| The current average cost of a UK wedding is | | | | albums can be very costly and now offer CD only |
| somewhere in the region of fifteen to twenty thousand | | | | options. This usually includes all of the photos on CD |
| pounds. In today's credit crunch climate, it is surprising | | | | with full copy write which means that you can choose |
| however that this is still the case. Wherever we turn | | | | how much and when you spend on prints. Packages |
| on the high street or whenever we open a | | | | average around £600 making this a great |
| newspaper, we are greeted with promises of fantastic | | | | alternative to getting an album produced from the |
| sales across the UK. So how can the Bride and | | | | offset as this often costs thousands of pounds. If your |
| Groom to be get in on the act and avoid breaking the | | | | photographer hasn't been recommended by someone |
| bank to pay for their big day? Well, with a bit of | | | | who has used them before, make sure that you check |
| creativity and a few helpful hints and tips gathered | | | | them out fully before booking them. A good indication |
| from here and there, there are more than a few ways | | | | of a good photographer is variety of content on their |
| to save thousands of pounds on your wedding, here | | | | website as well as a recognised qualification or |
| are a few examples of how. | | | | membership of a professional photography group. |
| Shop Around | | | | Remember to also ask whether their previous clients |
| Firstly be sure to shop around. As an example, | | | | have reviewed their work anywhere as there are |
| designers tend to charge over £100 for a | | | | now many websites where customers can rate |
| bridesmaid dress, where as evening dress lines or | | | | wedding businesses. |
| bridesmaid ranges in department stores can be just as | | | | Less is Less! |
| nice and are often half the price. If you don't mind your | | | | Venue decoration options seem endless these days. |
| bridesmaids wearing different styles, this can help with | | | | Many people choose seat covers to disguise dowdy |
| the cost as well. You can often find dresses of the | | | | hotel chairs or to co-ordinate with the rest of their table |
| same color but differing styles in the sale towards the | | | | decorations or venue lighting to really make an |
| end of the season. As we know, it is often the case | | | | impression and follow their colour theme through. |
| that one style doesn't suit all so here you have the | | | | Whatever the case, again there is opportunity to make |
| added bonus that your bridesmaids will probably thank | | | | savings. Choosing a theme such a monochrome |
| you for this as well! | | | | keeps your decoration simple yet highly effective. |
| A fun way to stick to your budget and have fun at the | | | | Black and white is often a lot cheaper then some of |
| same time is to set each other challenges to see who | | | | the more adventurous options and comes with the |
| can find the best price on items such as the wedding | | | | added benefit of adding an element of timelessness to |
| cars. A handy hint here is that where the venue is | | | | your theme. The use of simple items such as feathers |
| fairly close to the church many companies will do two | | | | in place of more expensive floristry arrangements will |
| trips rather than expect you to hire two cars. | | | | knock pounds off your budget. |
| Avoid Minimum Order | | | | In fact, over recent years, table flowers have |
| When it comes to wedding stationery, many | | | | graduated from massive bouquets to simple |
| companies require a minimum order, making it difficult | | | | arrangements. This is handy when it comes to cost |
| to save money when ordering from a catalog yet | | | | saving. Displays featuring between three to five stems |
| bespoke handmade stationery which often doesn't | | | | are extremely effective and even more so with the |
| require a minimum order can be very costly so why | | | | introduction of masterpieces such as colored water or |
| not try your hand at making your own stationery and | | | | bamboo. This keeps costs down and looks amazing to |
| even the wedding favors as well? With literally | | | | boot meaning that in this case, less is actually less in |
| everything you could need as well as a book on 'how | | | | terms of pounds! Remember also that your bridal |
| to' under one roof at shops such as Hobby Craft, you | | | | bouquets will not be with you all day and therefore |
| can't really go wrong. And if you feel that this is still to | | | | needn't cost a fortune. Simple wrist bracelets are very |
| complicated then ask one of the more crafty guests | | | | popular for bridesmaids and a great way to save on |
| to help you out as their wedding gift to you. | | | | your flowers. If you are having flowers in the church, |
| Ask Family and Friends To Help | | | | ask your florist to move these to the reception. Your |
| It can often be handy if friends or family can provide | | | | florist will be able to recycle the arrangement and |
| an item for the wedding as their gift to you. For | | | | create new ones within a very short space of time. |
| example, when it comes to the cake, you may well | | | | Dress to Impress for Less |
| have an abundance of offers from older family | | | | If there is one item that you won't want to |
| members. Don't be put off with thoughts of a traditional | | | | compromise on, this is sure to be the wedding dress |
| masterpiece covered in flowers and piping. If you | | | | and this does make sense after all! All is not lost |
| prefer something plainer you don't need to pay an | | | | however, use Google to search for discount codes for |
| average of £400 for the cake and neither do | | | | local wedding suppliers which will often include the |
| you need to offend those offering their services. | | | | dress and don't forget wedding planning websites, join |
| Simply thank them kindly for their offer, tell them that | | | | as a member and gain access to fantastic wedding |
| their cakes are absolutely amazing and you would love | | | | planning tools to help you plan your big day as well as |
| them to help out. Ask if they would mind simply icing | | | | many discounted wedding products and services |
| the cake very plainly as you would love to tie the cake | | | | which will again include dress shops. Many bridal |
| into your theme (hearts, feathers or whatever) and let | | | | boutiques now have offers such as Groom's suit for |
| them know that you already have some lovely | | | | free when you purchase the wedding dress or a |
| decorations for the top in line with this theme. There | | | | discount when you hire a certain number of suits. For |
| are many cake shops selling modern sugar craft which | | | | the more adventurous bride to be, it is worth knowing |
| you can place on the cake relatively easily or if brave | | | | that you can often find designer dresses on eBay |
| enough, you can give the person making the cake | | | | many of which have never been worn! |
| strict instructions as to how and where to place these! | | | | Bargain Bubbly |
| Alternatively you could try out a supermarket wedding | | | | You will often find that the price of wine at your venue |
| cake - you can decorate them yourself and you may | | | | will be more expensive than in your local supermarket. |
| be surprised by the taste. | | | | Although the venues tend to charge corkage if |
| Avoid Unwanted Gifts | | | | providing your own drinks, shop around as you will |
| You will have heard many storied of unwanted | | | | often still be able to beat the price on offer at the |
| wedding gifts but are probably wondering how best to | | | | venue through buying in bulk even with the corkage |
| avoid this. If you do want specific gifts, one option is to | | | | charge included. Nowadays it is rare that a couple |
| start a gift list within a department store. Keep your | | | | provide a free bar, so don't feel pressured into doing |
| eyes peeled for the best deal however, as stores | | | | so as it is very unlikely that this will be expected! |
| often have a free gift card to lure you to sign up. | | | | Better Late than Never |
| Many of the gifts available from store to store are the | | | | More and more couples are opting for a later wedding |
| same, so go for the one with the free gift card! The | | | | these days, and this can save you a great deal of |
| good news is that the wedding gift tradition is actually | | | | cash! Getting married mid afternoon gives opportunity |
| a pretty good way to pay for part of the wedding or | | | | for a buffet type wedding breakfast. If this doesn't suit |
| the honeymoon. If you would like cash rather than | | | | you then cut down on the evening buffet as very |
| physical gifts but feel this cheeky be aware that many | | | | rarely does this run out, in fact in many cases guests |
| travel agents offer a honeymoon account. This simply | | | | end up taking this home with them! Remember that |
| means that they will send out notifications to guests | | | | getting married on a day other than a Saturday or |
| inviting them to donate towards this account. Not only | | | | Sunday can also save you money, on average this will |
| is this a great way to save on your honeymoon but | | | | save you around £1,500! |
| also a much less embarrassing way to ask for cash. | | | | Don't take no for an answer |
| Alternatively just ask outright in a letter within the | | | | And finally, barter, barter and barter again. We are in |
| invitations or use one of the many cleverly worded | | | | the midst of a price war wherever we turn. It may be |
| poems available on the internet | | | | bad news for business but it's great news for brides! |
| Every Picture Tells a Story | | | | Gone are the days when cheaper suppliers means |
| One area where extreme caution should be taken is | | | | lower quality goods, these days even the top suppliers |
| the wedding photos as these really will be with you for | | | | in the country are having to fight for their position. The |
| life. After spending hours on end planning your day, it is | | | | message here is simple, don't agree to the first price |
| vitally important that you are happy with the quality of | | | | that you hear, don't be afraid to challenge those prices |
| the photographer that you choose. Many | | | | and don't take no for an answer! |
| photographers have recognized the fact that wedding | | | | |