101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 76-101

If you missed the first 75, you can find them here:

101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 1-25

101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 26-50

101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding: 51-75

——————————————————

76.    Use silk flowers in your real bouquet to replace those blooms that you really want but are too expensive or difficult to get
77.    If you have a bar, nix the iced tea/punch offered by the caterer. Your guests can soft drinks from the bar instead
78.    Before you purchase anything online, use a site like retailmenot.com to find discount codes and promotional coupons
79.    Use Ball canning jars as vases. You can usually find a case of 12 for less than $10.
80.    Grow your own wheat grass to use for centerpieces or to hold the escort cards
81.    Use chalkboard paint and chalk to transform a piece of plywood into a seating chart
82.    For the groom and the groomsmen, most places will provide a free tux for the groom with 5 or 6 paid rentals.
83.    Use carnations. One of the most expensive flowers, carns look gorgeous when bunched together instead of just being added as an afterthought
84.    Use branches from your own yard to serve as the tree to hold escort cards
85.    Use a clothesline with clothespins to display your escort cards, especially if you’re planning an outdoor wedding
86.    Check sites like travelzoo.com for hotel deals to block rooms for your out of town guests
87.    For the cake, skip the intricate adornment work and instead opt for a plain cake with simple details that can be dressed
88.    Have your rehearsal dinner at a local eatery that’s special to you as a couple. It doesn’t need to be formal, so choose a limited menu within your price range
89.    Add your wedding and engagement rings to your current homeowners or renters insurance policy and get a multiple-policy discount
90.    Skip the videographer. Instead, have a family member document your day. It’ll be a lot less expensive (hopefully, free!) and a lot more meaningful
91.    Sew your own ring bearer pillow. Of course you can add your own style to it, but simple directions can be found at http://www.ehow.com/how_17555_make-pillow-ring.html
92.    If you absolutely must use a credit card to pay for your wedding, which I highly discourage, find a card with 0% interest or a cash back feature: http://moneycentral.msn.com/banking/services/creditcard.asp
93.    If you’re interested in using a live musician during the wedding ceremony, contact the Music School at your local University and offer the gig to a talented student
94.    Instead of providing a full open bar for your guests, choose a few signature drinks that will be available throughout the night. This will cut down on the variety and amount of liquor that the bartender will need to stock
95.    Skip the champagne toast. Instead, guests will naturally just toast with whatever they have in their glass at the time.
96.    Host wedding parties (bridal shower, bachelorette party etc.) at someone’s house rather than renting a separate space
97.    Have your wedding in a park or other natural space, where little to no extra décor is needed
98.    Use your bouquets or pew arrangements as reception décor, either a the cake table or head table.
99.    If you’re completely overwhelmed and have no idea where to start, hire a wedding planner. If you really research and find a good one, they will actually save you more money than you think with all their industry connections and insight.
100.    Find your flowers at local farmer’s markets. In Detroit, for instance, the Eastern Market is a great resource for a wide variety of inexpensive flowers
101.    Look for contests online to find giveaways on everything from dresses and shoes to airfare and spa services