A great tip that very few take advantage of is using decorations from the event that just happened before theirs. Often times we go into a hotel where a wedding has just taken place and have to pop their balloons just to have new balloons put up. If the brides had spoke to one another they could have shared budget and with just a few fixes of popped balloons had more decorations that originally planned.
Or we have rental centerpieces that we set up for the brides. Why would you purchase 30 mirrors, bowls, candles and the biggest expense PLACE THEM ON THE TABLE 2 HOURS before the wedding when you can hire us to come in an place the rental centerpieces for a fraction of the cost.
Donna A. Bankhead is the author of Last Minute Weddings, plus the book Cater Your Own Wedding Career Press Email
Keep a notebook in your purse with a list of everything you’ll need for decorations and favors. Write down all the details including sizes, colors, and quantities, and annotate when you’ve purchased something. When you find a killer sale on something on your list, you can scoop it up on the spot instead of having to go home to see what you need.
Make your local dollar stores a regular stop on your shopping route. They often have items like tea lights, glass votive holders, and little frames that you can use for decorations and favors—and you won’t pay full price for them. Since merchandise cycles through these stores quickly, buy as many of the items as you’ll need because you may not find them again the next time you go.
Watch for end-of-season or post-holiday sales to get great bargains. If you're planning to use lots of white twinkle lights or spools of metallic ribbon, for example, scoop them up at after-Christmas sales. Seasonal items--such as autumn-scented (spice, pumpkin, etc.) votive candles or spring-colored silk flowers--can be had for a fraction of the original price as stores clear out shelves to make room for the next season's merchandise. And post-Valentine's Day sales can offer all kinds of heart motif items you may be able to incorporate into your decorating scheme.
As you cruise the store aisles looking for potential decorating items, pay attention to the different seasonal candies that are available--and on sale--after holidays. Many kinds come in colors that may match with your wedding colors. For example, if your wedding is in April or May and you're using pastel colors, look for Easter-colored M&Ms or Hershey Kisses wrapped in pink, green, and blue foil. Bundle a few in a circle of tulle, tie with a matching pastel ribbon, and you've got an inexpensive wedding favor to give your guests. A word of caution: Be careful about buying chocolates too far in advance, especially if you have a hot summer to go through before your wedding. If the chocolate melts and then hardens again, it'll look and taste chalky.
My Number One tip to brides trying to save money on a wedding is: If you book with a hotel or event facility, use the vendor referrals given to you by the facility. These vendors probably get alot of referrals from the facility and as a result are willing to charge less to brides. For example, our "in house" DJ...gets alot of work from us and, as a result, works here for $125 an hour, is outstanding, knows the facility well, and is much cheaper than other DJ's we have used when he was unavailable. Our florists know our facility and can save a bride money by not recreating the wheel, they don't have to come out to view our garden and reception room, they know what works and what doesn't. Hope this is useful, Jan LeRoy, Ryde Hotel
My florist will not like this, but for the bride who is looking to cut cost on centerpieces should consider shopping at discount stores for vases and other table decorations. Brides who are lucky enough to have talented friends can have them decorated the tables prior to the reception. Savings here can be significant.
Have crafty and talented family and friends help design center pieces and bridesmade flowers as well as wreaths for flower girl heads and their baskets.
*If you are getting married in a church, try to find out if there are other weddings on your day. Get in touch with the other brides and see if you can share decorative florals in the church. It is easy to decorate in whites, so that the flowers will work with everyone.
* At the reception, plan on a centerpiece that looks like your bridesmaids bouquets. Depending on how many bridesmaids you have, just add a vase and you may save money on many centerpieces.
* Make edible centerpieces for your reception. Food can be beautiful. On each table you can have a lovely fruit and cheese platter or even dessert cakes.
* On the head table, have your florist put a little greenery on it and add the bridesmaids bouquets for fabulous frontage.
* Have an friend deputized to be Comissioner of Marriages for your wedding day. A minister or judge will be hundreds of dollars, while a personal friend's deputization runs about $50.
* Don't buy an expensive guestbook, instead get some pretty paper, make pack of 3 sheets, punch a hole in the corner and tie with ribbon. Journaling pages can be put on the reception tables with a small note asking your guests to share their thoughts, dreams and advise with the newlyweds.
* Have a morning ceremony with a fabulous brunch. The food tends to cost less and the alcohol consumption is typically minimal
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* For an outsdoor summer wedding offer ice water and punch as guests enter the reception. Typically guests are parched, but quenching the initial thirst will help your bar bill.
* Plan on having a special moment to see eachother before the ceremony and then take your photos. Your make-up and hair will be fresh and you can possibly skip appetisers by serving the meal within a half hour of the end of the ceremony.
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