Secrets To Big-Day Savings

As many a bride has discovered, invitations, flowers, and music can set you back a bundle—before you know it, you've gone way over budget. But according to wedding planners we talked to, if you do a little strategizing, you can have an elegant wedding without breaking the bank.

Inviting Ways To Save

Invitations offer family and friends the first glimpse of what to expect at your wedding. "Whether your big day will be very formal or as casual as a hoedown, the invitation should reflect its mood and level of formality," notes Lesley Hathaway, an owner of A Day in May Design (adayinmay.com), which custom designs invitations to do just that. She, like other such specialists, believes it's possible to achieve the desired effect without overspending. Here's what Leslie Reed, personalized-product manager with Crane & Co., in Dalton, MA, thinks brides should keep in mind when they order their wedding stationery:

• Figure out just how many invitations you'll need—don't underestimate. "It's more costly to go back to press for another 25 invitations than it is to order a few extras," says Reed. Remember that the minister and each member of the wedding party receives an invitation. You and your families may also want a few for keepsakes. Order extra envelopes as well, for correcting addressing mistakes.

• Order all your wedding-related stationery at once. Decide now if you want reception details or thank-you cards printed. The manufacturer may offer a quantity discount. You'll also save on proof charges.

• Want bows or ribbons? "You can save by buying your own ribbon and letting family or friends help you attach or tie it around each invitation set," says Reed. If you have the printer supply the ribbon and do the labor, it will run you about $45 for 25 invitations.

• The number of ink colors used also affects the bottom line. "A small motif like a seashell in a contrasting color is stunning, but expensive," says Reed. She recommends achieving the look of a second color by changing the shade. For example, use a darker hue of blue ink on soft-blue card stock.

Savvy Floral Shopping

Everyone knows that orchids cost more than roses and that selecting seasonal blooms will lower your bill. But there are a few other flower facts you may not be aware of. For example, did you know that all flowers cost more around major holidays like Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, and Christmas? "It's not a case of the florist taking advantage of the bride," says Meredith Waga Perez, co-owner of Belle Fleur in New York City. "Flowers are sold on an auction basis, and the higher the demand, the higher the price. Growers inflate their prices by 20 to 30 percent during holidays." Keep this in mind if you're considering a holiday wedding date. Among the other things Perez encourages brides to consider:

Low centerpieces are half the price of high ones, so think about doing your reception tables with half high and half low arrangements. And if you want to use votive candles for a soft glow, take advantage of those offered by your reception venue, if they're available, instead of renting them from the florist, who'll charge up to $2 per candle.

Add luscious foliage to centerpieces to cut back on the number of flowers you'll need.

Think about the arrangements you order for the church. "You're there for less than an hour, and often the church is beautiful enough on its own," says Perez. She also points out that typically there's not enough time to bring the church flowers to the reception, so forget getting double duty out of them. "I'd rather see the bride put her money into the table centerpieces, since guests will be at the reception site for four or five hours."

Make up your own table overlays instead of renting them from the florist. Hire a seamstress or have a sewing relative create them from fabric such as sheer silk or organza.

Be creative with your bridesmaids' bouquets. Choose flowers with large blooms, such as peonies in the spring or hydrangeas in the summer. That way, you'll only need two or three stems instead of a lot of smaller flowers.

Of course, there are some things on which you should not economize—namely, the bridal bouquet. "To me, it's the most important piece," says Perez. "The bride should have the flowers she's always wanted. Skimp somewhere else." Remember, too, that your bouquet will be in many of the wedding photos, so you'll want one that pleases you each time you glance at your framed pictures or leaf through your album.

Making the Most of Your Music

There are so many options for music that the sky is the limit as to how much you could pay. Obviously a string quartet will cost less than a 12-person band (unless Yo-Yo Ma is the cellist, that is!). When it comes to hiring musicians, what are the budgeting basics? According to Stuart White, president of Steven Scott Productions in New York City, they are "the number of hours played along with the number of musicians employed." He should know—his company has supplied the music for everything from intimate society weddings to inaugurations. Once you decide what kind of music you want, calculate how long you'll need the musicians. Many groups expect to play a minimum number of hours: "You probably won't get strings just for an hour-long ceremony," says White. "There's probably a two- or three-hour minimum, so use them during the cocktail hour as well." Determine how many hours you want the band to play at your reception, and stick with it. "You don't want to go into overtime charges," says White. "You could end up paying a lot more not only for the music, but also for the hall and waiters."

The number of musicians you hire also affects the bottom line, but there are ways to control costs and still have plenty of sound. For example, the basics for a rhythm section are drum, guitar, bass, and a keyboard, plus at least one vocalist if you want singing. Sometimes, however, the musicians may also sing or play more than one instrument, so be sure to ask. You may not need as many performers as you originally thought. Here are some other ways to economize on music:

Before choosing a band, check out the acoustics at your reception site. "Wherever there's a lot of glass or marble, the acoustics are live and you can cut down on the number of pieces," says White. Conversely, take into consideration the size of the room and the number of guests. "A larger room and more guests will require a bigger sound."

Consider using recorded music. DJs typically cost from $300 to $500, while a band can easily cost well over $1,000, depending again on the number of musicians and amount of play time.

Shop around. Many brides are hiring musicians from a local college with a music department—and paying half what the pros would charge. Just be sure you hear them first, and have a contract outlining the pay, the hours, which instruments they'll bring, and the type of music they'll play.