Ways to save money on your wedding

It’s a well-known fact that getting married isn’t cheap. On average a wedding will cost $36,000. The biggest expense is the venue followed by the cost of the wedding dress and clothing.

Here are my top 10 ways to save money on a wedding: 

1.      Go for a mid-week wedding - Many suppliers such as venues, photographers, etc will offer a cheaper price for mid-week or ‘off-peak’ weddings. For eg. As a celebrant I offer mid-week weddings for $295 (save $200).

2.      Guest list – Deciding on whom to invite can easily get out of hand and blow out your budget quickly. To cut down on costs, cut down on guests.

3.      Load your ceremony music onto an iPod - Rather than hiring a band or a DJ, load all of your favourite songs for dinner and then for dancing onto your iPod and plug it into the venue’s PA system.

4.      Ceremony venue - Shop around for a venue. Some venues need you to have a minimum number of guests. Don’t go to the expense of inviting extra people just to secure the venue. Find another venue instead. There are plenty available. Consider hiring a community hall and have a catering company supply the meal and a wedding decorator to give the hall a ‘wedding’ look.

5.      Do decorations yourself - This suggestion is pretty self-explanatory. It doesn’t take much effort to make the place cards. You can even go as far as making your own bombonieres and table settings, too.

6.      Make the invitations yourself - As with the above suggestion, it really isn’t too hard to make your own invitations. If you’re not creative ask someone you know who has the special flair and ask for their help. They’ll probably be honoured that you asked.

7.      Skip the champagne toast - instead let your guests toast with the drink they already have.

8.      Make the wedding cake yourself - get a friend or relative to make your favourite cake (you’ll be too busy) and either they can decorate it or get a professional to add the finishing touches. (Carol from Decorated Cakes Gold Coast will do this for you.)

9.      Use friends’ cars instead of booking a limo - your friends will probably be tickled pink to think their car is worthy of being used for a bridal car.

10.  Make a budget and stick to it- It’s important to create a budget and stick to it! Going over a little bit here and a little bit there will quickly add up to a big bit at the end. Wouldn’t you rather spend any extras on the honeymoon?

 
Helen Coghlan,
Simply Magic Ceremonies

simplymagicceremonies.com.au

 Gold Coast - Queensland – Australia

Box, Wine & Love Letter Ceremony

This is a really meaningful inclusion in any ceremony and it comes from Carol J. Merletti (USA).

You will need a wooden box or container that will hold a bottle of wine and two glasses. Before the ceremony you write each other a love letter, expressing your thoughts about the good qualities that you found in your future partner and the reasons for falling in love. Under no condition can you read each other's letter. During the ceremony the letters are sealed and placed in the box with the wine and glasses.

The idea is that, should you ever find your marriage in difficulty, you open the box, drink the wine together and then go to separate rooms and read the letter that you wrote to one another to reflect upon why you fell in love in the first place.

The hope is that you'll never have a reason to open the box and, if this is the case, you can open the box on your 10th anniversary.

 

Helen Coghlan,

Simply Magic Ceremonies

simplymagicceremonies.com.au

Gold Coast - Queensland – Australia

Acknowledgement of Country

Whether you are indigenous or not, consider including an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ to your ceremony which is a way that all people can show respect for Aboriginal culture and heritage and the ongoing relationship the Traditional Custodians have with the land. Something similar to the following could be said:

“I wish to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land we stand on today and I pay my respects to the Elders past and present.”

Helen Coghlan,

Simply Magic Ceremonies

simplymagicceremonies.com.au

Gold Coast - Queensland – Australia

Celebrity Marriage Vows - Elvis & Priscilla

Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu
Las Vegas, Nevada; May 1, 1967

“Marriage is an honorable estate. It is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly, but discreetly and soberly. Into this relationship these two persons come now to be joined. I ask you both that if you know any reason why you should not be joined in marriage, you make it known at this time.

Elvis, do you take Priscilla to be your wedded wife, to live together in bonds of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, so long as you both shall live?

Priscilla, do you take Elvis to be your wedded husband, to live together in bonds of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, so long as you both shall live?

I, Elvis, take thee, Priscilla, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish.

I, Priscilla, take thee, Elvis, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish.

In as much as you have consented together in marriage, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the state, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Helen Coghlan,

Simply Magic Ceremonies

simplymagicceremonies.com.au

Gold Coast - Queensland - Australia

Overseas Marriages

Marriages entered into overseas are generally recognised as valid in Australia

• if the marriage was recognised as valid under the law of the country in which it was entered into, at the time when it was entered into, and
• providing the marriage would have been recognised as being legal under Australian law if the marriage had taken place in Australia.

There is no requirement to register a marriage in Australia which takes place overseas.  The foreign marriage certificate is prima facie evidence in Australia of the occurrence and validity of the marriage.

If you wish to change your name because of this marriage, you will need to complete a ‘Change of Name’ application with Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state in which you live.

Helen Coghlan,

Simply Magic Ceremonies

simplymagicceremonies.com.au

Gold Coast - Queensland - Australia

Providing Notice of Your Intended Marriage

Within 18 months of your proposed marriage, and no later than one month and one day prior to it, you must give a completed Notice of Intended Marriage form to the authorised marriage celebrant who is to conduct your marriage ceremony. All marriage celebrants should have the necessary paper work to perform your marriage.

You will need your birth certificates (originals) and evidence that any prior marriage has been dissolved by either death or divorce.

Shortening of Time

It is possible to shorten the minimum notice time for a marriage to less than a month if the special circumstances set out in the Marriage Regulations 1963 are met. You will need to approach a Prescribed Authority for approval. See the link on the right hand side of this page.

Prescribed authorities (usually at your Local Court or Registry officials) can shorten the required period of notice if they are satisfied that the circumstances prescribed in the Regulations are met.

The five categories of circumstances set out in the Regulations. These are:

1. Employment–related, or other travel commitments
2. Wedding or celebration arrangements, or religious considerations 
3. Medical reasons
4. Legal proceedings, and
5. Error in giving notice.

The reason for wanting a shortening of time for notice must fall within one of these categories.  There is no capacity to grant a shortening of time outside these circumstances.  Shortening of time is not automatic.  When making a decision, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) or a prescribed authority will weigh up the information provided in support of your application and may seek additional information as outlined in the Regulations. You should have the documentation that supports your request before approaching a prescribed authority.

(This information is provided by the Attorney-General’s Department.)

Helen Coghlan,

Simply Magic Ceremonies

simplymagicceremonies.com.au

Gold Coast - Queensland - Australia

Include a Sand Ceremony in your Wedding

A Sand Ceremony symbolises the joining of two lives. The Bride and Groom each have a glass container (such as a vase) of sand which represents their own individuality, beauty, strength and character and qualities they take into the marriage. They pour their individual containers into another larger glass container symbolising the joining of their lives.

When the sands are blended together, they create a new unique entity and, just as the grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into individual containers, so will you remain together and enjoy a wonderful journey of many different experiences and memories.

This ceremony can also incorporate children and other family members and works particularly well when blending families; giving each child a glass container of sand and recognising his or her importance within the family unit.

Photo courtesy of Natasha Crow Photography.

Helen Coghlan,

Simply Magic Ceremonies

simplymagicceremonies.com.au

Gold Coast - Queensland - Australia