I came across a blog post called “Power of Purchases” at 59 Seconds that got me thinking about creating a wedding people will always remember. Here’s what he has to say:

Psychologists Leaf Van Boven and Thomas Gilovich examined whether increased happiness is associated more with spending your money on goods (that latest dress or impressive new smartphone) or an experience (going out for a meal, buying a ticket for a concert, or booking a vacation). The results clearly indicated that buying experiences made people feel better than buying products. Why? Goods tend to lose their appeal by becoming worn-out and out of date. In contrast, our memory of experiences easily becomes distorted over time (you edit out the terrible trip on the airplane and just remember those blissful moments relaxing on the beach), and also promote one of the most effective happiness-inducing behaviors – spending time with others.

59 Seconds tip: Buy experiences not goods. Go to a concert, movie, unusual place or strange restaurant: Anything that provides an opportunity to do things with others or tell people about it afterwards.

The way I’m applying this to wedding planning is as follows: You have a budget and you want to make every penny count.  Instead of spending it exclusively on THINGS (not that I’m knocking dresses and flowers and good wine) you can spend it on creating an EXPERIENCE for yourselves and your guests. It doesn’t need to be super expensive or exotic, like a cruise or skydiving or a ceremony in a medieval castle… just something creative that your guests will enjoy.

For example… which wedding memory sounds more fun:

“That was the best roast chicken I ever tasted!” OR “Remember when we ate Indian food with our hands at Ally’s wedding?”

“Rick’s wedding DJ was great, I sure danced up a storm.” OR “I never laughed so hard watching Great-Aunt Lea Salsa dancing! It was the first time I’d ever Salsa danced too, actually.”

“Barbara was such a lovely bride. She really glowed.” OR “A masquerade wedding… what a brilliant idea! The bride made a breathtaking masked lady.”

OK. You get the idea. Buy experiences, not goods. I like it! Please leave a comment below if you’ve got any great wedding memories that illustrate this concept!

skydiving photo from scribbler

Can you tell the Difference?

Can you tell the difference between the affordable and deluxe bouquets? Head on over to Brides.com to test yourself!  They’ll also give you some good tips on what affordable flowers you can use to replace similar, but more expensive, blooms.

For example, mass-produced spray roses ($.99/stem) instead of big garden roses ($4-$8/stem), dendrobium orchids instead of cymbidiums, anemones and tulips instead of fancy orchids and clematis. And to further cut costs, use more greenery to fill out the bouquet.

]]> http://www.bride.net/2010/bridal-bouquets-the-look-you-love-for-less/feed/ 0 http://www.bride.net/2010/making-love-last-advice-from-grandma/ http://www.bride.net/2010/making-love-last-advice-from-grandma/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:47:51 +0000 dena http://www.bride.net/?p=1344 We tend to get so caught up in the merchandising of Valentine’s Day that we forget what the holiday is really about: Love. When Erin Bried was interviewing grandmothers for her book, How to Sew a Button (and Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew), she asked each one for their secret to making love last, decade after decade.

Watch this video to hear the advice of these wise women, each happily married for over 50 years!

And if you’re looking for more every-day wisdom, you should check out her book, How to Sew a Button. Practical and empowering, this book is a collection of the treasured wisdom from nanas, bubbies, and grandmas from all across the country—as well as modern-day experts. You will access more than one hundred step-by-step essential tips for cooking, cleaning, and entertaining.

Each of these grandmas survived The Great Depression, and their stories on making due, helping others, finding fun, and even falling in love are the basis for How to Sew a Button.  They can teach you how to make life much simpler, sweeter, and richer—and a lot more fun, too! And, as your grandmother might say, if you want to save money, it pays to learn how to do things yourself!

Save on Alcohol

• Instead of providing a full bar, serve a signature drink, such as punch or a favorite cocktail, instead of providing a full bar.  Another option is to limit alcoholic beverages to wine and beer, choices that will satisfy most of your guests.

• Rather than pouring Champagne all night long, serve just a single glass to each guest at the appropriate time to toast the bride and groom.

• Technically, Champagne is sparkling wine that’s from the Champagne region of France. But you can find plenty of substitutions that don’t come with the high price tag.  For example, Cava, the Spanish take on Champagne, or Prosecco, from Italy, which is smoother, sweeter, and a better fit for a small budget. Even French sparkling wine is cheaper; it’s made the same way but isn’t actually from Champagne.

• Buy your own wine wholesale. You may pay your caterer a corkage fee to pour it, but wine purchased through him can cost twice as much.

• Most merchants offer a 10 percent discount for buying wine by the case, and they’ll often increase that if you purchase several cases at once.

Save on your Wedding Cake

• Hire an outside baker to provide the wedding cake, if your caterer’s contract permits. You may have to pay a cake-cutting charge, but you will likely pay less overall.

• Want a tall cake but don’t want to pay full price? Have your baker make just enough to serve each guest one slice.  Additional tiers can be made of Styrofoam and iced to match the others.  No one will know!

• Alternatively, you can order two cakes for the reception: a small fancy one to be used for display, and a large sheet cake, which does not need to be elaborately decorated.   The bigger cake gets sliced and dished up in the kitchen.

• Or, order a very plain (and moderately priced) cake, and make the focal point the cake topper. Vintage toppers and classic symbols can make a cake memorable.

• You don’t need a whole separate dessert course. Just present the wedding cake as dessert, with coffee and tea, to end the meal.

Save on Ingredients

• Have your caterer use local fruits and vegetables that are in season. They’re tastier, fresher, and more economical!

• Use expensive ingredients, such as lobster, in hors d’oeuvres rather than in a main course.

• How you serve dinner affects the price. Regular plate service and French service, in which guests are served by waiters from a platter at the table, are the most expensive. Family style, where diners help themselves from serving dishes brought to the table, is more economical.

Save on Flowers

• Many popular bridal flowers are available year-round, but some traditional ones — peonies and lilies of the valley, for example — can be expensive out of season. Consult with your florist about what flowers are in season and easy to obtain.

• Mix berries, pine cones (for winter), and other economical non-floral embellishments  to fill out bouquets and displays.

• You don’t need to deck every pew with flowers. Get the most bloom for your buck by asking your florist to design two lush altarpieces, which will direct everyone’s eyes exactly where you want them to be: on you and your groom.

• Make floral arrangements do double duty: If designed properly, your ceremony flowers can serve as centerpieces at the reception, or decorate the guest-book, seating-card, and favor tables. Place bridesmaids’ bouquets on the cake table.

Saving on Centerpieces

• Floating flowers: Instead of decorating tables with large arrangements, float a few flowers in shallow bowls or glass cylinders filled halfway with water.

• Economical flowers: Floral standbys like daisies and carnations are available year-round, are quite affordable, and when arranged en masse make delightful centerpieces and bouquets.

• Flowering bulbs: Flowers like amaryllis, narcissus, and hyacinth often cost less than regular flowers and are dramatic rising from a layer of stones set in clear containers.

• Fruits: Bowls or compotes filled with seasonal fruits from a farmer’s market can take the place of expensive floral presentations.

• Candles: A single pillar candle in a hurricane lantern is a wonderful centerpiece, as is a casual display of votive candles in the middle of a table.

• Vases: You’ll save money if your florist doesn’t have to supply vases for your centerpieces. if you have a collection of containers, such as jelly jars or milk jugs. Filled with flowers, just about any type of vessel will make pretty displays.

Save on Favors

• Use favors as place cards to save a bit on stationery costs. For seating cards, write guests’ names and table numbers on strips of paper, affix them to the favors, and set in order on a table near the entrance. For place cards, put favors with names attached at guests’ places.

• Handmade favors (especially edible ones like cookies or candies) and decorations are appealing and usually cost less than store-bought.

Save on the Season

• A winter date may come with lower fees, rather than scheduling in the summer, when rates are at their highest.

• Weddings scheduled during holidays or vacation times are more popular and therefor more expensive. To cut costs, plan your wedding during an uneventful season.

• Fridays and Sundays are generally less expensive than Saturdays for renting a venue.

• For a destination wedding, book a date that is not as popular for travel in the region.

Downsize

• Wedding Party: Try to keep the number of attendants as small as possible.  The larger the bridal party, the more you’ll spend on gifts and flowers.

• Transportation:  Use a personal car rather than a limousine to get to and from the reception.

• Wedding Highlights:  Hire a videographer to work just from the ceremony through the first dance rather than for the entire wedding.

• Photographer: There are many talented photographers who haven’t made a name for themselves yet, and their lack of fame can save you a fortune. If you fall hard for a photographer who’s in high demand, ask if she’ll refer you to a lower-priced colleague (just make sure you like his work before you commit).

• Location: If you are considering two locations, small towns are more economical than big cities! One bride moved her wedding from Brooklyn, New York to a beach town in Michigan, and watched catering quotes drop from $140 per head to $40 — a savings of $15,000!

• Guest List: To minimize the guest list, refrain from inviting children and coworkers. Include your friends’ significant others but not casual dates.

• Extras: A venue that comes with extras built in, like a wedding coordinator or an on-site ceremony location, means significant savings.

• Negotiate: Before signing a contract with your caterer, photographer, or florist, try to negotiate a lower yet still reasonable price.

• Celebrate in Public: The nicest wedding sites — parks, museums, public gardens — may be the most affordable.

• Music: For your reception, remember that a deejay can be less costly than a live band.  To avoid hiring two bands and paying two separate fees, ask if just a few pieces of the band can play during the ceremony and cocktail hour, as well as at the reception.

Save on Your Wedding Dress

• Look for a dress at sample sales, trunk shows, and outlets; you can sign up for some designers’ sample-sale listings online. Most wedding-dress designers allow you to sign up for news and updates.  Even if you dislike this type of spam, getting on their e-mail lists will keep you informed on time-sensitive info such as sample sales and trunk shows.

• Consider wearing your mother’s gown. The costs of cleaning and alterations will likely be far less than the cost of buying a new wedding dress.

Use your Friends

• Borrow accessories from family and friends instead of buying them.

• Ask talented friends or relatives to help with your wedding. An artistic friend, for instance, might design your stationery, or a baking enthusiast could make cupcakes or cookie favors.

Hope these tips are helpful! For the complete list, visit Martha Stewart Weddings: 65 Ways to Trim Your Budget.

Well Offbeat Bride has a great commentary on how to avoid being tacky when planning your wedding. Basically, um, don’t even try.  Because someone, somewhere, is bound to think something about your wedding is tacky:

People are worried their centerpieces will look tacky. People decree honeymoon registries tacky. There’s muttering over etiquette: “I want to do things this way … but is that tacky?” brides whisper in terror. Tacky: the dark evil that sneaks into your bedroom and eats your face at night.

I’m here to tell you that, YES: everything you want to do for your wedding is tacky. All of it. The red dress is tacky. The handmade paper flowers are tacky. Your custom-designed invitations? TACKY.

Because you see, “tacky” is in the eye of the beholder and there is always, always going to be someone who sees things differently than you. (Read the rest here!)

You’ve got to focus on pleasing yourself. As Offbeat Bride defines it, “tacky is the manifestation of your fears that people won’t approve of your wedding.”

Nevertheless, I’m going to go ahead and state that some things are pretty much universally agreed on as being tacky. That’s why there are websites out there like Tacky Weddings, where you can stare, horrified, at brides in thongs, bridesmaids in neon pink bras, wedding logo overload (“If you’re looking for wedding logos stamped all over everything like Chinese water torture thumped into your head over and over, you’ve come to the right place.”), sex on the beach cake toppers, and the ultimate slutty bridal gown.

Despite all this, Tacky Weddings does share the viewpoint that  “Your wedding is your day, do what you want, do what makes you happy and to hell with what anyone else thinks.   Be proud of your day, shout it from the mountaintops!!  What one person thinks is tacky another person may see as fun and innovative.   My opinion is no better (and no worse) than anyone else’s. It’s not the end all be all, me liking or not liking a perfect stranger’s wedding does not change a thing. The moral of this story?  Who cares what I think about your wedding Yanna, I am nobody.  Rock what you’re gonna rock, and flip everyone the bird.” (Who is Yanna? Check it out!)

But I’m going to go ahead and give you a few pointers on avoiding tacky, in light of what is generally considered to be tasteful and appropriate for a wedding. This is only my opinion, so feel free to add something in the comment section!

Wearing Slutty outfits: Even if it’s part of a theme–especially if it’s part of your theme… (Join us at our Stripper Extravaganza!) The bride and bridal party can be beautiful and sexy while still leaving something to the imagination. Skin-tight spandex, overflowing bosoms, bare midriffs… well, unless you plan to wed in a nightclub, it’s just not appropriate wedding attire.

Asking for Money. You gotta know your audience, but generally making people pay for their wedding meal or having a dollar dance (where guests are supposed to line up to dance with the bride and stuff money into her apron) should be avoided (unless, of course, this is some kind of family tradition?).

Playing Crude Music: Dedicating a song to the bride is sweet… but not when it’s “Crazy B—”.  Giving Grandma a heart attack over desert is not the best way to end off your big day. Getting blasted with “It’s Getting Hot in Here, So Take Off All Your Clothes” is a bit shocking too, especially when you’re in middle of a conversation with the Rebbetzin (that happened to me at a wedding.)

Being Pissed… and Showing it:  As much as you planned and prepared, something is bound to be less than perfect. You gotta be prepared to roll with the punches, not like one bride who was “cursing and complaining as she stomped around” lighting tea lights that the staff forgot to turn on.  I bet no one thought she looked particularly attractive. Remember, handsome is as handsome does.

1. Pay bills promptly. When a bill arrives for payment, you can do one of two things with it. You can pay it promptly or set it aside to be paid later. (yes, there’s a third option, not paying it at all—but let’s not go there.) The habit of pushing off bill-paying to the last minute is a habit that will lead to trouble, namely late charges, damaged credit and aggravation. The best way to function is by making your payments within twenty-four hours. The results are worthwhile: your business contacts will be more attentive, your phone will ring less insistently, and your days will become less frantic.

2. Don’t spend what you don’t have. Marketing trends in the USA are always evolving in sophistication. Their goal is to foist off tons of commercial junk on a gullible public. One of their favorite techniques is convincing a buyer that while he might not be able to afford it now, the future will be brighter and payments will be easier later… so swipe that card and don’t think about tomorrow. This disavowal of the future sells a lot of stuff, but gets many couples into serious trouble. It’s important you realize today’s expense may not be more easily paid tomorrow. If you don’t have it, don’t spend it.

3. Avoid paying interest. The root of many couples’ financial woes is the payment of interest. Whether the source of trouble is the purchase of furniture, a vacation, an auto loan, or the infamous credit card, the drain on family income never seems to end. Mr. Jacobs believes that, with the exception of a mortgage on sensibly-priced real estate, interest should never be paid. As was stated in the prior paragraph, don’t spend what you don’t possess.

4. Maintain a reserve. A slogan expressed frequently during the Great Depression was: When poverty walks through the door, love flies out the window. One way to forestall this problem is to set aside assets when times are good, so you’ll have something to fall back on when leans times come. Living hand-to-mouth is not the best way to sustain a successful marital relationship.

5. Make spending decisions together. Never forget that marriage is a partnership. Major financial decisions must be a joint effort. Although one of the partners may possess better money sense than the other, they both share the final outcome, and each deserves a say. If you can find a way to truly cooperate on important financial matters, you’ll find that the decisions are usually mutually satisfying. The alternative leads to resentment, certainly not a way to live life.

Read the whole article here at Hitched.

Here are 2 quick stories from May’s Elopement Wedding Bulletin:

Elope with Gusto
(Gusto who?? Just kidding…) Story #1: I have a friend who eloped to Spain, got married in a cathedral with an opera singer singing “Ave Maria.” How divine. Story #2: A co-worker threw a New Year’s Eve party, and when everyone showed up the couple revealed that it was their wedding. They shared their ceremony with the friends and family in attendance and then continued on with the party, bringing in the New Year with gusto.

An alternate approach to your wedding day honors your commitment to each other, creates a cherished memory and produces a fun story that reflects your creativity and romanticism. Eloping allows you all the freedom to craft a special wedding day, so take the time and create the wedding of your dreams!

Your wedding is a day, a marriage is forever. So celebrate your commitment to each other by doing something outside the norm! Plan something you’re always dreamed of doing, or let it become something spontaneous, romantic, and magical that will create cherished memories and a fun, uniquely-you story. And of course, you’ll be using your hard-earned money to put a down payment on your house or once-in-a-lifetime adventure, instead of a commercialized wedding.

Today’s elopements are no longer taboo affairs, they are happy surprises. And while elopements have traditionally been an exclusive affair, they don’t have to be. You can still have your father walk you down the aisle or your best friend witness your ceremony. The best part of eloping is that there are no rules!

Reasons to Elope

• Save money. The cost of running away for an intimate wedding and honeymoon typically costs tens of thousands dollars less than a traditional wedding.
• Save hassle: Avoid months of wedding planning, sticky family situations, and stuffy protocol.
• Save time: If you’re so in love you can’t wait another minute, running off will save you months of wedding planning
• Dislike attention: Not all brides and grooms want to be the center of attention!
• It’s so romantic: There’s just something sweet and old-fashioned about the idea of running off to City Hall to be married.
• Spontaneity and thrill: If you just want to do something different, this will get your family and friends’ attention in a major way!

Reasons Not to Elope

• Missing friends and family: You won’t be able to celebrating with many dear friends and family, who’s attendance you would otherwise want and enjoy.
• Hurt feelings: Mothers of the bride tend to be especially upset when they find out that they weren’t included in your wedding.
• Severing relationships: If you’re running off because your parents don’t approve of your fiance, this might ruin any chance to improve the relationship between your spouse and your family.
• Missed opportunity: Make sure you won’t regret the wedding you never had. While you might enjoy the trill of the moment, you don’t want to wish you’d done it differently later on. This does not mean you’ll be sorry you didn’t have a big party, but you might miss the opportunity to reconnect with friends and loved ones who live far away, but would come for a wedding.

About.com suggests that if you do decide to elope, be sure to not act too quickly. Consider carefully where you want to marry, and look into the marriage license laws. Many places don’t allow you to apply for a license and marry on the same day. This is partially why eloping to Las Vegas is so popular, as fast marriages are considerably easier there.

An elopement doesn’t have to be totally exclusive. Think about inviting a few guests. Some couples invite only their best man and maid of honor, others invite their parents or siblings. For a courthouse wedding, ask how many guests you are allowed to bring with you.  You might consider go out for a celebratory dinner afterward, or throw a reception for family and friends.

Wedding Dress Blog points out that “given that the average wedding these days will set you back about $20,000, you may be looking for ways to keep your special day from costing more than the down payment on your first condo. A little creative thinking can cut your wedding tab 25% to 50%. Think nontraditional. Think memorable. Think laser tag, as my colleague Robert Brokamp and his bride did for their nuptials…”

Wedding Dress Blog presents us with a few ways to save on your big day:

Timing is everything: Lovebirds pay a premium to tie the knot on a Saturday or in June. Pair the two and you’re facing a few extra Gs on the bill. Off months such as March and April are more affordable, as are morning weddings where expenses such as food, transportation, and hall rentals can be a lot cheaper.

Location, location, location: Modern Bride estimates that a wedding reception costing $4,000 in San Diego would cost $9,000 in Chicago and $15,000 in New York City. See? Even not-so-small towns have their charm. Wouldn’t your mom be thrilled if you got married in your childhood stomping grounds? Your guests will certainly appreciate cheaper lodging costs. Even if you live in a high-priced city, nontraditional places such as public parks and art galleries can cost less than rental halls and hotel ballrooms.

Bite your tongue: Anything that has the word “wedding” attached to it can instantly fetch a 25% premium (or more) over the generic version. When shopping for your cake, flowers, tablecloth, “ring pillow,” or dress, beeline away from any options preceded by the “w” word.

Put your pals to work: In lieu of another Crate & Barrel tchotchke, ask your talented friends for a gift that you could really use: their help. Perhaps you know someone who can perform music at the service (or change the CDs you and your sweetheart make yourself), take photographs, tend bar, or play videographer — all functions that will cost you $500-$900 to have someone else do. Chances are your best friend’s brother won’t charge a corking fee.

Trim the guest list: At $80 per person for food, wine, cake, napkins, and every one of your variable costs, this is the fastest way to save. Remember, this isn’t just some kegger that’s open to all of your office mates. It’s your wedding.

Just say “no”: Anti-etiquette bride and author of Fire Your Wedding Planner Stephi Stewart says that assertive brides and grooms need to learn to just say “no.” Party favors? Feh. Engraved napkins? Puh-leeze.

Dream of the future: Before you shampoo the rice and rose petals out of your hair, start planning your financial future — together. Saving for a house, college for future critters, paying cash for a vacation — these should all be things in the back of your mind before you write a check for your wedding gown.

Image from weddingscenter.com

What you need to do first is create a list, and put it in prioritized order.  This will lay the groundwork for every single decision you will have to make about your wedding.  Refer to this list to determine how your budget is structured and what shape your wedding will take.  If you concentrate on your top priorities, the rest of your wedding planning will fall into place.

This is what Big-Wedding-Tiny-Budget calls a Sane and Sweet Step in the Cheap Wedding Planning Process. It will keep you both Sane – (NO! DON’T JUMP!) – and you Sweet!

WEDDING PLANNING PRIORITIES:

(Don’t forget to let your fiancé pick one or two. OK – Just one)

• Number of Guests
• Location
• Ceremony Site
• Reception Site
• Season
• Time of Day
• Formal, Semi-formal, Informal
• Photography
• Videography
• The Dress
• Flowers
• Beverages: Full Bar versus partial or none
• Music
• Cake
• Food/Catering: Lunch, Brunch, Cocktails, Hors d’œuvres, Dinner, Desserts
• Other (you fill it in!)

Prioritize the list, and then highlight the top five. So far so good! You will now refer to your Wedding Budget Guideline and figure out how much money will be allowed for each priority. Although every wedding is different, below you will find the average percentages normally spent on each category.

• Ceremony – 2%  (Location Fee, Officiant, Accessorites/Lagniapp)
• Reception – 48%  (Location Fee, Rentals, Food, Wait Staff and Gratuity, Beverages, Bar Service and Gratuity, Cake and Cutting Fee)
• Bride’s Attire – 10% -(Wedding Dress, Veil, Shoes, Undergarment)
• Photography/Videography – 10%
• Music – 10%
• Flowers – 10%
• Invitations – 4%
• Lagniappe (Miscellaneous) – 6% – Transportation, valet, thank you stationary, etc.

Do some research online or using your phone book to get an idea of what things cost in your area. Then you’ll be able to realistically allocate your available money toward each category.

The great thing about your budget is that you can continually adjust  your money allocation as you save money along the way. To do this, take a look at big-wedding-tiny-budget‘s website for more money saving tips.  For example, let’s say your budget is $5,000 so you have allocated 10% ($500) on your dream wedding dress. Well as luck would have it, you found your dream dress at a sample sale for $200… Voila! Now you have $300 to allocate somewhere else in your budget.

Luckily, planning your big wedding on a tiny budget does not mean you have to sacrifice your taste and personal style. With some thoughtful planning and attention to saving money, you’re on your way to a gorgeous affair that with memories to last a lifetime!

See Wedding Planning Priorites: Part 2: Should it really be a priority?

Not to keep rubbing it in… but with the barrage of news stories like these, what can you expect!?

Although some may say weddings are “recession-proof” (we can hope!) these headlines seem to differ….

Wine-country weddings, recession style

Budget-minded brides seek out thrifty elegance

Brides make mad dash for discounted wedding dresses

Budget Brides: Planning a wedding during a recession

10 Ways to have a Frugal but Fabulous Wedding

So we know all about the recession, the layoffs, the foreclosures. What it all means for couples getting married is that shelling out tens of thousands for a one-day event probably isn’t the smartest investment. According to the Press Democrat, a recent study published in the Wedding Report, said the average spending on weddings fell by 24 percent in 2008, to about $22,000. “Everyone is looking to save a little,” said Santa Rosa caterer Rob Gronbach, who’s been doing local and “destination” weddings for 19 years. “There’s a lot of apprehension, a lot of foot-dragging.”

So now, brides and grooms are opting for a more basic wedding that leaves them with money for a down payment, a new car, or just to tuck away as a nest egg. Brides and grooms are shopping around for the best deals, cutting costs wherever they can, and trying to plan as far in advance as possible. Here are still more ideas on how to have a Frugal but Fabulous Wedding, from Boston.com.

1.What Matters the Most?

You may want to pick one or two things to make really special, rather than spread your money around and do everything minimally, advises Linda Matzkin, owner of Hopple Popple Inc. event planners in Newton. She suggests putting in order what matters most to you, such as food, music, flowers, keepsake album, and so on. Then you’ll know which vendors to splurge on and where to economize.

2. Say No to Third Cousins

Inviting every distant relative and co-worker is really what makes budgets balloon, according to Samantha Goldberg, a television personality and celebrity event designer in New Jersey. “Just include your nearest and dearest.”

3. Forgo that Saturday night June wedding

Avoiding Saturdays or considering off-season months can save bundles. A Friday night during peak periods or a weekend in January, February, or March can sometimes save almost 25 percent, says Daniel Briones, president of the National Association of Catering Executives. “And winter weddings,” he adds, “can be quite beautiful.”

4. Get Thee to a Wedding Planner

It may sound odd to economize by hiring someone to do things you could do yourself, but wedding planners save you more than just time. “You’ve never done this before. How do you know you’re getting the best value without an expert?” asks Briones, who’s also director of catering at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia. Wedding planners know vendors in every price range and can also spare you from making costly mistakes in contract negotiations. And couples on a small budget shouldn’t be intimidated about calling for an appointment, she adds. “Many companies like ours work on labor and consultation fees, not a percentage of the overall cost. We have no vested interest in how much someone spends,” she says. At the very least, she suggests buying Mindy Weiss’s The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day, published last spring, for tips on planning and economizing: “It’s the best I’ve read.”

5. Dine early, Dine for less

The timing of your meal can save you money!  “A meal during the day is less expensive than a dinner, and people consume less alcohol,” Briones explains. Consider a late Saturday afternoon lunch or a Sunday brunch.  Regarding buffets, it’s a mistake to think it will cost less than a served meal because it requires less staffing. Not only do buffets require more food to be displayed, but “people tend to serve themselves more than they’re possibly going to eat.”

6. Surprise me! Saving on centerpieces

Rather than picking the type of flowers, pick a talented florist who can design something spectacular with what’s readily available. Special orders are what drive up the prices of centerpieces and bouquets, while “stock” flowers — in-store your wedding week — tend to be quite reasonable. Or, Goldberg suggests, buy wide-diameter bark or pillar candles and sprinkle rose petals around them on the table. You get romantic lighting and a bargain centerpiece all in one.

7. Dim the lights

And speaking of mood lighting, Goldberg maintains it can totally transform any space inexpensively. “It re-creates everything and really impacts your photos.” Dimmed chandeliers, flickering candles, and amber-tinted bulbs can be directed on the table linens and guests’ faces to make the room positively glow, she says. “The venue can have the ugliest carpeting, and with the right lighting, no one will ever notice.”

8. Choose Rings With a Past

That gorgeous diamond you covet might be a bargain at an antiques store or estate sale. Another option: Visit the website IDoNowIDont.com, where people sell their new and vintage diamond rings (certified, and often with a fun history) with payments not processed until you’re satisfied. The site claims you can find rings up to half off their original price.

9. Go the Distance

Exchanging vows on an exotic island can actually lower your wedding budget. “First, the couple is already in their honeymoon destination,” says Susan Biemans, co-owner of the Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba, named last year as one of the top 10 romantic resorts in the world by TripAdvisors. Other reasons, according to Biemans: Resorts see weddings as a draw to fill hotel rooms, so they reduce catering and service fees; fewer guests are willing to travel, which cuts down your list; and when the backdrop is a sunset over the ocean, even a simple, inexpensive arch with flowing linens and a few flowers looks amazing.

10. Avoid an outrageous registry

Sure you can register for a pricey china pattern you otherwise couldn’t afford, but in this economy, how many will you actually receive? Take advantage of today’s mix-and-match trend, says Sheri Singer, registry manager at Bloomingdale’s. A basic white china pattern can be transformed when combined with an exquisite charger and salad plate. Or mix dramatic champagne flutes with less expensive glasses, made even more glamorous if all are tinted different colors.