Yes, I know it’s Tuesday!  I purposely held back this week’s Money Saving Monday until today because earlier tonight I met up with Emily of Kennedy Occasions for coffee and conversation.  I am happy to report that Emily is just as fabulous in person as she appears on her website and blog.  For example she is stellar not only because she is an awesome planner, but also because she has a rescue dog named Chester.  How cute is that name?  I hear Chester is a mighty cute dog and have been promised that pics of said cuteness will appear on her blog at some point in the near future – I’ll be checking regularly for them and I suggest you all do the same  Without further ado, here is a quick pic I snapped of Emily tonight and her contribution to Money Saving Monday.

Five real-life examples for penny-pinching brides:

As a fellow penny pincher (with everyday expenses and with my own wedding) I can empathize with those brides who try to balance saving money and planning the perfect wedding.  Believe us ladies: the perfect balance can be achieved!

For starters, choose 3 things that are most important to the two of you.  Flowers?   Bar?  Venue?   Food?  Choose what is important to you and focus your attention on those three things.  Will you sacrifice favors to enhance the bar?  Ditch the bar to fund the flowers?  Cut the catering to spring for a live band?  Prioritize!   Below are 5 ways in which real brides saved money while not compromising their overall design/theme/feel.

1. Our friends (and clients) A and M were married in May 2009 in Athens, TN.  Instead of ordering flower arrangements for each of the 15 tables in their reception venue, the couple rented potted plants from a local nursery.  The plants cost $6 each and were dropped off the day of the event by the nursery, saving the couple nearly $25 per table and no delivery charge!  The flowers added an elegant, yet casual feel to their spring-themed wedding and with the money saved, they enhanced the bar!

2. Clay’s brother and sister-in-law were married in December 2006.  Instead of a dinner reception, B and S opted for a dessert reception and paired cookies, brownies, and other yummy holiday treats with coffee and cider, saving probably $8 per person!  Because large dinner plates, dinner forks and stemware were not needed, the couple saved on their rental/catering bill also.

3. Clients (and friends) C and M were married in October 2009.  M’s sorority sister and close friend, Amy, is a graphic design major at MTSU.  M enlisted her help with save-the-dates, invitations, and programs.  Not only did M endorse Amy’s talents and boost her portfolio, she paid only for the paper and supplies and the cuts made to the designs, paying only a fraction of what a custom design would typically cost!  With the money saved, M offered a spectacular menu at the reception!

4. While planning our own wedding, Clay and I wanted LOTS of flowers!  I asked a friend’s mom (who has a lifetime of flower experience!) to create and assemble my floral décor for the church and reception site.  By ordering flowers wholesale, we saved nearly $3000, some of which I gave back to our friend for her services, patience and expertise!  The remainder of the saved money was put towards a trumpet and organ player for our service!

5. My sister-in-law, J, saved big when she allowed Knoxville photographer Nancy Hellsten to second shoot her wedding.  Nancy and J met on theknot.com when Nancy was just beginning her photography business.  She was looking for wedding experience and asked J about the possibility of taking some shots at her September 2005 affair.  J and T were given all the pictures taken that day….and good thing…J’s other photographer missed some important events that Nancy was able to capture!  Not only did J and T get some fantastic shots of their wedding, but Nancy gained two more clients:  J’s brothers, B and Clay! (Or you can just hire us – every package includes a DVD of your images with reproduction rights )

Every wedding expert is going to suggest ways to save money, but oftentimes a planner will save you enough money through contacts and negotiations to pay for his or her services!  Our best advice for brides-to-be: plan well, pool your talents & resources and negotiate!  Should you have questions or need further advice, shoot us an email!  We are happy to help and would love to discuss plans for your fantastic affair!

Thanks so much Emily!  I enjoyed reading about your real life money-saving examples and enjoyed meeting you tonight.  Brides -don’t forget to check out Emily’s blog where she shares even more tips that can help you save big!