The complete guide to planning an affordable wedding
Posted
Jun 12 2008, 08:11 PM
by
Karen Datko
Flying ants swarmed at Jill's rehearsal dinner, the nearby military range tested its big guns during the wedding, and then cousin Taylor fainted and hit his head on the house, requiring a trip to the hospital. Then, during the reception, the town's power went out.
What does this have to do with frugal wedding planning? Well, nothing, really (although Jill's post at Naturally Gluten Free does include some cost-cutting tips). But it's part of the fun reading in what we promise will be the last word on this subject. (OK, we're probably lying.) No fewer than 33 personal-finance bloggers and readers submitted entries to Pinyo's "Best wedding tips and stories giveaway" at Moolanomy.
Our readers clamor for more information about smart spending on weddings. We think you'll find it here. Some of the posts are short and to the point, and others are very detailed, like Pamela Munro's DIY wedding at home.
We'll mention a few that tickled our fancy. Reader "CarolBEE" said a wedding Web site is essential for posting everything from directions to the ceremony to embarrassing baby photos of your fiance. She writes: "When I was engaged to Don, I talked to his mother and got the cutest baby picture of him. He was dressed up in a Tarzan outfit." Very cute.
We like the perspective of "Mrs. Cents" at Our Comment Cents: The only things you really need are the license and someone to conduct the ceremony. "Total cost: less than $100 for a civil ceremony. Everything else is just gravy," she says. Another good tip: Be realistic about the guest list. You don't want to spend your reception talking to hundreds of people you don't know.
Reader Nancy saved money by having her wedding right after the Christmas service at her church. "FFB" at Free From Broke said he also saved money on the venue by picking an unconventional day -- in his case, Dec. 30, the day before New Year's Eve.
Beth Kimber recommends a Las Vegas wedding. She says, "I said I wouldn't do it, I said it was tacky, I said it was cut-rate. I was wrong ...."
Reader Kelly advised against buying supplies from the wedding section in the store. Kelly says, "If 'bridal' or 'wedding' is in the name of the product, they automatically raise the price."
