|
Wedding Planning on a Budget
 Shewanda Garner
Wedding planning is an especially daunting task, especially so in tough economic times. Gone are the days when a couple can plan on a whim-adding white doves and horse drawn carriages today may mean forgoing the reception altogether. Nonetheless, there are ways to conjure a magical experience without forgoing the must haves.
Begin wedding planning with a short list of adjectives that describe the dream wedding. These will be used to give the planning direction. Some might think the ideal wedding is both elegant and intimate, while another might believe fun and quirky is best.
When wedding planning, handle tough jobs first. Decide where the wedding and reception will be, as its common to reserve these locales a year in advance. Churches are a great budget-friendly option for weddings and receptions, even for non-parishioners. Small to medium-sized churches can charge a few hundred to just over a thousand dollars to nonmembers for total usage of their facilities. Bear in mind that churches will have restrictions on alcohol, music and more. For the concerned couple, a wedding ceremony on site followed by a reception at a rec center, national park or other public space can solve the issue of money and church restrictions.
Brides often have their heart set on a gown well out of price range. However, not all prices are as they seem. Brides should visit bridal shops of their choice, settle on a gown and cruise the internet for better prices. Should the idea of buying secondhand not offend-after all it was only worn once-then auction sites like eBay are a great option.
Consider making invitations instead of buying them. Stationary stores like Staples and Office Max offer beautiful paper and free templates can be found online.
After all, any wedding can be a dream come true with planning.
| 
