Professionally designed wedding invitations can be expensive – between the embossing, the second set of envelopes and the postage necessary to get them to your guests, you could wind up spending a fortune. But wedding invitations don’t have to eat up such a large chunk of your wedding budget – check out the following ideas for making your own invitations on a budget.

Print Your Own

There are plenty of software packages available today that can help you design and print your own wedding invitations. Plus, with the quality of most home printers, you don’t need to worry about compromising on the quality of your finished product. To get started, start by your local office supply store – most carry the software programs you’ll need to design your invites, as well as printed stock paper to give your invitations a professional look. You can also find a number of free templates online through Microsoft’s website.

Barter Your Services

When you start planning your wedding, check to see if there are any new print shops that have opened up in your area. New businesses are always looking for ways to attract customers, and may offer special discounts in order to establish themselves in the community. For example, they may be able to offer you a discounted rate in exchange for referrals to other newly engaged couples as a way of expanding their client base.

Depending on your profession, you may also be able to barter some services in exchange for professional wedding invitations. If you’re an accountant, you may be able to offer tax advice in exchange for free printing. Or if you work as an auto mechanic, you may be able to find a graphic designer willing to create your invitations in exchange for some car repairs. To find potential bartering arrangements, either talk directly to professionals in your area or post on community websites like Craigslist.

Go Electronic

The digital era is upon us – and you can use this to your advantage when planning your wedding. It’s becoming more and more popular for couples to set up wedding websites as a way to disseminate wedding-day details to their guests, but you can take this a step further with digital wedding invitations. Consider inviting guests via email – not only will it be easier for your guests to RSVP, it’s totally free for you!

If email invites don’t feel right to you, you can also take advantage of the services offered by discount internet printers. When you use these services, you’ll be going directly to the manufacturer, so you could save as much as 25-50% off of traditional print shops. These online companies typically offer wedding invitation templates – you can save even more using their standard ink and printing options, instead of opting for more costly services like engraving.

Most wedding budget advisers suggest spending 2-5% of your budget on invitations, but there are plenty of ways to cut this cost if you’re willing to be creative. So shop around and talk with others – you could wind up saving a bundle on your wedding invitations.

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Sure, we’d all like to be whisked off to a dream wedding celebration in the Bahamas, but let’s be realistic – not all of us are able to shell out $50,000 for an event that only lasts a few hours. However, don’t think that planning a wedding on a budget means giving up all the details you’ve been dreaming about. You can still create a picture-perfect wedding without going into debt over the event.

The Venue

Your wedding and reception venues will eat up one of the biggest chunks of your wedding budget, so this is a great place to look for low cost alternatives. Instead of the reception hall at your local country club, see if it might be cheaper to host your wedding at a neighborhood park, or even at home. You can also consider schools, community centers, botanical gardens and local restaurants. Whatever location you choose, make sure it’s handicapped-accessible – especially if you’ve invited any elderly relatives with physical limitations.

The Food

Food is an important part of your wedding celebration, but fancy, three-course dinners at a typical banquet hall can run $75/person or more. If you’re set on a traditional wedding hall but can’t afford that kind of bill, try to get married at an off-peak time. Most reception facilities offer discounts for couples who book the hall during the winter months, on Fridays or Sundays, and earlier in the day. Plus, a brunch reception may be more convenient for some of your guests who have traveled long distances to attend your wedding, since they won’t need to add another night in a hotel to their wedding expenses.

If you’ve elected a non-traditional reception site, like your home or a local park, consider hosting a potluck-style event. If it sounds a little cheesy, give it a second thought. Many brides report that potluck receptions feel more special and personal than catered events. In addition, it allows your friends and family members to feel that they’ve contributed something meaningful to your special days. Imagine the memories you’ll share about Aunt Marge’s meatloaf or Uncle Robert’s famous apple pie.

The Cake

Five-tier, decked-out wedding cakes may look nice – until you get the bill. Expect to spend at least $2,000 for a highly-detailed cake, or even more if you request special flavors or designs. However, it is possible to get a nice wedding cake for much less – if you know where to look. First, check to see if your local community college has a baking arts program, or see if you can find a local culinary school in your area. Contact the school and ask for the name of the professor in charge of cake decoration. He or she may be able to recommend a promising student who will be willing to decorate your wedding cake at a much lower rate in exchange for a portfolio picture.

Planning your wedding on a budget doesn’t mean giving up all the things you dreamed of – it just means making different choices that won’t leave you struggling in debt for years to come. And who knows? You may find that the thought and effort you put into planning your budget wedding result in a more personalized and memorable event.

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You want to look your best on your big day, but if you can’t spend $500 or more to have you and your attendants coiffed and made-up at the local salon, you may need to look into budget wedding hair and makeup tips. Fortunately, there are many practical options to help you look great without blowing your wedding budget.

Find a Student

Contact your local community college and ask if there are any beauty schools in the area. Many of these programs operate student beauty salons where participants have the chance to hone their skills before entering the working world. Their prices will be much lower than what you’ll find in professional salons, although in some cases, so will their skills. Call a month or so before your wedding and ask to schedule a consultation and trial run of your wedding style. If you find a student whose work you like, make special arrangements to be sure he or she’s available on your wedding day.

Ask a Friend

You probably have at least one friend that’s been wearing makeup since the second grade. You know, the one you’re constantly asking for advice on what to do with your hair? Give her a call to see if she’d be comfortable doing your wedding hair and makeup. Of course, the same advice applies here as it does with beauty school students. Ask her for a trial run at least a month before your wedding. If you find she isn’t up to the task, you’ll still have time to look into other options to help you prepare for your big day.

Do It Yourself

Depending on what type of veil you’re wearing, your guests may not even be able to see your hairstyle! So why spend $100 or more to have it done up in a salon, when you can pull it back into a simple bun yourself? Plus, you know your hair better than anyone else, so you may be more likely to get good results working with it on your own than will a strange stylist who’s never before worked with your hair. Just be sure to do a few trial runs and ask your friends for honest advice about whether or not your home-styling really works with your wedding veil and gown.

Look for Discounts

If you’re set on going to the salon for your big day, check around to see if any offer bridal party discounts. You might be able to find some deals for a certain percentage off your total bill, or others that offer your haircut free if you bring in a certain number of attendants. Whatever the case, make sure you book your package well in advance. The months of June, July and August are busy wedding months, and many salons will fill up with bridal parties during this time.

Another option for reducing your salon bill is to ask your attendants to do their own hair and makeup or to pay for the cost of having them professionally done. Although this used to be a major wedding faux pas, it’s becoming more and more common for bridal party members to shoulder some of the wedding costs. If they’re truly your friends, they should understand that money is tight for you and be willing to do their part to help control costs.

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