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.

Wedding Cake: Good Investment or Waste of Money?

My favorite part of the wedding is always the wedding cake--not necessarily watching the bride and groom struggle to cut it (because they never now how to do it), but the eating part of it. I'm the exception to the rule though because when I was a wedding planner, I saw most of the cake slices end up in the trash rather than the bellies of the guests.

Why?

Believe it or not, many people do not like cake. Even if they like cake, they may not like the flavor of the cake you've chosen. So why spend hundreds of dollars on a sugary delight that is only going to be delighting the trash can?

Two ways to save the wedding cake (and your money)

1. Have the bakery or cake designer create a beautiful cake--making only the bottom layer real, making the other layers fake. You only cut into the bottom part anyway. Since your cake is taken into the kitchen to be cut and put on plates for guests, nobody will be the wiser.

Buy sheet cakes to be sliced and served to the guests. With a sheet cake costing in the neighborhood of $20, you can literally save hundreds of dollars that can be put toward covering the cost of some other wedding aspect.

2. Forget the cake and choose a dessert bar. Again, many guests do not like cake, so why not give them the option of choosing their own dessert. You can buy a variety of cakes, pies, and pastries from your local bakery, and simply by removing the word wedding from your vocabulary, you'll spend a lot less than if you opt for the wedding cake.

To Hire a Wedding Planner or Not to Hire a Wedding Planner

Thousands of women each year embark on their own journey down the aisle. For most brides, this is their first journey. For some it is their second (third, fourth, or fifth) journey. Especially for those making the walk for the first time, planning this very special day can be completely overwhelming. There are so many details that go into this type of planning that it quickly sends brides into a panic. Many turn to a professional wedding planner for help. Is this the right thing to do?

5 ways a professional wedding planner is your friend

1. They know what they're doing. Unless you're their first client, your wedding is not the first wedding a wedding planner has planned. Some have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of weddings under their belt. They know what works and what doesn't work. They know what the etiquette is, and they know how to steer you in the right direction, so you don't make mistakes along the way that can cost you time and money.
2. They save you money. Most brides think that hiring a wedding planner is an added expense they can't afford, but this isn't necessarily true. Since wedding professionals are repeat customers to wedding vendors, they often receive discounts that the common bride wouldn't receive. Wedding planners also know cost effective ways to provide you with the same look as an expensive Martha Stewart wedding look without the expensive price tag. They have an inside scoop on ways you can cut down and cut out costs completely that you may not think of on your own. When it all boils down, all of the money they can save you more than covers the wedding planner's fee.
3. They know the big players. Wedding planners already have their own network of wedding vendors. They've worked with these vendors. They know that they're reputable, that they fit into your budget, and that they're going to show up and do their job on your wedding day. What may take you months to do, wedding planners can do in a matter of hours--put together a team of the best wedding vendors in your area.
4. They keep you on track. Wedding planners are the ultimate of anal individuals. They live by their calendar, their lists, and their plans. They are super organized and make sure that you are always on track and on schedule with your wedding plans. They are the "mothers" of the wedding world.
5. They remove the stress from your shoulders. You have enough stress in your life with work, family, friends, etc. Add in the stress of planning a wedding to the mix and it may just send you over the edge. Wedding planners remove the stress from your shoulders by handling all of the minute details that go into planning a wedding. They are a friend, professional, counselor, and organization guru all wrapped up in one package.

Resources for finding a wedding planner
National Association of Wedding Planners
Association of Bridal Consultants
The Knot
Party Pop