I've decided to list all the tricks I found that helped us still have a nice lookin' wedding without hurting our budget.
The Tip's: Start as early as you possibly can.
We planned our wedding in 8 mos. we really needed an extra month to come up with more money but my parents helped us out with our balances due.
If someone offers you help...ACCEPT IT!!!
You have enough to worry about and lots of breakdowns ahead of you!! The stress was really getting to me at one point, I was haveing a REALLY bad day and everything was going wrong for me, as I was leaving the firehouse (which my husband is a volunteer for) I backed into my friends car (no damage was done to either cars) my hubby started to yell at me "watch where your going" and that just topped it off. I speeded home and cried for two hours, the cry helped but at that point I realized this wedding is not worth risking my life no matter what goes wrong I'm still marrying the man I love!! AND I also started taking help when offered, even kinda demanded it .
Document EVERYTHING.
Your vendor's may tell you one thing while your still shopping around to get your business. Then when they got you they switch to what they want from you, or something for their convience.
Examine all your options
Ask to see samples their work.
Especially of YOUR photographer and videographer only from a single wedding. What you will find is they will have a portfolio from numerous weddings of just their best work.
The Trick's: Try to combine things
* For favors and centerpieces I went to a dollar store figuring one favor per couple, and one favor per single (I still ended up with extras) bought 100 glasses (different styles & heights & they gave me a 15% discount!!). Placed clear celephane in them (enough to have a few inches stick out on top to fluff), and filled them with confetti (jordan almonds), or whatever you choose, and tied them shut with colored curling ribbon to match your colors, I used white, purple, and lilac on every glass.
* If timing works to your advantage, like it did for me, you can send your thank you's out in Christmas cards. This saves you money instead of buying thank you AND Christmas cards, on stamps, and it's less painful on your wrist! This is the standard thank you I wrote in the cards (of course I changed it around a little for everybody)
"We realize this is an unconventionl thank you card, but who say's we're normal! We wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, as well as tell you we were so pleased you could join us, and thank you for your most generous gift."
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Start as early as you possibly can.
We wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, as well as tell you we were so pleased you could join us, and thank you for your most generous gift."