By Georgina Clatworthy

Wedding flowers can form one of the significant costs of your wedding budget.  Along with the cost of the wedding photography and the wedding cake, wedding flowers one area that couples will look to stretch the budget and save some money.  Finding cheap wedding flowers is not difficult, but by applying some creative thinking and working with your florist you can have the arrangements you want, at a price you can afford.

Firstly you will need to find a good florist who can give you ideas for budget flowers and who can produce arrangements that fit with your wedding style and your budget.  Make sure you tell them everything you want, along with your personal choices of flower types and your wedding colors.  Be prepared to compromise, a tight budget can often mean having to sacrifice something along the way.

You may have favorite flowers that you want to include in your wedding arrangements.  This shouldn’t be a problem, but if you want out of season or exotic blooms don’t expect them to be cheap.  These types of flowers will need to be ordered in especially and usually from international growers, making them more expensive than in season and locally grown flowers.

Ask your florist about including your favorite flowers in your bouquet only and using alternatives for the other arrangements.  You could also mix your favorite flowers with other types which are cheaper so that you have continuity in your arrangements.  For instance, if you really want pink roses, mix them with pink carnations which are a cheap alternative.

Consider making your own table centerpieces and even buttonholes for your wedding.  Centerpieces don’t have to be floral, and a simple arrangement of floating candles and flower heads looks beautiful on a table.  Buttonholes are not difficult to create either and usually only consist of a flower head and single piece of foliage wrapped with florists tape or even tin foil!  Ask your florist to make the buttonholes for the groom and wedding party though as these are extra special.

To really save money on your flower arrangements have more foliage than flowers.  You can also consider using your ceremony flowers for the reception as well by having them transported to the reception venue.  Ask your venue if another wedding will be taking place there that day.  If so find out if it would be possible to use the same flower arrangements or to go halves on them. 

Finally negotiate a package deal with your florist to help you save money on your wedding flowers.  Many florists will agree to make the buttonholes for free if you order all your other wedding flowers with them, but push a little harder and see if you can get the bridesmaids bouquets free as well (if you are not having too many bridesmaids that is) or ask for free bouquets that you can give to your mother and the grooms mother as wedding gifts.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding flowers will form an integral part of your wedding day, but they can also be one of the most expensive.  But sourcing cheap wedding flowers is not difficult, and if you apply a little creativity to your arrangements you can have beautiful flowers without the hefty price tag.

Traditionally, you would trot down to your local florists and work with them to design and order all your wedding flowers.  This will include everything for the ceremony, the bouquets, buttonholes, reception arrangements and table centerpieces.  A good florist will be able to advise you on the best flowers to suit your budget as well as ones which will coordinate best with your wedding scheme.

For cheap flowers think seasonal.  Ordering exotic or out of season flowers will be inherently more expensive than those which are blooming at the time of your wedding.  Sourcing them from local suppliers and growers will also be cheaper, as imported flowers can cost you more, particularly if the florist has to specially order them.

If you really want cheap flowers and are having a large wedding, then buy where the florists buy and visit a wholesale flower market.  You may have to arise early to get the best of the crop, but it will be well worth it in terms of your budget.  You can then supply these to a florist to make the arrangements for you or do them yourself.

Doing your own wedding flowers will obviously save you money.  If you are not good at flower arranging or have never done it before, then purchase a good book to help you.  Just be careful not to purchase your flowers too soon or they may well have wilted and died by the time the wedding day arrives.  No more than two days before should be fine.  Also think about how you will transport your arrangements to your venues.  Large displays can be tricky to delivery in one piece, so you may want to arrange to make them in situ with your venues.

If you visit local growers then ask about a discount for buying in bulk.  After all you won’t be buying a single bouquet, but a wealth of flowers for your entire wedding needs.  Another good source for cheap flowers can be supermarkets.  You maybe restricted to certain varieties however, most will stock the most popular flowers such as roses, stocks, carnations and babies breath.  Beware though as some supermarket flowers are not as good quality as those from a florist and may not last as long.

Finally, work with a florist to come up with a flower package which suits your budget.  You can ask them to make the more intricate arrangements such as bouquets and buttonholes.  Ask them to make larger arrangements for the venues by using only a few flowers and padding the rest out with foliage which will be cheaper.  Making your own table centers, pew ends and small arrangements is easy and adds a unique personal touch to your wedding décor.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Deciding on how you will decorate your wedding venues and what with can be one of the hardest decisions you will need to make.  Not only do you need to come up with decorations which will coordinate with your style, theme and colors but you also need to source them and at the right price.  However, cheap wedding decorations needn’t be too difficult with a little imagination and creativity.

Whilst making your own decorations may not initially appeal, it is the type of decorations you make that can change your mind.  Paper chains maybe something only produced at Christmas and perhaps a little kitsch for your liking, but when you add in other decorations such as paper lanterns, bunting and garlands then your decorations take on a different form altogether.

Cheap paper lanterns are available from many different stores and come in a range of sizes and colors to suit.  Chinese lanterns come in different patterns and are perfect for an Asian inspired wedding.  Hang them from your ceiling or marquee roof for a colorful, ‘floating orb’ effect.

Bunting is easy to make from card, paper or fabric.  Essentially you cut shapes from your material and attach them to a long length of ribbon or string.  Triangles are the most common shape, but you can also use squares, rectangles or circles.  Print pictures or your wedding monogram on to some of the shapes to create added interest.  Use fabric offcuts for a cheap but chic look to your wedding day!

Make your own garlands with silk, paper or dried flowers.  This is time consuming but worth the effort because floral garlands are perfect for many different types of wedding theme such as floral, romantic, Victorian and garden weddings.  There are two ways to make them and much can depend on the type of flower your want to use.  You can thread them directly onto string or wire by pushing a large needle through the center of each flower.  This creates a garland with a Hawaiian Lei look but is perhaps not good for dried flowers which may break.

Alternatively you can wire each individual flower onto a length of string or wire to create a more traditional garland look.  Try to add in some foliage as well and for added glitz use some large glass beads which will sparkle when they catch the light.

Create your own large banners which you can hang around your venue.  Find some large fabric pieces such as canvas or cotton and cut them so they measure the length you require – perhaps ¾ of the height of the walls for instance.  Choose a graphic design which coordinates with your wedding – you will find lots to choose from online, some free, some available for a small fee.  Finally take everything to a commercial printer and ask them to print your designs onto your banners for you in your chosen colors.

Attach some wood battening to the top and bottom so you can hang them and to weight them down so they don’t fly up whenever someone walks past.  You can also create smaller versions of these for an outdoor wedding and use them attached to metal shepherds crooks or hanging from trees or fencing.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Weddings are expensive even if you are having a small, low-key affair.  The reception, photography and flowers can all cost significant portions of your budget, so it is little wonder that many brides will seek out cheap wedding ideas to help them save money.

If you didn’t set realistic figures in your initial wedding budget then you will probably need to find cheap solutions to many elements of your wedding day.  Usually the elements that most brides look to save money on include wedding decorations, centerpieces and wedding favors.  Here are a few ideas on how to save money without compromising on style:

Double up – finding items which can serve a dual role will save you plenty of money, for instance, use your wedding favors as place cards by including your guests names on the thank you tags.  This will save you money on place cards and showy holders.

Another example of dual role items is using your wedding cake as favors by having cupcakes or mini cakes instead of a formal multi-tiered creation.  You can still display them as you would a traditional wedding cake or have them packaged in clear boxes and placed on each table setting.

Save money on your centerpieces by using your bridesmaid’s bouquets, if you have enough or use your wedding favors by piling them up in the center of your tables on a nice decorative plate or stand.

Make your own – if you are the creative type then you will already know that making your own stationery, favors and decorations will save you money.  There are many elements of a wedding that can be successfully handmade, even if you are not very creative.  Wedding stationery including place cards, menus and table numbers can all be printed from your home computer.  Make your own wedding favors, centerpieces, decorations and even wedding cake.  Ask family and friends to help you and you will be surprised at just how much you can save with a little DIY.

Beg, borrow and steal – if you have friends or family who are creative or who possess a particular skill which is useful to your wedding, then beg them to help you out.  Perhaps you know someone who is a DJ or who is a keen photographer and who will be willing to give you a cheap rate.  Or maybe your Aunt is particularly good at making cakes or your mother is ace at arranging flowers. 

A top wedding trend at the moment is mix and match accessories and decorations.  Borrow pretty plates, bowls and vases for your centerpieces, or how about table linens, napkins and even crockery and glasswares.  Have a look around garage sales, thrift shops and online auctions for some bargain vintage wares which you could use too.

Prioritize – I have saved this till last, but it is an important point.  Learn to prioritize your budget and the elements of your wedding which are the most important.  Spending a small fortune on pretty table crystals at the expense of your wedding cake may not seem like such a good idea on the day when you realize the only person who appreciates them is you!  Ask yourself if you really need something and if it will make such a difference to your wedding day that you have to have it.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Although we wouldn’t like to admit it, sometimes we just cannot afford to have everything we want! And in these difficult economic times, couples everywhere busy with their wedding planning are having to scale back their ideas.  Having a cheap wedding reception is usually top of the list as this party is the most expensive part of any wedding.

But how can you create a cheap reception without compromising on your own dreams and one the level of hospitality you give your guests?  What is comes down to is being creative, shopping around and learning the fine art of negotiation!

Firstly you will need to find your reception venue and a package you can afford.  Having set a realistic sum within your wedding budget for the venue itself you need to set about arranging appointments at various locations.  One way in which you can save yourself a fortune on venue hire is to have your wedding reception at home in your garden or that of your parents.

If you, your parents or someone you know has enough space to erect a marquee, or if you trust the weather, to simply have the entire party outdoors, then ask them if you can hold your wedding reception there.  Two things though – they may not want hundreds of people using the facilities of there home, so you will need to arrange bathroom facilities on site.  Also consider your catering – how will you make and heat all the food needed to feed everyone?  More on that later.

A marquee is a cheap solution to hiring a bricks and mortar venue, but you can think outside of the box and look for other unusual venues such as barns, halls, and municipal buildings, all of which will cost you less than hiring formal function rooms at hotels or country clubs.

Catering a wedding reception can be very expensive. However, if you have your wedding late on in the day you need only pay out for food once and supply one meal for all your daytime and evening guests.  Consider a buffet which is often much cheaper to lay on than a formal sit down three course dinner.  Or go for classy sophistication and have a later afternoon cocktail party with simple canapés and champagne.  You could also cater the reception yourself or ask your guests to each bring along a dish for a buffet.  Coordinate it so you don’t get two or more of any dish and so you get enough food to go around – you could be surprised at what turns up!

You will need tables and chairs, glassware, crockery and cutlery, as well as table linens and napkins.  If you are having a marquee then you will probably get all of this within the package.  Some catering companies will add in crockery, cutlery, glassware and table linens into their packages and most venues will have all of this in place too.  Your other option is to find a hire company and negotiate a price for hiring everything.  A props firm is a good idea as you can also get your room and table decorations from them too.

Save money by making your own reception centerpieces.  A tall pillar candle in a glass vase with some pebbles in the bottom, is a simple and inexpensive centerpiece. Or beg, borrow or steal some decorative vases, dishes, bowls or plates to use.  Use garden flowers or even your wedding favors as centerpiece decorations.  Have mini cakes or cupcakes instead of a formal wedding cake and hand these out as wedding favors too.

Finally, save money on your drinks bill by using sparkling wine or Cava instead of champagne for the toasts and have a pay bar in the evening.  You could even dispense with the champagne altogether and simple have everyone’s glasses refilled with whatever drink they prefer for the toasts.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding dress will be one of the most important (and expensive) outfits you will ever buy and for many brides, what they like and what they can afford can often lead to disappointment.  But there are ways to find cheap wedding dresses that meet all your dreams and expectations but which won’t break the bank!

For some the mere mention of cheap wedding dresses fills them with sheer horror.  It conjures images of cheap polyester gowns which pass themselves off as satin, adorned with hideous cheap laces and which would need so many alterations to make them fit perfectly you would be better off making your own.  But this is not the case, and sure whilst these cheap dresses are on the market and readily available, there are ways in which you can obtain designer and couture wedding dresses within your budget.

The first way is to find sample sales.  These maybe through the manufacturers, the designers or bridal outlets.  Generally they will take place at the end of each season when the new collections come out and retailers need to make room for the new samples coming in. 

A sample dress is merely a dress which has spent its life in the store being tried on by many a bride to be looking for ‘the one’.  They will not differ from the version which is ordered from the manufacturer when a bride decides this is the dress for her.  However, being a shop sample there is the possibility of some soiling, possible tears or other damage and generally samples will only be stocked in two or three popular sizes, often small ones!

So be prepared for a dress which may need some repairs, will almost certainly need specialist cleaning and may need alterations as well.  The price though will be considerably lower than the retail markup, with some sample sales seeing dresses marked down by as much as 70%.  With savings like that you will still have money to spare even after cleaning and alterations.

Check out your local classifieds and websites like EBay for pre-owned, once worn or even never worn wedding dresses.  Here you do perhaps take a risk in purchasing a dress in this manner.  You may not be able to see the dress before purchase, let alone try it on and you will need to rely on the measurements given in the advert as being correct. If looking at wedding dresses in your local press then try to go and see them first before committing to buy.  If buying through EBay look for reputable sellers with around 100% feedback rating, also pay through Paypal as they will safeguard purchases and can refund your money should something go wrong.

Good quality and designer cheap wedding dresses do exist if you know where to look.  But you need to be prepared to make some compromises, give yourself plenty of time and be able to make a decision on the spot as you will not be able to come back a second time to try it on!

By Georgina Clatworthy

I am not a fan of the word cheap, I much prefer to use the words ‘budget’ or ‘inexpensive’ but whatever the term used many brides are looking for a cheap wedding these days.

The economic downturn has led many of us to tighten our belts, whether we are getting married, but for those couples who are about to begin their wedding planning, making every cent go as far as it can is now more important than ever.  The wedding industry has responded in part and as travel companies have been one of the hardest hit finding a cheap honeymoon has never been easier.

But if you are looking to cut your costs then here are a few ideas to help you with your wedding planning:

Consider the time of year when you want to get married.  The high season for weddings is traditionally May through to September, so naturally booking a wedding during these months will cost you more than one booked in April or October.  Winter weddings have become quite fashionable but avoid the busy holiday season when hotels and venues will be booked to the rafters for various festive events.

Consider the day of the week when you want to get married.  Saturdays are the most popular day for obvious reasons, but they are also the most expensive and you are unlikely to get your first date choice unless you book very, very early.  Fridays are fast becoming the next choice day and are also becoming more expensive.  Try for a midweek day instead which will be significantly cheaper.

Trim down the guest list.  Remember more heads more money!  Intimate weddings are the hot trend for this year, so trim down the guest list to those family and friends who are most important to you.  This will also reduce your venue costs – because you won’t need to hire such a big reception room; it will cut down your catering costs – because there are less mouths to feed; and it will reduce your beverage costs.

Check out your options on the catering front.  Sometimes a buffet can be cheaper than a formal 3 course meal, but make sure this is case as it can vary from venue to venue.  If you are having a small, intimate wedding then a buffet may be too much food for the number of guests and much could be wasted, whereas for a large wedding a buffet could be the most cost effective solution.  A 3 course meal will also need more catering staff to serve it and more chinaware, glasses and cutlery too.  All of which will add extra to the price.

Buy your beverages from a wine merchant.  Some venues may require you to buy your champagne and wine etc from them, others will be happy for you to supply your own.  In the case of the latter the venue will probably charge you a corkage fee to open the bottles, so make sure you find this out first.  You can also cut down on your beverage cost by supplying enough champagne for two glasses per guests, and enough wine to serve each guest throughout the meal.  Then have a pay bar for the rest of the reception, which means guests will then have to pay for their own drinks.

Having a cheap wedding doesn’t mean having to skimp on the things you want; it simply means cutting back on size and quantities.  With every vendor you meet with ask about cost saving alternatives, particularly for things like flowers and your wedding cake, a good tip is to make them aware from the outset what your budget is and make sure they work within it.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

For some brides the mere thought of buying cheap wedding dresses is inconceivable, but there are a growing number of budget brides, particularly in these difficult economic times.

Typically most brides will fall into one of two categories – the bride for whom money should not be a barrier to what she wants and the barganista bride who will hunt high and low for the cheap prices on everything for her wedding!  But there is a way you can have the best of both, if you know where to look.

Your wedding dress will be one of the most important and expensive dresses you will ever buy, whether it is cheap or not.  Many brides will already know exactly the kind of wedding dress they want, whilst others will spend hours and hours searching for the perfect dress.  Even if money isn’t a problem, it always pays to research the market and get the best price possible.  If you are searching for a cheap wedding dress then here are a few ways to get a fabulous dress at a bargain price.

Whilst I wouldn’t recommend buying your wedding dress from an internet store, it does remain one of the cheapest places to buy wedding dresses.  Sites like EBay can offer stunning, designer dresses at bargain prices, but you need to be a little web savvy before making a purchase.

Whenever you buy something from the internet you should check that they offer secure payment facilities which will prevent your payment details such as credit card numbers and bank details being shared with others without your authorization.  Payment portals like Paypal offer a buyer protection program and will refund monies on purchases which are not as described or are unsuitable.

Ebay has both business sellers and private sellers.  Many private sellers will be unwilling to accept returns and issue refunds on items sold, meaning you could be stuck with a dress that you don’t want.  It is however, a good place to find designer wedding dresses which are either secondhand (worn once) or never worn.  Other internet sites may sell dresses from various dress manufacturers although the major labels usually don’t like to sell their designs through online stores.

Sample sales are often held at the end of the season through bridal stores.  Samples are the dresses that the store displays and which you would try on before ordering a new version of the design you liked.  These samples can often run in small to average sizes, unless the store specializes in larger dress sizes, they may also have some faults, damage and marks.  That said they are often sold at about a third of the normal retail price, so with the additional costs of cleaning and any repairs you would still be saving money.

Sample sales are also held by designers either at their own outlets or via an event held elsewhere.  Often these types of sample sales will last one day or maybe a weekend so you will need to make sure you are available to attend. 

Sample sales will often come with the proviso that all sales are final and there will be no refunds should you change your mind.  However, they are still the most popular way of getting a designer wedding dress at a bargain price.

Finally, instead of buying your wedding dress consider hiring it.  Hiring your wedding dress will often cost you around a third of the price of buying it.  However, you may be limited to the type of dress you can hire and often there will be no alterations made to ensure it fits, so you will be confined to a dress which offers the best to perfect fit for you.  You will also need to pay for it to be cleaned after the wedding, although sometimes this cost is included in the hire price as the bridal store will arrange cleaning themselves.

By Georgina Clatworthy

With budgets tight for many couples at the moment, many brides are looking for cheap wedding favors and inexpensive wedding favor ideas for their special day.

If you are having a large wedding, with say, more than 200 guests, the cost of your wedding favors can quickly mount up.  Many brides fail to include the cost of packaging, decorations, tags and labels, as well as shipping costs and taxes which may be applicable.

But there are a number of inexpensive wedding favors available to you and with a little creative thinking and some savvy shopping you can come up with perfect favors for your wedding on the cheap!

Firstly you need to set a budget.  You should have included a figure for your wedding favors in your original wedding budget which you did at the start of your planning.  Now is the time to go back to figure and work out if it is still realistic and more importantly if you can still afford it!

Putting together cheap wedding favors for $1 each is not impossible but will require some creative input from yourself and possibly some compromise.

When it comes to shopping for your wedding favors there are a number of places to look.  Start online with the favor stores.  Many compete with each other on price and will hold pretty much the same stock so you should be able to easily compare prices.  Where they can differ is on the offers and discounts they have.  Some will offer discounts on the total price over a certain amount (usually $150) whilst others will offer free shipping over a certain amount and others will run regular discounts or offers throughout the year.

Even if you are certain you would not be able to afford these stores they are great places for wedding favor ideas and can give you lots of inspiration.  Many will also have a section for discount wedding favors or closeout stock which is always worth keeping an eye on as you can get some great bargains here.

Next you should look for wholesalers, not just those who specialize in wedding favors but also those who provide wholesale food items as edible favors are one of the cheapest and most popular favors around.  Food wholesalers can offer you great prices on bulk purchases of candies or chocolates for instance, allowing you to easily create favors with a selection of treats inside for relatively little expense.

Supermarkets are also great places to look for wedding favors.  A packet of gourmet coffee from the supermarket will cost you just a few dollars but you can split it into many favors for a fraction of the cost of the sachets offered by specialist favor stores.

Other wedding favor ideas which can be found in supermarkets include candles such as votives or tea lights, chocolates, candies and plain cupcakes which you could decorate yourself at home.

In terms of packaging you can find good deals on wholesale favor boxes online, check out sites like Ebay for bulk quantities of boxes, voile bags and decorative items like ribbons and embellishments like flowers and stickers.