Our Mommyhood

Remember when…your mother hung lanterns in the backyard trees, rented fold-up chairs and made your Aunt’s favorite spiked punch to throw down with the soft and sugary vanilla wedding cake your grandma made just for the occasion?

While times may have changed, your values don’t have to. You can still create the wedding of your dreams without planners, overpriced hotels or reception halls, caterers, big bands and all of the other trappings that can make a wedding both costly and impersonal. Below are some ideas to help you create a good, old fashioned—and affordable—wedding.

Develop a Sound Budget: Even for the simplest wedding you will need to create a realistic budget. Consider the number of guests you want to invite and then cut the list to the bare minimum.  Factor in food, drink, decorations, invitations, flowers and cost for the officiant. Check online for free wedding planner checklists and budgeting materials to help get you started.

Buy off the Rack or Used: Wedding dresses now come in every conceivable style, cut and size so there is no longer the need to have a custom-made gown. Buying off the rack can save you hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars and eliminates the worry that your gown won’t arrive from the manufacturer in time. If budget is a major issue, another option is to look for deals on gowns at consignment stores, thrift shops or even on Craigslist.  Everyone thinks they will keep their wedding gown until eternity; the bottom line is that very few brides ever end up doing this.

Rethink Open Bars: Open bars may be popular with some guests who may plan to overindulge, but it is such an unnecessary expense for the bride and groom. If you are planning on providing alcohol, limit the amount you are serving, consider having only beer and wine on hand for the reception with a champagne toast and set a time when the bar will close.

Go Back to Tradition: One of the most personal touches you can add to your ceremony and reception is a nod to tradition. In days gone by, families used to bake charms into the wedding cake for lucky guests to find. Jewish brides in 19th century Europe used a beloved family-made quilt or blanket for their chuppah, or wedding canopy. Look at your family’s religious and cultural traditions to discover some traditions that could add charm-on-a-budget to your ceremony.

Establish Some New Traditions: Traditions don’t have to trace back hundreds of years to help you reconnect with those you love. Consider starting your own customs and then get everyone involved to give your wedding and reception a feeling of warmth and togetherness.

Let Guests Play Photographer: Wedding photographers and videographers can cost newlyweds several thousands of dollars, plus many have contracts that allow them to retain the copyright on your wedding photos. A less expensive option is to purchase disposable cameras and place them on every table, so that guests can take pictures of the reception. For even more photos, ask guests to also bring their digital cameras or smart phone to snap some extra pictures and video of your special day.  Note: some churches only allow cameras with no flash.

Ask Friends and Family to Help: One of the nicest parts of a wedding is the role that family and friends can play. Is someone you know an excellent cook, calligrapher, decorator or photographer? Think about interesting ways to enlist their help prior to and during the wedding ceremony. By giving the people close to you even a small part in your wedding you will be certain to make the ceremony even more memorable for all involved.

Go with Inexpensive Wedding Invitations: With all of the wonderful advances in printing, why would any bride and groom opt for engraved invitations? You would be surprised at the number of online companies that can supply lovely yet inexpensive wedding invitations that you can customize to fit with your own style and price range. Another option is to design and print wedding invitations on your home computer. Most craft and office supply stores have the available materials and plenty of invitation templates can be found online for free.

Having a memorable, good old-fashioned wedding means that you and your fiancé will need to stretch your creative muscles. Look at a variety of wedding options that you admire and then recreate them inexpensively, in your own style. With some forethought and imagination you’ll be able to pull off the perfect wedding day!

Sharon Anderson is a grandmother now herself, and loves to contribute content for companies that allow you to create your own online designs for business or events, such as BusinessCards.org printing services.

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