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Wedding costs. How to have your cake and eat it.

Weddings can be as lavish or as simple as you like. But if there’s a wide gap between what you want and what you can afford, you may have to forgo the ice sculpture and embossed invitations. Starting married life with a big wedding debt may stop you from getting that new car or accumulating enough money for a down payment on a house.


Here are a few ways you can cut your wedding costs:

  • Go with a buffet table rather than table service
  • Bake the cake yourself or ask a friend to do it
  • Ask your friends to take photographs, tend bar or videotape your wedding
  • Buy in bulk from a discounter
  • Buy flowers from a floral wholesaler and choose flowers that are in season
  • Rent your wedding dress
  • Get married in the off-season
  • Don’t splurge on both your wedding and honeymoon (choose one or the other)

Print out the worksheet below to estimate your wedding costs. Then decide where you need to make cuts to stay within your budget.


Wedding Cost Worksheet

Rings

Bride’s wedding band $__________
Groom’s wedding band $__________

Stationery

Invitations $__________
Announcements $__________
Thank-you notes $__________
Postage $__________

Clothing

Bride's gown/dress $__________
Groom's tuxedo $__________
Drycleaning $__________

Flowers

Bride’s bouquet $__________
Bridesmaids’ bouquets $__________
Corsages for parents and family $__________
Wedding ceremony $__________
Reception $__________

Photography

Bridal portraits $__________
Wedding photos $__________
Album $__________

Reception

Site rental $__________
Food $__________
Beverage $__________
Music $__________
Decorations $__________
Wedding cake $__________
Tableware $__________
Serving staff $__________
Guest book and pen $__________

Honeymoon

Lodging $__________
Travel $__________
Meals $__________
Spending money $__________

Other

Wedding consultant $__________
Engagement party $__________
Bridesmaids' luncheon $__________
Videographer $__________
Gifts to attendants $__________
Beauty (hair, nails, facial) $__________
Marriage license $__________
Clergy's fees $__________

ESTIMATED TOTAL

$__________