Planning a wedding: Increasing costs needn't hold you back Pittsburgh PA

If you’re planning a wedding this summer, it isn’t too hard to feel the heat.

Rising gas and food prices have made costs for wedding vendors skyrocket in the past few months. But don’t call off the Big Day and buy tickets to Vegas just yet.

Here are some ways of cutting costs without cutting quality on your wedding day:

Prioritize: That is the best advice Randall Brown, owner of Beardslee Castle in Little Falls, N.Y., could give to those planning a wedding.

“Ultimately, all you need is a ceremony and reception, but people get their hearts set on all these little details,” he said. “It’s those details that ultimately make your wedding more expensive.”

An easy way to prioritize is to give yourself enough time when planning a wedding. Wedding consultant Jo Kowalewsky suggests at least a year, but also warned that “It isn’t unusual to book venues 18 months before the date.”

Brown agreed. “You need to book early. (Beardslee Castle) is already booked for every Saturday between May and October of 2009,” he said.

If you want to book your big day for a non-traditional day such as a Friday or Sunday, you may be able to wait a little longer. And you might also be able to save a good amount of money.

“Many vendors will offer incentives for couples planning their weddings on Fridays or Sundays,” Brown said.

Some reception halls offer a free champagne toast for all guests, reduced price or free hors d’oeuvres, or even free wedding cakes.

But if your heart is set on having a Saturday wedding, you need to cut costs elsewhere. Brown suggests looking closely at “little extras” such as favors and then decide whether or not you think they are worth it.

“Favors, even if they are candies wrapped in tulle and cost $1 each, add up. Let’s say you have 100 guests — you just spent an extra $100 on something people are going to bring home and throw in a drawer somewhere,” Brown said.

Another place to consider when cutting costs is the bridal party, he said.

“The larger a bridal party, the more gifts, bouquets and boutonnieres you need. The smaller a bridal party, the less money you’re spending on all the extras,” Kowalewsky said.

Another way to save money is to hire a wedding consultant, Kowalewsky said. She said you don’t need to have an unlimited budget to afford a wedding planner; one can actually save money for clients by using their professional discounts with vendors.

“Since I charge by the hour, I am there to help plan as much as the bride and groom want me to. I try to help out as much as possible,” she said.

Costs and plans aside, Brown stressed that couples should not forget the point of the day.

“The key to a great wedding is to go with the flow and enjoy the time you are spending with your family and friends. If more brides took that route, the cake could topple over and it wouldn’t bother them at all.”

Observer-Dispatch