GroomGroove.com presents some great ideas on how to save some money on the wedding, so that you can spend it on the honeymoon!

You might have only thought about your wedding for the first time the day you popped the question, but it's a good bet that your bride-to-be has been thinking about it since she was barely out of diapers.   Whether you're planning a small, intimate gathering of family and friends, or a gala event featuring half the regional phone book, the cost of a wedding can quickly skyrocket. Before you consider a drastic measure like selling a kidney, for example, read on. If you're careful and use a little bit of creativity, you can still give her the wedding day she's been dreaming about without ending up in the poorhouse the day after.

Date and Time

If you want to spend big bucks on your wedding, then get married between May and September. Many vendors charge a premium on their services during these months (aka peak wedding season). Selecting an off-season date is a simple way to keep your wedding planning expenditures within your budget. Why not host a Fall or Winter wedding? Unique and cost-effective.

Why not a wedding earlier in the day?

• You will get a discount from the vendors since your reception will not be during peak hours. Brunch and lunch food is typically less expensive than dinner fare.
• Your alcohol costs will be less since people don't generally get sloshed mid-day. In fact, it would be perfectly acceptable if you decide to forgo alcohol altogether (especially if you're organizing a Sunday luncheon).
  Daytime receptions don't require an after meal dance. This will save you a lot since you won't have to hire an expensive dj or a band. However, you may choose to hire a string quartet to play for a couple of hours during the meal (which is still much cheaper than the cost of hiring a dj or a band for the entire reception).
• Having a reception immediately after the ceremony will reduce the amount of time that you will to have to reserve transportation (e.g., limo). By reducing the waiting time between ceremony and the reception, you will be saving yourself a lot of cash.

article continues...
[Page 1 of 4]