You need to save some money on your wedding so you decide to make your own invitations. You buy an invitation kit from Staples and start printing them out. You run out of toner and have to go by more at Staples. You print 10 invitations before you spot a typo. You go back to Staples to buy more invitations. Its 11:30pm. Did you really save any money? And did you actually like the results? Home craft projects have their place, but not often in weddings. Unless you are Martha Stewart or seriously know what you’re doing, your wedding is not the time to experiment with creativity.
The best way to cut wedding costs is to trim down your guest list. The reception is where you will spend the most money. There are tiers to your guest list, and if you can eliminate the periphery than you will save money. The first tier is your immediate family and very close friends. Second tier is good friends, close family, close co-workers. The periphery are those who it would be nice to see, but….Like your boss from your first job, friend from 5th grade you haven’t seen in 10 years, your father’s Navy buddy who lives in Honolulu. All great people, don’t get me wrong.
If you’re working with a tight budget, it does not make sense to invite people who after your wedding you’ll never see, and then try to save money by playing your iPod instead of hiring a professional DJ. Your iPod won’t introduce you and your wedding party.
