Thinking Outside the Box
In preparation for your wedding, bear in mind that many services offered don't have set prices and are open for discussion.
If you've never bargained with a salesperson or vendor, now is the time to learn that negotiating is an acceptable practice and can be beneficial for all involved. Often, vendors would rather compromise on a price than lose the sale.
How you approach a vendor can result in successful savings on options. For example, you could offer to have a friend pick up the cake to save on a delivery fee, if that's possible.
A Novel Idea
Recently, some couples have arranged to list their vendors' names on the back of their wedding programs in exchange for free goods, services, or a concession in price. They pay next to nothing for their wedding day in exchange for advertising.
Fact
There's a fine line between a simple mention and running a tacky ad, so try not to cross it. If you decide on such an exchange, including a personal thank-you to certain vendors on the back of your program is subtle yet effective. A full-page spread that announces the name of your wedding-gown designer isn't.
Protect Yourself
Remember to get every business transaction in writing. This cannot be stressed enough. You don't want to have to put down additional deposits when you find that your arrangements have fallen through. Too much is at stake to rely on verbal assurances.
Putting big purchases on a credit card is also worthwhile. First and foremost, you will have more consumer recourse if something goes wrong than if you pay with a check.
Second, you may also reap the benefits of points, air miles, or other promotional programs. Your honeymoon is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of such perks, so call your credit card company and see what they have available. Be sure to read the terms and conditions thoroughly. To take full advantage of this money-saving technique, you absolutely must pay the card's balance in full each month.
Essential
The summer months — June through August — are the most popular for weddings. Beware of other high-traffic dates, such as Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve. Be sensitive to your guests' schedules, and take into account religious holidays, big sporting events, and school holidays.
Flexible Scheduling
You may be able to save a significant amount of money if you have the flexibility to schedule your wedding (or even just the honeymoon) during the off-peak season. Vendors may be willing to negotiate with you for lower fees. You will also enjoy less crowded conditions at wedding and honeymoon venues.
As you plan your date, ask yourselves how important the month and even the day of the week is to you. If you are having a small wedding and most of your guests are local, a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon wedding could work well. As long as you are within your budget, what you save on one area of expense can be put toward another.
Get Online
Logging on to the Internet can be the single biggest money and time saver of all. There are thousands of wedding Web sites with advice and suggestions, ranging from those of professional bridal magazines to recently married couples eager to share with other couples what worked and what didn't.
Use search engines to find wedding locations in the area you're considering. Skimming through the listed sites can make selecting locations a breeze — you can usually view the facilities and eliminate many options that way.
How can the Internet make planning a wedding easier?
You'll spend less time surfing the Internet than you would chasing all over town. Use the Internet to buy goods and services or just to investigate what's out there for your wedding and how much it might cost.
You will also find many Web sites maintained by wedding location specialists, from private entrepreneurs to local and state agencies in charge of parks and civic sites. You'll save the time and money required to drive all over or make phone calls, and you'll also save personal energy.
Sites such as eBay are increasingly popular for finding bargains, including wedding dresses, veils, wedding party clothes, tuxedos, and accessories.
E-Mail, Not Snail Mail
You probably use e-mail to correspond with friends and family. Now you can save a lot of hassle by using e-mail rather than postal mail to let them know about your wedding plans and share photos of dresses and locations. Use them as a support group and get immediate feedback, share interesting Web sites, and compare photos.
