| Just because the economy is in trouble, does not | | | | used to decoratethe reception area. They also carry |
| mean that you can nothave a nice wedding. Here are | | | | plastic champagne flutes, flowers,ribbon and |
| some great cheap wedding ideas that willhelp you to | | | | decorative items in all the colors of the rainbow. |
| create a lovely and memorable wedding, without | | | | 2. I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up lots of silk |
| breakingthe bank. These will help you save money on | | | | flowers and createdall the flower arrangement for |
| the location, catering,decoration and other | | | | the wedding. |
| wedding-related expenses: | | | | 3. The bridesmaids carried antique lace fans, which I |
| Reception Locations: | | | | picked up onclearance at the local Wal-Mart and |
| 1. If you belong to a church you can often use the | | | | decorated with silk flowers and ribbon. |
| fellowship hall forfree or for just a small fee. | | | | They were beautiful and look great in the pictures, |
| 2. Use the yard or house of a family member for the | | | | plus it wassomething unusual that the guests had not |
| wedding andreception. | | | | seen before. |
| 3. Have the reception at a local city or state park. | | | | Gowns and Makeup: |
| Often they havepavilions that have electricity and are | | | | 1. I bought a bridesmaid gown in ivory to wear as my |
| perfect for a casual outdooraffair. These are perfect | | | | wedding gown. Itwas beautiful, inexpensive and |
| for family-oriented affairs as there are | | | | perfect for the hot August weather. |
| usuallyplaygrounds for the children. | | | | 2. Consider shopping for your gown at a local thrift |
| Catering: | | | | store or resaleshop. I've seen some absolutely |
| 1. We cut our costs by having our relatives take care | | | | gorgeous wedding gowns and bridal partygowns at |
| of differentparts of the wedding as our wedding gift. | | | | thrift stores. Often there's not a thing wrong with |
| This involved having each familymember prepare a | | | | them that avisit to a dry cleaners won't take care of. |
| dish for the reception. | | | | 3. If you want to save money for the bridal party on |
| 2. My mother-in-law made a fantastic wedding cake | | | | hair, make-up andmanicures/pedicures; look for a local |
| for us that Idecorated. | | | | beauty college. |
| 3. You can save big money if you buy sheet cakes | | | | 4. Years ago when I was a beauty consultant for a |
| to serve your guests,though they never have to | | | | cosmetics company, Iagreed to do her makeup as |
| know. Have a single real cake layer made tocut | | | | my gift to her. |
| during the reception, then have a few more fake | | | | 5. The night before the wedding, my maid of honor |
| layers made with | | | | invited all of theladies of the wedding party over to |
| Styrofoam but completely decorated on the outside. | | | | her house for an evening of givingeach other |
| Once you cut the reallayer, have the "cake" taken | | | | manicures and facials. It was great fun and our nails |
| back into the kitchen, where the staff cancut the | | | | lookedperfect for the wedding |
| sheet cakes to serve. | | | | With these cheap wedding ideas and a little |
| Decoration: | | | | imagination and creativityyou can have a beautiful and |
| 1. Dollar stores carry a number of items that can be | | | | memorable wedding and still not break thebank. |