Tying the knot, for less




Today, more couples are looking beyond standard wedding packages and exploring do-ityourself options.

According to The Wedding Report,

couples spent 10 percent less on their big day in 2009 as compared to 2008, and spending from 2007 to 2009 fell by more than 30 percent.

By choosing handcrafted wedding touches and forgoing pricey extras, couples are creating weddings that can elevate the special day from a cookie-cutter event to an intimately beautiful affair.

•Snip and style. Arrangements by professional florists can easily take a big chunk out of the budget. Instead, the wedding party can be enlisted to help create floral decor for the wedding.

A number of free online tutorials offer detailed how-to instructions on choosing seasonal blooms and arranging everything from elegant centerpieces to bridal bouquets.

•Pick and choose. To spend wisely, couples are also turning away from one-size-fits-all wedding packages and demanding more flexibility in the types of wedding resources available.

•Eat and drink. Family and friends can be offered an inside look at the preferences, passions and experiences enjoyed by the happy couple. Wedding favors could include a favorite chocolate or something that symbolizes the couple’s life, such as local honey, jam or a trinket from their hometown.

For the aperitif, the wine could be from a vineyard the couple likes to visit. For the main meal, dishes or drinks can be tailored to represent the cultural heritage of the couple—paella for the Spanish side of the family or vodka for the Russian side of the family, for example.

•Capture and share. A professional photographer should certainly be considered for the most important portions of the wedding, such as the ceremony, bridal party and family pictures. However, guests can help capture the rest of the special moments.

Before the big day, family and friends can be asked to bring their cameras to document the memories. Have a few disposable cameras on hand for individuals who do not own a camera or forget.

Before the big day, a free online photo service can provide the couple, the wedding party and guests with the link to upload, download and share their photos after the wedding.

Printing costs will be slashed in half and everyone can immediately have a vast selection of images to choose from for their wedding scrapbooks.

This story provided by North
America Precis Syndicate Inc.



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