Size Counts - Save on Wedding Music with an Ensemble Catered to your Guest Count

Having live music at your wedding ceremony doesn't have to be a budget breaker. A string ensemble can be a gorgeous accompliment to an elegant ceremony, but the potential cost of a string quartet can deter the budget-conscious bride.

But remember this - the size of the string ensemble should be determined by the number of guests at the gathering. It is not always necessary to have a string quartet (the most popular and costly string ensemble) if your guest list is less than 150 persons. A string trio, or duo is perfectly adequate for smaller venues, at less cost than a quartet.

For more advice to help you plan your entertainment, visit my complete wedding music guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple

Save on Wedding Attire - Excellent Option for Flower Girl Dresses

Believe it or not, Easter dresses make excellent flower girl dresses. Arriving in department stores around February, Easter dresses come in a wide variety of colors and sizes and cost much less than dresses at bridal shops.

Save on Wedding Flowers - Decorate for Impact

In decorating your event spaces, remember the importance your guests' first impressions as they enter your ceremony or reception settings. Brides often spend a lot of money on things that go largely unnoticed. If budget is a concern, first spend on areas that are the most noticeable - such as arrangements in the entrance way or candles on ledges, windowsills or walkways.

For more advice on planning your wedding day floral scheme, visit my complete wedding flowers and decor guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple

Don't Get Stuck Paying for Wedding Guests Who Don't Show Up

Without a doubt - you will allocate the largest portion of your wedding budget to wining and dining your guests. You should count on spending as much as 50% of your total wedding budget on food and beverage, more than any other element for your big day.

The easiest and most efficient way to slice your costs in half is to shrink your guest list. Food and beverage costs are charged per person, and whether you choose to serve filet and caviar or vegetable pasta and chicken wings, the cost is going to multiply by the number you are feeding

Along those lines - here is an easy, failsafe way to save:

There are always some guests who respond that they will be coming to the wedding, and then cancel at the last minute for some unforseen reason. Quote your headcount to your reception site about 10 less than your actual total. You can always add-on up until a few days before the wedding. I followed this advice and saved a lot of extra cash.

Looking for more budgeting advice? Visit the complete wedding budget guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple

Videography Virtuoso - How to Capture Your Wedding on a Budget

Emotions, reactions, interactions…there’s no better way to capture and preserve it all than live footage. Your wedding videographer has the unique capability of documenting every moment of your special day as it unfolds. In theory, your wedding video is a priceless memento; in reality, it can cost anywhere from $500-$10,000 and beyond. With these simple tips, you can have memorable wedding footage without breaking your wedding budget.

Learn the Lingo -
There is a lot more to videography than just “record,” “fast-forward,” and “rewind.” A number of fancy editing techniques exist, such as animated titles, still shots, slow motion and dissolves. These techniques can be appealing, but will likely increase the price tag. Educate yourself and decide which editing techniques you want included in your videography package before getting carried away with all the belles and whistles. If you’re on an extremely tight budget, select a straight shot package, which covers the event in its entirety with little or no editing.

Sound Check -
Quality sound is a must – so know the different microphone options and their costs. Digital sound recorders attached directly to the bride and groom provide the best up-close sound, but because it is recorded onto a separate disk that must be synched with the footage, it will cost you more during the editing process. A professional videographer should have state-of-the-art equipment, in which case sticking with the single mic that is built into the recorder should suffice.

Be a One-Man Woman -
If necessary, stick to one camera operator. Extra cameras will tack on $400 to $1000 a piece, which may not be the most efficient use of your budget. Most weddings are actually shot with one camera, so rest assured that a single operator will be able to capture the important moments. Forget all the FootageIf you simply cannot forego some of the pricey sound and editing options (we don’t blame you), consider saving on time alone. Hire your videographer for the most important part of the day only – such as from the beginning of your ceremony until the first dance – and save on billing hours and editing fees.

-contributed by Joni Lacroix-
For more ideas and advice to help you plan your videography, visit my complete videography guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple.

5 Frivolous Wedding Details that Rack Up Your Wedding Budget

As you plan your wedding, you will find that around every corner lies another opportunity for a costly add-on or upgrade. Many brides are quick to nod yes to every seemingly fabulous idea and little extra presented to them. Hey - when you're spending upwards of $30,000 - what's another $300?? It's an easy conclusion to make when swept up in the chaotic sea of wedding planning.

But if you're on a budget, the easiest way to stick to it is to just say no. For what seems now like an idea that you absolutely cannot forego lest you want a completely unremarkable and utterly forgettable wedding reception will eventually wind up as just another unnoticed wedding detail that burried you further into debt.

That said - here are some common wedding details and extras that you can live without, and neither you nor your guests will be the wiser:

1) The Champagne Toast - This is a biggie - almost every reception venue offers to pass a champagne toast to all of your guests for a $200-$400 fee. Don't do it - it's a waste. Many of your guests will simply take a sip and set the glass down - or not take a sip at all. It's best to allow your guests to simply toast with the drink of their choice when the toasts are made.

2) The Champagne/Chocolate Fountain - Fountains - especially chocolate fountains - have been the rage for the last few years. My opinion is that the trend is now cliche and tired. If you have your heart set on one - fine. But if not - this is another extra you can do without. Trust me - your guests aren't going to search your reception site for the chocolate fountain. Really, they won't.

3) The Groom's Cake - The groom's cake is a southern tradition that has recently been spotted at wedding receptions throughout the country - (we all remember the armadillo cake from Steel Magnolias). A southern girl myself, I admit that I couldn't do without this one, but it too is an unneccesary expense. No one ever runs out of wedding cake at a reception, so why have two cakes?

4) The Tossing Bouquet - Having your florist create an additional bridal bouquet for the bouquet toss has become the norm. The idea makes sense in concept, as most brides wish to keep their real bouquet as a keepsake. But there is no need to have your florist create a tossing bouquet - which can tack on an additional $50-$100 to your floral bill. Instead - have a friend or family member pick up some flowers from your local grocery store - a mere $5-$10.

5) The Extra Hour - Almost every reception site has an upfront overtime fee, and they'll casually mention that your reception can go an extra hour for, say, $200. It may seem tempting to turn your make your 4 hour reception last 5, but the extra hour is not only unnessasary - it could also increase your wedding costs exponentially. For you'll probably have to contract your entertainment, transportation, photographer and videographer for an extra hour as well. Guests are usually ready to call it a night after 4 hours - let them.

Brides - got any more ideas? Send them my way!

Plan a Thanksgiving Wedding - Creative (and Budget Friendly) Ideas

Thanksgiving is the perfect time for an elegant yet relaxed wedding celebration. The autumn holiday lends itself to natural settings, simple decor and comfort food - all which can prove extremely friendly to your wedding budget. Looking for thanksgiving-themed inspiration? Here are some creative and wallet-friendly ideas to get you started towards planning unforgettable nuptials with a Thanksgiving twist.

Invitations and Stationery - Dress up ordinary wedding invitations and wedding with inexpensive silk fall leaves included in each mailing.

Wedding Flowers and Decor - Instead of gaudy arrangements featuring pricey blooms - keep your decor a simple enhancement to mother nature's natural bounty. Use the autumn harvest for inspiration; think gourds, pumpkins, squash, gold dipped fall leaves...you get the idea.

Menu and Catering - The food is the main attraction for this wedding. You cannot go wrong with traditional favorites: turkey, red potatoes, corn bread dressing, green beans, and honey glazed carrots. Consider incorporating your family recipes into your wedding menu and serving the meal family style (if your guest list is small). To round out the thanksgiving feast - serve a pumpkin cake or even a tiered pumkin pie!

You can find even more ideas and advice on planning a theme wedding at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple