Frugal weddings: How to save money on your wedding

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photo by Jeff Belmonte

Hi there, Frugal followers! Fern here. Recently, a few close friends of the Frugal’s got engaged, and as they were talking about the excessive costs of everything to do with a wedding and how to cut some of those costs, I got to thinking about the best ways have an inexpensive wedding. Here’s a couple of Frugal-tested, Frugal-approved ways to enjoy a beautiful wedding and not go bankrupt doing so.

The most expensive things about any wedding initially stem from your guest list. The more people you invite, the more people you have to plan for. This means additional seating, food, drinks, and parking in some cases. You can do yourself, and your wallet, a great service if you substantially cut down the number of guests that you invite. I’m not implying that you should leave Nana off the guest list, but maybe the junior-high school friend whom you haven’t seen or talked to in fifteen years won’t be so offended at not receiving an invite. Just plan smart and use common sense.

Now food and drinks; let’s talk about those. You should have already helped yourself out by cutting down the guest list, so now we can further ease the strain on your finances by going for cheaper wedding reception food. This wedding is about you and your spouse pledging your undying love to one another, not about how lavish and gaudy your catering is. Go cheap. Buy a twenty-foot submarine sandwich or ask a family member to cook the reception dinner for you as a wedding gift. At the end of the day, everyone is fed and satisfied, so what does it matter if you spend five dollars instead of five hundred (or five thousand)?

Location is probably the most important thing to a couple getting married. Everyone wants a picturesque setting for their big day. Someplace that will remain etched into their memories for as long as they can remember. Most people assume that, in order to attain that, they would have to spend a small to moderate fortune. Not true. Local and national parks can be great, FREE places to have a wedding. A backyard also works well as an intimate, family-oriented setting.

So there you are. Weddings on a budget. Give us any ideas you may have, too! See you tomorrow, Frugal friends.

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