Counting Pennies

Wedding season is here and with it the realization that getting married is extremely  expensive. If you’re getting married this summer, you’re probably ready to go, but if the season is putting you in the mood to start planning, here are 7 tips (from the experts at WeddingSolutions.com) on how to save money and still enjoy the big day:

Identify what is important to you. Do you have your heart set in a specific dress? Are flowers very important? Do you want to use a well-known photographer? Prioritizing is the key to saving money when planning a wedding. Identify what things you HAVE TO HAVE and then plan the rest of your budget around them.

Hire a wedding consultant or wedding planner. This is a classic example of how spending money will save you money. A good wedding planner will work within the budget you give her, and will make sure everything you ask for is done without exceeding that money limit. Planners usually have connections to vendors and suppliers and can get a much better price than you would at retail.

Choose the right day. Getting married on a Saturday can be particularly expensive. “If you want to save money, Friday and Sunday mornings are the best days to get married,” says Alex A. Lluch, President of WeddingSolutions.com

Select flowers that are grown locally and are in season. Avoid white flowers, as they tend to be twice more expensive than other colors. Choose yellow or other pastel colors and stay away from “classical” wedding flowers such as gardenias and orchids, which are usually overpriced.

Don’t pay a small fortune for the dress. You can find great designs at discount stores such as J.Crew and Target. Or consider getting a vintage dress (doesn’t even have to be an actual wedding dress!) on eBay or a second-hand store and then have it tailored so it fits perfectly.

Negotiate with the photographer. Would he agree to give you a discount if you hire him for both the wedding and the reception? You could also negotiate for small extras, such as a free photo album, a second set of prints or a few large, poster-size photos.

WHERE NOT TO SAVE MONEY IN YOUR WEDDING BUDGET: The photographer and the DJ/Band. “People seldom remember what flowers are at the wedding, but the pictures last forever,” says Lluch.

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