How to organize a wedding on a budget

How to organize a wedding on a budget

Author: Peter Parker

Weddings are an incredibly expensive proposition – while you want to make sure that your special day is as memorable as possible, you also want to be assured that you still have something left in your savings account when all is said and done. There are ways to bring the cost of your big day down without impacting on the quality or enjoyment factor, however.



Ask guests to contribute towards the honeymoon

Your first holiday as a married couple is one of the major expenses to be factored in to the overall cost of the wedding, so why not ask your friends and family to contribute to the fund rather than buy you items that you don’t really need? Many travel agencies will allow you to set up a wedding account specifically for your honeymoon that guests can pay into – or even a registry that details specific activities of your choice, allowing guests to know precisely which aspect of the trip they are helping out with.



Get friends to document your day

If one of your guests is particularly handy with a camera or video camera then consider asking them if they would mind documenting your big day as their wedding present to you. Professional photographers and video camera operators can be incredibly pricey, so if there’s someone you trust to do your day justice then this is a great way to reduce costs.



Low cost cake

Similarly, if you have somebody among your guest list who is a dab hand in the kitchen, then consider asking them to bake your wedding cake. While many people prefer not to burden their friends or family with such a task, the fact is that more often than not the person in question will see such an opportunity as a huge honour.



Make your own invitations

With a bit of creative ingenuity and effort, there’s no reason why you can’t fashion some professional looking invitations at a fraction of the cost that they would otherwise cost. Hunt around online for some ideas – there are plenty of fantastic looking invitations out there to draw inspiration from.



Only invite those who mean the most to you

While you may well be under pressure to have extended family that you hardly ever see at your wedding, stand firm if necessary. It’s your day after all, so if you’re on a budget it’s entirely reasonable that you only invite those who you truly wish to be there.



Buy your rings online

Although it may be an initially worrying thought to buy your wedding rings online without seeing them in the flesh first, there are many reputable companies out there that can provide what you need for a fraction of the price that you would pay were you to walk into a jewellery store. Do your research and go for an online store with a good reputation and you won’t go too far wrong.



Don’t feel like you have to provide drinks all day and night

Laying on wine for the meal and champagne for the toast will cost enough, so don’t feel like you have to also provide a free bar for the festivities that follow. Guests will be more than happy to put their hand in their pocket and pay their own way for the evening reception.



Consider hiring out a pub for your reception

Given the right establishment, a pub can provide the perfect backdrop for a more relaxed, informal celebration than your average wedding venue – and at a tiny fraction of the price that you would otherwise pay. It makes for a genuinely memorable reception, too.

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Kendra and Hank Tie the Knot

Former Girls Next Door star Kendra Wilkinson married Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hank Baskett at the playboy mansion on Saturday. Kendra wore a white dress with a fitted bodice and a poofy skirt. Hank and the groomsmen also wore white. The bridesmaids, who included playmates Bridget Marquardt and Holly Madison,wore lavender.

Kendra walked down the aisle wearing more than $100,000 worth of platinum jewelry. The ceremony was on the lawn which was decorated with white rose petals and flower wreaths. There were about 300 guests at the wedding including Hugh Hefner.

"It was a beautiful setting for a wedding," Holly Madison said.

The traditional wedding ceremony was followed by a traditional reception. The newlyweds had their first dance to George Strait's "I Cross My Heart." Kendra saved the second dance for Hefner.

Kendra and Hank are expecting their first child on Christmas day.

Eddie Van Halen to Marry...Again

Rocker Eddie Van Halen is getting married again. People magazine reported that Van Halen proposed to his girlfriend, Janie Liszewski, in a private room at Tiffany's while they were on vacation in Hawaii Aug. 4.

The couple plans to marry in June.

He's 53, she's 38. It will be Liszewski's first marriage.

The guitarist was previously married to actress Valerie Bertinelli.

Van Halen and Bertinelli have one child together, Wolfgang, who now plays bass with his father's group, Van Halen, in concert.

Ellen & Portia are getting hitched!

After Califoria's Supreme Court struck down the ban on gay marriage, Ellen DeGeneres announced to her live studio audience that she and long-time girlfriend Portia De Rossi are getting hitched.

"I'm very excited," she told the crowd, who gave her a standing ovation.

The two have been dating since December 2004 and DeGeneres, 50, said the key to her relationship with her 35-year-old girlfriend is their ability to learn from each other.

"She's taught me lessons about myself, and I feel like I've taught her," the host of the Ellen DeGeneres Show said. "We've both changed and grown, and we just feel like, 'Oh, okay, this is completion.'"

Ellen also spoke to the The Advocate about her decision to wed.

"I'm thrilled that the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage," she told the magazine. "I can't wait to get married. We all deserve the same rights, and I believe that someday... not allowing gays to marry will seem as absurd as not allowing women to vote."

The episode will air today, a day after DeGeneres made her announcement.

More Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon wedding news

More news has been revealed about Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's alleged wedding.

A source told People that Carey obtained a marriage license on the Caribbean island of Eleuthera, where the marriage reportedly took place.

This contradicts the report that several days ago MTV called the Register's Office in Eleuthera, but were told no one under the names Mariah Carey or Nick Cannon filed for a marriage license.

Bahamian attorney Monique Gomez said marriage requirements on the island specify that both parties must be over the age of 16, and they must have obtained a valid marriage license within 90 days of the ceremony and have been in the country for at least 48 hours.

Meanwhile, there is still no official confirmation, but news is trickling out slowly.

Cannon's relative Linda told E! News, "He called and told us all about [the wedding]."

Jeweler Jacob Arabo, who created the engagement ring Cannon gave to Carey, revealed to People that Cannon went to Jacob & Co. two weeks ago to design the 17 carat, $2.5 million sparkler.

"The way [Cannon] came into the store, the mood he was in, I knew this was very serious," Arabo told People. "He said 'Jacob, I'm in love. This is what I want to do.'"

He added that Cannon was very involved in selecting the ring, which had previously been believed to be the same ring Cannon gave to ex-fiancée, Selita Ebanks.

"It may look similar from afar but it's not the same," Arabo said. "I would never do one of the same he had before."

The jeweler also told People about the compatibility of the couple: "[Nick] is an artist, she's an artist, so they have a lot in common. He was very, very happy. Happier than I have ever seen him. I've known him four or five years and this was a really happy moment for him, in his life."

E! News reported that a local who works for the island's leading wedding officiant verified that Carey and Cannon's marriage took place on Wednesday, April 30. She also said confirmed that rapper Da Brat and two other celebrities were in attendence, although she declined to reveal the names.

Henrietta White, who works for the island's floral shop, also told E! News: "My son did the flowers for the wedding."

Another source revealed that, as of Thursday night, the two were still on the island.

Did Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon elope?

Although Mariah Carey's possible engagement to Nick Cannon was just announced yesterday, several news sources are reporting that the two married on Wednesday, as well.

"Yes, we know [they got married]," a relative of Cannon confirmed to E! News. "He called us and told us all about it. We are happy for him. If that is what he wants then we are happy for him."

Latina.com said Carey and Cannon wed in a small, private ceremony held on an undisclosed island. Only a few close friends attended the "very impulsive" ceremony. A source close to Carey told The New York Post that the wedding was held at the singer's Eleuthera home in the Bahamas.

"Everyone is happy to see her happy," a friend told the paper. "And it could work out. Some people know each other for five years and get divorced - maybe this is true instant love."

"They have been smitten with each other for days, weeks," said a source close to Carey. "And she's always had a crush on him."

The newspaper also reported that no pre-nuptial agreement was signed. In Touch Weekly claimed Cannon designed a 17-carat, $2.5 million ring for Carey. (Although prior rumors had speculated Cannon re-gifted the ring he gave to ex-fiancée, Selita Ebanks, jeweler Jacob & Co. said the ring is not the same).

However, some are claiming the marriage rumors are actually untrue or a publicity stunt.

"The lady loves publicity," a source close to the singer said. "She's also got a good sense of humor. If no one gets hurt, why wouldn't she let the rumors swirl a little while longer and maybe help sales?"

Carey's nephew also dismissed the rumors on his Facebook page, according to US magazine. Although the nephew was in the Bahamas at the time of the purported wedding, he wrote "what you may or may not have read or heard is not true" on his Facebook status updates.

Access Hollywood was unable to contact reps for Carey and Cannon. MTV called the Register's Office in Eleuthera, but were told no one under the names Mariah Carey or Nick Cannon filed for a marriage license.

The pair met when singer-actor and former Nickelodeon star Cannon, 11 years younger than the diva, directed a video for her single "Bye, Bye." They had only been dating for several weeks.

Updates on the Jay-Z/ Beyonce Nuptials

Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles filed marriage papers in a clerks office of a New York City suburb on Friday.

The couple had a private celebration of the impending union on April 4th, but have been secretive about the details of their wedding.

The hip-hop superstars have been dating since September 2002.

Ivana Trump marries - again

Socialite Ivana Trump got married for the fourth time on Saturday.

Trump, 59, wed Italian model-actor Rossano Rubicondi, 35, in front of 500 family and friends at the estate of her ex-husband Donald Trump.

"I am so happy my friends from around the world came to be with me on my wedding day," the bride told People before the ceremony.

The lavish ceremony included 50 attendants, a 15 foot arch covered in flowers, a 12 foot high cake imported from Germany and three wedding dresses. A 24-piece orchestra was also imported from France.

"It proves that no matter what the age of the bride, she gets whatever she wants on her wedding day," said wedding planner Cheryl Clisby.

Attendees included Donald Trump, George Hamilton and Rick and Kathy Hilton. They dined in the Grand Ballroom, the same place Donald and Melania Trump celebrated their nuptials three years ago.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z tied the knot

Beyoncé and Jay-Z just picked up their marriage license Tuesday - and they didn't wait very long to put it to use.

Although there is no official confirmation that the two have already wed, People is reporting that there was a private ceremony on Friday.

"It happened earlier this evening. Jay wanted it to be a really private affair – close friends and family," a source said.

After the ceremony, family and friends headed to Jay-Z's Tribeca apartment for a lavish party with DJ Cassidy hired to spin.

"Cassidy mentioned a week ago that he was really excited for the Jay Z and Beyoncé's wedding party to happen," the source added.

The party was held in a white tent with 50,000 to 60,00 orchids, according to People. Guests included Beyoncé's parents, her sister Solange, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, and friend of the couple Gwyneth Paltrow.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are finally getting hitched!

The power couple was spotted at Scarsdale Village Hall shortly after it opened at 9 a.m. yesterday morning to get their marriage license.

"They were very polite and smiling as they filled out the paperwork. They were holding hands for a while. They looked really happy," an eyewitness told People.

A rep for Beyoncé declined to comment and Jay-Z's could not be reached, but the courthouse trip is the first indication the long-time couple plan to marry.

Scott Baio ties the knot

Renowned bachelor Scott Baio reportedly wed girlfriend Renee Sloan on Saturday in Los Angeles. The small rooftop ceremony was filmed for an episode of Baio's reality series, Scott Baio is 45... and Single.

Baio had dated the model-actress in the late 1990s after the two met at the Playboy Mansion. After their split they remained friends, and they restarted their relationship several years ago.

Sloan's 18-year-old daughter attended the ceremony, as did Baio and Sloan's newborn daughter.

Baio had previously displayed a reluctance to marry. "My parents were married 53 years, good and bad," he told People recently. "Can I do that? Probably not. But I really hope I can. I don't know, 53 years with the same human being? I can't be around myself for more than three or four hours before I want to kill everybody."

Also tying the knot on Saturday was Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough. He wed longtime girlfriend Leigh Boniello at St. James Cathedral in his hometown of Orlando.

"The whole thing was like it belonged in a bridal magazine," said one guest.

Dorough met Boniello in 2000 when she worked as the Backstreet Boys' Webmaster.

He proposed to her at her family's home in New Jersey last New Year's. "She wasn't expecting it, and I was quite nervous – more nervous about proposing to her in front of 40 family and friends than about performing in front of 40,000 people onstage," Dorough said.

Pam Anderson tying the knot (again)

Pam Anderson has applied for a marriage license with none other than Rick Salomon, famous from the Paris Hilton sex tape scandal, oooh...how sleazy! Check out the video:

Shaq files for divorce

Shaquille O' Neal has filed divorce papers to end his marriage to his wife of five years stating that their marriage has been " irretrievably broken" and that she has been secretive in dealing with his fiances. The couple has four children together that will live with his soon to be ex, and Shaq has applied to have " liberal rights of visitation". Shaq is asking the court to order a full investigation into the couples finances and also requested that the pre-nup signed be kept private.

Grey's Anatomy's Kate Walsh weds

Former Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh, now on the spinoff Private Practice, wed Alex Young, a production co-president at 20th Century Fox, Sunday in a lavish celebration.

One hundred guests, including Walsh's Grey's costars, feted the couple as they exchanged vows at the Ojai Presbyterian Church in Ojai, CA, just north of Los Angeles.

A reception followed at the Spanish-style estate Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

Walsh wore a custom-made Monique Lhuillier wedding gown.

The two met in February and were engaged in May.

"I know - I'm literally living the dream," Walsh said in an interview with People Magazine right after her engagement. "But you know when you know. I was not expecting it, so it's kind of amazing."

In other celebrity wedding news, Usher and Tameka Foster had their dream wedding on Saturday, not quite a month after their Aug. 3 civil ceremony.

The two exchanged vows at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, a 16th-century-style French chateau right outside of Atlanta. A sit-down dinner followed in the ballroom.

Around 200 guests attended the celebration, although Usher's mom reportedly was a no show.

"They are in love and they wanted this to be perfect," one guest said. "They had their reasons for not getting married (before), and that's their own business. Now they could get things done the way they wanted to, their family and friends can be here now."

Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell Tie the Knot

On July 14th Rebecca Romijin and Jerry O'Connell said " I Do" at their California home surrounded only by a few close friends and family members. It is nice to see a wedding kept quiet and unextravagant for once, so not usual for the typical Hollywood style. Congrats! to the newlywed couple