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Talk about breaking the bank! The average price of weddings in this country has skyrocketed to a whopping $20,000 -- and double that figure in bigger cities. Yikes! Still, as perfect as you want your special day to be, there's no need to go broke in order to throw an unforgettable affair. Here, our Foxy list of top money wasters, along with creative ideas to get more bang out of your buck.
Save The Date Cards
Why rack up unnecessary (expensive) printing costs on save the date cards? Spend the money on invitations or something else more memorable. Just get your act together and get your invites out early. If that isn't possible, find a fun photo of you and your betrothed and write the date on the back with a silver Sharpie pen. You can even punch a hole in the top of the photo and tie a sweet ribbon on as a finishing touch. No fancy card could better say, "put this date on your calendar!"
Letterpress Invitations
A beautiful letterpress or engraved invitation on heavyweight, high-quality paper can run you upwards of $9 EACH! And the cost goes up with extra folds, linings, or special envelopes. The average bride and groom spend $700 on invitations and reply cards. You can get beautiful, personalized invitations at a fraction of the cost at one of our favorite sites, Etsy. Check out Evapaul's shop for stunning custom designs at a fraction of the cost.
The Dress
$4000 for something you're going to wear once?!
This is one of THE biggest money wasters in our book. Yes, you want to
look your most beautiful, yes you want everyone to cry when they see
you, and yes you want your husband-to-be to almost faint as you walk
down the aisle. But you don't need several thousand bucks to do that!
Shop for your dress at a regular store, not a bridal shop (where prices
are significantly higher). We love the elegant (and very expensive
looking) shutter dress by Adrianna Papell. It's less than $300 and available online and at department stores across the
country, such as Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, and Dillard's. To score a coveted designer
dress at prices up to 70% off retail check out Gilt Groupe.
You can
also find a design you like and have a local seamstress make something
for you. Or, talk to friends and family members to find out if someone
has a wedding dress you could borrow -- as long as you can tailor it to
fit your body, it's a great option.
Special Jewelry
What
ever happened to something borrowed? There's absolutely no need to drop
a pretty penny here. You're SUPPOSED to borrow something special for
the big day, so find out if friends and family have jewelry you could wear. It's much more meaningful than store-bought
pieces. Do a little digging, and maybe you'll come across
something rare and special that belonged to your great great grandmother.
Flowers
We have yet to see a bride walk down the aisle empty handed! Of course you want flowers for your wedding, but when you tally the cost of bouquets for the bride and her attendants, boutonnieres for the guys, and corsages for the mothers, plus flower girl flowers, this becomes one of the big ticket items (average between $1000 and $2000). There's no need to spend thousands of dollars on tall, frothy bouquets. Small and simple arrangements can add big flair.
Here are a few tips on how to max out your flower power...
-Buy flowers that are in season (and avoid getting married around holidays such as Mother's or Valentine's Day when prices get hiked up).
-Calla lilies, delphiniums, gardenias, and orchids are more expensive because they require more tending.
-Cornflowers, camellias, and daisies (we love Gerberas!) are easier to find and a lot easier on your wallet. Roses, tulips, freesia, and lilacs vary in price but can be a reasonable option, if used minimally.
-Instead of having bridesmaids carry big bouquets, give them each a single long-stemmed rose or a colorful tulip which is simple, lovely and delicate.
-Fill out arrangements with less expensive things such as baby's breath, greens, or grasses.
-Create centerpieces by combining flowers with candles, figurines, fruits, herbs, or framed photos.
-For a natural feel, rent potted plants or flowering bushes from rental houses or garden centers for a lot less than buying them.
Check out our other blogs for more ideas:
Foxy & Festive Centerpieces
Budget-Friendly Backyard Wedding
Fantastic Flowers On A Dime
Band
The average cost
for a 4-hour performance by a five-member band (the most typical size)
runs over $2000. Meanwhile, the services of a professional DJ run
between $100 and $300 per hour, so if you line one up for several hours
of dancing, you're saving a good bit. To save even more, rent a sound
system and have a friend DJ -- it's a lot of fun and you're guaranteed
to get someone who knows your taste in music. Equipment rentals
can run from $75 up to around $275 for a 2 or 4-tray CD player, mixer
and speakers. And there's the trusty iPod which! You can just pre-make mixes on your iPod and run it through
an iPlay sound system (rentable for around $175 per day). These tend
to work best at smaller gatherings, but definitely something worth
checking out if you're having a more intimate wedding.
Cake
A wedding cake specialist will charge you as much as a designer dress -- an average of several dollars a slice on up to $10+ on the high end! Instead, go to a supermarket chain bakery or even to a friend who's a skilled cook and enlist their help. Cupcakes are also a fun alternative that always please the crowd. They're easy to bake yourself, and you can decorate them with personalized flags like these adorable ones we found on Etsy.
Photographers
You can hire a budget photographer for under $1000, while more upscale ones charge between $3000 and $5000. And often, the packages include a fixed number of photos, where you have to pay more if you end up wanting more taken. A better alternative is to hire a friend who is really good with a camera (there are many great amateurs these days). Or call a local art school and hire a student photographer or go on CraigsList where you can often find more affordable prices.
Sit-Down Dinner
Serving dinner to 200 seated guests is quite a feat, and as a result, wedding food isn't always the most spectacular -- rubbery chicken, lukewarm potatoes, or wilty salad, anyone? Plus, you're paying extra for wait staff and multiple courses. So, consider a very upscale cocktail environment -- what we like to call "grazing." This way guests can chat, stroll and eat what they want. It's a very modern setting and will trim down your wedding budget.
Party Favors
You don't need to send your guests home with
party favors. It's not expected and this is an expense we suggest you
forego. However, if you want to do something, a photo of the bride and
groom, along with a short "thank you for sharing this day with us," and
perhaps a chocolate or small bag of candies or almonds will suffice.
Buy candy in bulk at online sites like CandyWarehouse (where you can
find any color to fit your theme) and put together the bags yourself to save
on cost.
"Wow" Extras
Fireworks, doves, a horse-drawn carriage, a fancy limo... you don't need these over the top, big-ticket items to create a wedding with big bang. While these extras create a lot of show, they aren't necessary. What guests often remember are the intimate moments, personal touches, and dancing past midnight! The bride and groom can do something as simple and cost-free as make a special toast to their guests, which will leave the crowd with big, priceless smiles on their faces.
For more ideas on how to live affordably and stylishly, check out Foxy&Co and our new book, Curves Rules And Flat Is Fabulous: Sexy Stylish Looks For Every Figure.
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