down further, but really the most important thing you need to know is that retails WANT to make the most profit they can, however that mosst certainly doesn't mean you need to pay retail. Look around, and dont be afraid to say "No sorry, that is too much for us", many times things can be adjusted to work for you and your budget!

Do you have any money saving tips for a bride-to-be? Share below!