All posts in Budget & Finance

Six Fantastic Ways To Throw A Luxury Wedding On A Budget

budget luxury wedding ideas

Image courtesy of http://www.lockwoodstudios.com

Want to pull off a luxury wedding? Afraid you’ll go broke? Think again!

You do not need to spend all your savings on your wedding to make it grand, elegant, and classy. If you need ideas, here is a list of creative cost-cutting ideas that will help you create the luxe wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank.

1. Negotiate

When visiting wedding vendors do not be afraid to haggle. In today’s times the wedding industry is very competitive and would agree to negotiate with you just to secure a booking. So go ahead, be bold and ask. If you want to book a hotel hall for your wedding reception, you can ask for a reduced rate on room accommodation. Who knows, you might even get a free room!

2. Book early

If there’s something that will help you save more than a few dollars, it’s booking early. If you book venues or things you will need months before the big day, you will have a better chance at getting great discounts. So, better book your wedding venue, reception hall, catering, florist, photographer, wedding band and others while it’s still early.

3. Opt for a cocktail party

Instead of going for the usual sit-down dinners, try having cocktails. Skipping dinner buffets can help you save up to 25% of your budget. Cocktail parties that feature hors d’oeuvres and food stations are extremely classy. Add additional touch of luxury  by having the wait staff wear white gloves and wrap a beautiful linen napkin around the bottle when serving bubbly or wine.

Budget wedding cocktail receptions

4. Second-hand dress

Wearing a second-hand dress on your wedding day isn’t something to be ashamed of. Whether it’s something your mother wore during her wedding day, or a vintage dress you’d love to walk the aisle into, recycled dresses can help you save money and is wonderful for sentimental reasons. If you’re having problems, here are a few tips to make your second-hand gown to work for you.

5. DIY

If you or someone close to you is willing to help create your dream wedding, grab the opportunity! If you or your husband is an artist, turn the artworks into decorations. For invitations, you can always opt for handmade ones. These invites can appear more intimate and personal. If someone in the family is a musician, ask them to serenade the guests as they enter the venue.

6. Destination weddings

Planning to tie the knot in an all-inclusive resort generally costs less because of the affordable, yet fabulous packages offered. With wedding destination packages, you also get to pay for everything upfront from the ceremony to the reception.  This prevents the chance of paying miscellaneous fees little by little. Destination weddings are also cheaper because you tend to have fewer guests. The downside is that some of your guests won’t be able to travel to your wedding

luxury wedding ideas

Author Bio:

Melissa Page is a professional writer based in San Diego, California. She loves everything about weddings and plans to make her fairytale wedding come true at Couples Resorts, Jamaica.


Wedding Photographers: Who Provides What

shutterstock_113197165

Helping to categorize the types of wedding photographers available, this fun infographic provides some great insight into who is who and what type of service they are likely to offer. Discussing the pros and cons of each type of wedding photographer from professional to amateur, a bride and groom can use the following information to help make an informed choice over quality and cost.

Many wedding photographers will also offer engagement photo sessions as well as wedding packages and  may be able to put together a good price for both. Simply knowing what to ask a potential wedding photographer is half the battle in making a decision on who to hire.Use some of the key pointers in the infographic to formulate your questions and always remember to ask to see previous work.  Great photos are not just about technique on the day but the skills and time required for some post wedding editing. Don’t be shy to ask for a full breakdown of the price in order to find exactly what you are paying for.

A great reference with which to establish the wedding photography budget, this infographic makes for a wonderful print out to keep in the wedding planning binder!

types of wedding photographers

 Infographic courtesy of http://www.simplybridal.com

Making a Second-Hand Wedding Gown Work for You

second hand wedding gown ideas

Image courtesy of http://www.followpics.com

You may choose to wear a second-hand wedding gown for many reasons; because it has been passed down to you through family, you picked up a bargain in a bid to save money, or you want to track down a dress from a particular decade because you love vintage styles.

Wearing an inherited wedding dress is wonderful for sentimental reasons. However, if the dress isn’t already a good fit, it has staining or damage, or the style isn’t to your taste but you feel obliged to wear it, things could get tricky.

Your best option may be to get your gown altered and restyled, add some touches of your own, or use parts of it within your ensemble in a different way. Here’s our handy how-to guide.

second hand wedding gown

Image courtesy of http://www.youandyourwedding.co.uk/

Add Your Own Touches

Subtle Statements of Colour. Add a splash of colour to your gown with a sash.

Add in layers. A second layer of fabric sewn to the underskirt of the train could also add a nice bright touch.

Bedazzle and Bejewel. Sew additional beading to your gown’s bodice if you feel it’s too plain.

Wedding gown restoration ideas

 Image courtesy of http://www.weddinginspirasi.com/

Accessorize: Pin a brooch or silk flower to the bust or neckline to add interest.

Have the hem professionally dyed. Choose a colour to match the bridesmaids’ dresses and colour theme of your wedding

wedding gown alterations

Image courtesy of http://www.yellowdiamondearrings.net

Restore or Recycle

Restore the condition. An older dress is sure to have aged, yellowed or moulded over the years. Go to a specialist initially to see if it is possible to restore its condition.

Lower the neckline. Necklines were often higher in previous decades, so you could modernize your dress by adapting it.

Accessorize your dress. Add some bright shoes, gloves, bolero jacket, shawl or statement jewellery. 

wedding gown alternate ideas

Image courtesy of http://www.loveitsomuch.com

Shorten the dress. Bring the dress up a few inches to show off your shoes. Shorter gowns have a modern appeal and will rid the dress of any stains to the hem of the skirt.

Alter the sleeves. If the sleeves are cumbersome and dated, remove them altogether, or make them three-quarter and fitted. Alternatively, add in some sleeves for a vintage feel.

second hand wedding down ideas

Image courtesy of  http://www.cuttingedgebrides.com

Recycle

If you really aren’t pleased with the style of the dress, or it is beyond restoring, there could be other ways to incorporate it into your wedding preparations. You could recycle parts of the dress to create something else to be included in the ceremony.

Ring pillow – a small piece of the gown’s fabric can simply be turned into a ring pillow for those nuptials.

Veil – If there’s enough undamaged fabric, using the dress’s lace for your veil could be a lovely touch.

Second hand wedding gown veil ideas

Image courtesy of http://weddbook.com/

Bridal cap – if only a small area of the dress is in good condition a bridal cap could be a good option.

Bouquet – parts of the dress could be used as decorative elements added to your bouquet. A sash or waistband would make a great bouquet wrap. Add some rhinestones for a bit of extra sparkle.

second hand wedding dress inspiration

Image courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/

Once you start brainstorming, many ideas will come to mind. Ask family and close friends to pitch in their ideas too…who knows what innovative solutions you may come up with. If you can’t bear to cut the dress up, you could display it instead, perhaps above the guest book.

There are many great ways to make a second-hand or inherited dress work for you and adapt to suit your style. In doing so, you can achieve a beautiful and individual wedding dress, with a romantic vintage look and sentimental value that’s personal to you.

second hand wedding dress

 Image courtesy of http://www.aliexpress.com

Author Bio:

Emily Bradbury is a blogger and fashion lover at The Jewel Hut, home to over 40 big-name jewelry brands, now available in the US.

Flower Power! 5 Inspirational Floral DIY Wedding Ideas

besthomedecorators.com

Image courtesy of http://besthomedecorators.com/

For all of you DIY ladies out there who love everything floral and want lots of it at your wedding, this post is for you.  We are here to give you 5 relatively easy floral DIY wedding projects that you can incorporate into your wedding ceremony and reception.

Flowers in Mason Jars

Mason jars are very popular on the wedding scene, and it’s no surprise that many people like to use them as vases for their flower arrangements. Use traditional clear mason jars as vases or get really crafty and dye your mason jars by using food coloring and modge podge.  You can also hang your flower arrangements in the mason jars on the chairs along the aisle of your ceremony. For a rustic look, wrap the mason jars in natural colored twine.

DIY wedding mason jar decoration ideas

Image courtesy of http://www.craftsunleashed.com/

DIY wedding aisle floral mason jars

Image courtesy of http://www.weddingchicks.com/

DIY wedding floral mason jar decoration

Image courtesy of http://www.societybride.com/

DIY wedding floral mason jar decorations

Image courtesy of http://www.charlottegeary.com/

Floating candle & flower centerpieces

 Float tea candles in water filled bowls and vases. Choose the rose color of your choice and sprinkle the rose petals in the water.  You can also  sprinkle the rose petals on the tables around the bottom of the bowls or vases.  If you are having a winter wedding around the holidays, try putting cranberries & sprigs of ivy into your floating candle centerpiece. They turn out very well, add a great pop of color while looking festive.

DIY wedding centrepiece ideas

Image courtesy of http://chiffonsouffle.com/

DIY wedding floating candle centrepieces

Image courtesy of http://www.budgetbridesguide.com/

DIY wedding candle decorations

Image courtesy of http://www.simplegirlathome.blogspot.com.es/

Fresh Flower Crowns

If you’re a flower child, this is an absolute must to help you embrace your freer spirit.  All you are going to need are scissors, assorted fresh flowers, and floral wire. Babysbreath is cheap and always looks great. You’ll want to bend the floral wire into the shape of a crown to fit the size of your head, then wrap the wire around the base of a fresh flower leaving a tail at the end. Repeat using another fresh flower.

DIY wedding flower crown

Image courtesy of http://www.glamour.es/

DIY wedding red rose crown

Image courtesy of http://www.brides.com/

DIY wedding flower crown

 Image courtesy of http://www.juurikasvu.org/smf/

DIY wedding crown ideas

Image courtesy of http://bridalmusings.com/

Paper Flower Boutonniere

Craft colorful paper flower boutonnieres out of crepe paper or tissue paper for the men in your wedding.  If you have a favorite flower, you can make imitation paper flowers that mimic the real deal.  Look at Pinterest to get some ideas as to what is popular and what seems to fit into your wedding theme.  Many people use paper flowers to decorate their white weddings cakes as well.

DIY wedding flower boutonniere

Image courtesy of http://www.thelittlecanopy.com/

DIY wedding boutonniere

Image courtesy of http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/

DIY wedding boutonniere ideas

Image courtesy of http://www.scarletkitsune.blogspot.com.es/

Place Cards with Flowers

I recently went to a wedding where they attached sprigs of lavender to each place card. The place card had my name written in calligraphy. It smelled lovely, and went along with the rustic theme and color palette of the wedding beautifully.  You could attach other fresh herbs to the place card, it is completely up to you. Dried flowers would also work nicely.

DIY wedding place card

Image courtesy of http://www.designsgirl.typepad.com/

DIY floral wedding place card

Image courtesy of http://www.howdoilovetheestyle.blogspot.com.es/

DIY wedding floral place cards

Image courtesy of http://www.charlottegeary.com/

DIY wedding flower pot place cards

Image courtesy of http://www.theblogbybe.com/

DIY floral inspired place card

Image courtesy of http://www.thestlouisweddingplanner.blogspot.com.es/

Hopefully these five floral DIY inspiration ideas will get you started on the right path to a lovely wedding day full of lots of flowers and love.

Weddzilla Team

 

 

How To Plan Around A Tight Wedding Budget

Bride, Groom and I love you caption cards

Your wedding day is probably going to be one of the most important and most expensive days in your life. The estimate cost of a typical wedding is around $ 15,000- $20,000. The question is, does it really have to be very expensive?  The truth is there are tons of ways for you to cut down on your wedding bill. You just have to make a few adjustments and choose the best yet less expensive choices in the market.  Read more to have a fun, memorable yet money saving wedding.

A wedding of 150 people is expected to cost around $ 20,000 and this includes the following: Your wedding dress, venue and reception, catering expenses, invitations, transportations, beautification expenses, photographer and a few more things. Aside from that, you still have to allot money for hidden expenses and all this is affordable for everyone.

There are gorgeous weddings that just cost under $ 4,000, would you like to know how to do it? Here’s how you can have a budget friendly wedding.

Consider Locations

Choose the locations well- your family church will be the most inexpensive option. Or if you want, you can choose to have the ceremony and the reception combined. Check out community centers because they can be inexpensive and beautiful too. Your local park is also an option if you want a garden and open wedding. Lastly, why not get married in your backyard? You’ll keep the memories forever with your home, just set up a tent to be ready in case of bad weather.

Culinary Creations

Catering services- are you good in cooking? Why not have your family cook for your wedding and save more? You can just rent out the catering tables and chairs and just gather a little help from your family. You’ll save hundreds or thousand of dollars and, you get to choose or personalize the dish for your memorable day.

Financially Feasible Favours

Your giveaways shouldn’t be too expensive as well. You just have to be creative with the souvenirs. The important thing is that it should be fun and it should represent the two of you and your wedding. Wedding cake- a very tall, tiered cake with edible pearls may be your dream cake but the price might not be. Take your time in choosing a beautiful cake that is less the price and worth the taste.

All About The Dress

Wedding gown- yes, you deserve all the attention on your wedding day but thee are a lot of gowns out there that are very gorgeous but are not very expensive.  Go canvassing for your gown a few months so that you won’t be rushing to look for one. Get the wedding of your dreams without breaking your wallet. Research more about how to save up on weddings and keep a budget list with you and stick to it to prevent hurting your credit as well.

 

Author Bio: Joy Mali is an active blogger and shares extremely interesting financial management tips over the web that encourages people to check credit score regularly & to build a working credit report for a happy financial life.

Copyright © 2012 Weddzilla