Going to the Chapel and We’re Going to… Save Money

Weddings are expensive at the best of times and right now, with the way things are with the economy, it’s hard to justify spending a couple of euros never mind thousands.

If you are getting married soon you will know all too well about the stresses of planning a wedding. More importantly you will also know about the costs.

Fear not as Her.ie is coming to your rescue. Here are eight great tips that might just make your wedding plans a little more affordable and a lot more personal.

1. Have a look at your mum’s wedding dress. If she’s alright with it, see what you could do with it to make it suit your style and needs. Getting a dress altered will be a lot cheaper than buying a new one. It also means that you’ll be getting married in the dress that your mum wore which we think is a lovely idea. Like mother like daughter!
2. Buy card, lace and good-quality paper. Get designing and creating your own wedding invitations. The secret is to keep the design simple and ask your fiancée to help. It will give you both a fun night in which will take you back to that arts and craft class you took when you were six and save you lots of money. Just have the plasters handy for all those paper cuts!
3. If you or a member of your family has nice flowers in the back garden, see if you can cut a few to create bouquets for yourself and your bridal party. All you need then is flower tape and white ribbon. Arrange the flowers nicely, tape the stalks together and finish off with the white ribbon. Just be sure to remove any thorns. The last thing you want is a blood-covered dress!
4. Rather than splashing out on a professional photographer that will take lots of cheesy photographs, ask your friends and families to bring along their digital or disposable cameras to catch some cheesy and unexpected shots. Not only will you have a unique album by the end of it but you’ll have a laugh going through the snaps when you get back from your honeymoon.  And yes, you really did throw that dance move in the middle of the floor!
5. Do you fancy yourself as a budding baker? Or perhaps a friend is always bringing around buns and cakes a la Brie Van de Kamp. Either way, have a home-baked cakeand decorate it yourself. All you have to do is cover it in royal icing and add a few ribbons as well as the two traditional figures on top. Our mouths are watering just at the thought.
6. In this day and age it’s hard not to know someone in a band or who sings. Why not asksomeone you know to sing as the entertainment for your wedding reception. Create a playlist that the venue can play out through the speakers for the remainder of the evening. All that’s left for you to do is boogie on down!
7. Follow the example set by Friends and ask a close friend to perform the ceremony. We would get someone that is close to both you and your groom so that they can personalise it. Make sure you read over what they’re planning to say. Jokes during the evening speeches are fine but in the middle of the service just after your heartfelt vows, which have caused you to ball like a baby, not so much!
8. Call in every favour you have. Friends and family will surprise you with how much stuff they can do for the big day. Your uncle might happen to be a DJ or your best friend might happen to own an estate in Galway with a huge garden and a marquee. Okay, so maybe we’re setting our hopes a tad high. But do ask!

The more you can do yourself, the cheaper your wedding will be. Of course you don’t want to be running yourself into the ground and not enjoying yourself trying to do all of these things but you could do some of them. And remember every cent you save on the wedding you can put towards the honeymoon!