Wedding Ideas that Save you Money...and Stress

1. Centerpieces: For centerpieces use things that may already be circulating in your life...like wine bottles and mason jars. Strip off the labels and you have something to put in the middle of your table. All you have to do is fill them, cause the bottle and jars are free. Also, print pictures at Walmart that you can lay on the tables for centerpieces. It's cheap and it helps tell you and your spouse's story to your guests.

2. Flowers: Buy your flowers the day of at a supermarket. A wedding of 110 people, for bouquets and centerpiece fillers your price could be $80. (Mine were!)

3. Bridesmaid dresses: Don't stress or feel pressure to make the girls get something expensive. Stay away from the big name stores. Look at regular clothing stores that carry multiples of things. My bridesmaids dresses were from Gap Outlet and only $10.

4. Venues: Try to book a venue where the linens and chairs are included. Also, if you spend enough on food there may be not rental/room fee. My venue, Route 46 Entertainment District, only charged me for food. Everything else was included. For linens, tables, chairs, ceremony and reception site, wedding coordinator, food and non-alcoholic beverage, "get ready" room, service throughout the dinner, and set-up/ take down, it only cost me $3,500.

5. Shoes: Let the bridesmaids pick and purchase there own shoes. Give them some guidelines, but trust that your friends have good taste. For yourself...the bride, don't be too prideful to shop clearance. DSW has great clearance most of the time. I bought my wedding shoes for $35.

6. The dollar store is a great place to buy candles, after all, they are only: $1.

All of these pictures are from my wedding!!!  Good luck planning! Chelsea