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Your Big Day on a Dime
(ARA) - A wedding to treasure doesn't have to break the bank. In
fact, with smart planning and a little research, you can have a
beautiful and memorable wedding with money left over for the honeymoon.
According to experts at The Art Institutes, the best way to begin
planning your wedding is to start with a ballpark budget in mind.
Determine your high and low price and then head online to do research.
By using the Internet, experts say , you can find prices for everything
from wedding gowns to photography to reception halls. This gives you a
great starting point.
Once you know what you can spend, Suzanne Morrison-Williams, Academic
Department director of interactive media design at The Art Institute of
Fort Lauderdale, suggests involving friends and family to help offset
costs. For example, she says , you may have friends who are DJs or
amateur photographers and are willing to donate their talents for your
big day.
"Friends can also help with decorations and flowers," she says. "Flowers
bouquets can take up a big part of your budget. While roses are
beautiful, they can be expensive. Instead, look for flowers that are in
season and usually cost less." If your heart is set on expensive blooms,
she says, use fewer for more dramatic impact. You can also save on the
wedding budget using silk flower bouquets.
Experts all agree, though, the biggest cost of almost any wedding is the
reception, including the location and food. But with a little
imagination, there are inexpensive and creative alternatives to the
traditional reception hall. Alison Paster, academic director of the
Fashion Merchandising/Visual Merchandising programs at The Art Institute
of Philadelphia, recently attended a lovely and quaint wedding on the
beach.
"The venue was free, and it was a stunning backdrop," she says. The
bride purchased a dress on sale from
David's Bridal for $99, and the reception included simple covered dishes
and grills for barbecue.
Other ideas to borrow from a simple
beach wedding, says Paster, include table centerpieces of beach
glass in fish bowls, white M&Ms in netting with a silver bow for favors,
and wedding invites and programs done on the computer using decorative
paper and hand-made accents. Paster recommends finding inspiration from
your setting, and shopping at local craft stores for table setting and
wedding
favor ideas.
If a beach wedding isn't your style, you can still find a bargain. As
the Academic Department director, Culinary & Pastry Arts for The Art
Institute of New York City, Robynne Maii wanted a restaurant wedding
reception, and with a little negotiation, she got just what she wanted,
at a good price. "When we originally started asking about renting a
restaurant for our reception, the prices were very high," says Maii.
"However, when you speak directly with the owners, prices go down
significantly especially if you want a lunch or brunch."
More tips for weddings on a budget from experts at The Art Institutes
include:
* If you have your heart set on the $1,200 dress, find a dressmaker and
you can get it made for $500.
* For elegant food, simpler is
better. Guests do not need a large variety of hors d'oeuvres or entrée
choices. It is better to be specific with what the couple wants and have
it executed well. Don't try to please everyone. You always have better
quality with less quantity.
* For the location, try something offbeat like a park with a ballroom or
a school gymnasium. Some apartment or condo complexes have clubhouses
that they allow residents to use for a few hundred dollars.
* Consider booking your wedding on a Friday night or Sunday morning or
afternoon. Since these are not popular days, you may get a discount for
using that non-premium time.
* If you don't have a crowd that drinks a lot of alcohol and you are
using a location that includes alcohol in the per head cost, then simply
remove premium alcohol and serve only wine and beer. That will lower the
cost by about $8 per person. Then reserve about $200 for those few
persons who might want whisky, etc.
* Go to your local college, art or music school to find out about hiring
students to play music or take photographs. These schools may be able to
refer you to students who are often willing to work for less in exchange
for the experience and building their portfolio. Be sure to ask for
samples and references, but be flexible. Generally, students are not
professionals.
Courtesy of ARA Content
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Art Institutes system of 31 education institutions is
located throughout North America, providing an important source of
design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The Art
Institutes system of schools has provided career-oriented education
programs for over 40 years. For more information, visit The Art
Institutes website at
www.artinstitutes.edu/nz
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