With unemployment at a record high, huge cuts to government spending, pay freezes, along with VAT at a staggering 20%, it’s unsurprising that planning a wedding in 2012 is now more stressful than ever. It’s not impossible though and newly engaged couples are forever finding inventive ways to save money when planning their big day without sacrificing the wedding of their dreams. From making your own invitations or wedding favours, to enlisting a stylish friend to help with bridal hair and make up, creativity is the key to saving money on your wedding and it’s important sit down and discuss a budget once you’ve set a date for the big day.
The budget for your wedding should revolve around your priorities as a couple; do you save on your fairytale wedding dress in order to have the honeymoon you’ve been dreaming of? Or maybe opting for a ‘dry’ wedding could mean that the money you save on watering your guests with champagne could go toward your ideal musical entertainment? You’ll need to be prepared to compromise on certain aspects but keep in mind the things that are most important and everything else can be adjusted to fit in around it. And even if you’re not quite savvy enough to stick to your budget there a plenty of ways to save a few pennies and still have the day you’ve always wanted!
Be prepared to set aside a considerable amount of your budget for your wedding venue. Every bride has their own unique vision of the perfect setting for their wedding, but when it’s imperative to save money, realising that less is more can often have its benefits. If you choose to have your wedding during the summer months you could consider embracing the great British weather and having a marquee for the celebrations. Marquees have always been popular in hotter climates due to them being practical and relatively cheap to hire, with some coming equipped with in-house electric lighting to illuminate your guests well into the night. If the weather is on your side its easy to imagine celebrating your big day with your loved ones on a warm summers day, and picture your first dance as man and wife, illuminated by flickering candle light or simply under the moonlight sky. And if the weather lets you down all is not lost – there’s always a Hollywood style kiss in the rain to be had! With the venue often coming out on top of the expenses list, the savings to be made by going for this simple alternative could make all the difference and allow you to splash out in other areas of the wedding that may! As a rule, there are generally no music curfews (check with the land owner the marquee is on), so the party really could last all night long!
A brides wedding is almost always the most important priority on any bride-to-be’s to do list. It’s the focal point of the whole wedding day and as every groom knows – it never comes cheap! This begs the question (perhaps to men only) why not wear a second hand one? There’s a lot of stigma attached to second hand wedding dresses; mention it to the bride-to-be and they will instinctively think of an unflattering lacy, gown that resembles a nightdress that their grandma would have worn on her big day. This thankfully is not the case! If a family member or friend has an unwanted dress it can be cost affective to update and customise it meaning that not only do you save some valuable pennies but you also have a one of a kind dress that will be impossible to duplicate! If customising isn’t for you, then why not hire a dress for the all-important day! There are now wedding dress hire shops located all across the country offering a vast range of wedding attire that will stock dresses of all shapes and sizes to suit every blushing bride. Hiring a wedding dress is extremely cost effective when compared with buying your own, and best of all, with such a wide range of dresses available it’s possible to pick the perfect dress for your big day at a fraction of the cost.
Eco weddings are becoming more popular as it’s now practically fashionable to be ‘green’. As mentioned before, hiring or customising a second hand dress is a great step in the right direction if you’re planning a ‘green’ wedding and can save a considerable portion of your budget. The easiest way to be eco friendly is to use recycled paper and other materials wherever possible, invitations are the most popular eco friendly wedding choice thanks to new eco friendly paper & printers.
As with most things, some things are best left up to the professionals! Things like the delicate art of flower arranging, catering, photography and the entertainment may take a slice out of your budget but you can always find ways to save. Why not leave a desert off of the menu; after all you will most likely have an extravagant wedding cake to share with all your guests! Or consider making a wedding songs play list to provide background music while guests are arriving and save the wedding bands for later on in the night.
A wedding is the most important day of your life, and even when money is tight it’s important to make sure your day is just as you imagine, even if you have to get creative with your planning. Remember to utilise any talented friends you may have, call in all favours big and small, but most importantly remember to enjoy your day as it will be one you will look back on for the rest of your lives.
Ideas for music and entertainment at Christmas time are often not that exciting. Its the same songs every year with the occasional new number thrown in for good measure. Have a look at these 
