Top Ways to Majorly Cut Wedding Day Expenses

I've had my NJ wedding blog for a while now. Those who read the About page will recognize that this is frugal wedding inspiration from a truly frugal bride.

Now, I can't speak for other brides on what's worth spending money on for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding day. But I can continue to share with you ideas for eliminating those typical bride things that add up to expensive and even extravagant!

Below, The NJ Wedding on a Budget Blog in Review:
 

Top Ways to Cut Corners and Still Have an Amazing Wedding Day!

Humble but tasteful wedding venue. Saving bank on the wedding hall doesn't mean you have to pick a dive in the sketchy part of town. As I mention all over this blog, we chose an all-inclusive, day wedding package at the Somerville Elks Club. The place looked great, we brought in a band (our big splurge), food was wonderful, everyone had a fine time.

Upcycle a family ring. Grandma's engagement ring is sitting in the safe deposit box. Aunt Edna passed down some diamonds. Your groom does NOT have to blow his life savings on your engagement and wedding rings. If relatives left some jewels behind, look into having them refashioned and refitted. Or just wear Nana's ring with pride!

Small bridal party. This works especially well if you have lots of friends and family and don't want to pick favorites. Limit it to Maid of Honor and Best Man. You'll save money on the rehearsal dinner, because you won't need one. You won't have to buy wedding-day thank-you gifts/jewelry for a crowd of people. You won't be tempted to spend extra on the wedding party table that doesn't exist. And you'll also be saving a bunch of other people a ton of money on wedding attire, gifts, limo ride, and a wedding shower.

Nix the engagement party. I think parents typically initiate the engagement party. A bash like this can be pretty pricey, so you and your hubby-to-be might be tempted to kick in some fundage to help foot the bill. I say, keep it simple for everyone. No extra event to add to guests' already brimming social calendar. No stress over booking, dressing, RSVPs and party prep. Let Mom and Dad squared keep their money in their own pockets for this. They might be grateful!

DIY deco. Makes things more complicated, but only if you go overboard with the details. The main wedding-day decorations that you'll probably want: a Sweetheart table (can be as simple as a white tablecloth and some white twinkling lights). A wedding arch (check Pinterest for creative ideas on the cheap). Maybe some simple but elegant table centerpieces that you can outsource to a crafty friend in lieu of a gift.

Secondhand wedding dress. Let's face it: you're going to don this getup once, and then hang it in the attic where it will remain for the rest of your life. Why not move with the times, and go on the hunt for a used bridal gown? There are plenty of excellent choices to be found on Ebay, Craigslist, and the other used wedding gown sites I've listed. Don't forget thrift shops and vintage boutiques.

Forgo the flowers. The cost of fresh foliage really adds up fast! Forget the florist. If you're a crafty bride with time to spare (lucky you!), you could hit Michael's and pick up some silk flowers to fashion some kind of centerpiece, wall decor, or sweetheart table adornment. Candle centerpieces make a nice alternative for those who don't want to splurge on sprays and sprigs.

Bum a ride. Wedding-day limo is just another expense you don't really need on your special day. Surely there's a guest on the list who's got some cool wheels and is willing to play chauffer for an hour. Think antique car, or even just streaming some cans from the back bumper of Dad's Oldsmobile!

Find your focus. Of course you want to make it special and memorable. You can do this by attending to ONE significant detail that everyone will remember. Ours was the Irish band – we put our money on music to make the day great. Maybe yours is a photo booth, a wedding weekend getaway, lavish desserts, or a great DJ and videographer.

Solicit the help of guests. You may have some creative friends and family members in the mix. Can you solicit their services in lieu of a gift envelope? Hire your rock star friend to play chamber music. Ask a painter pal to make up some centerpieces.

Serve up some sentimentality! A guest book for people to leave their well wishes. A book of handwritten Letters to the Bride. A Tastebook recipe collection if you're a couple of foodies.

Other ideas: Hire an amateur photographer found on Craigslist. Tell him or her that you're on a budget, and have them trim down the wedding-day package accordingly. Procure your wedding-day bling such as shoes, veil, purse, cufflinks – on Etsy.com. Find your wedding invitation package, table cards and thank-you notes at Staples! (They don't have to match.) Package and mail them yourself. Get your hair and makeup done by a friend who's fancy.

Something borrowed. You can always "rent" your wedding-day frou-frou from a friend! Shoes, veil, jewelry, tux or suit, child's suit and shoes. People often have these items taking up space in their homes. Put the word out about your nuptial necessities!

There are so many more ways to throw your dream-wedding and not letting your bank accounts take the hit. Keep following my NJ wedding blog for ideas!