The Economy

Everyone is feeling the pinch.

From the bride and groom, to their parents, to many of the vendors, the economy is affecting everyone.

So what are some ways to still have a great wedding, but cut down on some of your costs? I have 5 ideas to get you started on trimming costs on your wedding.

1. Prioritize. Talk with your future spouse and decide what you both feel is very important. Is it flowers, the photographer, the cake? Establish what your priorities are- then take a look at what could be trimmed down or eliminated.

2. Look at your guest list. The largest cost for most weddings is at the reception. If you trim two or three tables from the guest list- that is less money on food, centerpieces, table cloths, drinks, etc.

3. Have a smaller bridal Party. If you have already called your friends to be in your wedding, it's probably a bit late for this. But if you have not put together your bridal party, consider lowering the number. This means less money at the rehearsal dinner, for bridal party gifts and you could downsize your mode of transportation from the ceremony to the reception.

4. Have your ceremony and reception at the same venue. You can save big on transportation and other costs by having your ceremony and reception at the same place. Not all reception halls can accommodate a ceremony- so be sure to look into this before you book your venue.

5. Look beyond Saturdays. Saturday is the most popular day for weddings- and many venues and vendors will give discounts for weddings that are not on a Saturday. You can also find discounts for booking a wedding during a non-peak month (November - April).

We have a lot more tips for planning your wedding on our Web site, http://www.idoido.org

Happy wedding planning!