Twelve ways to make your wedding more affordable

1. Have a budget in mind when hiring all of your vendors. Remember they work for you.

2. Choose flowers that are in season. They’ll be less costly than forced blooms.

3. Save on engraved invitations by asking about thermography. This printing technique results in raised letters, and it costs far less than a copper-plate engraving.

4. Omit party favors. Do you remember any party favors from past weddings? If you have 125 guests, omitting a $3 box of chocolates or monogrammed matchbook will save you $375.

5. If you’re planning to serve alcohol, stick with beer and wine. You’ll save plenty by nixing mixed drinks.

6. Have your wedding ceremony and reception in the same location. You won’t have to decorate two spaces with ribbons and flowers, and you’ll save on transportation.

7. Trim your guest list. This is one of the quickest ways to tame expenses. Do the math: If your wedding costs $125 a head, cutting just eight guests saves you $1,000.

  

8. Cut the cake cost. Want a multi tiered showpiece for the photos? Ask the baker to fashion the bottom tiers from Styrofoam coated with icing. Then serve guests sheet cake made from the wedding cake recipe.

9. Strike dessert from the menu. Your guests will be served slices of your wedding cake.

10. Get married on a Sunday and have a brunch. It’s much less expensive than a sit-down dinner on Saturday night.

11. Rent a historic house or botanical garden for your wedding. Your township parks department may rent scenic locales for less than the cost of a hotel ballroom or banquet hall. (Ask if they have kitchen facilities or the catering costs could rise.)

                                

12. Book TODAY with PPT Photography!!!