Budgeting for an Affordable Wedding

Perspective
When all is said and done, what will you have to show for your wedding day? The rings, the bridal gown, the photo albums, and the videos. The bridal gown will probably be packed away, but you and everybody else will be looking at it in photographs for years.
The rings will be worn for the rest of your married life and the photos and videos will be shared untold times over the decades. Don't skimp on these items. Buy or rent a wedding gown that you like and that looks good on you. Get a professional photographer. Buy good quality rings that you like.

Set Up a Budget
A budget is absolutely essential in planning your wedding. Costs can easily spiral out of control, and if you don't document them, you may end up paying far more for your wedding than you planned.
Remember that what determines your costs more than anything is the number of guests you invite. Why not keep the list down to people you really care to share the biggest day of your life with?

One of the most overlooked costs, which can be significant, is tipping. Plan on tipping caterers, limo drivers, photographers, and others 15 to 20% of their total bill if their services are satisfactory.

Averages
The average bride spends approximately:
40% of her total wedding budget on the caterer (food, cake, and alcohol),
3% on the facilities for the reception,
8% on flowers,
10% on entertainment,
14% on clothing,
7% on a photographer,
4% on invitations and other printed supplies,
4% on gifts,
2% on transportation, and
8% on miscellaneous items.

Reduce Costs
Some of the biggest ways to save money are:
- Reduce the number of guests
- Have a buffet or hors d'oeuvres instead of a sit-down dinner
- Have a cash bar, or close the bar during dinner, or have an alcohol-free reception
- Consider an off-season wedding (November through April) to reduce costs for the reception site
- Consider having your wedding on any day other than Saturday to reduce costs for the reception site
- Have a smaller wedding party (number of attendants)


From http://financialplan.about.com/cs/singlesandmoney/a/WedAffordably.htm

Ceremony Music

Music has the power to set a mood, evoke emotion, and give a moment cohesiveness.

Many of the songs listed below can be used for processionals and recessionals, and/or serve as prelude music (when your guests are finding seats and waiting for the ceremony to begin) or postlude music (when your guests are exiting, and/or waiting in the receiving line). The instrumental music pieces are great for the prelude, processional and recessional parts of the wedding ceremony.

Traditional Wedding Ceremony Music

• "Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin" (Richard Wagner) (also known as "Here Comes the Bride")
• "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel
• "Guitar Concerto in D Major", Largo, (Antonio Vivaldi)
• "Air" (from Water Music Suite), (George Frederic Handel)
• "The Prince of Denmark's March" (Trumpet Voluntary in D major) (Jeremiah Clarke)
• "Procession of Joy" (Hal Hopson)
• "Rigaudon" (Andre Campra)
• "Wedding March" (from The Marriage of Figaro), (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
• "Trumpet Tune and Air" (Henry Purcell)
• "Trumpet Voluntary" (John Stanley)
• Prelude from "Te Deum" (Marc-Antoine Charpentier)

Other Classical Wedding Ceremony Music

• "Coronation March for Czar Alexander III" (Peter I. Tchaikovsky)
• "Overture" (from Royal Fireworks Music), (George Frederic Handel)
• "Promenade" (from Pictures at an Exhibition), (Modest Mussorgsky)
• "Sinfonia" (from Cantata No. 156), (Johann Sebastian. Bach)
• "Cantata No.29" (Johann Sebastian Bach)
• "Prelude and Fugue in C" (Johann Sebastian Bach)
• "Toccata" (from L'Orfeo), (Claudio Monteverdi)
• "Romance from String Quartet" (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
• "Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major" ("Elvira Madigan") (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
• "Trumpet Tune in A-Major" (David N. Johnson)
• "A Midsummer Night's Dream, incidental music, Op. 61 Wedding March" (Felix Mendelssohn)
• "Winter," Largo or "Spring" Allegro (from The Four Seasons), (Antonio Vivaldi)

Contemporary Songs Appropriate for Wedding Ceremonies

• "At Last" (Etta James)
• "Only Time" (Enya)
• "Come Away With Me" (Norah Jones)
• "Appalachia Waltz" (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor)
• "Unforgettable" (Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole)
• "It's Only Time" (Magnetic Fields)
• "The Look of Love" (Dionne Warwick/Burt Bacharach)
• "The Vow" (Jeremy Lubbock)
• "Come What May" (Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor)
• "Storybook Love" from the movie "The Princess Bride" (Willy DeVille)
• "Wedding Processional" (from The Sound of Music) (Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein)
• "Can't help falling in love" (Elvis Presley)
• "What A Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong)
• "When I'm Sixty-Four" (The Beatles)

Instrumental Wedding Ceremony Music

• "Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin" ("Here Comes the Bride") by Richard Wagner.
• "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel
• "Guitar Concerto in D Major" (2nd Movement) by Antonio Vivaldi
• "Trumpet Tune and Air" by Henry Purcell
• "Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn
• "Promenade" (from "Pictures At An Art Exhibition") by Modest Mussorgsky
• "Cantata No. 156: Arioso" by Johann Sebastian Bach
• "Eine kleine Nachtmusik - Andante" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• "Piano Concerto No.21, KV 467 - Andante" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• "Spring" (from the Four Seasons) by Antonio Vivaldi
• "Sheep May Safely Graze" (Cantata No.208) by Johann Sebastian Bach
• "Clair de lune" by Claude Debussy
• "Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini" by Sergei Rachmaninoff
• "Morning" (from Peer Gynt) by Edvard Grieg
• "Laudate Dominum" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Go to www.amazon.com and do a quick search for any of these titles. Amazon has an MP3 excerpt for most songs, allowing you to get a sense of the music before you purchase it.

From http://weddings.about.com/od/yourweddingceremony/a/ceremonymusic.htm and http://musiced.about.com/od/lessonsandtips/a/weddingmusic.htm

Article: Planning An Impressive Wedding On A Shoestring Budget

This page can be found on the Alumbo! website at http://www.alumbo.com/article/38532.

Planning An Impressive Wedding On A Shoestring Budget
Is it really possible to plan a memorable wedding without breaking the bank? Absolutely! These guidelines will help make your wedding day a success.

A feature article by Deborah Collins, Nov 09, 2007

It was a day you’ll never forget. He dropped to one knee, presented you with a stunning engagement ring and you gleefully accepted with a resounding, “Yes!” The rush of adrenaline is relived each time you announce, “We’re getting married!” The excitement, however, can quickly diminish when the reality of wedding expenses hits home.

According to CostOfWedding.com, U. S. couples spend approximately $30,000 on their weddings. To make matters worse, that figure doesn’t include the honeymoon, engagement ring, bridal consultants or wedding planner. Is it really possible to plan a memorable wedding without breaking the bank? Absolutely! These guidelines will help make your wedding day a success - from the wedding favors to the dress - without blowing your budget.

Designer Dresses At Knock-Off Prices

One of the most important items in planning a wedding is choosing the right dress. You want a dress that looks breathtaking as you walk down the aisle. One that will leave a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. With designer gowns costing thousands of dollars, how do you find a dress that’s both breathtaking and affordable? One suggestion is to attend Filene’s “Running of the Brides.” This event began in 1947 and is held in major cities across the country. They offer famous designer wedding gowns that range in price from $249 to $699. These sales are a fantastic way to buy the dress of your dreams at a fraction of the cost.

Another possibility is to shop online for consignments. Many brides put their dresses up for sale after the ceremony. You can find gorgeous dresses that cost much less than you’d pay for them in a salon or department store. If you’re the sentimental type, your mother, aunt or sister would probably be thrilled to loan you their dress. You many even start a new family tradition.

Endless Options for Affordable Flowers

Popular flowers for bridal bouquets are roses, lilies and gardenias. While these flowers are indeed beautiful, they can also be quite expensive. Once again, check online when looking for flowers.

There are a number of companies that ship fresh flowers at much more reasonable rates than local florists. There are also packages that can be ordered which include the bridal bouquet, rose petals for the flower girl, bridesmaid’s flowers and boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen. If this is still out of range, try substituting carnations for roses. Carnations are dainty and frilly, come in a rainbow of colors, and cost about half the price of roses. Your florist can also offer an abundance of ideas that meet your budget.

Another popular option is silk flowers. Better-quality silk bouquets are hard to distinguish from the real thing and can cost as little as $20. Silk flowers never die, so they can be easily stored as keepsakes. Silk flowers also alleviate allergens that might annoy those in attendance.

An Impressive Reception On A Shoestring

Most couples allocate almost half the wedding budget to the reception. However, you can throw a fabulous reception without going overboard financially. Here are some smart strategies that can save big bucks without looking cheap.

Evening weddings are typically more formal and offer a reception with a sit down dinner. One cost-saving tip is to stay away from steak and lobster, and substitute chicken or pasta. Not only are these items less expensive, they are also healthier.

Alcohol is another significant expense. Instead of going for a full, open bar, try keeping it simple. Offer guests two or three impressive wines that go well with your meal. If the sit-down dinner strains your financial plans, try moving your wedding time to early afternoon. Receptions held at that time typically offer hors d’oeuvres instead of a meal, which can reduce your cost tremendously.

Memorable Wedding Favors

Who said distinctive wedding favors have to cost a fortune? There are countless options when it comes to finding personalized, unique wedding favors your guests will adore.

While personalized napkins and matches are reception mainstays, you might also want to add personalized votive candles, Hershey kisses, and chocolate bars. Guests always appreciate gourmet coffee and tea selections, as well as individual-sized honey jars that bear the names of you and your groom. These are creative ways to offer guests a memorable - albeit thrifty - keepsake of your special day.

Following these simple suggestions can help you relax and enjoy your wedding day while still keeping your budget in tact. And with all the money you save, you might just be able to extend your honeymoon!

Deborah Collins is Creative Consultant for FavorFavor.com specializing in creative, unique wedding favors for every budget. Visit them today at www.favorfavor.com to browse their huge selection of affordable wedding favors that will make your special day memorable. © 2007, All Rights Reserved

This page can be found on the Alumbo! website at http://www.alumbo.com/article/38532.

Wedding books to check out

Bridal Bargains:
Secrets To Throwing A Fantastic Wedding On A Realistic Budget
by Fields, Denise, 1964-, Fields, Alan, 1965- Boulder, CO: Windsor Peak Press, c2005.
395.22 FIE

The Wedding Gown Book:
How To Find The Gown That Perfectly Fits Your Body, Personality, Style, And Budget
by Shimer, Elizabeth Gloucester, Mass.: Quarry Books, c2004.
392.54 SHI

How To Have An Elegant Wedding For $5,000 Or Less:
Achieving Beautiful Simplicity Without Mortgaging Your Future
by Wilson, Jan, 1942-, Hickman, Beth Wilson Rocklin, CA: Prima Pub., c1999.
395.22 WIL

Faux Florals For Your Wedding:
Fifty Easy And Original Projects
by Beveridge, Ardith Chanhassen, Minn.: Creative Pub. International, c2005.
745.926 BEV

How To Plan An Elegant Wedding In 6 Months Or Less:
Achieving Your Dream Wedding When Time Is Of The Essence
by Naylor, Sharon Roseville, Calif.: Prima Home, c2000.
395.2 NAY

Plan A Great Wedding In Three Months Or Less
by Allen, Judy, 1952- Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks Casablanca, c2005.
395.22 ALL