For many years, the videographer has been considered a standard expense in the wedding budget – on par with the caterer, the photographer and the invitations. However, more and more brides are rebelling against this tradition in favor of more cost effective alternatives to memorializing their big days. As you plan your wedding, you’ll need to decide whether or not you feel the wedding video is worth the extra expense. Consider the following points when making your decision:

First of all, you’ll want to take a look at the cost of producing a wedding video. Base packages – including one videographer taping only your ceremony – will run from $400-$900, depending on your area. When you start adding in extras, like a second videographer to create a higher quality video or coverage of your reception, the price can easily start to push the $1,200-$1,900 range. Finally, if you opt for the highest quality in wedding video production – including such things as DVD menus, guest interviews, coverage of your rehearsal and more – you can expect to spend anywhere from $3,300-$6,000. Obviously, this is no small line item on your list of budget expenditures and for many brides, this represents money that could be better spent somewhere else.

But beyond the cost of wedding video production, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself to determine whether or not having a wedding video made is worth it for you.

1. Will you ever really go back and watch your video?

Some brides have been planning their wedding since they were five, while others view the marriage process more as a necessity or a personal stepping stone than as a fairy tale night. If you’re the type who’s fantasized about your wedding day ever since you’re elementary school years, paying for a wedding video might be totally worth the expense. If, however, you feel that your wedding is more of a formality, the money you spend on a video might be better spent elsewhere – like on the down payment for a house or on paying off other debts incurred by the wedding.

2. Do you want to have a video crew running around during your ceremony and reception?

Most wedding photographers are fairly unobtrusive, since their equipment can be carried around their necks and they’re able to move quietly around your ceremony and reception with a minimum of disruption. Videographers, on the other hand, don’t blend into their surroundings as well, given the extensive equipment they need to capture a high quality video. Some brides often express resentment at hiring videographers to cover their weddings, citing frustration at having a camera crew following them around all day. Think about it – in order to capture your walk down the aisle, the videographer must be walking closely in front of you, which is what your guests will see. Even if you’re set on having a wedding video made, you’ll need to understand the impact this can have on your big day.

If you’re dead set on having a wedding video, but can’t come up with the money to pay a professional videographer, why not make your own? Enlist the help of three or four friends and family members with camcorders to videotape as much as possible of your rehearsal, wedding ceremony and reception. Once you’re back from the honeymoon, you can combine their footage into your own wedding video using your personal computer. Don’t worry – the video editing software that’s available today is cheap and extremely easy to use. With a little elbow grease, you can produce your own, more personalized wedding video while still saving yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Bookmark this post

BlinkList | Digg it | Yahoo MyWeb
or use the bookmark picker

Trips to Europe, Hawaii and the Caribbean have long been the gold standards of the honeymoon world. However, with the dollar at its lowest point ever against the Euro and the rising costs of air travel, the expenses associated with these dream honeymoons can get a little out of hand. If you’re planning a wedding on a budget, don’t let the cost of your honeymoon dig you into debt. Instead, consider one of the following low-cost, budget honeymoon options.

The At-Home Honeymoon

Why not stay at home for your honeymoon? Yes, I know it sounds crazy – but stick with me for a minute. First, think about how stressed out you feel after traveling. Even if you’re spending a week lying on the beach in some tropical paradise, you probably still feel tired after navigating through unfamiliar cities, waiting through long lines at the airport and then returning home and realizing that you have no time to catch-up you’re your life before you’re due back at work.

Instead of stressing yourself out with the hustle and bustle of travel, why not spend your week or two off at home? You can sleep in as late as you like in the comfort of your own home and take the time to indulge in hobbies and activities you both enjoy doing together. If you love hiking, but never have a chance to get out on the trails near your house, spend an afternoon exploring outdoors. Or maybe there’s a museum or restaurant in your hometown that you’ve always wanted to see – get out there and do it! Splurge a little on a nice dinner – or perhaps a new set of satin sheets – and try to enjoy the time you have together. At the end of your at-home honeymoon, you’ll feel more refreshed and relaxed than ever.

Non-Traditional Travel

No matter how drab or boring your hometown, you probably live within driving distance of an interesting vacation destination that you may not have considered for your honeymoon. For example, Traverse City, MI, nestled on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan boasts one of the country’s fastest growing wine regions, all within a four hour drive of Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor and Detroit. In this region, you can find vacation packages including top-notch lodging and winery tours for much less than the cost of flying to and staying in an exotic resort.

If you’re looking for an exotic atmosphere, without the cost of Caribbean travel, you can check out some of the lesser-known Florida Keys, like Islamorada or Big Pine Key. Accommodations on these islands are much cheaper than what you’ll pay in the Caribbean. For example, you can rent an oceanview room with a queensize bed on Islamorada for as little as $115/night – all within a 90-minute drive to Miami. Even if you aren’t located within driving distance of Florida, you’ll likely find that airfare to Miami is much cheaper than to any other tropical destination.

Use Your Budget-Traveler Toolbox

You probably already know most of the budget-travel maxims, and you can certainly use these to reduce the cost of a honeymoon trip to Europe, the Caribbean or any other expensive destination. First, find out when the off-season is and try to schedule your honeymoon for that period. You don’t need to take your honeymoon immediately after your wedding – in fact, going later on means you won’t be stressed out from all the preparation that’s gone into your wedding. You should also take advantage of discount travel sites, like Travelocity.com and Expedia.com, to get the best deals on flights, hotels and rental cars. Depending on your preferences, you may also want to seek out a condo or house rental in your travel destination, instead of staying in a hotel. Whatever your budget, you’re sure to come up with a honeymoon plan that’s best for you by following these tips and ideas.

Bookmark this post

BlinkList | Digg it | Yahoo MyWeb
or use the bookmark picker

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.

Bookmark this post

BlinkList | Digg it | Yahoo MyWeb
or use the bookmark picker