A wedding is a celebration of two people joining their lives together and it should be a happy, joyous occasion. You want the day to be beautiful and memorable but you also want to keep your costs as low as possible. These simple tips can help you have the wedding of your dreams and save money on wedding supplies at the same time

Instead of throwing a big party to announce your engagement, consider an intimate at-home celebration with very close friends and family. Engagement party decorations can be as expensive as those you purchase for your wedding. When you invite people, consider asking for donations to your favorite charity rather than deal with piles of engagement gifts. A backyard barbecue, small cocktail party or day in the park can be much more exciting than spending hundreds on engagement party decorations.

Instead of mailing invitations, you can send electronic invitations for free using a website that not only sends the invitation but can also help you manage your guest list. If you aren’t quite ready to ditch traditionally mailed invitations yet, you can still use electronic invitations for your save-the-date announcement. Another way to save money on invitations is to print your own. You can create them using an online template and print them on your home printer or you can take them to a local business that offers printing services as one way to save money on wedding supplies.

You can purchase dresses for weddings almost anywhere today. A white dress from the party dress or prom section works just as well as the expensive dresses from a bridal shop. You can also check consignment and second-hand shops. If you like vintage dresses, this might be your best option to save money. If you really want a big, fancy gown, purchase a sample gown. These are the gowns that people try on in the store since bridal dresses are usually custom ordered. You can also save money by borrowing some of your accessories, like a veil, jewelry or shoes.

Saturday is the most popular day for weddings which means venues often cost more. Plan your wedding for a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon to get a lower rate. You may also want to look at non-traditional venues like wineries, restaurants or even a vacation rental that doesn’t normally hold weddings. Be sure to ask what may be included in the venue as some will provide table linens, tables, chairs and even wedding flowers.

Talk to a florist about excess inventory that you can use for wedding decorations. If you have friends who have recently gotten married, ask about borrowing wedding reception decorations or centerpieces from them. Craft stores are a great way to find reasonably priced wedding decorations as are dollar stores. Find out what flowers are in season when you plan to get married as in-season wedding flowers will cost less than those that are not normally blooming. Repurpose flowers you use for your ceremony at the reception. The wedding arch you stood under for your vows can be used in the entrance to your reception as well.

Avoid a sit-down, catered meal where you are charged by the plate. Instead, talk to caterers about buffet and family-style options that may be priced by the dish instead. You can even consider heavy hors d’oeuvres rather than an actual meal depending on the time of day the wedding takes place. Open bars are very expensive so limiting to just beer and wine can save money. If you know you have guests who will want mixed drinks, have the bartender prepare a signature cocktail that is served in a much smaller glass to avoid waste. Instead of a towering wedding cake, consider a two-tier version with sheet cakes that will be served to guests. You don’t need the cake you cut to be large enough for all your guests. You can also pick up a grocery store cake and dress it up with flowers rather than pay for a specially-made cake. In fact, there is no rule that says you must serve cake at all. You can serve cupcakes, pies or cookies if you prefer.

There is no rule that says your guests must receive a wedding favor. Consider making a charitable donation on behalf of your guests and put the information on the program or on a small sign at the gift table. You can even suggest that guests make donations to the charity in lieu of wedding gifts. If you want them to have something small to take home, you can find inexpensive single-serving boxes for candy, nuts or other small items tied with a ribbon. Some websites offer custom-printed items that will go with almost any reception theme that can make great cheap wedding favors.

EmployeeandMemberDiscounts.com has many savings for wedding gifts, wedding favors and other wedding-related items. These are discounts that were previously only available for members of certain organizations or employees in specific industries. You can find savings on cheap wedding favors, engagement party decorations and even engagement gifts simply by signing up. There is no membership fee and you can begin saving immediately.

If you own a business or manage a non-profit organization, our perk experts can help you set up your own discount program. These are discounts your employees or members will actually use. Contact us by phone today or fill out the easy online form to learn more.

Maybe you just moved into your first apartment or purchased your first home. You may be simply redecorating your home. For whatever reason, you want to find the perfect additions to the room but you have no idea how to go about doing that. These tips can help you choose good art without destroying your decorating budget.

The first thing you need to do before purchase artwork is to understand your own style. The best way to do that is to visit galleries and studios to see what type of artwork draws your attention. Talk to the artist, gallery owners and even museum staff, asking questions about the work displayed. Remember, a piece of artwork does not necessarily have to “say something” unless that is what you want. You can purchase artwork simply because you like the way it looks or because it will fit nicely in your décor.

Naturally, when you attend a gallery showing, the artist wants you to purchase their work. One of the best ways to find reasonably priced artwork is to search for newer artists who are just getting started. They often sell their pieces at lower prices than established artists. You can also work with an art adviser who will help you find artists that fit your style as well.

You may not care if your wall art is an original piece. If you like a particular piece, search for art online to see if the artist offers prints of the same piece. A print can be placed in a high-quality frame and look just as good as the original. Another option to consider for art for the walls is posters. You can use old movie or play posters if you plan a retro or theater-themed décor which become beautiful framed art when you choose a high-quality frame to display them.

Although they can make a bold statement, large scale art for the walls can be expensive, even if you decide to go with wall prints. Instead, consider creating a gallery wall of smaller pieces. Experts suggest sticking to a particular color scheme but play with different mediums. You can choose from works on paper, small oil paintings, photographs and prints to create a dimensional look. This will also allow you to change the artwork over time as you collect additional wall art.

If you really want a large focal piece, consider using photographs as they are often less expensive than canvas work of the same size. Photography framed art of nature, horizontal lines or landscapes are a powerful way to make small living spaces look larger and also add a meditative element to your room. You may even be able to use your own photography as ordering large prints of art online is fairly inexpensive. Simply add a nice frame and you have a large focal piece of your own creation.

If you are looking for framed art, wall prints or even one-of-a-kind canvas work, you can find many savings at EmployeeandMemberDiscounts.com. We offer a wide range of art discounts that were previously only available to members of certain organizations, like alumni, or employees in specific industries, like first responders. There is never a membership fee and you can begin saving immediately. Simply fill out the easy online form to get started.