Elope or Hometown Wedding?

With the economy in the toilet, many brides and grooms are opting to forgo the huge expense of a wedding and get hitched in destinations like Vegas. If that is what you want to do, then I say cheers to you. Vegas weddings can be as beautiful as a huge hometown wedding (not all Vegas weddings are cheesy drive-thru chapels or officiated by Elvis impersonators).

If you choose to stay at home, there are still ways you can have the wedding of your dreams and not go broke while doing it.

5 ways you can save money on your wedding
1. Minimize your guest list. Contrary to belief, you don't need to invite everyone you've ever come into contact with to your wedding. Invite the people that mean the most to you and leave it at that.

2. Cut out the favors. Wedding favors are nice little trinkets, but aren't really necessary. Think about it. Is cousin Jimmy going to save your little silver bell with colored M&Ms and a personalized ribbon with your names and wedding date on it? No. Like the wedding cake, most favors wind up in the trash. Why throw your money away?

3. Be on the lookout for bargains. No matter where you are or what you're shopping for, always be on the lookout for items and services that you may be able to use for your wedding. You may be at the local hardware store and find potted trees on sale that you can use to decorate the reception room. After Christmas white light sale at Target (50%) off--these savings are for you.

4. Remove the word wedding from your vocabulary. I'm not kidding. As soon as a vendor hears the word wedding, the cost of the item goes up. Instead of walking into the bakery and saying, "I'm looking for a wedding cake," say something like, "I'm interested in pricing a cake."

5. Use your skills and the skills of people you know. Chances are good that you or someone you know is crafty. Use these skills to your advantage. I once tied 100 tiny little chiffon ribbons around 100 tiny little wedding thank you scrolls for a friend. I also made hundreds of tuxedo strawberries for another friend's wedding. Cost to them: totally free. The bride and her bridesmaids (me included) hung out, drank some wine or beer, and put our skills to good use.