Low Budget Weddings

06 September 2006

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Some things are expensive, but worth the money. But how do you choose between one thing and the other?

When it comes to planning a wedding, knowing the right corners to cut can be the difference between the Wedding of the year, and the Wedding from hell. But sometimes, there's no way of knowing what to save on, and what to splurge on.

There are, however, some realy important things about a wedding that people really notice, and are worth spending that extra but of cash on. Here are the top 5 items to save on:

Favours
What happened to the favours from the last weddings you went to? If they're taking pride of place on your mantlepiece, then I'm sorry, you're wierd. Most favours are eaten, and the expensive, fancy boxes they come in are either consigned to the bin, or hidden at the back of a cupboardd for a few years, squashed, broken, and then consigned to the bin.
In truth, most brides look back on their wedding day, and surprisingly, favours aren't one of the things they daydream about. Guests don't remember them much, either. Do your budget a favour and skip the favours, at least for the grown-ups.

Fancy Invites
Once they've been stuck up on someone's walls for a few months, these will go on the bin, too. A fancy invite with gold embossed paper, crinkly tracing paper inside, and a load of papers to read through isn't what will make people come to your wedding, and no one will mind if they just recieve a postcard, Just as long as the time, date and location is written down, and there's a way to RSVP.

People who will appreciate a lovely invite, are your close family, who will want to keep all souvenirs of the day, so yours and his parents, and your kids, if you have any, so if fancy invites are one of the things you'll bin, at least think about having something nice for them to hold onto.

Programs
if your families are both from the same background, there will be little need to explain the events of the day to them. Hymns and readings are announced, and ushers will let everyone know what to do/where to go. Most Brides who ditch the favours don't even miss them, and the guests will ask each other if they don't know what's going on!
Programs, Like Invites and Favours are a souvenir thing, and although people will remember your wedding, they won't necessearily keep all the stuff that came with it!

Flowers
You hired a venue you loved, so why spend time and money covering it up with flowrers? Aren't you and your bridesmaids gorgeous enough? Ok, your boquet will probably be something you keep for the rest of your life, but the arrangements on the end of every pew - are they really necessary. Remember it's only a day, and that's all these flowers are likely to last. All the important people will no doubt get a boquet, and anyone who complains about not being able to grab a table center for themselves is just selfish!

The cake
Let's face it £500 for a cake is a bit over the top. After all, you can make one for a hundredth of the price! There's no need to skip it completely, though, as there are loads of ways to get a cake without the wallet clearing price tag. There are so mant ready made cake decorations available, today, that it's easy to decorate the cake yourself, and still have something stunning!
The tradition is to sae the top layer for your first child's christening, and if you really want to stick with this, look in the shops around christmas time - as a plain, white, small christmas cake will do the job just as well.
If you don't fancy the idea of eating a years old cake at a christening, stick with sponge cake.