Of course there are hundreds of ways that you can cut wedding costs. We plan to keep posting about new ways as we find them. So, without further ado, here are five easy methods that will save considerable money without losing any of the beauty of your special day.

1.  Schedule your wedding during the week. Many vendors charge nearly double for a weekend wedding. Also, daytime receptions can be considerably more affordable than evening receptions.

2.  Make your own wedding decorations. Get together with your bridesmaids or relatives and make a day of it. You can make you make your favors, decorations and centerpieces with a personal touch.

3.  Enlist a friend or family member to make your cake. If your Aunt Mary is a fabulous baker, ask her to make your wedding cake in lieu of a gift. You can even offer to purchase the ingredients, if necessary. This is a big request, so make sure that the person you ask will be able to handle it and won’t flake out under the pressure.

4.  Offer one or two signature drinks instead of an open bar. The bride and groom can each pick their favorite cocktail. At the reception serve only those cocktails as “His” and “Hers” options, plus have an assortment of non-alcoholic beverages available.

5.  Have a dessert-only reception. If you are having an afternoon or late evening wedding, it’s perfectly acceptable to serve only desserts or only hor’dourves. If your wedding is near a usual meal time however, you should let your guests know in advance that you won’t be serving dinner.

• Planning a living room reception
• Three innovative ways to cut wedding costs
• Three ways to make that honeymoon feeling last
• Five ways to save money on your wedding ceremony