Bride on a Budget Of course you want a wedding that will wow your guests, but how will you afford to pay for it? WJ has some great budgeting ideas that will cut costs without compromising on style…
No matter how much money you have in the bank your budget will determine the type of wedding you will have - place, style, size, in fact everything is dictated by the amount you can afford to spend so it's crucial that before you start organising your day, you tackle your budget.
Many couples are getting married later in life and are well established with their own careers. These brides and grooms are able to pay for more of the expenses and sometimes want to pay for the entire wedding themselves. So the first task is to sit down with pen and paper and work out the total amount of money you have available to spend on your wedding.
FINANCIAL CHECK-UP 
This is a great time to talk about the one subject that most couples like to avoid: money. Decide whether you will have joint accounts - and joint goals toward money management and other financial issues. Talk about debts, credit cards and saving plans.
A good way to help you define your budget is to set priorities. Discuss together which elements of the wedding are most important to you both.
TIME TRAVELLER
The cost of your wedding will also be dependent on how far in advance you can plan, what time of day and the day of the week you want your wedding and what time of the year you choose.
Weddings in summer will always be popular - and more expensive. Be fashionably different. Think winter wedding, candlelight, mulled wine and evening dress. Even opt for a Friday or Sunday wedding if you think your guests won't mind taking a day off work. But avoid special days.
LOCATION, LOCATION
Use your imagination and visualise the plainest of venues transformed into a wedding haven with great lighting and some simple table decorations. Look for venues that offer 'all-inclusive' packages that include room hire, food and drink and decorations.
Don't be fooled into thinking that a home wedding will save you money. Between tents, chairs, catering, and port-o-potties, homeweddings are more stressful and inevitably more costly.
SIZE MATTERS
It's a simple equation - the more guests you invite the higher your costs. Do the maths: If your wedding comes to £50 per person for food and drink, cutting your list from 150 to 100 saves £2,500. This applies to many different aspects of the wedding. Have two bridesmaids instead of 10 and save on the cost of outfits and gifts.
SAVING ON THE DETAILS
Invitations : Keep them simple. Top-quality paper, fancy typography techniques and custom-coloured inks increase the price. Consider buying ready-made invitations from a high street card shop or try making the stationery yourself. To keep postage costs down, stay away from oversize or overweight styles.
THE DRESS
Shop around and look at designer collections in department stores for your dress, or even opt for a non-bridal gown. If your heart is set on designer keep an eye out for sample sales or seasonal reductions. Dresses that have lots of beading and sequins often cost more than unadorned styles. If you really want beads buy a plain dress and have a talented friend or relative seamstress sew on the beads.
GROOMS
Wear basic black non-designer tuxes. Encourage all the groomsmen to rent from the same place as you should qualify for a group reduction. If your wedding is semiformal, wear a nice suit that you already own.
TRANSPORT
Car hire is expensive, especially if you opt for something that little bit different. If you really want the limo, stick with an average-size car, use it for only the bride and/or wedding couple and have the wedding party carpool. Transport costs can be skipped altogether if you choose to have your ceremony and reception in the one venue or within walking distance.
FLOWERS
Before you set your heart on a beautiful flower, check to see whether it's in season when you're getting marriedas flowers out of season will have been imported or grown in a greenhouse, and significantly more expensive. Swap an expensive flower for a less expensive one. Try using more greenery than blooms in your church arrangements or garlands on archways, trellises, etc. Ferns and vines are both inexpensive and easy to obtain.
FOOD
Plan an early wedding with brunch and make a stylish exit for your honeymoon mid-afternoon. If you are going the traditional route reduce the number of overall dinner courses and keep your menu simple. If you're looking to reduce the cost of waiting staff, opt for a buffet where guests can largely help themselves.
CAKE
Why not cut your cake before you sit down to eat and serve it as pudding? A chocolate cake is particularly successful here, especially if you put ice cream, fruit coulis and chocolate sauce in the centre of each table. Order a small, fabulous cake that's exactly what you want and, in the kitchen, have several sheet cakes of the same flavour cut for your guests.
ENTERTAINMENT
Keep the band small. If their equipment is modern and up-to-date, a small combo band shouldn't sound like it's that small. Alternatively, opt for a DJ - they almost always cost less than a band and should be able to cater for all tastes and ages. The best DJs and bands are in highest demand on Saturday nights, so try Friday or Sunday for a slightly discounted rate
PHOTOS & VIDEO
Keep prints simple and stay away from special treatments like sepia tones, multiple exposures, and split frames, which add to the cost. Select your package carefully, you could also ask for a price for a set of prints only as albums are expensive and this is something you could put together yourself. With the video, consider having only the ceremony filmed and forego complicated editing and special effects.
HONEYMOON
In the run up to your wedding work hard to save up air miles and use them to help pay for your flight. Consider setting up a honeymoon 'gift list' with your travel agent and ask guests to help contribute towards the costs. Look at package deals that include flight, hotel, and food and always let people know that you're on your honeymoon as you might qualify for perks like chilled champagne and free room upgrades.
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Planning 
I posted 4 photos on Facebook in the album "Bridal inspiration from Cannes...." 
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