Tuesday, August 18, 2015

If there’s a wedding in your future in 2016, you are facing a huge expense—and you are very likely looking for ideas and recommendations on the goods and services you need.

“Most first-time brides dream of a lavish wedding,” says Florida event planner Tracie Domino. “But if cost is a major consideration, there are four areas where you can save a lot of money without compromising grace or elegance.”

Cut the guest list – This seems obvious, but most people have no idea how much money is actually involved. For every 8-10 guests you remove from your list, you will not only save on their meal and bar costs, you will be removing an entire table -- including the cost of centerpieces, rental chairs, specialty linen, printed materials, welcome bags and favors. Depending on the size and scope of your wedding, removing one table of guests can save on average between $500-$5,000.

Select flowers by seasonality and color – Work with a florist to design your florals based on the look you want to achieve and the seasonal flowers available. Describe what you are looking for – like loose and airy centerpieces or tight, compact bouquets. Your florist should be able to suggest seasonal flowers you may never have heard of that can help create the look you want without excessive cost.

Shop department stores for bridesmaid dresses – Bridesmaid dresses are expensive because they are custom-ordered. If you have some flexibility in what you are looking for, there is a big opportunity to save by looking for dresses off the rack at high end department stores. If you want styles that are very dressy, check before New Year’s Eve for the greatest selection.

Hire a really good DJ – If you think there is nothing like live music at a formal wedding, understand that a great wedding band can cost at least $5,000 – and much more in many markets. But you can save a bundle by selecting the best DJ you can find who is professional and good at reading a crowd. Some really good DJs work with a live percussionist. If you can find one of those, you can get the best of both worlds at a much more favorable price.

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