Taken from a tip search on line but thought was really useful so wanted to share!
cAN'T SAY WHERE FROM BECAUSE OF THE RULES ON HERE BUT IF YOU WANT A LINK LET ME KNOW AND i'LL ADD TO YOUR WALL

RECEPTION
1. Cut the guest list. This will slash your catering costs and save on invitations and even the number of centerpieces.

2. Think off-peak season and save thousands!

3. Hold your ceremony and reception in one spot — it will cut travel time for vendors you pay by the hour.

4. Skip the Saturday wedding.

5. Have bigger tables so you need fewer centerpieces and tablecloths.

6. Shop the off-season for extra decor — get modern black vases on sale after Halloween and pretty pink ones after Valentine’s Day.


FLOWERS
7. Use more greenery than flowers.

8. Swap out costly flowers — did you know peonies can be five times more expensive than roses?

9. Stick to just one or two kinds of flowers.

10. Buy flowers that are in season.

11. Include non-florals, like lanterns.



FOOD & DRINK
12. Serve entree duets.

13. Skip the main course — apps and drinks are fine too.

14. Offer beer, wine, and a signature cocktail instead of a full bar.

15. Serve comfort foods like barbecue chicken, mac and cheese, and corn. It’s fun and often cheaper.

16. Skip the champagne toast.



CAKES
17. Order a small one or two-tiered cake and then supplement cake with a larger sheet cake (hidden back in the kitchen).

18. Keep the add-ons simple.

19. Use fresh flowers, not sugar ones.

20. Reuse ceremony flowers for the cake table.

21. Skip exotic fillings like guava and mango.

STATIONARY & FAVOURS
22. Get single-page invites to save on postage.

23. Give out one favor per couple.

24. Make your cake the favors.

25. Have favors double as escort cards.

26. Email your save-the-dates.

27. Make your own menu cards, escort cards, and wedding favor packaging.

PHOTO, VIDEO & MUSIC
28. Have a photographer you love but can’t afford the prices? Ask them if they have an associate shooter who will do your wedding for less.

29. Opt for a smaller band.

30. Hire a band or DJ who can do both the ceremony and the reception.

great advice! thanks have you ever thought about wedding planning as a career?

:-) Thanks dove

lol i only find the info and pass it on, its not from me personally.

I did think about it a few years ago mind, when i was helping my sister and got all the info i needed.

I've read some of the Amercian wedding websites- its amazing how traditions differ.

Some of them sound like great ideas, might have to put some of them in place. xx

we're having escort cards!!!!!!! you write the guests name on them and then inside the card it tells them which table their sitting at. it's an american thing and you don't need a seating plan out for people to look at. and if you're having seating plans for guests to look at to find where they are sitting you really need two so that people can see where they are quicker and people aren't queing

if you're having real flowers on your cake you have to be really careful as some growers use pesticides and fungicides on their flowers to keep bugs away and they are harmful to guests if it gets onto the cake.that's what we got told by our cake lady.

x

wow, great ideas girls

bumping to the top for the newbies

Fab tips there thankyou :D xx

i really wanted to skip the favours but ry is insisting on them!! we managed to get them really cheap though just gota pay for the fillers now (ebay!!) xx

and i like the idea of escort cards but wont the wait be just the same as people will still have to find their card?? xx

I have 2 friends doing my flowers, one of whom used to be a florist the other done a course and did her own and they we're beautiful.
I have another friends husband doing my photo's who is a fantastic photographer and done courses and even went out and got equipment used for wedding pics.
I have another friend with who is driving me to the wedding and even told me she's getting ribbons put on it for me.
My bro-in-law is doing my wedding cake and cupcakes.
I did my own invites online using a printing company (vistaprint) who do loads of designs and other bits to match, labels, envelopes and seals amongst others and cost me next to nothing but look just as good.
We got bubbles for the tables with lilac lids to match our colour scheme 24 for £6.99 and also camera's to match colours 10 for just under £20.
I also have a friend in the business doing our balloons.
All in all i'm a lucky girl to have such talented friends and who are willing to help make our day special and am really thankfull xx

I agree mitch i am, but i'm def not taking it for granted, one i'm returning the favour as it's her turn next yr whose marrying our photographer and when the weddings over am going to make them all some of my cakes they all like scoffing lol xx

I'll be saving those ideas, they are fantastic. Will be using most of them

love this!!! xx

Great thread....I'm considering a lot of these!!

bumping to the top