| At least once a year, Internet headlines and the front | | | | votives that burned for 10 hours. They were the most |
| page of your local paper's "Life" section declare the | | | | talked about décor item of the wedding and |
| new "average" cost for weddings. Most recently, it's | | | | cost about the least! |
| been in the ballpark of $30,000, which is about what it | | | | Chair covers: Nothing dampens the elegance of a |
| cost for me to go to college. | | | | wedding like hard, upholstered chairs that don't match |
| When I began to plan my wedding four years ago, I | | | | the wedding décor. It's hard to pull off burgundy |
| bought the phonebook-sized bridal magazines like | | | | seats when your color is pink. Many reception halls |
| every girl does. I spent time online gazing at gowns | | | | offer seat covers for a few dollars a piece. They are |
| and table settings, but I went into the planning stages | | | | usually a plain white but can be jazzed up with some |
| believing I could create almost everything the | | | | silk flowers or ribbon. If seat covers are not on the |
| magazines insisted I have at my wedding - from | | | | menu, find some very wide ribbon at a local craft or |
| invitations to centerpieces. And I was right. I could | | | | fabric retailer and create giant bows to tie around the |
| create them, and so can you. | | | | backs of each chair. Not so great at tying bows? Use |
| Oh, and I also had a little extra inspiration: my | | | | a bow-tying tool, like the Bowdabra ( These "extra |
| fiancé and I were paying for most of our own | | | | hands" are available online and at most craft retailers. |
| wedding. This certainly helped the creative juices flow | | | | I actually had a chance to talk with Sandy Sandler, |
| as I searched for ways to cut costs without looking | | | | who created the Bowdabra, and asked her about |
| like I had cut corners. It's easier than you may think. | | | | some of the ways people have used the bow-maker |
| First, some advice on where to start: think of the one | | | | for weddings. |
| thing most important to you on your wedding day and | | | | "I have received some of the most incredible letters |
| splurge there. If you've always dreamed of a particular | | | | from people who have used the Bowdabra to create |
| dress designer, location, wedding cake designer, | | | | everything from pew bows to beautiful swags as |
| caterer or want spring flowers for your November | | | | centerpieces," said Sandler. Sandler features some |
| nuptials, spend your money there. | | | | wedding creations on her Web site. |
| Once you decide on your most important aspect of | | | | Speaking of Bows...: You are most likely also |
| the wedding, make a list of the things you must have | | | | responsible for decorating the church or actual |
| (like invitations) and things you'd like to have (like menu | | | | wedding location. Of course you could hire someone |
| cards or guest favors). From here, you can identify the | | | | or have your florist do this, but if you're looking to save |
| things you're actually capable of making yourself (with | | | | a few dollars, pew bows are a very traditional |
| help, of course). Here are some ideas: | | | | adornment that are simple to make (especially if you |
| Invitations: Yes, you can buy a package of | | | | have a bow-making tool!). |
| pre-designed "print at home" invitations at your local | | | | The cake: If your wedding cake isn't that "one thing" |
| craft store, but that is not your only option when it | | | | you decide to splurge on, you can implement the oldest |
| comes to designing and printing your own invitations. | | | | cost-cutter in the book. Purchase a beautiful wedding |
| Take advantage of the Internet! First, use the invitation | | | | cake at a price you can afford and buy sheet cakes |
| catalogs you'll undoubtedly receive in the mail to pick | | | | of the same cake flavor, which will hide out in the |
| out a design/color you like. | | | | kitchen until the "show cake" is cut. Your guests will |
| Then, find a paper company and purchase blank | | | | never know the piece they take home wrapped in a |
| cardstock in the colors you want. If you know | | | | napkin didn't come from the cake they saw in front. |
| someone with a gift for design or have an idea of | | | | Your shoes: Don't get talked into buying a pair of $50 |
| your own, play around in your word processing | | | | "dyeable" wedding shoes when you buy your dress. |
| program with a couple options. When it comes time to | | | | Be creative and look for a pair of shoes you'll actually |
| print, you could send the job out to a local printer (still | | | | wear after the big day. I bought a pair of sparkly blue |
| cheaper than buying invitations), or you can print at | | | | slides that were cute, comfortable, and served as my |
| home. If you're doing the job in-house, make sure your | | | | "something blue." |
| printer is clean and its print settings are all on | | | | Consider an all-inclusive reception hall: If you're thinking |
| "high-quality," not high-speed. Do a few practice print | | | | of renting a location that requires you to bring in the |
| outs. When you print the actual invitations, do them in | | | | tent, chairs, caterer, baker, music and alcohol, compare |
| small batches, not 200 at a time. This gives your printer | | | | the cost to a reception hall where everything is |
| a chance to clean itself and cool down. | | | | included. You'll have fewer loose ends to worry about |
| Centerpieces: Depending on where you choose to hold | | | | as you approach the wire and you're likely spend a lot |
| your reception, centerpieces may be included in the | | | | less. This is of course, if "location," isn't your splurge |
| cost to rent the space. Even so, you may have | | | | item. |
| something else in mind. Use those thick bridal | | | | One of the most important things to keep in mind |
| magazines for ideas and simply copy them. A | | | | when planning your wedding is this: It's your wedding - |
| centerpiece featured in full color in one of these bridal | | | | there are no rules! If you don't want to wear your hair |
| guides could easily cost into the hundreds. But an | | | | up, don't wear it up. If you don't want to wear a veil, |
| elegant knock off is well within reach. One of the | | | | don't wear one! If you'd rather not sit at a head table |
| décor items that add up quickly is votive | | | | and eat before an audience, reserve a table on the |
| candles. Glass holders that start at $1.00 each may | | | | main floor for yourselves and the wedding party. |
| seem inexpensive at first, but if you're planning to use | | | | Taking family tradition into consideration is one thing, but |
| 15 on each of 20 tables, you're looking at $300 for | | | | when it's society at large pressuring you to conform, |
| glass candle holders alone. A great substitute is plastic | | | | you have the power to say "no!" You don't have to |
| disposable votives, available through most church | | | | spend $30,000 on your wedding (save it for your |
| suppliers. I spent about $65 for 200 disposable red | | | | honeymoon or your first home!). |