Shoe-string, Low-cost, Budget-Conscious, Money-Wise, Money-Saving Wedding Theme & Reception Ideas and Suggestions

• When planning your DREAM THEME WEDDING, not all of us have endless means and money at our disposal.
• Do price out, itemize and have some contingency funds available for last-minutes things, additions and crisises that might cross your path or you did not plan for.
• Weekdays are not off-limits for weddings, they are welcomed as not many people tap into them. Typically cheaper too. Pick dates between November and April to avoid paying higher seasonal rates or surchargers due to increased volume, demand and less space making it prime territory and hot commodities! Some dates might not even be available, so check and start planning as early as you can.
• Upon reservations ask for the manager, planners, rooms, quotes and more to get the ball rolling – the earlier the better
• Theme-elements can greatly and cheaply enhance the events and unfolding of your special wedding day
• Themed weddings might cost more or less than your typical ceremony or reception
• Themed weddings can make tight budgets work really well
• Lower the guest list to friends and family closest
• Hotels, all-inclusives, resorts, conference centers and popular wedding venues
• Have a plan of how the whole event, from start to finish will go and account for time (overtime costs money!)
• Guests can also contribute to the costs to keep it down/low and rather than gifts, donate their professional time as DJ, flower-arrangers, ushers, wedding officiates, centerpieces, choosing and shopping for the favors as opposed to giving gifts.
• Discounts and packages deals (when you stay at the hotel for example), blocks of rooms
• Digital cameras and camcorders are welcome and collages, not costing a lot of money, but priceless, will surprize you and save you money!
• Couples and parents, indivdiually and collectively can have input and say and should split the tally and costs (that is the more modern take on how to get things done, with most couples choosing to even elope to not deal with issues like these at all, just with their immediate family, friends or just the two of them!)
• Choose ONE location for both ceremony and reception to make things easy and optimize discounts/package deals if you can and it suits your purpose
• Ceremony and reception elements can underscore the theme and build on the overall experience and dream wedding theme you have in mind for your day and your guests.
• Calculate the cost per guest for your theme budget and make any adjustments necessary
• Beer and guests brining their own drinks are also quite acceptable these days as well.
• Any weddings cost mone
• You can save money on your audio and video etc. for your theme wedding.
• Getting married in city hall for the official ceremony and just hosting a small intimate reception or drinks, rather than pay all of that extra money can also be a viable option.
• Students and professional photographers, photo-clubs and amateurs looking for practice opportunity make great candidates for taking your pictures and video at your dream theme wedding
• Get a friend or family member to videotape the ceremony for you as well, instead of a wedding gift – you will be surprised how many would want to step up and take the responsibility.
• Students, hobby, casual musicians and entertainers, talent in your own family circles and/or community networks might be able to help you out or and MP3 player, hooked up to a system with music of your choice, might just do the trick, so no DJ will be required.
• Package deals save money but check the fine-print and details prior to signing – know what you get and buyer beware also.

When it comes to food and theme weddings, you need to pay closer attention to what you are putting on the plates, tables and into the mouths of your guests! It does not have to break or hurt your budget!

Catering and wedding budgets go hand in hand. Here is where most of your money for the wedding will end up going, believe it or not. Food and drink, linens, rentals etc. all add up. Add to that bill beverages, alcohol and the tab might surprise and shock you. Your per-head count and unit costs all drive this equation upward, so keep your guest-list in check and plan accordingly. All the activity, celebrating, feasting and merriment will need and demand food and drink and that costs money! EVEN FOR A THEMED WEDDING. There are however lots that you can do to minimize the impact of this.

• Types and how many hors d’oeuvres you order
• Using a professional caterer or not
• In-house or outside contractor
• Any additional service, gratuity and labor chargers, set-up , extra staff/servers

For appetizers offer cheese and crackers or mini items – this is not the main meal – just nibblies are fine and some mints/candy on the tables, should do nicely. It does not have to be elaborate.

Basic and smart menu-choices – not five-course meal if you cannot afford it (soup/salad, veg, main entrée & dessert coffee/tea just fine for most, backyard BBQ, with beer and ice-cream can also appeal to the backyard, out-door, informal wedding for friends and family, smaller scale wedding solutions with themes of your choice – beach party, sports-bar, hang-outs – anything and everything goes type parties

Per-person budget will drive the cost higher or lower – keep a close eye on this
Ensure that there is enough food for everyone, without waste or risk of running out

Volunteers, guests, friends and family can prepare all the appetizers, side dishes, bread, meals and salads, even cakes and desserts.

Avoid high-prices menu-items like shrimp, salmon, lobster and beef tenderloin. If you can afford it, include it as an appetizer ONLY to keep costs down and not sacrifice what you value (if it is important to you).

• Finger-food, sandwiches, snacks, drinks, coffee/dessert, breakfast or brunch are cheaper options.
• Food stations and buffets keep costs down
• Italian pastas and Mexican menus or buffets are typically cheaper and appeals to many taste palettes
• Offer a buffet style meal rather than a sit down dinner.
• Lunch is cheaper than a plated dinner
• Informal is cheaper than formal
• Theme foods are exciting and can be bought in bulk to keep costs down to – you have more of a personal say and handle on where and what is bought and how it is presented if you do it yourself
• REALIZE that the food and beverage portion of any wedding takes the most money, planning and actual work – especially if you are doing it all yourself!

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