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Put on a Memorable Wedding without
Spending a Small Fortune
(ARA) - A wedding is perhaps the most expensive
endeavor many people will ever face. Some couples
get lucky and the bride�s parents agree to pick up
all the expenses, but more often, the bride and
groom are footing at least a portion of the bill
themselves.
Once you start adding up the cost of invitations,
the reception, rental, flowers, entertainment, food,
the cake and mementos for your guests, the numbers
can become astronomical. According to Bride�s
Magazine, the average cost of a wedding today is
more than $19,000.
Since most couples don�t have that kind of money to
spend on their special day, they end up improvising,
and don�t necessarily achieve the memorable
celebration they dreamed about. �A wedding is the
most important day in a couple�s life and should be
a joyous event, not something that breaks the bank,�
says Loann Campbell, a wedding buyer who works with
Michaels Arts and Crafts stores -- one of the
nation�s largest providers of wedding supplies.
�There�s so much you can do on your own to save
money and Michaels stores around the country have
the little details, as well as the ideas and
inspiration to help you create the perfect wedding.�
Among the possibilities: you can create your own
invitations, place cards, thank you cards,
decorations that will adorn the reception hall and
cake, wedding favors, and even the bride�s veil.
* Invitations
The style of your wedding invitation will set the
tone of your wedding, letting guests know if it�s an
elegant, formal affair or a more casual gathering.
According to �Bride�s Millennium Report: Wedding
Love & Money,� you can expect to spend about $327 on
invitations, announcements and thank you notes if
you purchase them from a custom printer. Making them
yourself will cost just a fraction of that amount
and allow you to express your personal style.
�We have a large selection of decorative papers,
inks and rubber stamps at Michaels that allow people
to include a personal touch on their invitations,�
says Campbell. �You can create something yourself
that will have a custom look, at a fraction of the
cost.�
Invitation kits are the most economical way to go.
Between $30 and $50 -- depending on the type of
paper you choose: card stock, sheer vellum, or
hand-made -- you can get 50 invitations and response
cards with envelopes for both. The invitations can
either be hand-written, printed on your home
computer, or stamped, eliminating the need for an
expensive printing service.
* Flowers and Decorations
Flowers are another item on which a significant
amount of money can be saved. Instead of ordering
live flowers, which cost an average of $750 for a
wedding, consider purchasing silk ones. They won�t
wilt, don�t need to be kept in water, and look great
in everything from bridal bouquets to table
centerpieces and cake decorations.
In addition to flowers, many brides choose to have
candles on the tables, which is another great
opportunity to personalize. �Handmade votives are a
nice touch and wonderful way to include the couple�s
names and wedding date,� says Campbell. �Placeing
them in etchable glass votive holders serves to
further emphasize the personal touch for guests.�
* Bride�s Dress and Veil
One of the most frequently overlooked areas to save
money is on the bride�s wedding dress and veil.
Check out consignment shops for vintage or
second-hand wedding gowns. If you find one there,
you can expect to spend between $200 and $600. The
average cost of a new wedding dress is at least
$800.
You can also save on the bridal veil. A purchased
one ranges from $150 to $300, depending on the
length. The cost of making your own is $30 to $50.
All you need to get the job done is a piece of
tulle, and a tiara or hairpiece. Tulle veils sell at
crafts stores for less than $20. Tiaras sell for
between $20 and $40; hair accessories are available
for a lot less.
�Making a bridal veil not only saves money but also
gives you the chance to design just the veil to
compliment your dress,� says Campbell.
* Mementos for the party guests
It is customary for the bride and groom to leave
small tokens of appreciation on each table for their
guests. This is another place where the bride can
add her own personal touch by making them herself.
Among the more popular do-it-yourself favors:
handmade soap nicely wrapped in tulle and tied with
ribbon, etched champagne glasses, embossed candles,
and reusable picture frames, which can be
personalized with a removable photo of the bride and
groom, or used to hold place cards.
* Keeping the Memories Alive
One of the areas you won�t mind spending a lot of
money is photography. When it comes time to frame
all the wonderful memories of your special day, you
may want to return to Michaels and take advantage of
the store�s first rate custom framing services.
Michaels offers an extensive selection of innovative
frames and mats, and the expertise of certified
custom framers, who can help brides transform
memories into a masterpiece they can treasure for a
lifetime.
Another way to capture wedding memories is
scrapbooking, which is becoming more popular day by
day. Scrapbooking is a unique way to capture not
only the pictures from the wedding but also lets the
bride hold on to feelings and thoughts from the
special day.
For ideas, information and inspiration be sure to
check the
Michaels web-site.
Courtesy of ARA Content
The Average Amount You Can Expect to Spend on a
Wedding according to Bride�s Millennium Report:
Wedding Love & Money
Invitations, Announcements, Thank You Notes, etc.,
$327
Bouquets and Other Flowers, $756
Photography and Videography, $1,311
Music, $830
Clergy, Church, Chapel, or Synagogue Fee, $232
Limousine, $393
Attendants� Gifts, $308
Wedding Rings (Bride and Groom), $1,016
Engagement Ring, $3,044
Bride�s Wedding Dress, $823
Bride�s Headpiece/Veil, $166
Bridal Attendants' Apparel (5 attendants), $790
Mother of the Bride's Apparel, $231
Groom's Formalwear (Rented), $95
Men's Formalwear (Ushers, Best Man), $449
Wedding Reception, $7,635
Grand Total $19,104 |
