Bishop and his fiancée cut their flower bill in half by shopping at a grocery store. Tammy MacArthur from Marion Bridge, N.S., bought a new end-of-season Alfred Angelo wedding dress on EBay for only $250. Cathy Thorne of Toronto discovered her wedding dress in the bridesmaids' department at a small bridal shop and requested it in ivory instead of fuchsia. It cost only $500.
Do it yourself
Bishop created his wedding invitations on his computer and printed them off on paper for $1 each. And instead of spending money on RSVP stationery and postage, Jessica Danylchuk, who is getting married this month in Langley, B.C., created her own website at mywedding.com and asked guests to RSVP to her invitations online. Singh adds that making sure you know how many guests will be attending is crucial to keeping costs in line, especially at large weddings. That way you'll get an exact head count and won't spend money on guests who don't attend.
Let your friends and relatives contribute
Your friends may be happy to contribute to your wedding by offering their expertise. One of MacArthur's girlfriends will make her wedding cake as a gift. "She is taking cake-decorating classes in preparation," she says. Danylchuk and her fiancé will use a family member's luxury vehicle as their "getaway" car when leaving the reception.
Consider renting or buying used
Singh knows brides who have rented a jaggo (a lantern used for traditional Indian dances) from party rental shops for $50, whereas it would cost about $150 to purchase one. MacArthur bought wedding decorations (tulle, candelabras and flower garlands) from former brides on Kijiji for half the price of new ones: a bolt of tulle for $25 as opposed to $50.
Read more:
• Everything you need to know when planning your wedding
• How to write the best wedding guest list
• 50 ways to save on wedding expenses
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