Wedding on a Budget - Tips from the Mother of the Bride

Weddings are fun and exciting for everyone involved...but they take a ton of hard work, so if you're hoping to have a "budget" wedding, make sure you have plenty of helpers when you're preparing for your special day.

Here are a few money saving ideas (but labor intensive):

1. Have your wedding at a friend or family member's home. If you're having a small wedding this type of venue is practically free (although you may want to offer to do something for your host). There are also plenty of affordable parks and recreational facilities that allow weddings and receptions. Remember, the reception is the part of the wedding day that costs the most!

2. Make sure you have plenty of street parking for your guests. Self-parking can save you a ton of bucks, so you don't have to worry about valets and tips.

3. Lighting - if you're getting married in the evening remember that lighting is important. If you love twinkle/xmas lights you might want to stock up when they go on clearance after Christmas. Or, choose to marry early in the day and have an afternoon reception, thus removing the need for lighting all together.

4. Do It Yourself - if you have the time and the energy to do it yourself, then do it! Gather your sweet bridesmaids around you a week or two prior to the wedding and make cute party favors or stuff glassine bags with rice...you can save several hundreds of dollars by not purchasing pre-made party favors.

5. Order Online - there are many many sites on the web these days that can save you money by buying in bulk. If you need 100 of something for a wedding, you can probably get them online and shipped free to your home or wedding location.

6. Check payment methods - make sure anything you buy online is returnable for your money back, not gift cards or store credits. If you purchase online with Paypal from a big store you will NOT receive your money back. I purchased $300 worth of dresses at Target online and used my Paypal account...when I took the dresses into Target I was told I would only receive a gift card as a refund. Now I have a $300 gift card and a $300 debt I have to pay back. Not cool.

That's all my tips for now! Hope they help you with your fabulous wedding day! Hugs!