Weddings aren’t cheap and we all want the wedding of our dreams with an affordable price tag. So, I’ve decided to share some tips on how to throw an amazing wedding – while still staying within the budget. I’ve listed 5 budget-friendly wedding ideas to help make your dream wedding a reality.

Pick a date on an off-peak season

Where you live generally determines what off-season is, but for instance, in Florida I found out that the summer months are off-peak and that is when you get the biggest discounts. For instance, limo services are generally less expensive when there is not much going on (ie. prom, on-peak weddings, etc.)

Hire a wedding planner

This may seem like it would cost more, but honestly in the long run you are saving money! By hiring a planner, you not only get their discounts from vendors, but they can offer great ways to cut corners and put your mind at ease on your big day. If you cant afford to hire a full time planner than hire them for the day off the wedding. You want to have the piece of mind of having everything done the day of your wedding with out stress.

Make your own menu cards, place cards and programs

Buy templates at a craft store, like Michael’s. There are a million templates online you are use to design your menu cards, seating cards and Church program. Or simply hire a graphic designer to design everything for you and you simply just print.  Again, you can get the paper for these projects at any craft store and it still comes out beautiful!

Put more guests at bigger tables

Think of it this way: the more tables you have, the less you will be spending on centerpieces, linens, etc. Having tables of 10 or 12 will save you more money in the long run then having tables of just 8.

So, if you are in the process of planning your wedding or just helping out a friend, get creative and look where you can skimp. You can still have a beautiful and elegant wedding without shelling out tons of cash!