Budget-Friendly Wedding Advice From Around the Web
A look at tips from personal finance bloggers to help couples save money on their big day.
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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Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.
Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.
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