The Citizen, 2015-02-26, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015.
MS –Couples in the midst of
planning a wedding often find
themselves overwhelmed by the cost
of such a meaningful, yet expensive
undertaking. The average wedding is
as expensive as a new car or a down
payment on a new house, so it’s no
surprise many couples experience
sticker shock when they first begin
to negotiate with vendors.
But as shocking as the cost of
saying “I do” in front of family and
friends can be, there are some tried-
and-true ways to drastically reduce
that cost without making the big day
any less special.
• Guests:Many couples save the
most money by reducing the number
of people they invite to their
wedding. Couples who come from
large families may not be able to cut
family members from their guest
lists without causing a significant
stir, so such men and women can
look for other areas to trim.
Professional colleagues and old
acquaintances who you no longer
keep in touch with are unlikely to be
offended if they don’t make the cut,
and removing them from the guest
list can save couples substantial
amounts of money.
• Venue: Perhaps no element of
wedding planning is more open to
negotiation than the venue where the
reception will take place. Many
couples now choose venues that can
host both the wedding and the
reception, and that can save couples
the cost of booking two separate
locations and transporting out-of-
town guests from one location to
another. Venues are typically open to
negotiation with regard to the price
per person for the reception, and few
will not have some wiggle room
built into their initial quote. If young
children and teenagers will be
attending the wedding, negotiate
lower rates for their meals, as they
won’t be drinking alcohol and
therefore won’t cost the venue as
much as adult guests.
• Location: Where a couple
decides to tie the knot will have a
significant impact on their bottom
line. Certain locales, such as large
cities, are more expensive than
others. Couples who come from
small towns may benefit from tying
the knot close to home, as vendors
tend to charge less the further they
are from large metropolises.
Waterfront venues, regardless of
which city they happen to be in, also
tend to be more expensive than
venues with less impressive
surroundings. Couples willing to
sacrifice city lights and breathtaking
views of the water are likely to find
more affordable venues for
ceremonies and receptions.
• Timing: The timing of a
wedding also affects a couple’s
Cost-saving wedding tips
Save your money
Weddings can be expensive, there’s no doubt about it.
There are, however, ways to cut costs where possible and
to make your special day a little lighter on your bank
account. (MS photo)
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Wedding Announcement
Bride: Ashleigh Jane Greason
Groom: James Denver (Denny) Scott
Bride’s Parents: William and Sandra Greason
Groom’s Parents: Jamie Scott and Elizabeth Scott
Wedding Date: May 4, 2014
Location of Wedding: Northside United Church, Seaforth
Reside in Blyth, Ontario
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