| Believe it or not, you can plan a wedding without | | | | also choose to go with a dress that would |
| throwing yourself and your families into debt for | | | | normally be considered a bridesmaids' dress. |
| the next decade. I am going to give you a few | | | | There are a lot of websites on the Internet that |
| suggestions and guidelines to make this possible | | | | have dresses in myriads of colors. But you can |
| without having to cut corners. All it takes is a little | | | | change the colors right on the photo. It is so |
| discipline and the willingness to stick to a budget. | | | | much fun to see what they look like in white or |
| The first thing that you can do is make a list of | | | | ivory; all you do is point to the color and click. |
| things that are "required" in planning a wedding. | | | | Although, I would not recommend ordering |
| This includes your dress, his tux, guests, a cake, | | | | anything before you try it on, you may not be |
| flowers, decorations for the reception, food, | | | | able to return it. Call around to bridal shops in your |
| music, drinks, photographers, and whatever else | | | | area and see if they carry the style, then go and |
| you feel are the bare essentials. Then sit down | | | | try it on. Sometimes they look very, very |
| with your fiancé and decide on the five | | | | different in the photographs. In the long run, this |
| most important things on this list. This is where | | | | could cut hundreds or even thousands out of |
| you can splurge a bit. Five may sound like a very | | | | your budget. Don't forget, you're only going to |
| small number, but there are an awfully lot of | | | | wear your dress once. You can get all of your |
| decisions that need to be made while wedding | | | | finishing touches on sale too, like Swarovski bridal |
| planning, even if you're keeping it simple. If you | | | | jewelry or Swarovski hair pieces. |
| can identify the five most important things before | | | | This next tip may be the biggest, and possibly the |
| you start, it will keep you from letting all the | | | | hardest of them all. Cut down on the guest list. |
| "minor details" get out of control. Trust me, things | | | | You could do this in a few ways, I once attended |
| can easily snowball if you don't have a solid plan | | | | a wedding where they had quite a few people at |
| before you set yourself free into the world of | | | | the ceremony and only a few at dinner, but later |
| wedding planning. | | | | opened it up to everyone again, for drinks and |
| Your fist assumption may be that a wedding | | | | dancing. You could also have a very small, formal |
| planner is out of the question. In many cases this | | | | ceremony and reception dinner for very close |
| is true. But don't rule them out until you have | | | | family and friends and follow it with a very |
| talked with a few of them. He or she may be | | | | relaxed and informal pig roast and picnic the |
| able to give some great suggestions on how you | | | | following day. Whatever suits you will be fine, but |
| can stick to your budget. Once you start your | | | | I have to admit through experience that this is |
| planning, you will quickly see that it's a little | | | | the part that took the most discipline. |
| overwhelming. There are literally hundreds of | | | | There are a few ways to save at the reception, |
| photographers, pastry chefs, and florists in every | | | | you may consider finding a place to hold your |
| city. It may help you to work with someone that | | | | reception that will allow you to bring your own |
| knows the ropes and can help you find the | | | | liquor and then all you need to do is hire a few |
| companies with the highest quality work at the | | | | people to tend the bar. You may not wish to |
| most reasonable prices. | | | | serve a three or four course meal. Buffets are |
| Another thing that can help you pinch pennies is | | | | very acceptable ways to keep your guests happy |
| to plan your wedding during the off-season. The | | | | and still save a significant amount of money. |
| most popular months for weddings are May | | | | Another nice thing to do is have a dessert only |
| through October. Most venues will lower their | | | | reception, or you could cater the whole thing |
| prices during the months that are slower so that | | | | yourself and have your families prepare their |
| they can fill their calendars. Ask for the price list | | | | favorite dishes. |
| for the entire year and also find out the dates | | | | And last but certainly not least, DIY, DIY, DIY. |
| that they have open so that you know what you | | | | There are a lot of very simple things that you |
| have to work with. It's never good news to set | | | | can do yourself that can easily be as beautiful as |
| your heart on a date, only to find out that it's | | | | purchasing everything for your wedding. You |
| booked. | | | | would be surprised at how little time it will take |
| Destination weddings are a great way to save on | | | | you and the unbelievable difference in the balance |
| your big day. It may not sound like a possibility, | | | | of your checkbook. Make the decorations on the |
| but when researching my wedding, I was | | | | table out of hurricanes with glass gems in the |
| absolutely amazed with what I found. There are | | | | bottom of water with a floating candle on top. |
| tons of places that offer package deals on | | | | You could even add a goldfish or two if you like! |
| weddings. You can get discounted rooms in | | | | You could ask your family members to lend you |
| spectacular resorts if you plan to hold your | | | | their favorite crystal and set them around on the |
| wedding on their property. They have really | | | | tables with scattered rose petals and votive |
| incredible settings. You can get married on the | | | | candles among them to make very inexpensive, |
| beach, in a pretty gazebo, next to a waterfall, or | | | | yet elegant centerpieces. You can also make your |
| even on an inactive volcano in a beautiful national | | | | own invitations. There are a lot of companies that |
| park! The sky is the limit if you're open to | | | | sell software that will provide you with pretty |
| traveling. And most of these places are | | | | graphics, fonts, and techniques to make them |
| all-inclusive, so you also get meals, drinks and | | | | flawless. The Internet is a great resource that will |
| entertainment. You may even decide to stay right | | | | help you come up with endless ideas and the tips |
| where you are for your honeymoon. | | | | to make them a reality. |
| Keep your eye out for "Off The Rack" sales, you | | | | The best tip that I have for everyone that is |
| can get dresses that are normally very expensive | | | | planning a wedding: It is a wedding, which means |
| at highly discounted prices because a few brides | | | | that if you go home on that day and you are |
| have merely tried them on for size. You may | | | | married to the person that you love, then your |
| need to get it dry cleaned just to be sure, but | | | | mission has been accomplished. All of these other |
| even if you need to have it altered, you'd have to | | | | things are merely details. The wedding is only the |
| even if you ordered it in your size. Another option | | | | first day; it's having a good marriage that is really |
| is to wear your mother's or your grandmother's | | | | important. Don't let yourself get too overwhelmed |
| dress. You could have a few alterations made for | | | | with all of this, just have fun and enjoy your day. |
| the perfect fit or to update it a little. You could | | | | |