Planning a wedding on a budget can feel so challenging. However, brides who have already planned beautiful yet affordable weddings know that there are certain things which are easy to give up when trying to save money. To help you prioritize your wedding funds, learn about these easy things to cut from your wedding budget.

Videographer. This is probably the number one expense that brides say they are willing to drop to save money. A decent videographer is going to cost well over $1000 – that is a big chunk of change to free up for something more important! Even if the money is available, ask yourself how often you would really sit down and watch that wedding dvd. Most people lose interest in it within a couple months of the wedding, and it becomes nothing more than an expensive dust catcher on your dvd shelf. You would be better off investing the cost of a videographer into hiring a top notch photographer.

Wedding programs, menus, save the date cards, and response cards. Unless you are holding a bilingual ceremony and half of your guests will be totally lost without a written program, they are totally unnecessary. No one will miss them! While menu cards can be elegant, they too are an unneeded expense, and your guests will be able to figure out what they are eating by looking at it. If you plan to serve a dish that requires explanation, the server could name it when he presents it to the guest “Tonight you will be dining on a…” It would actually be very elegant and personal, more so than a menu card. Email or phone calls can be used to notify guests of upcoming nuptials instead of save the date cards. And believe it or not, response cards are not in fact proper wedding etiquette, so you can feel good about cutting those from your budget. Simply add an R.s.v.p. line to your invitations, and let the guests handle the rest.

Transportation. No one really cares how the bride and groom travel to and from the wedding, so expensive transportation is another easy thing to drop when funds are tight. Instead of a limo, see if a friend with a nice car can drive you from the ceremony to the reception. Or try a less traditional mode of transportation – how charming would it be to see the bride and groom pedal away on a bicycle built for two? If the distance between ceremony and reception sites is close, it would be really fun for the whole wedding party to walk it in a festive processional (very European!). Just think of all the well wishes you will get from the people you pass while you walk by all decked out in your bridal gown and Swarovski crystal earrings – what fun!

Expensive attire. Diamonds are not the only thing that can add sparkle to your wedding day. Dazzling Swarovski crystal earrings are a fabulous way to dress up your wedding attire, and they are very affordable. For many brides, the designer gown is another thing that they are willing to give up. Shop at places with stylish alternatives to traditional gowns like J Crew or pick up a chic bridesmaid dress in white or ivory to get a fashion forward look at a fraction of the cost of a traditional designer bridal gown.

What else is easy to cut from your wedding budget? Top shelf liquor for mixed drinks at the cocktail hour, personalized favors, and in some cases even the d.j. (an ipod can work wonders as long as the venue has the right sound system). With all the non-essentials trimmed from your list, you will have more money to focus on the top priorities that you have set for your wedding.

Author Bio: Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about wedding planning, style, and trends. At http://silverlandjewelry.com/ we carry a fabulous selection of handcrafted Swarovski crystal earrings, bracelets, and necklaces for everyone in the wedding party. Visit us today and receive free shipping on your jewelry order over $99.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: Swarovski crystal earrings, wedding budget, save money on wedding, wedding planning