Have you always dreamed of an elaborate wedding reception, but
have become content with a simple reception to save money and/or
time? Well, you shouldn't give up on your dreams. Your wedding
is a special day and you don't want to have to look back wishing
you had done things differently. It is in your best interest to
create the wedding that will be most memorable and happy for
you. Despite widespread notions, having a celebrity-style
wedding reception doesn't have to mean cleaning out your bank
account. By using some unconventional resources you can have the
wedding reception to rival those of celebrities, but without the
high cost.
Get Organized Before you can actually start putting your
celebrity-style wedding reception together, you need to get
yourself organized. Think about what you want. At this stage,
don't worry about how much things will cost. When you get to the
shopping stage you will be able to determine what is feasible or
not. The main items you should include on your list are wedding
venue, decorations, food and drink, placecards, centerpieces,
and music.
Enlist the Troops If you want to save money on your wedding
reception-skip hiring a professional. These individuals are
typically highly skilled in what they do and their fees prove
it! Your best bet is to find people who are willing to help you
for free. You shouldn't have look further than your family and
friends. Enlist the services of as many people as you can. This
includes children. Children can be especially helpful with
repetitive crafts, so include them in your wedding reception
plans. Don't wait until the last minute to solicit assistance.
Let people know way in advance that you will need them to help
you with your wedding reception.
Time to Shop With your list of wedding reception ideas in hand,
it is time to start shopping. The venue for your wedding
reception will probably be the most expensive part of the
reception. Cheap alternatives that don't look cheap include
restaurants and church halls. If you choose to have your wedding
reception at a restaurant, make sure that you can use your own
flatware, plates, and glasses. You can purchase elegant versions
of these at discount shops for less than $100, depending on the
number of guests you invite. Simplify food at your wedding
reception by having three choices from which your guests can
choose when they RSVP to your invitation. Caters charge less
when you order by the plate. As an added touch you can place a
delicious assortment of divinity on each table. For your
centerpieces and decorations, hobby shops offer the best prices.
You can find design ideas that you can create you and your
troops can create for very little. Placecards aren't a
necessity, but if you have assigned people at tables, placecards
will help people to find their table. You can create your own
wedding reception placecards by purchasing an inexpensive
greeting card software program and elegant paper. You will need
an inkjet printer to print the cards. Unless you know someone
who will offer you a cheap price for wedding reception music,
skip the DJ and the live band. Creating a few CDs of various
popular love songs is a less expensive choice.
Reward the Troops A wedding dinner with the wedding party
(bride, groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents) just before the
wedding ceremony is traditional. It is a good idea to either
invite your wedding reception helpers to this dinner or to a
separate fun event. At this event you should show your
appreciation for helping make your wedding reception the best
ever!
About the author:
Dana Goldberg is the owner of
Great Wedding. All you
need to know about Wedding Planning Information in one place.
