Tips for Planning a Frugal Wedding - An Encore by Miss Know It All

Miss Know It All

Yes, that’s right. I said a frugal wedding.  Don’t stand on ceremonies when it comes to saving money. Why spend humongous amounts of cash, refinance a home or use credit cards on a wedding that might not last for more than a second.  

Today, the average American wedding can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000, and that’s just in New York City. If you have disposable income, then go ahead and plan that extravagant event. But if you are in a financial hole, and who isn’t in this economy, you can still have a fabulous wedding without going into debt. Following are some ideas to help you plan that extraordinary, penny-pinching wedding. The extra cash you’ll save can go towards putting a down-payment on a house, investing in stock market or buying a certificate of deposit, even if it only provides .01% interest. At least you’ll have some money for that rainy day.

Rather than have fancy and expensive invitations printed by a vendor, print the invitations yourself on plain 20 lb. paper, and don’t include a self-addressed stamped envelope for your guests to RSVP. Chances are they will remove the postage stamp, never reply and still show up at your wedding.

You can save bundles of money, avoid drama brought on by family, friends and future in-laws by going to City Hall.

If you must have that designer wedding dress, go to a thrift shop, rent or ask to borrow a friend’s or relative’s dress.

Instead of having an elaborate reception at some exclusive catering hall, celebrate your union at McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeyes or Kentucky Fried Chicken, and let your guests pay at cost.

Use fake foliage instead of fresh flowers.

Forget the eight tiered wedding cake. Serve cupcakes, brownies or cookies.

If you want to save money on food and drinks, have guests bring their own dish and/or liquor.

Instead of hiring a stretch limousine, use public transportation, roller skate, bike, walk or jog to your destinations.

For music, bring a radio and tune into a station that plays non-stop melodies.

Ask your guests to take photos and videos of your wedding ceremony. You will save a fortune. And chances are the photographer and/or videographer will end up taking lousy images, go out of business or disappear with all of your money.

For your honeymoon, rent a travel video of the place you would like to visit, and pretend you and your mate are there.

In lieu of gifts, ask for cash.

Well, that’s it. These tips may sound tacky, but think about it; your unforgettable wedding will be the chatter of your guests for years to come.

So You’re Thinking About Tying the Knot: An Encore by Vivienne Diane Neal

Most people dream of getting married one day. Having a magnificent wedding is usually the bride and groom’s vision. When scheduling a wedding, so much preparation, time and effort are placed into having the ideal wedding ceremony and a memorable reception. But sometimes less thought goes into the kind of marriage one is seeking. Unfortunately, the affirmations made during the wedding ceremony, namely for the rest of our lives, in sickness and in health, until death do us part are sometimes brief. With over half of all marriages ending in divorce, a person should pose the following questions: What makes a marriage work, and how can one strive to achieve a good lasting relationship with his or her mate?

Marriage is not for everyone. Regrettably, many couples don’t realize this until it’s too late. It’s a good idea to search into your heart and soul and really think about how you see yourself as an individual, and whether you’re ready to share and commit yourself to another human being.

Before going into any type of relationship, it is vital to know who you are first, because you usually attract what you are. If you have a low self-esteem, then you will attract someone who has a low-opinion of him or herself and will never value you as a person. Denigrating or ridiculing you will always be their main objective, before and after the marriage.

Love at first sight and thinking it’s the right reason to get married so quickly may be a short-term sensation. Getting to know someone is imperative and should be a long-term endeavor. Be observant. How does the person treat his or her parents, other family members, friends and strangers?  Does the individual you’re attracted to treat others fairly and with respect; is he or she courteous, caring and compassionate? How does the person behave in private and in public? Is the person appalling behind locked doors and a sweet thing in public? The way a person behaves toward others is the same way he or she will deal with you.

The kinds of people an individual connects with will tell you plenty about that person. As the saying goes, show me your friends, and I’ll tell you what type of person you are. If your future spouse loves to party all night and stay up all day with his or her friends, then this may be a sign that you will be spending lots of nights alone.

Never make the assumption that a person will change for the better, or that you have the power to transform someone’s negative ways. If a person is an obnoxious jerk when you meet him or her, then he or she will continue to be an unbearable jerk during the marriage, unless there is some divine intervention.

Looks, money and status alone will not tell you who a person really is, but how one handles unforeseen challenges in his or her life will. Beauty wilts, money can disappear and a person’s position can change, for better or for worse, during the marriage.

The questions you should ask yourself are what is important to me, and what do I expect to get out of a marriage. Are you looking for love, money or security? If these are the only components that you are seeking in a marriage, then you should already possess these elements before committing yourself into a marriage. If having children is important to you, it should also be important to your future spouse. If you are knee high in debt and you’re living from paycheck to paycheck, then perhaps you need to evaluate your financial situation before taking that big step.

Before taking that big step, take a long look at yourself and your future spouse. Examine the qualities you both take pleasure in, and see if those characteristics make for a good sense of balance in both of your lives. Discuss your likes and dislikes. Marriage is not an institution to be taken frivolously. If there are existing problems, unnecessary drama or turmoil during the courtship and engagement phase, then the both of you should take time out, evaluate your state of affairs or go your separate ways.