Plan A Wedding That Doesn't Break The Bank

If you are concerned about your upcoming nuptials being too expensive, you should be. The average American wedding costs more than $25,000, which is easily as much as a down payment for a house in some areas of the country. If you really want to keep your wedding within a reasonable budget, here are a few ways to cut costs.

Consider renting your dress and your bridesmaids dresses. This can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in costs, and you don't have to worry about cleaning and storage of the dress. It might seem less sentimental, but the chances of your daughter really wanting to wear the dress are pretty small. Most cities have shops that specialize in renting dresses in all sizes.

Combining the wedding reception and ceremony into one central location can save money, as well. You can hold both events in one locale by renting an inexpensive clubhouse in a local community, perhaps even your own. You can also host a wedding at home, using the beauty of your own backyard to enhance the occasion. Either way, select a spot that is expensive but still expresses a beautiful setting. Most communities have plenty of inexpensive areas that are appropriate.

You can rent tables and chairs for the reception, as well as renting a lattice arch for the actual ceremony. Set the chairs up for the ceremony, and then have family move the chairs over to the tables for the reception. Renting chairs, tables and an arch can cost just a few hundred dollars. Using family to decorate and set up tables can be another way to lower the costs. Use disposable plates, glasses and cutlery instead of renting glassware. There are plenty of high-quality disposable items that look lovely, but are inexpensive and practical.

The reception's main cost is often the alcohol that is served. Limit the alcohol to just one type of wine, one glass of champagne and beer to cut costs. You can also opt to host an alcohol-free reception, which is a highly frugal choice. For the food, consider setting up a buffet with a couple of pasta dishes and salad, instead of a lavish buffet or sit-down catered dinner. For the cake, shy away from pricey wedding bakeries and check out the offerings at the local supermarket. You might be surprised by the high quality and lower cost.

No wedding would truly be complete without flowers, so while you can opt for a modest amount of flowers, it is best to at least include a few arrangements. Instead of hiring a wedding florist, go online to your favorite internet flower shop and select a few arrangements and bouquets yourself.

What you will really need, as far as the flowers are concerned, are small arrangements for each table at the reception and bouquets and boutonnieres for the bride, groom and attendants. Keep the bouquets small and simply or opt for a single flower for each bridesmaid to hold and a single rose for the groomsmen. You can even tuck a few silk flowers here and there to save a bit on the overall floral costs.

Another consideration should be the date you choose for your wedding. June weddings and Saturday weddings are the most popular days and dates. So consider an off-season wedding on a Friday or Sunday. Renting halls will be cheaper, and usually the cost of rental items and even catering will be less during a slower day or time of year.