Wedding Flower Ideas For Every Season - Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring

Take a cue from the seasons with these inspiring wedding flowers ideas for every season...

Winter Wedding Flowers and Decor

Winter theme weddings can be uber chic and ethereal. Use these ideas to create your wonderland...

• Color palette - new-fallen snow - use whites and creams accented with silver or gold; winter sparkle - ice blue or navy accented with silver; black tie- black is especially suited for a winter wedding when paired with white, silver or gold.
• Go glam - deck your halls with crystal detailing for a sparkling winter effect- adorning linens and chair covers or sprinkled over table tops. The result is deliciously glam and oh so fab.
• Liberal use of candle light - the glow will add warmth and elegance.
• Holiday theme - decorate with potted evergreens, pine branches, wreathes, poinsettias, ornaments, bells, or twinkling white lights.
• Added interest and texture - incorporate holiday greenery or tiny crystals into your arrangements.
• Creative bouquets - instead of flowers, carry tea lights, votive candles or cascading bells.
• Tossing alternative - have your flower girl throw silver glitter or sprinkle fake snow.

Winter Flowers In Season

• White stephanotis, poinsettia, holly, amaryllis, camellias, roses.

Spring Wedding Flowers and Decor

The tulips are blooming, the temperatures are rising - what a perfect time for a wedding! Get inspired with these ideas for spring flowers...

• Color palette - green and white - an elegant accompaniment to a garden setting; yellow and green -another fresh, natural color pairing; preppy - combine hot pink with green or mango (think polka dots and gingham); chocolate brown - this trendy hue works well for spring - pair with pale blue or pink.
• Go wild with patterns - create a playful effect - think gingham, polka dots, eyelet lace, swiss dots and stripes
• Add some greens - grasses and greenery are a natural for outdoor garden settings. Drape over arbors and incorporate in arrangements
• Creative containers - put your arrangements in simple, homespun containers like wicker baskets, watering cans, teapots, or urns.
• Potted plants - potted arrangements create a natural, organic look. Best of all, you can plant them for a timeless reminder of your wedding

Spring Flowers in Season

• Classics include tulips, daffodils, lilies (especially calla lilies and easter lilies), magnolias, gardenias, hydrangeas, gerbera daisies, apple or cherry blossoms.

Summer Wedding Flowers and Decor

Set the stage for a sunny summer wedding with vibrant colors and inspirations from the great outdoors...

• Color palette - bright and bold - hot pink and deep red or mango and fuchsia; nautical - navy and white is a clean summer classic, accent with touches of yellow, red or gold; seaside - combine aqua with beige, peach or white
• Go casual - summer weddings lend themselves to a casual decor scheme - fitting of a backyard barbecue. Think checked table clothes, benches and picnic tables.
• Go natural - incorporate natural decor elements like fruits, vegetables, even insects (like ladybugs or dragonflies, not necessarily roaches!)
• Get lit - light up an outdoor evening reception with lanterns or torches.
• Fruits - fruits like lemons and limes look whimsical and chic when filled in tall clear vases
• For a beach look - incorporate shells, sand, and sea glass in your arrangements

Summer Flowers In Season

• Abundant flowers are always in style at a summer wedding. Use bright and cheerful blooms like sunflowers, peonies, hydrangea, mums, daisies, dahlias, zinnias, and roses. Or create a breezy, airy look with white on white - using roses, stephanotis, calla lilies, snowball mums and daisies - and incorporate a touch of blue - like blue hydrangea.

Fall Wedding Flowers and Decor

Get autumn-spiration with these flowers and decor ideas with a fall twist...

• Color palette - colors of the season - adhere to mother nature's fall color palette: reds, oranges, browns, rusts, and yellows; jewel tones - make a rich, interesting twist to the traditional autumn color scheme; mix with metallics - gold, copper, bronze - for added pizazz
• Back to nature - use simple decor to subtly enhance the season's natural bounty. Use the autumn harvest for inspiration; think gourds, pumpkins, squash, gold dipped fall leaves, bales of hay, jugs of cider...you get the idea.
• Go fall glam - you're not confined to rustic and casual in the fall. Create a posh autumn ambiance, and drape lush velvet (a traditional fall/winter fabric) in a rich chocolate brown or gold throughout your reception space. Accent the scene with antique broaches, crystal candelabras and stemware.
• Autumn harvest - add pears, apples, cranberries to your arrangements
• Natural texture - incorporate leaves, acorns, sprays of wheat
• Creative containers - hollow out pumpkins or realistic fake ones, or use stained wooden boxes, terra cotta pots, or rustic lanterns
• Tossing alternative - have your flower girl toss leaves or acorns instead of flower petals

Fall Flowers in Season

• Popular fall flowers include montbretia, hypericum, mums, sunflowers, roses, and daisies. Consult our complete list of fall wedding flowers

Get even more ideas and advice to help you plan your wedding flowers.

Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a complete wedding planningresource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to lead brides through every step of the planning process. Brides can request wedding vendor quotes from top vendors across the nation.

Adding Accessories to Wedding Flower Arrangements

You can put more than just flowers into your wedding flower arrangements. You can add bows, candles, balloons, or plastic novelties.

You can set a theme for your wedding using accessories in your arrangements. For example, you can add a duck, chick or bunny for an Easter wedding, you can add little wreaths or candy canes (real or plastic) for a Christmas wedding, or you can add hearts for a Valentines wedding. Whatever accessories you decide to add, you personalize your flowers in this way and add your own personal touch

Novelties

Many novelties already have a wire pick inserted at the bottom, so you can very easily insert this directly into the floral foam along with the flowers. If your accessory has no pick, simply take a piece of heavy wire, heat up one end of it by holding it in a flame, and the insert the heated wire into the base of your novelty. If you novelty moves on the wire (up and down or around and around), put some glue right where the wire enters it. This should secure it

Balloons

Balloons add a festive feel anywhere. They can be filled with helium to float in the air in your arrangement. Helium balloons need to be securely anchored. You can do this by having them tied to colorful ribbon. Tie the ribbon to a little wooden pick and knot them firmly. You can then insert the wooden pick into your floral foam. The wood will expand from the moisture, making your pick all the more secure

Candles

Candles area favorite at weddings. They create a beautiful, soft, romantic atmosphere, making them perfect for weddings. You can purchase plastic candle holders that look like a little "cup" with a large plastic point below it that can be inserted into your foam . These holders come in different sizes. Your candles should fit into them snugly - that way you know they will be secure. The base of the holder anchors into your floral foam and keeps your candle from tipping over.

If you can't find a candle holder the right size, you can push the candle directly into the floral foam. First cut the base of the candle to a bit of a point to make insertion easier. Push the candle slowly, straight down.

Do not twist the candle as this could make the hole larger than it needs to be and make the candle less secure. Only try this method with narrower, smaller candles. Larger pillar candles will be too top heavy and will fall over easily

You can also make your own candle holder. You take at least 5 wooden picks about 4 inches long and use rubber florist's tape to tape them evenly spaced to the base of your pillar candle. You can then gently insert the picks into your floral foam. You don't have to use florists' wooden picks, you can use less expensive wooden skewers for kabobs.

I prefer not to have the candle actually rest on the floral foam. The moisture of the floral foam could travel up the wick of your candle. The best way to prevent that is to use the florists' plastic candle holders. Second best is to make your own holders with the wooden picks.

Whatever type of accessory you choose to add to your wedding flower arrangements, it will be the focal point. Place it low in your arrangement to keep it balanced.

Nadine Visscher has arranged flowers for more than 15 years and has written The Beginner's Guide to Wedding Flowers found athttp://www.WeddingFlowerDirections.com

Seven Ways to Cut Your Wedding Flower Costs

Most people have a set amount of money that they can spend on flowers for a wedding. Usually the cost of wedding flowers is about 10% of the entire wedding budget. Of course this number is flexible - you might want to splurge in one area (e.g. your invitations) and tighten the reins in another (e.g. your flowers). Here are 7 different ways you can lower your flower costs:

1. Use less expensive flowers rather than exotic ones. Chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemerias, and baby's breath are beautiful flowers and can make a stunning display. These flowers cost a lot less than roses and lilies yet can do the same job.
2. Use exotic blooms very sparingly such as only in your bouquet or your fiance's boutonniere.
3. Use flowers that are in season. They will be less expensive and you have a greater chance of them being fresh.
4. Avoid getting married around times where flower prices are higher - Mother's Day, Valentines's Day, Christmas, and Easter.
5. Use less expensive look-alikes. For example, roses tend to be costly, so to cut costs, you can use lisianthus.
6. Use smaller bouquets and arrangements. Instead of having 40 roses in your bouquet, cut it down to 25 roses. If you have your heart set on a certain size, you can then add ivy, berries, herbs, or other affordable flowers to fill up your bouquet. Your bridesmaids can carry single stems down the aisle. That can be both dramatic and elegant. Sometimes less is more.
7. Use your ceremony flowers at your reception. Arrange for someone to transport any arrangements that you may have to your reception. Use your bridesmaid flowers to decorate the cake table and yours to dress up the head table.

These are just a few ideas for how to trim your wedding flower costs. Keep them in mind when planning and you will save yourself a significant amount of money. It is possible to have very beautiful wedding flowers without breaking the bank.

Nadine Visscher has arranged flowers for more than 15 years and has written The Beginner's Guide to Wedding Flowers found athttp://www.WeddingFlowerDirections.com

Great Flower Decoration For Your Unique Wedding

Many options are available to get the right flowers for the wedding decoration. It is your choice to save money or spend a lot of money on it.

In any case, this is the right place for more information. Here are some useful tips for the flower decoration:

Hawaiian Wedding Flowers

The presence of sweet-smelling flowers you won't miss on your wedding. Hawaiian wedding flowers are perfect for outdoor weddings with a warm sea breeze, romantic music, and the nice smell of tropical flowers.

Hawaiian flowers are giving the right atmosphere for a unique wedding. A bouquet of flowers displayed at the wedding reception make a natural impression to all your guests.

Choose one or more of the colorful blooms of the Hawaiian flowers such as Birds of Paradise, Orchids, Hibiscus, Heliconias and ..... for your wedding theme. If your budget is small, seashells can be also used for the decorations. Only some orchids may be tucked in conch shell is a creative idea of a tropic and outdoor table decoration.

Make sure that the Hawaiian flowers have always enough water and not getting dry during the day.

Assorted Blue Wedding Flowers Ideas

Another option is to stay on your theme of a wedding, such as the blue themed wedding.

Did you know that blue is standing for unity and trust? It is also a fact, that blue is the most popular choice of a couple, because the blue color symbolizes trust, which also happen when two people will get married.

They promise to trust each other for the rest of their lives. Blue brings elegance to the wedding concept.

Baby blue is the most common choice for flowers, because that gives a light and easy feel atmosphere Blue flowers displayed in a church or reception are eye catching and most likely associated with the environment, because blue is also the color of the sky.

The most common flowers you will see in shops are blue. Choose your favorite flower and present them as a wonderful decoration on your reception or display them on the wedding table.

Add a contrast to your blue flowers, such a white or silver vases and ribbons, the blue flowers will stand out.

Cheap Wedding Flower Ideas

Wedding flowers can be very expensive. As common with a little creativity, cheap wedding flowers can provide the wedding a great look.

There is no need to spend a lot of money for your wedding flowers. You have not to buy the real extravagant and out of season flowers.

Choose your favorite color for your flowers arrangement and look for seasonal flowers, which are available and not so expensive.

Of course, you can still buy some expensive flowers for the bouquet, but is not necessary to the rest of the scene.

Another option for savings on flowers is, to choose a location where flowers are already part of the decoration.

Why to waste money on flowers, when you have your wedding in a garden where flowers are already surrounded. You could also consider to celebrate your wedding at places like a park, beach or botanical garden.

The reception area is probably the place where to save the most. There is no need to display roses, orchids or other expensive flowers.

All it takes is the right combination of aesthetics and your creativity.

Keep it in your mind, that flowers are a symbol of beauty and love. Flowers give the wedding the right atmosphere.

I hope you enjoyed my ideas of creative flower decoration. Now it is your choice, what flowers are the best for your wedding.

Paul Easton welcome you to visit http://www.101UniqueWeddingideas.com/ which was created while planning her own wedding. Pick up the F-R-E-E Wedding Planning Checklist plus Great Unique Wedding Ideas and Money saving ideas, vouchers and discounts on Wedding Gowns, wedding flowers, favors, plus Save hundreds of hours managing all guests, budget, vendors, gifts, seating, honeymoon, and much more. All F-R-E-E

Sourcing Wholesale Flowers For Your Wedding

Flowers and weddings -- It's like peanut butter and jelly or spaghetti and meatballs. They just go together. But flowers can be expensive, especially if you're not watching what's in season. Some florists even charge extra when they find out the order is for a wedding (as do many other vendors who feel as if they can get away with pricing items higher for weddings).

But there is a way to buy a lot of flowers for a lot less money: Buy them wholesale. You can buy flowers wholesale - or at least at deeply discounted prices - from a flower market that's intended to sell to florists and other businesses.

Many flower markets have hours during which they're open to the public, so if you don't have a friend or family member with a reseller's license, you can still buy cheap flowers.

Timing is important when visiting a wholesale flower market. The day of the week you go is important because you don't want to go too early - the flowers will die before the big day. You also don't want to go too late - Often the buds are sold closed, so you need to give them a few days in order to open up.

The time of day is also of concern. Many flower markets open early - we're talking before the sun even comes up, and the good flowers can go quickly. So set your alarm and brew some coffee!

As mentioned before, if you know someone who has access to wholesale prices with a reseller's badge and is willing to work as a buyer for you (you might have to bribe them with breakfast), you're going to be able to get even more of a discount. But even if you go during public hours, you're going to get a smaller total bill than if you went through a florist.

When you show up at the market, don't buy the first thing you see. Check out all the vendors to get an idea of who charges the best prices and which one has the best quality flowers. Once you've narrowed down your options, scrutinize the flowers more closely.

Don't buy from a vendor who has brown or withered flowers in their booth. Look for freshly cut stems and firm buds. Don't be concerned if the buds aren't open yet. If you timed your visit right, the flowers will be open in all their beautiful glory at your wedding.

Once you've found the flowers for you, you can negotiate. If you're buying from multiple vendors, your negotiation probably won't be as successful as if you buy from just one. Loyalty usually pays, after all.

There is now also the option of buying flowers for wholesale prices online. While this definitely guarantees the lowest rates - which is a good thing because you're not going to be able to negotiate with a computer - there are definite risks.

First, you have to rely on the postal system to get the flowers to your home in time for you to create arrangements before the wedding. You also don't get to select the flowers yourself so you don't get to check out the quality.

If flowers show up brown and withered, then you have very little recourse other than complaining to the company, who might or might not send you new flowers, which might or might not get to you in time. While buying online is a legitimate path to use, just be aware of the risks before you put in your credit card information.

When you've purchased your flowers, place the flowers in several inches of cold water until you're ready to create the arrangements. Have your bridesmaids over, open up a bottle of wine and get creating those beautiful bouquets!

Looking for more information about planning your wedding? Gail recommends the following site for all your wedding planning needs:
http://www.budgetweddings4u.com

Inexpensive Wedding Cakes That Look Gorgeous

Inexpensive wedding cakes are a great way to save some of your wedding budget but they can look cheap and that is not the look you want in your wedding photos!

Rather than spending a fortune on what in the end is just cake, have a look at the cakes that your local supermarket is producing. Most stores will now sell celebration cakes in a variety of flavors that are decorated in white icing and you can buy various sizes if you want your wedding cake to have several tiers.

To make your store bought cake look gorgeous you can decorate it in a number of ways.

• Tie a ribbon that matches your wedding colors around each cake and then add a cake topper for a simple and classy look. You can buy lots of different cake toppers online or choose a light weight ornament to use instead.
• Fresh and silk flowers look gorgeous, all you need are the heads of the flowers and some ivy.
• Fresh fruit can work in miniature and you can add an extra sparkle by covering in egg white and sprinkling sugar over.
• Sugar petals look expensive but they are so easy to make and look great with just a few petals on each tier.
• Curls of chocolate look great on the cake and also around the cake.
• Either make your own or buy ready made rolled fondant and from this you can create hearts, monograms, flowers, butterflies and lots more. Use these to decorate the tops and sides of the cake.

Cupcakes are a popular trend to use for an inexpensive wedding cake and although plain cupcakes are cheap to make and buy, when they are decorated they can be expensive. To avoid buying expensive cupcakes look at making your own cupcakes and decorating yourself or buy the plain cupcakes from your local store. Decorate the cupcakes individually with fruit, flags, stars, fondant hearts, or even sprinkles! Really anything works on cupcakes.

The cake stand you use to display your wedding cake will also add a touch of glamour to your wedding photos, most wedding venues will have their own cake stands that they will lend free of charge for your wedding - you just need to ask!

Suzanne Daykin is owner of http://www.cheap-wedding-solutions.com.

Suzanne has spent the last 14 years working in the Hospitality Industry as a wedding planner and event manager. Organising thousands of functions from small personal parties to large corporate product launches in the UK and Europe.

Currently a work at home mum, Suzanne set up her own event company in 2006 and now looks to help future brides and grooms save money when they are planning their wedding.

More cheap wedding cake ideas and a gallery of great cakes for inspiration.

Homemade Wedding Cake Topper Adds A Personal Touch

The Knot Inc., which runs two wedding-related Web sites, surveyed the spending habits of 18,000 couples who got married last year, and found that on average couples spent more than $500 on a professionally decorated cake.

There are ways to limit that cost, experts say.

For starters, craft your own cake topper, and end up as well with a keepsake.

A recent "Martha Stewart Weddings" favorite, for example, was clustering colorful, craft-store butterflies along one side of a fondant cake, says Darcy Miller, editorial director. Another: Top the cake with a tea cup, either from grandmother's inherited china or from your own, registered china.

Another lively topper comes from "Real Simple Weddings," an annual guide published by "Real Simple" magazine: Deputy Editor Jaimee Zanzinger suggests placing tiny images of the bride and groom in elegant frames on top of the cake.

She's also seen small cornhusk dolls adorn a cake's top, and notes that many of these craftsy items can be commissioned.

Teri Bellman Garvin, 38, of Golden, Colo., ordered a simple fondant cake from a baker for her own April wedding, then personalized it herself with a mountain-biking theme. Instead of paying the baker nearly $100 for chocolate-covered strawberries that were supposed to mimic boulders, she and her husband, John Garvin, substituted chocolate truffles from their local Whole Foods Market.

Garvin says the design represented the couple's passion for cycling on trails near their home and the force with which they fell in love. The cake had two trails running up either side and meeting at the top. It was crowned with two, iron-crafted figurines — hair-tousled caricatures flying off their bikes — that Garvin purchased from an online shop.

Read complete article in SouthCoastToday.com

Protecting Your Big Day: Wedding Insurance

With the average price of a wedding in the UK hovering around £20,000 and businesses going belly-up over night, insurance might be just the thing to make sure the big day goes as planned.

Wedding insurance is set up to protect the bride and groom from the many “what ifs” surrounding the preparation for the walk down the isle, but what can a couple expect from their policy?

Johanna King examines the ins and outs of wedding cover, what you can expect to pay, what policies do and don’t cover and if the insurance is really worth buying.

What is wedding insurance?

Wedding insurance is exactly that – insurance to cover your nuptials in case something goes wrong.

Policies are offered by both stores and traditional insurers, and generally cover everything to do with planning up the actual event and often 24 hours after the last toast is made.

Replacement of presents, flowers, cake, rings, transport, photographs and wedding attire is included if any of the above is lost, stolen, or your supplier fails to show up.

If your outdoor wedding gets rained out or the reception hall double-books? The insurance will pay all the last-minute rearrangement expenses.

Some insurers will even go so far as to have a mini re-do of the big day - including re-renting tuxedos and buying a new cake - if the photographer doesn’t show or ruins your prints.

And if all the planning is getting you worked up, Marks & Spencer’s policy even includes stress counselling.
Ian Fleming, head of personal finance at Debenhams says: “Unfortunately disasters do occur but wedding insurance can stop a drama becoming a disaster by providing reassurance that the situation can be rectified.”

Pricing

The cost of insurance varies depending on the price tag on your wedding, which provider you choose, and how much cover you want.

Most insurers offer varying levels of cover that are based on the overall cost of your ceremony. Premiums range from as low as £30 for a £5,000 wedding to as much as £355 for a £50,000 event. The premium is paid only once.

Ele Field, insurance product manager for Greenbee, reminds couples to compare the cost of the premium to that of the ceremony, and to consider the economy when deciding if the price is right.

“Particularly in the current climate, there’s no guarantee that suppliers will still be trading,” she says.

“Most claims that come through, around 50 per cent, are around failure of suppliers.”

Make sure to look at what each policy does and does not cover. For example, all charge an additional premium to cover marquees. Some include public liability cover and cover if the company goes bankrupt in the base price, while others do not.

Also, not all policies insure ceremonies taking place abroad or couples who are not both UK nationals.

Some policies are more flexible than others. Many will stick closely to the tier system while others will give you more individualised quotes.

Ecclesiastical, for one, offers a “mix and match” system that allows a customer to select cover for the dress from the top tier of cover, cake from the bottom tier, and the venue somewhere in the middle.

Chris Pitt, spokesperson for Ecclesiastical Insurance, says his company introduced the mix and match policy last year in order to meet demand for a wide range of weddings.

“Weddings don’t follow the formula anymore,” he says.

What isn’t covered

Reimbursement of deposits if you have to cancel the celebration due to something like illness is included, but if the bride or groom gets cold feet don’t expect help getting your money back.

If costs balloon and the couple can no longer afford the wedding, the policy won’t help, but many policies will cover costs if the person paying for the wedding is made redundant.

And if any accidents arise from someone enjoying a bit too much champagne, don’t expect your insurance to cover it.

Making a claim

Most insurers have a phone number to call to make claims, with hours varying from company to company.

Mr Pitt says many claims can be solved in a matter of minutes, and monetary compensation paid very quickly. Although some claims – like flooding of the venue - require more time and inspection.

“If it’s a small claim, it’s very quick and easy to sort,” he says.

Ms Field says at Greenbee, the average time it take it settle a claim is about three months.

“What the claim is determines when it’s paid out,” she says.

Where and when to buy

Some department stores, including Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, and John Lewis through their trading partner Greenbees, offer wedding insurance. Many major insurance providers also offer cover for the big day.

Almost all major wedding insurance providers allow policies to be purchased online. Debenhams even offers a ten per cent discount for those who buy online instead of in person.

Providers recommended buying wedding insurance as soon as the first deposit on flower or a church is made, to make sure the cover can fully protect the wedding.

Wedding insurance can be purchased up to two years and as late as fourteen days before the date of “I do.”

“Sixty-five per cent purchase a policy seven months in advance - it’s not a last minute consideration but it’s not at the top of people’s minds,” Ms Field said.

Do I need it?

The answer is: it depends on the type of wedding.

If the newlyweds-to-be have home insurance and are planning a very small wedding, they probably don’t need additional cover.

Most home insurance will replace items like wedding attire, gifts, and the rings if they are lost, damaged or stolen.

It is recommended that the policy is checked, however, to ensure the level of cover is sufficient. Policies tend to have limits on the price and quantity of valuables, like jewellery, it will cover.

But if you’re planning a more elaborate affair using a variety of different vendors and venues, or you’re worried about suppliers going bankrupt, then you should consider wedding insurance.

Mr Pitt says: “A wedding is arguably the most important day of your life and it’s a big investment for brides and grooms.

“No one would drive a £15,000 car without insurance.”

Mr Fleming agrees: “In these difficult financial times insuring one of the most expensive, and hopefully happiest, days of your life goes off without a hitch, has to be a priority.”

Johanna King

Taken From MyFinances.co.uk

June Wedding? Cancel It, Quick!

Planning a June wedding? Consider getting hitched this month instead.

I don't mean to be a total killjoy. But given that the average wedding these days will set you back about $20,000, you may be looking for ways to keep your special day from costing more than the down payment on your first condo.

A stroll down the aisle doesn't have to mire you and your lovely in debt. A little creative thinking can cut your wedding tab 25% to 50%. Think nontraditional. Think memorable. Think laser tag, as my colleague Robert Brokamp and his bride did for their nuptials.

OK, don't think laser tag. (Although I know a few grooms who would go teary-eyed with joy if their bride suggested it.) Here are a few ways to save on your big day:

Timing is everything:

Lovebirds pay a premium to tie the knot on a Saturday or in June. Pair the two and you're facing a few extra Gs on the bill. Off months such as March and April are more affordable, as are morning weddings where expenses such as food, transportation, and hall rentals can be a lot cheaper.

Location, location, location:

Modern Bride estimates that a wedding reception costing $4,000 in San Diego would cost $9,000 in Chicago and $15,000 in New York City. See? Even not-so-small towns have their charm.

Wouldn't your mom be thrilled if you got married in your childhood stomping grounds? Your guests will certainly appreciate cheaper lodging costs. Even if you live in a high-priced city, nontraditional places such as public parks and art galleries can cost less than rental halls and hotel ballrooms.

Bite your tongue:

Anything that has the word "wedding" attached to it can instantly fetch a 25% premium (or more) over the generic version. When shopping for your cake, flowers, tablecloth, "ring pillow," or dress, beeline away from any options preceded by the "w" word.

Put your pals to work:

In lieu of another Crate & Barrel tchotchke, ask your talented friends for a gift that you could really use: their help. Perhaps you know someone who can perform music at the service (or change the CDs you and your sweetheart make yourself), take photographs, tend bar, or play videographer -- all functions that will cost you $500-$900 to have someone else do. Chances are your best friend's brother won't charge a corking fee.

Trim the guest list:

At $80 per person for food, wine, cake, napkins, and every one of your variable costs, this is the fastest way to save. Remember, this isn't just some kegger that's open to all of your office mates. It's your wedding.

Just say "no":

Anti-etiquette bride and author of Fire Your Wedding Planner Stephi Stewart says that assertive brides and grooms need to learn to just say "no." Party favors? Feh. Engraved napkins? Puh-leeze.

Dream of the future:

Before you shampoo the rice and rose petals out of your hair, start planning your financial future -- together. Saving for a house, college for future critters, paying cash for a vacation -- these should all be things in the back of your mind before you write a check for your wedding gown.

By putting just a few money-saving steps into place, couples can begin their married life in that rare blissful state called "debt-free."

Taken From Fool.com

Plant City's Strawberry Festival Sees Its First Wedding

PLANT CITY — Four years ago, Jennifer Faircloth and Jeff Lingerfelt had their first date at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

"It was just the day my family always went to the festival each year," said Lingerfelt, explaining why he chose to take Faircloth.

On Saturday, surrounded by their families, closest friends and hundreds of fairgoers, Faircloth, 19, and Lingerfelt, 22, became the first couple to be married at the festival.

"It's awesome" to be married at the site of their first date, said the bride.

The Lingerfelts tied the knot at the festival's pavilion, accompanied by a procession of wedding party members, sheriff's deputies and the Durant High School Junior Air Force ROTC honor guard.

The couple was selected from a number of contestants who asked to be married at this year's festival, said Sunny Smith, who coordinates special events.

The contest ran during September, Smith said. Entrants had to submit a photo with a 300- to 500-word essay explaining why they wanted to be married at the festival. The contest was limited to eastern Hillsborough County residents and it had to be a first marriage for both the bride and groom.

Angel Carter, chairperson of the entertainment tent came up with the idea last year.

"I passed it on to have the board look it over and they went for it. They thought it was the greatest thing," Smith said.

In addition to the service, the couple received a free reception, complete with strawberry wedding cake, free dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids, a free room for the wedding night at the Red Rose Inn and Suites in Plant City, as well as free festival admission for up to 50 guests. The festival's official photographer also shot a wedding album for the couple.

While the ceremony was open to all festivalgoers, only invited guests were allowed at the reception.

Jeff's mother, Lorie Lingerfelt, said the free wedding was a nice surprise.

"I didn't even know Jennifer wrote the (contest) letter," she said.

Jennifer's mother, Julie Faircloth, said she was happy about all the freebies that came with the wedding.

"It came out better than we could afford," Julie Faircloth said. "And she found herself a good man."

Smith declined to say how many couples entered the contest. The selection committee was impressed with the fact that the Lingerfelts met at the festival and are both graduates of Plant City High School.

They were also touched by the fact that they wanted to get married last year, but couldn't due to financial problems, Smith said.

Jeff Lingerfelt said he was grateful to the festival for making their day memorable.

"It is such a wonderful blessing," he said.

Taken From TampaBay.com