10 Ways to Save Money On Your Wedding

1. Trim the Guest List

Inviting fewer people is the number one way to save money on your wedding. You will save in a big way- fewer invitations, less food, a smaller bar tab, and a smaller reception space. I know this can be a real challenge, however, because there may be many people with whom you would like to spend your special day. If you are on the fence about who to include, try to imagine if you would feel truly hurt if the person in question didn't invite you to their wedding. If the answer is no, then it is probably safe to not invite them. Risk Level: 3, for possible hurt feelings

2. Embrace the Off-Season

The months of November through April are less popular for weddings due to the weather. This means that venues are more likely to offer better deals as an incentive to drive business during these months. A wedding in the beginning of the holiday season can be beautiful! January through April doesn't offer a lot of conflict in terms of holidays, so as long as your wedding is somewhere warm and indoors, guests will likely be as happy to come as any other time of the year. Risk Level: 1, in case of blizzards or other bad weather (although, bad weather can occur any time of year)

3. Consider a Sunday Brunch

A simple, late morning or early afternoon ceremony followed by brunch, mimosas, bloody Mary's, good conversation and maybe even some casual games can be very lovely. You will save money by not having a dance with a DJ or band and not having as long of a reception time. Breakfast and lunch menus also tend to be less expensive than dinner. The rehearsal dinner the night before can be followed with bar-hopping and dancing, if you like. Risk Level: 1, in case guests from out-of-town won't have much time to get home for work on Monday

4. Simplify Your Invites

You can have stunning invitations without busting your budget. No need for the fancy paper, multiple inserts and frilly bows. You can make your invitations stand out with vibrant colors or patterns. Besides losing the frills, you can lower costs by having standard-sized invitations, one card with all the information printed on it, and postcards for RSVP's. Risk Level: 0

5. Have a Smaller Wedding Party

Consider having a smaller group of bridesmaids and groomsmen, and forgoing the personal attendants, ring bearer and flower girls. Whether or not you are paying for the wedding party outfits, you will still be giving them each a thank-you gift and hosting them at the rehearsal dinner. With a smaller group, you are able to save money but still have thoughtful gifts and dinner for your very closest friends who are standing up with you. Risk Level: 2, in case you have a lot of best friends who may feel slighted

6. Use Fewer Flowers, More Candles

Fresh bouquets of flowers are beautiful at a wedding, but the price of each arrangement really adds up if you have them on every table. You can save by using candles as centerpieces instead of flowers, and place the beautiful bouquets purposefully in places where everyone will still be able to enjoy them- near the cake table, next to the guest book, in the center of the head table. Most venues will require candles to be placed in glass holders. You can make interesting, simple and beautiful centerpiece displays with varied sizes, heights and colors of candle holders and candles. Search thrift stores and garage sales for unique candle holders, or buy them in bulk from websites like amazon.com. Risk Level: 0

7. Forget the Favors

I was a banquet server for over a hundred wedding receptions, and I can't stress this one enough- forget the favors. It seemed like every night, we threw most of them away. (However, if they were candies or something particularly useful, the boss would let us keep the leftovers.) But honestly, most of the time these are just a waste of money. Most people really won't miss them. Consider having your favorite wrapped candies in a bowl at each table for guests to share, if you don't want to go completely favor-free. Risk Level: 1, for the guest who may notice and care

8. Condense the Party Time

If you go straight from the ceremony to the reception (or, better yet, have them at the same venue for added convenience) and forgo the cocktail hour, you can save a lot of money on drinks and finger foods. Long cocktail hours and lots of waiting time before the reception begins can not only beef up the bill, but it can also get to be a bit much for the guests. I know that many couples like to do pictures at this time, but it can save both money and time by stepping out during the dance and taking pictures then. Also, consider having a later reception time in general. By starting your reception later- say, dinner at 7:30 or 8:00, you are able to spend less money on the bar all night while still providing for your guests. Risk Level: 2, for guests who don't like to eat later and for photographers who don't want to stay into the dance

9. Limit the Bar Choices

By not serving top-shelf liquor and a full bar, you can save a bundle. Choose a couple types of red wine, white wine, domestic beers and mid-grade liquor options. If you and your future spouse have a couple favorite drinks, highlight those as well, especially if the venue is able to provide a lower price for bulk. Maybe the groom loves a certain brew, or the bride loves classic margaritas. This can be a really nice touch. Risk Level: 1, for the guests who love their Crown or Grey Goose

10. Make a Run to the Grocery Store

Instead of ordering specialty wedding cake/s or cupcakes, consider picking up ready-made sweets from the grocery store bakery. Unless you are dead-set on a tiered wedding cake, this option is pretty do-able. You can pick up several sheetcakes, or mix and match batches of cupcakes and display them yourself on cupcake stands. Most venues require that cakes be purchased from professional kitchens, so as long as you bring these in in their packages, you should be fine. (Double-check, of course, just to be safe.) Many bakeries charge extra when they hear the word "wedding," so doing it this way will save you money on your desserts. Risk Level: 5 for the possibility that the store doesn't have enough of what you would like. I recommend this only for those in areas with more than one or two grocery stores.