wedding budget tips

I found these budget tips on Style Me Pretty...how to bring your dream wedding to life, while planning on a budget. Why spend a fortune? Let's see how I'm (we're) doing...

Without further ado, here are Angela of Lulu Events cost cutting tips…

1. Personalize, Personalize, Personalize – by creating a theme or sticking to a cohesive look you can make a wedding or event look very sophisticated with just a few ideas that guests will always remember. Prioritize what is important and spend the money there.

We're going to have a "vintage" inspired cohesive look for our wedding. I love this idea, as I see many a vintage wedding online, and because our venue is a vintage, 1920s estate in San Clemente. Check!

2. Identify your color palette and stick to it. Remember you always need an accent color. One main color and 2 accent colors are ideal.

Hmm...my color palette is going to be greens, chocolate browns, and "pops" of purple. Do I need another accent color? Check!

3. Party Rentals – by selecting a colored or textured linen you get more bang for your buck than spending money on lots of colorful flowers on a white table cloth. The linen color will transform the space immediately and set the tone for your wedding reception.

I'm meeting with our caterer this weekend to taste food (yum!) and I'll have to ask about linens. I'm not planning on spending lots on flowers anyway...but I do love the idea of a colored or textured linen (brown probably).

4. Choose flowers that are in season and go for a monochromatic look, buying flowers in bulk is less expensive than buying many different types of flowers and my favorite trick is to incorporate fruit in to the centerpieces!

We haven't yet decided on flowers either, but I'm thinking I want to try and make the center pieces ourselves. We'll have the bouquets and boutonnieres probably done at a florist, but the rest we'll tackle ourselves. How hard can it be? Fruit in the centerpiece? I don't know if that goes with our "theme"...we'll see...

5. Choose a live musician for the ceremony and cocktail hour but nix the band and stick to a dj for the reception. It will save thousands of dollars. Just make sure to choose a play list that reflects the mood of the event and personality of the couple.

We're going to have a DJ who will be there with music for the ceremony and reception. Check!

6. By booking a wedding venue off season or on Fridays /Sundays – wedding venues and vendors will likely give you discounts so you can save your money for a honeymoon splurge!

Sunday, September 5, 2010! Check!

7. Consider hiring a wedding planner – we really are experts and our tips & ideas can save you time, money and get you discounts with vendors.

I'm not hiring a wedding planner. Although along the way I've been thinking about having one, it seems like just too much money for something I could figure out myself. How much of a discount can they really get you? More than the price for the coordinator - which sometimes starts at $1,000 just to be there the day of the wedding?!

I must say though, if you can afford it, a wedding coordinator must be fabulous. Putting all their creativity & your ideas to life without you having to do all the work- worth it!

8. Select one signature cocktail for the cocktail hour such as a Bellini or Kir Royale that will be passed by the waiters and offer wine and beer only the rest of the evening. You will be amazed at the cost savings!

We're planning a signature cocktail (or a few) for our wedding. I definitely want to have some sort of Mojito, maybe a bellini, and some "old" cocktails - to fit our vintage theme. Check!

9. Minimize the guest list- do you really need to invite that neighbor that you pass thru the hall or your second cousin Vinny that lives across the country?

Our guest list is definitely minimized. Sticking to only 100 is tough, especially when you have fairly large families. We're not doing many "plus ones", and inviting strictly close friends and family, which makes me so very happy! Check!

10. Skip the wedding favors (do we really need to see another Godiva chocolate at the place setting?), instead spend the money on a signature cocktail or a favor the guest will use during the course of the evening like a black and white photo booth!

We are having wedding favors, but they're homemade. And you're gonna love em!

11. Never ever try to skimp on a photographer- a talented photographer will capture memories that will last a lifetime!

We definitely didn't skimp on our photographer. This is the one area where I'm really digging into my savings for. So excited, check em out - He & She Photography. They're amazing! Can't wait! Check!