| Getting married is such an important step. The | | | | Ask for their suggestions. Less people in the wedding |
| average wedding in the US costs $10,000 to $14,000. | | | | party will mean less expense. Set your theme more |
| Let us say your wedding budget is much less as in | | | | casually, so the people who stand with you can wear |
| few hundred dollars. | | | | their own dress-up clothes. Pull it all together with |
| Yes, it is possible to create a wonderful romantic | | | | scarves and silk flower corsages and |
| wedding for much less. Let us look at the various | | | | boutonnières from the dollar store. |
| components to a wedding. There are the invitations, | | | | Your wedding gown is special. Nearly every second |
| wedding site, officiator, bridesmaids and groomsmen, | | | | hand clothing store has at least 2 or 3 gowns, or |
| flowers, music and the banquet. | | | | check on any auction site for a low cost gown. You |
| Invitations can be created on your home computer | | | | will want to have it professionally cleaned. Finish it with |
| photo shop program. They can be beautiful and | | | | a pair of dressy sandals, your best underwear and |
| tasteful, for pennies on the dollar, plus postage. To cut | | | | your grandmother's necklace. |
| postage expenses, send the invitation to the central | | | | To dress up the banquet table, you will want flowers |
| member of the family group, with a request that they | | | | and candles, which are very low cost at most dollar |
| pass it on to the others. Or hand deliver to those | | | | stores. Use clean, ironed white sheets for table cloths |
| closest to you. Create a maximum of 20 invitations, if | | | | for low budget. |
| you are looking at 40 to 50 guests. | | | | For music, look through your collection of CDs for the |
| If many of the guests are members of a church, it | | | | wedding ceremony and banquet afterwards. For |
| provides a wedding site without charge. You will also | | | | pictures, use a couple of borrowed digital cameras, in |
| be allowed to use the church hall for your banquet. | | | | the hands of friends to record the wedding. Copy onto |
| Recruit family and friends to clean afterward to avoid | | | | your computer and edit. |
| a cleaning fee. If you are not a church member, think | | | | Wedding cakes are inexpensive, when you make your |
| about an outdoor wedding at a park, or the home of | | | | own. Decorate with more silk flowers. This cost is only |
| family or a friend. You will be expected to give the | | | | for the cake and frosting mixes. The remaining part of |
| officiator a gratuity, however. | | | | the budget can be used to provide a buffet meal, |
| When it comes to bridesmaids, maid of honor, best | | | | prepared by you and your family. |
| man and groomsmen, be honest about your budget. | | | | |