50 ways to recession proof your wedding!

(As seen in Martha Stewart Summer 2009 issue, and revised by me!)

1. Rank your priorities. Food, venue, photographer, decor, etc. What is most important to you? Spend the most on that, and be frugal in the other areas.

2. Gather your friends. For those DIY projects get your friends together and delegate!

3. Be ruthless with the headcount. (i.e. omit children and co-workers).

4. Initiate an officiant. Laypeople can be ordained through simple online classes. Cost: free! Of course if you do not have a friend or trusted family member that wants to go through the process and than marry you, call Rev. Giovanni. He'll get the job done for less than $200. (http://www.revgiovanni.com/)

5. Get married in the off-season. For our AZ brides that means summertime. Save a fortune, just make sure you're inside with A/C and plenty of liquids.

6. Use a venue other than a banquet hall. Church parishes, community centers, park, beautiful family/friends home are wonderful alternatives. Remember to call Fresh from the Kitchen for your catering and event planning!

7. Swap Cities. A high populated metropolitan city will have higher prices per person than a small town or country setting.

8. Hire an expert. May seem contradictory, however, a wedding planner knows how to get your budget to work; are not shy with haggling; and have many vendor relationships in the industry which can lead to steep savings.

9. Seek free fonts for your all your typewritten wedding literature.

10. Say yes to all-inclusive. Check out the wonderful ones at: http://freshfromthekitchenllc.com/AllInclusivePackages.html

11. Create a wedding website! Keep out-of-towners, friends and family updated with a wedding website. Many of these are free and can be found on sites like http://www.weddingwire.com/

12. Forgo a program. It's an extra cost that isn't necessary.

13. Un-grave your cards. Instead of engraving use thermography. The process is different, but the look is almost identical. Plus thermography is almost 50% less. You do the math!!

14. Monogram. Use this as a theme. It's classy and chiche, and makes it look like you spent thousands.

15. Think monochromatic. Sticking to one color throughout the everything (invitations to decor), can believe it or not save money! $$

16. Make ebay or craigslist your best friend. Half the price for twice the charm.

17. Buy what's in season and even local. (In particular this applies to floral, but can extend to food too).

18. Pick the right shoes. If you buy wedding shoes that you would ACTUALLY wear again, than you're doing good.

19. Super size your flowers. Pick flowers with bigger buds, which result in fewer stems.

20. Skip the pew arrangements, and just have two altarpieces.

21. Befriend farmers. Cut-out the middle man by calling a grower to allow you to source flowers for dirt cheap. (Overall I would still recommend having the arrangements professionally put together by a florist).

22. Bouton-ette your bridesmaids. Instead of costly floral bouquet, pin a flower on their dress. Even better have them hold a cute (and inexpensive) purse!

23. Don't use flowers for the centerpieces. Votives are pretty cheap, and can be used again and again.

24. Make your flowers work overtime. Use living potted plants as centerpieces that than becomes favors for guests to take home.

25. Sign up for spam. Sign-up for that bridal newsletter. At most it may offer a discount or two that only it's readers will get.

26. Score a pre-owned gown. (http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/ or http://www.oncewed.com/ )

27. Sell your gown after the wedding. If you must splurge, recoup some of the cash by selling it.

28. Sample size your makeup. If you're getting your makeup done at a counter, buy only the things you'll use again (lipstick) and ask for a sample of the things you'll only use on the big day (i.e. face powder).

29. Shorten vendor hours. Have them stay for when you only really need them. (Esp. if they charge by the hr.)

30. Borrow something. (Family jewels, or grandma's veil, or brother's cufflinks).

31. Start with the basics. Ex. hire the photographer, purchase the album later.

32. Use bud vases! Tiny vases in a cluster on the table in different shapes and sizes that only hold one or two flowers will save you big, and is super pretty!!

33. Give a newbie a break. There are many talented wedding vendors that don't have years of experience but can get the job done right. Make sure you like his or her work before you commit. (Do your research, even ask for references).

34. Hook up your iPod. Hire a live act for the 1st couple hours and play your MP3 for the rest. (Makesure you set-up your songlist accordingly, and even designate someone to turn it on/off so you don't have to worry about that yourself).

35. Eat Family Style. Instead of a buffet line, or a sit-down, have large platters of food placed at each table so guests can help themselves. It can allow you more food options, and eliminates the need for centerpieces.

36. Think like a talent scout. Seek out a string quartet from a music school. Hear them, judge them, decide and save money.

37. Count on creative cuisine. Baby lamb chops are expensive. Ground lamb stuffed grape leaves or mini lamb burgers, not so much.

38. Brunch it up. Consider a morning wedding with morning foods to save $$.

39. Limit your bar. Serve beer, wine, and a signature cocktail. Easy, unfussy, cost-efficient.

40. Boycott overpriced bubbly. Toast with Prosecco and save the Don Perignon for your first anniversary.

41. Keep it bottled. Many people don't touch their champagne. So, keep it at the bar so anyone that wants it can ask for it.

42. Buy your own booze. Many venues allow you to BYOB as long as it is served by a licensed bartender.

43. Cut the cake. Instead of pricey wedding cake, many brides are serving their favorite dessert or baked goods.

44. Have a dummy cake. If you must have wedding cake, have a small one created for you and your fiance to cut. Than serve your guests from sheet cakes in the same flavor.

45. Give something homemade. Favors can consist of anything. Something homemade is sentimental, lower in cost, and sure to please.

46. Lose the limo. Borrow a friend's or family's fancy wheels, or use your own.

47. Pool the presents. Instead of doing a registry, ask guests to contribute to your honeymoon stash at http://www.honeyfund.com/.

48. Throw a tea party. An afternoon wedding with tea sandwiches and sparkling wine is beautiful and sophisticated. Save even more by throwing it on a Sunday.

49. Cheat with Sweets. Fake your wedding cake by ordering different size sheet cakes and stacking them yourself. Use standard cake dowels between the layers to keep them from collapsing and sticking to each other. Decorate with fresh flowers.

50. Fly for free. Replace your credit card with one that earns you miles. Start your research on http://www.airlinecreditcards.com/ which will let you compare mileage-accrual plans, APR, and interests rates before you apply.

BONUS!!

51. Hire Fresh from the Kitchen LLC to help save you money and give you the most magnificent party ever!