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By Lisa Cooper Well, matrimonial bliss is what you may think you are going to encounter. However, you'll soon find out that preceding the blissful life, you must first invest a lot of time and money. And before you know it, your Dad's wallet will have a hole burnt through it. Before you start having a panic attack, I want to assure you there are ways in which you can still have the wedding you've dreamed of, without having to break the bank to do it! According to an article by Charity Curley, entitled "High Rollin' Romance: How Much a Wedding Really Costs," Curley found that the average cost of a wedding is around $19,000. However, may I put you at ease once again and remind you that is a national average, and the cost of a wedding in Utah can be significantly lower. Especially if you're frugal and know what resources are available and where to look, you can save money. Here are some money-saving tips that I found from a few Cache Valley businesses affiliated with weddings, as well as from helpful web sites that shared information concerning the big day. "One of the most important things you can do when planning a wedding is to deal with professionals," said Lynette Robinson, owner of The Gallery by Lynette in Logan and Riverdale. "If you need a plumber, hire a plumber. Same thing goes when you're planning a wedding," she says. Robinson said that often girls planning a wedding will try to work with someone that is not a professional to try and save money. Frequently when this happens, the results end up not being what they wanted, and then they have to go to a professional and pay for their services, on top of what they already paid for the cost of the service of the other person. Robinson also suggests that brides serve their cake, and not just have it for looks. Many times brides will have a beautiful cake that will go untouched the entire night while another desert is served. She suggests that brides have fewer bridesmaids. And when it comes to certain decorations and centerpieces, you can usually make your own rather than having them professionally done. "Believe it or not, hiring a wedding planner can save you money as well," Robinson said. The services of a wedding planner from The Gallery cost $25 an hour. The professionals at SuperWeddings.com say, "Consultants can save the bride time, money, and considerable stress. A good consultant will be a wealth of information, ideas, and contacts for the bride-to-be, ensuring that her wedding day ends up being more wonderful than she had even envisioned it, and often times far more spectacular than it would have been had a consultant not been involved. As such, professional wedding consultants are compensated well for their knowledge, talent, time, and expertise." If you are planning a wedding and live in Cache Valley, you will want to check out The Gallery. The majority of their wedding gowns cost anywhere from $249 to $549. Robinson designs some of the gowns for her stores. She offers a variety of stylish gowns which are modest. Her store also offers all the accessories you will need for your complete wedding day attire, including your veil, headpiece, jewelry, slips, and shoes. You can visit her Web site by going to www.lynettes.com Another popular wedding shop in Cache Valley is Petals & Promises in Providence. Mother and daughter, JoAnn Ashliman and Camia Haslam, are the owners. The tips they offered were, "Invest $5 in a bridal magazine and read their money saving tips. The tips they offer are well worth your money," Haslam said. They also suggest a bride not have as many bridesmaids, or completely eliminate them altogether. "Cut down on your invitation costs," Haslam said, "it's something they throw away. You can still get a nice looking invitation without selecting the most expensive style." Here are some more tips on how to save on invitations. The wedding dresses at Petals & Promises cost anywhere from $300 to $500. However, they have some gowns on sale for $99. You can also rent some gowns from them for $250, which includes a cleaning fee. Renting a dress would be very beneficial for a bride who does not have a desire to keep the dress for sentimental reasons after the wedding day. The owner of Once Upon A Time Weddings, Jackie Shephard, a backdrop and decoration rental specialist, says a bride can save money by renting wedding decorations instead of buying them. "An average bridal package which includes a backdrop, a cake table, a book table, and decorations will be between $400 and $500," Shephard said. "A bride would have a hard time finding her own backdrop for example," Shephard said, "and if she did it would be much more expensive to buy then rent, and you'll only use it once." Shephard said that centerpieces run between $10 to $15. However, a former bride, Hollie Seeley, found that she was able to purchase centerpieces for about $9. "I couldn't find what I was looking for at any of the rental shops," Seeley said, "so I decided to look around and make my own. I found hurricane vases and candles at Wal-Mart for $3 each. Then I went to a craft shop and found grapevine garland and cut them in two and formed a wreath around the bottom of the vases. Then I was able to give some away to my bridesmaids and family members as thank you gifts after the reception." Here are some more helpful tips to use with your wedding budgeting as well. Despite all of the horror stories you may have heard about planning a wedding, it can be an enjoyable experience, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. If you do a little research and weigh out your options, you will come up with a budget that is suitable for you. All in all, take pleasure from the experience. It will be over before you know it. As you begin the journey of planning your wedding, here are some helpful Web sites that will start you off on the right foot for saving money and having fun.
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