Wedding budgets are at an all-time high, according to TheKnot.com's annual "Real Weddings Study." This top wedding-resource site's survey of 13,000 brides and grooms found that couples spent, on average, a record $30,000 in 2013. I've been to some wonderful weddings that cost at least that much or more. But I speak from experience when I say that you don't have to spend a lot to make your marriage celebration special.
My husband and I took the easy -- and cheap -- way out when we got married years ago. Just a few family members attended our nuptials on the beach, then we had a party with friends and extended family months later at the home of one of my parents' friends. As a result, we avoided the stress of planning a big event and spent only a small fraction of what many couples shell out. My husband still thanks me for taking a low-key, low-cost approach.
If you're planning a wedding for this summer (or any time), here are several tips from some of our favorite personal finance bloggers about ways to save money:
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Your All-Inclusive Guide to Saving Money on Weddings [ReadyForZero]
"If you’re planning a wedding this summer, taking part in one, or just attending one (or a few), then sit back and relax while I take you through all the ways to save this wedding season."
Unconventional Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding [And Then We Saved]
"Years of debt isn’t worth one day of extravagance. Keep it simple and you’ll be just fine."
Savvy Ways to Slash the Cost of Your Wedding Venue [Mint Life]
"The wedding venue can eat up a big slice of your wedding budget, so you might want to figure out ways to shrink that bill."
23 Cheap Wedding Reception Food & Drink Menu Ideas on a Budget [Money Crashers]
"There are plenty of ways to save money on food and drink at your wedding, without sacrificing style or having guests leave with an empty stomach."
7 Ways to Save on Your Wedding Cocktail Tab [Savvy Sugar]
"We're serving up a few ideas on how to keep your beverage budget in line so that your dream wedding doesn't become the wet blanket for your big day!"
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