By Dee Power

Yes, it is possible to plan a champagne wedding on a strictly beer budget. It won’t happen overnight, but with effort and savvy shopping you’ll be amazed at the amount of money you can save.

Your first step is to think about what’s important to you and your groom. If you’ve always dreamt about a huge party with lavish food and wine, you can still have that dream by cutting expenses elsewhere, perhaps on your gown or flowers. And vice versa if a flower filled bower is important to you, serve wedding cake and domestic champagne.

The second step is to determine what you can actually afford. The average wedding in the United States costs between $21,000 to $24,000, but you don’t have to spend that much and still have a gorgeous wedding.

One way to accomplish this is to have the wedding outdoors. There are many beautiful spots such as parks and beaches that can accommodate this type of event. Typically, the only cost associated with these locations is the pavilion rental. Keep in mind the weather for that time of year and have a rainy day location as a backup. Or buy umbrellas for everyone and just have fun.

Another way to save money is to create your own wedding invitations. If you are not overly creative, there are a variety of graphics programs that will assist you with the task. Use scrapbook supplies and hand make each invitation. Take a favorite photograph and use it as the background of your invitation.

It is recommended that you take your finished prototype to a print shop and request that the actual invitations be printed on a laser printer. This will produce a better quality invitation than you could probably produce on your home printer, and the cost will still be less than purchasing ready-made invitations.

Use professionally created invitations but forego the save the date cards and other supplementary printed materials.

Ask friends and family members to help you prepare the food. This will save a great deal of money as opposed to having the event catered. You will find that most people will be more than happy to help and will probably want to prepare one of their specialties, for the occasion. Most grocery stores have platters of fruit, veggies, prepared sandwiches, and more that can be ordered and then transported to the reception site. If your heart’s desire is a full sit down dinner, choose lesser priced entrees such as chicken from a caterer then supplement with store bought salads for a salad bar. Serve appetizers that have been bought at a big box store or from your grocery store.

Purchasing your wedding dress at a consignment store or via online auction is a money saver, as well. Many times you can acquire an expensive designer dress this way, at a very substantial savings, one that you would have not otherwise have been able to afford.

About The Author

Free report Weddings on a Budget at Dee is the author of several nonfiction books and likes to share her cheap wedding ideas

Tags: For Weddings