Money Savers for your wedding-Dunhill Tuxedos Bridal Blog

For almost all brides…somewhere there is a line for budget. With the sky being the limit in wedding planning, we need to be creative to know where to draw the line for the budget.  We have listed some of our ideas and tips to help cut corners of different wedding elements in planning.

Centerpieces

Instead of going the traditional flowers route,  trigger some creativity with your wedding theme.  Here are our picks for best money savers for centerpieces.

Feathers

If you have the right personality, feathers can definitely have the drama element you might be looking for in your centerpieces.  Find long elegant feathers in or around your color scheme.  Search online and also your local craft stores. You will probably need 3-5 feathers per centerpiece and long, tall, skinny vases. It is always nice if you can get opaque vases, so the mystery of seeing how the feathers are inside is hidden.  Put the feathered vases in the middle of the table with  tea lights surrounding them and you are good to go!

Fruit

Opt for fruit, but price this out before you make the decision.  Depending on what kind you get, it can add up to be just as much as flowers.  Try larger sized fruit to fill up centerpieces so you don’t have to buy as much.  Oranges, apples and even artichokes might do the trick.  Green apples in Spring and oranges in the Summer, red apples in the Fall and even try artichokes in any of the months-their interesting color and shape make for great aesthetics. For afternoon weddings, try a three tier tower tray of fruit and cheese for display with cascading grapes and and brie cheese.  This can serve as a double up that guests can dive into for appetizers  before brunch is served.

Ornaments

These can always be a money saver when used in the winter months.  Search after Christmas sales the previous year before your wedding for eclectic ornaments in your color scheme.  There is a world of things to do with them as a centerpiece. Pile them into a glass cylinder vase and have branches coming out with white shimmer sprayed on them to make it look like freshly fallen snow. Even better, buy memorable ornaments throughout the year at different places you venture to as a couple.  Put one of these special ornaments in each display and have a little sentiment behind every table.

Wood planks and candles

If you are having a fall or rustic wedding, this centerpiece will be perfect for you. You might need to find a “handy andy” (groom, dad, brother) for this one, but it will save you money.  Cut or find different shapes of wood rings and stack two down side to side and one on top of them.  Place different sized, shaped and colored candles on top and it will create a romantic, rustic atmosphere.

Musicians

Look for people you know in your life that are musically inclined.  Have them perform at the wedding.  This will bring a personal element to your wedding. First, ask them if they are free and willing to perform and be a part of your wedding.  Some people would be happy to sing or perform at your wedding for free, but before you bet on having them to use their talent for free, get a feel for how they feel on the subject.  If they are doing it as a favor and gift to you as a couple, consider paying them something-less than you would hire someone for, but enough to say thank you for sharing your talent with us on our big day.  Also, make sure to include them in the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and take the time to complement them on a great job.

Double ups

How to give yourself a two for one deal on wedding elements

Favors and Place cards

Tie a favor tag around your favor but leave a spot for name and table no. This way you do not have to invest money for the place card as well as the favor and your guests have a memento personalized to take home.  This works great for practical favors or even edible favors that can have the favor tag wrapped around. There is the classic picture frame idea where you can frame the place cards and the guests can keep the photo frame.  Get clever and save money while using it!

Ceremony Flowers and Reception Flowers

Take your ceremony flowers that were used to decorate the altar, aisles and/or ceremony table can be used at the reception to decorate the escort table, entrances, or  cake or gift table.   This will save the overall budget and allow you to give you that look of blooms that you want.

Centerpieces and Cake

Double up on the cake and centerpiece and save a lot of money while doing it.  Instead of one big cake on a cake table, use different sized cakes on each table and feature it as the centerpiece.  The wait staff can still serve the cake to the guests, but it will create a conversation for guests and an up close and personal look at the cake.

Until Next time….Happy Wedding Planning!