Most brides find as many ways as possible to cut costs during a wedding, but if you’re truly pinching pennies, don’t just look to the reception for ways to save. The ceremony itself can be quite pricey if you aren’t careful, and considering that most ceremonies last less than an hour, that’s a big bill for such a short amount of time! Here are five ways to save money on your wedding ceremony:

1. Hold the ceremony at home. Host your own wedding and you won’t have to pay to use a hall. Sure, you may not want hundreds of people milling around your living room and you certainly don’t want the minister standing by the kitchen sink. However, an outdoor wedding might be perfect in your backyard, and if you have a large enough house (or a small enough guest list) an indoor wedding at your home could work too.

2. Buy used dresses for your flower girls. Your flower girls are probably under ten years old and don’t care what they are wearing as long as it’s pretty. They’ll never even wear that dress again. Instead of opting for that designing children’s gown, shop online for a used version. Trust me, she’ll never notice the difference and you won’t shudder when she spills punch all over herself at the reception.

3. Make use of musical friends. Hiring a string quartet to play “The Wedding March” might seem like a lovely idea at first, but when you see the price, you may not be so keen on the idea. Instead, enhance your wedding party by including friends or families who can sing or play instruments. Even if you offer to pay for their services, your bill won’t blow the roof off your budget with this option.

4. Use fake flowers when it doesn’t matter. Sure, many brides won’t compromise on their own bouquet, but what about other flowers for the ceremony? For example, do your groomsmen need real rosebuds, or will silk versions look just as nice? What about your flower girls – can they throw silk petals instead of real ones? You can find some beautiful faux options online at Weddings and Flowers.

5. Move the decorations. The flowers, fabric, and other decorations you use where you hold the ceremony can play double duty and make another appearance at the reception hall. Why not? Have someone NOT in the wedding party (and so, not in the pictures) responsible for taking down and putting up anything you’re moving while you’re getting snapshots with your new husband and the bridal party.

Photo by faster panda kill kill

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• The ABCs of Saving Money on your Reception Hall