EDF Wedding Planner Guide

[Elevens]

Here's some general tips/advice:

1. Offer free advertising to some of the vendors. I'm not talking about anything crazy, like having corporate logos sewn onto the wedding gown or anything. However, if you build a website (there are free ones out there, too), you can offer free advertising on the website. You can also come up with a sponsor sheet to have at all the tables at the reception with free advertising space on that as well. Sounds hokey, but it will definitely give you some haggling room.

2. Give out creative, non-expensive bridal party gifts. Every groomsmen in my wedding party was either current or prior military. I ended up giving out flags that had flown above the White House on the 1st anniversary of 9/11 for about 8 bucks each. They appreciated that more than a $50 engraved flask that they'll probably never use.

3. Also consider a Friday wedding. They're comparable in price (if not cheaper) to a Sunday.

4. See if you can bring in any food yourself to the reception. You can save money on deserts/appetizers this way.

5. Plan out as far in advance as you can and try to lock in a price now. Prices don't get cheaper as time goes by.

6. No matter how well you plan, something will go wrong the day of your wedding. Most likely the only two people who will notice is you and your wife. No one else will have a clue, so don't worry about it. They all make for good stories later on, anyway.

7. Check with a local high school for recommendations on cheap DJs. Yeah, this is a gamble, but high schools aren't known to spend money. Just make sure you check them out beforehand and make sure you know what songs they will be playing. No matter who you go with, you're in charge. Tell them what songs to play and more importantly what songs NOT to play. Some DJs still think it's cool to play the "Macarena".

8. You don't need the extras. No one is going to care or notice the white covers on the chairs at the reception. No one will notice if you don't have an ice sculpture, either.

9. I personally think paying to have a video made is a waste. I've watched my wedding video once.

10. Register for things that make sense. Most people don't actually need an expresso machine or a quesadilla maker. And, if you think you do, you don't. It'll sit in a cabinet somewhere never used. So, don't make it a wish list. You'll end up getting things you don't really need or want. Also, register for things in a range of prices. Don't make everything $100+ dollars. Your parents are the only ones who will buy you that.

10a. Also, register somewhere that makes sense. If you have a lot of out of town people coming, do they have that store in their area of the country? Does this place offer online, as well as in store purchases? This is your wedding, too. You'll never use fine china, but I guarantee that you'll need a cordless drill.

11. Make your own invitations. However, good luck convincing your fiancee to do that.

12. Have a friend(s) take pictures of your wedding, especially if one is an amateur photographer with a nice digital SLR camera.

13. If you really want the disposable cameras at the tables, go with an off brand one. Avoid the actual pretty wedding style ones. You're paying for packaging, the functions and quality are the same.

14. I think the dollar dance is an odd form of begging, but it's effective for raking in some cash. Expect to dance with some your "funny" guy friends, though.

15. Politely ask for kids to stay at home in your invites. The parents (generally) don't have as much fun with them there.

16. Borrow a friend's really nice car instead of getting a limo. Especially if you know someone who has a classic car. Of course, they can drive you around, too.

17. Have some food/snacks waiting for you at your hotel room. Most likely, you'll either be too busy or nervous to eat at the reception. Sex will come much later than you expect, because you'll have to spend 20 minutes getting undressed and pulling all the hair pins out of your wife's hair. Might as well eat. Let's hope your wife isn't too tired/drunk to have sexy time, too. Although, this will soon become the norm, anyway...

18. Skip the hotel and go back home that night.

19. Make an attempt to go around to each of your guest's tables as a couple and thank them for coming/being there for you. Also, send out thank you cards as soon as possible. It's common courtesy, and the longer you wait, the more chance you'll never do it.

And, the best way to save money:

20. Elope.