Worried that your perfect wedding will break the bank? Here are 10 ways to have a fabulous wedding, even on a small budget. Remember…it’s not how much you spend, but how you spend it!

As a young girl, you probably dreamed of having a picture-perfect fairy tale wedding. You plotted and practiced and just waited for Prince Charming to come along and sweep you off our feet. He finally did, and now it’s time to turn that dream wedding into a reality. But, yikes! When did weddings get so expensive? During all of that childhood wedding dreaming, money was never an object (because really, is there even money in Honestly Tale Land? If there is, it probably grows on trees). But don’t despair. By using some (or all) of the tips below, you can make a wedding that’s tasteful and elegant, even on a small budget.Budget Bluffing

Set a budget that’s slightly smaller than you can really afford. There are always last-minute expenses that must be met, but if you keep the bulk of your expenses within your predetermined smaller budget, you’ll be able to pay for the unexpected costs that pop up.Choose your Battles

Choose what’s most vital to you, those one or two things you won’t compromise on, whether it be your wedding gown, photographer, invitations or cake. After accounting for this must-have, adjust your budget accordingly and try to keep the remainder of your expenses within it.Say it Simply

Invitations can easily cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Luckily, it’s become quite well loved to make your own invitations. The availability of supplies at scrapbooking stores, specialty paper shops and mass retailers makes it simple to find the materials you need. Today’s homemade invitations look every bit as elegant as those engraved by a printer, but save you lots of money. Also, for less formal weddings, you can have guests call or email their RSVPs to you, eliminating the need for RSVP cards and their matching stamped envelopes. (Just reckon: if you send out 100 invitations, you’re saving $41 in postage alone.)Who’s Who

Sure, it’s tempting to invite your second cousin’s third grade teacher, but it will cost you. One of the most effective ways you can cut back on invitation and reception expenses is to cut your guest list. Limit your guest list to close friends and family, not people you haven’t seen or talked to since 2nd grade.Creative Shopping

Dollar stores, thrift stores and garage sales can provide a wealth of low-cost wedding and reception decorations…and they look like they cost full price!Strands of lights, faux florals, linens, balloons and more can be found for extraordinarily low prices at these stores. Be sure to look after holidays, as this is when items such as these go on clearance or are donated to thrift stores. To Updo or not to Updo? That is the question.

Does everyone in your wedding party really have to get their hair and makeup done by Mr. Christophe at that exclusive salon? Probably not. If you feel you need a special updo, by all means, go for it. After all, you’re the bride. Otherwise, have your bridal party do their own hair and makeup. Chances are, it will turn out better anyway, since they know what works for them. You’ll avoid ending up with bridesmaids that look like very formal clowns with shellacked hair, and save some money, too.Time is on your side.

Consider having your wedding early afternoon. There’s less demand for that time slot, but most importantly, you can get away with serving just cake and punch or small finger foods at the reception. The occasion will seem more intimate, and your guests won’t necessarily be expecting a meal (since the reception doesn’t fall during a mealtime). Best of all, you’ll save thousands!For Everything There is a Season…

…but it might be more cost-effective to get married during the off-season. Spring and summer are the most well loved wedding seasons, and prices for venues rise accordingly. Choosing a fall or winter wedding not only gives you gorgeous decorating themes to work with, but also offers more affordable venue options.Party On

Sure, anyone can have a gorgeous reception in the ball room of an exclusive hotel. But with a small creativity (reckon strands of lights, faux ficus trees, candles, etc.,) even the local lodge can be transformed into a gorgeous reception location. Remember, the lights are usually dimmed, and your guests are there to celebrate with you, not critique the crystal chandeliers (or lack thereof). Choosing a more affordable reception location will leave you with more money to spend on food, drinks and decorations – or even your new life together. All Dressed Up

If you’re like most brides, you already have a picture of your perfect wedding gown in your head. But if you’re really interested in saving money, keep your options open. You might be surprised by how much you like other (translation: less expensive) styles of dresses once you try them on. Plus, less-expensive dresses can often be uniquely embellished and still cost less than the whole Cinderella-type dress. You may also want to check out consignment stores. The wedding gowns you find there have only been worn once, or in some cases, never. You’ll save a bundle on a gorgeous gown that you’ll wear just once, and no one will be the wiser.

Whether you try one or try them all, using the money-saving tips above will help you avoid a mountain of debt as you and Prince Charming embark on your happily ever after.
Heather L. Clark is a Web researcher and writer. In her spare time, she enjoys pilates, music and Seinfeld reruns. Check out her favorite resources for plotting a affordable wedding receptions.

It is becoming increasingly well loved to design unique wedding invitations. Publicizing to your family and friends that you are going to get married is a extraordinary moment, and you can make some amusing ways to let them know about your plans for that extraordinary day!
Your unique wedding invitation is your first impact on your family and friends about your wedding. It is the first step towards your wedding. You can capture the whole feel of your wedding day in your unique wedding invitations. If you are a jokester, you might choose to do something that will mystify them at first and then you can announce in person that you are getting married. If you are a romantic, you might want to make a poem of your experience with your fiance and how you envision your life will be like as a wedded couple. If you are a busy person who travels a lot, you might desire to send announcements out to your family and friends that show your like of travel. One unique wedding invitation thought is to make fake airplane tickets that have a image of a far off destination (or many far off destinations if you wish). Than have your specific wedding information printed on the “ticket”. If you like saving time and money, you can send your announcements as an all-in-one simple, innovative unique wedding invitation.
There is a wide diversity of designs to choose from when deciding on your own wedding invitations, if you want to do it the formal way with an stylish unique wedding invitation. Your basic elegant colors: black, white, silver and gold are always an incredible way to design your invitation for a formal event. But, you and your fiancé are exceptional. If you want to express your individuality, you need to either find a place that can help you customize your invitations or you can design your own unique wedding invitations. You can design something one of a kind that no one would be able to find in any store – online or off. You can use vivid colors, or simple colors invite family and friends to your wedding ceremony. Most couples choose to design their wedding invitations around their chosen wedding colors, but you can choose to do the opposite.
A fantastic way to design your own unique wedding invitation is to visit a scrapbooking store. You can find all of the materials you can visualize to design your own creative, unique wedding invitations. You might have a hard time coercing your fiancé to be involved in designing them, though. But if you question him to do an simple invitation task for you (like putting the RSVP card inside the completed invitations) and make your request sound like he is reducing a lot of weight off your shoulders, you should easily get the help you want.
Do not forget to have fun with locating the right wedding invitations for you and your fiancé. By keeping it similar to your own interests, your own unique wedding invitation will become a major keepsake to look back upon your very special day.
Michelle Claussen is a calligrapher who likes studying weddings and finding useful, quality information for brides. If you want to learn more about making your own wedding invitations, please visit her examination on “How To Make Breathtaking Invitations In ONLY 7 Days” at http://www.7dayinvitations.com/WeddingInvitations.htm

If you like doing scrapbooking layouts as much as I do, then you’re always looking for new thoughts and techniques to try on your next scrapbook! There’s nothing more exciting than learning a new thought that adds creativity to your scrapbooking layout! That’s why I chose to place together this article dedicated to a few of the really cool new scrapbooking tricks I’ve learned!

The first technique I want to tell you about is how to make pockets in your scrapbooking layouts. Now, there are many different ways this could be done and many different pieces of material that you could make a pocket out of… In this article, I’ll go over two ways making pockets for your scrapbooking layouts can be accomplished.

One way to add a pocket to your scrapbooking layout is to use a piece of posterboard(or any sort of paper with about the same thickness, postcards work fantastic for travel based scrapbooking layouts.) You should cut the posterboard into the size and shape you’d like it to be before doing anything else. If you want to cut a small design into the pocket seam, now is the time to do that as well.

After your posterboard pocket has the right size and shape, it’s time to add it to your scrapbooking layout! To do this, I’ve found that taking some foam mounting squares and cutting them into strips works best. That way, the pockets seem to stay secure and don’t come loose from the background.

Another thing you might like to try with this technique is using two different colors of posterboard. Cut both pieces into the same shape(or different shapes if that’s the creative touch you want to add to your scrapbooking layout) and then cut a design into the middle of one of the pieces of posterboard(like a flower for example.)

When it’s time to add your pocket, place the piece of posterboard that DOESN’T have the design cut into it down first and lay the piece with the design cut into it on top of it. This way, the color of the posterboard you have underneath shows through where you cut your design out on the top piece and there you have a creative small pocket!

Another material you can use to make pockets for your scrapbooking layouts is fabric. There are lots of fun colors and patterns when it comes to fabric, which I reckon is just wonderful! To start making your pocket out of fabric, first select your fabric and cut it down to size.

To securely mount your fabric pocket, I suggest using a hot glue gun instead of foam mounting squares. Make sure you’re very careful with the hot glue gun and that you press the fabric down firmly enough before the glue has too much time to cool. If you leave the glue too much time to start to harden before you’re able to press it into position, it will not stick right.

Another cool creative small twist you can place on this is to turn your pocket into a button up pouch! This requires only a few extra, very simple steps.

Now, first I should say that it’s a lot simpler to place your pocket pouch together if you haven’t already attached your pocket to your layout. (Though it’s not hopeless to turn your existing pocket into a pouch either!)

For the purpose of this article, we’re going to back up a step on our fabric pockets to just before we’re ready to attach the pocket to our scrapbooking layout. Just to clarify, this means you should have your fabric pocket already cut into the shape you want it to be in.

For the next step, make sure you cut another piece of fabric that is the same width as your pocket and a small longer than half of it’s height. Then, lay your fabric pocket down and take the other piece that you just cut and place one end of it underneath the top of your pocket(just enough to provide enough material to secure it to the background.) Next, fold the corners in on the top half of the material you just cut and then fold the material over your pocket to measure everything and make sure it fits the way you want it to.

If everything measures out right, the next thing we’re going to do is add a button to your pocket. (Keep in mind, we haven’t glued or mounted anything yet!) With your pocket pouch still being held in place, place a button over the pouch flap you have folded over the pocket to see how it will look. When you have it positioned right, lift the flap and place the button on the pocket, then place the flap back over it and cut a slot for your button in the flap and sew your button onto the pocket.

Also, an extra tip, it may be simpler to pin the folded in corners of your flap in place while you make the cut for your button hole.

All you have left to do now is to glue it all together! For this, I would start gluing the bottom half of the pocket first then, before you glue the top half, measure everything one more time, place your pouch flap where it should be and glue it into place, then end gluing the top half of your pocket pouch. And, finally, you’re ready for the last step!

So far, your pocket and your pocket flap should be glued into place and you should have your button hole cut into the flap and the button sewed to the pocket. Now, you need to set the flaps to stay in their folded position. If you have pinned your flap into place, now is the time to remove your pins and glue it into place with the hot glue gun. Again, please remember to be careful with the hot glue gun, but also make sure you firmly press the fabric together before the glue cools off too much.

The finished result will give your scrapbooking layouts creative fabric pockets that you can button and unbutton! These are really fantastic for keeping small keepsakes in!
Southern Isis is a dedicated scrapper with a natural talent for crafts!
To read more about me and how scrapbooking changed my life(along with some handy scrapbooking tips!) Please visit my site: http://hubpages.com/hub/scrapbooking-layouts

How in the world can we say that you would really save money on your wedding by buying wedding favors?  It’s really rather simple – you save money overall if you use those favors as not just gifts to give away to your guests but as a way to round out your decorations or even take the place of certain decorations such as your centerpieces.
Here’s how this works.  When your guests arrive at your reception you want them to be greeted with a gorgeous layout and this includes the individual tables.  Most brides choose very expensive centerpieces for each table but your wedding favors can really do double duty here.  When you buy your favors, be sure to wrap them in festive wrapping paper or something that matches your reception’s décor and then stack them in a nice arrangement at each table.  Remember that you don’t want to just pile them up but arrange everything neatly.
You can also use your wedding favors as decoration at each table by putting them in the middle of the top plate if you’re having a plated dinner, or place them at the place setting the same way you would the wine glasses.  If your tables are not going to be set when guests arrive such as for a buffet meal, arrange the wedding favors in front of each chair the way you would when setting a table.  By using your wedding favors this way you are making your table look very festive so you don’t need to spend extra on your centerpieces.
Dressing up your wedding favors is vital when using them this way.  For those in boxes you can certainly use that nice wrapping paper and make them even more special by tying them with long ribbon that you gently drape over the table.  You can use ribbon for wedding favors that you don’t wrap such as for candles.  And to go the extra mile you can use something special for the ribbon such as strings of crystal beads, fabric trim, lace, or even tassels.  You can take your time to browse a sewing supply store, craft supply store, or even a scrapbooking supplier to find just the right material to make your favors really stand out.
Another way to use wedding favors to dress up your table is to sprinkle the tables with flowers petals or confetti and then set up your favors.  This way your table looks very festive but you’re saving money on decorations and centerpieces; flower petals or confetti is nearly always going to be more affordable than centerpieces!
Remember that your guests are very pleased to be at your wedding and are pleased for you, but they still needed to get dressed up, have bought a gift, and are there for you and your huge day.  Purchasing wedding favors is your way of thanking them for being there for you and helping to make your day even more special.  While everyone is concerned about their budget today, you want to reconsider any impulse to forego wedding favors altogether and instead get as much life out of them as you can by having them help to fill out your decorations and the look and feel of your venue.
 
Linda Ellison is a freelance writer who specializes in trends and lifestyles. Her previously published fiction works, including the Dana Ford Mystery Series, have been on bookshelves nationwide. Visit www.FavorsAndWraps.com to read more about the latest trends in wedding favors.

What do you reckon is the most vital detail of your wedding? Your dress, your hair and makeup, the rings, the flowers? What about your vows, the music you choose? Of course, chances are that the most vital detail of your wedding would be the person standing next to you at the altar, but other than that, what’s your second choice?

It’s probably very hard to choose one particular detail that you might consider as being the most vital, and of course the answer will be different for each bride. But when thinking about wedding details, one that you never want to overlook or reckon of as being unimportant is your choice of wedding favors.

And why is this? Why are your wedding favors one of the most vital details of your wedding? Simply place, wedding favors are the one item from your wedding that guests are going to take home with them. Along with photos, your wedding favors are going to be place in an album or kept as a treasured memento of that special day. Long after they’ve forgotten what your gown looked like or what was served for dinner at the reception, your wedding favors are going to be with them as a reminder.

Not only will they be kept for years to come, but your wedding favors say a lot about you as a bride and what you reckon of the guests that are going to be sharing your special day. If you’ve spent thousands of dollars on a designer gown for yourself and have chosen just the right jewelry, have had your hair and makeup done by a professional, and want the fanciest decorations for your church, but have your guests eat cold chicken and watered down liquor, what message do you reckon they’ll take home with them? Or if you send them home with poorly designed or downright tacky wedding favors, how will they feel about that?

Yes, your wedding is your day, but it’s also a time when you are playing hostess to so many friends and loved ones. Because your wedding is your day, it’s also your party, and the guests are just that – guests at your party, just as much as if they had come to your home for a dinner or backyard barbecue. The type of hostess you choose to be will leave a lasting impression with your guests, so it’s vital to make sure they know how vital they are to you, and putting an extra bit of time and attention toward your wedding favors is a fantastic way to do just that.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you need to break the budget or feel obligated to get things for your guests that you really can’t afford. The real key to making wedding favors that are memorable and that will be treasured is to simply place some extra time and effort into making them personal and unique. For example, simple boxes of chocolate truffles can be dressed up with gorgeous wrapping paper and thick ribbon. Tulle bags of Hershey’s Kisses can be tied with strings of shiny beads, available at sewing supply store or even where you would buy Christmas tree garland. And a nice touch for wedding favors, one that many brides have loved for years, is customized candy bar wrappers. They are personal, affordable, and if you choose the right design and the right manufacturer, they can be a treasured keepsake for years to come. For example, one of the internet’s largest customized candy wrapping sites, www.FavorsAndWraps.com, has over 150 designs for wedding favors, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, baby showers, and everything in between. Their designs include nature and beach scenes, fun and whimsical designs, ones that are elegant and traditional, and many that are clean and modern. They are meant to be used as keepsakes, whether for a scrapbook or collage, and many are even suitable for framing.

So when deciding on all the vital details of your special day, remember that you want to pay attention to how you make others feel on this day as well. Your wedding favors will be something that will be kept and treasured always, so make sure you give attention to this vital detail as well!
Linda Ellison is a freelance writer who specializes in trends and lifestyles. Her previously published fiction works, including the Dana Ford Mystery Series, have been on bookshelves nationwide. Visit www.FavorsAndWraps.com to read more about the latest trends in wedding favors.