No matter what kind of wedding you want, you’ve got to make it happen within a pre-set budget. Now, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to give up on all your hopes and dreams for your big day. There are plenty of ways to get what you want without starting married life in massive debt. Doing parts of it yourself and/or taking a non-traditional approach to some aspects of your big day are our most recommended cost-saving measures. Read on for our favorite ways you can avoid paying that notorious "wedding premium".
Put the Girls to Work
With wedding blogs and Pinterest ideas everywhere, finding inspiration for table décor and color schemes has never been easier. Host a girl’s weekend at home with crafting supplies and plenty of wine and snacks. Let your bridesmaids get hands-on with the details and have a great time bonding while checking things off the list! And while you’ve got everyone together, why not go shopping? Wedding shops make tons of money off matchy-matchy bridesmaid dresses that too often result in over-spending on frocks no one really likes or plans to wear again. Instead of tumbling down that well-worn trail, be a better bride and let everyone standing up with you choose a dress they love. You can provide color options, material, or length of skirt (or even let them wear a trendy suit!) and let them shop around for the best cut and price for their body and their budget.