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A dream wedding without a nightmare bill to pay

By Priscilla Lister, Copley News Service

If you’re Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, you can afford a fairy-tale wedding in the Big Apple and make a few bucks off of selling the photography rights, too.

But, if you’re not, cost-cutting tips for marrying the person of your dreams may be the most useful advice possible. Start by gathering tips on cutting costs from several expert sources, such as:

* “Bride’s Wedding Planner” (a Bride’s magazine publication, Fawcett Columbine).
* “Modern Bride Complete Wedding Planner” (John Wiley & Sons).
* “Simplify Your Wedding” by Allana Baroni (Reader’s Digest).
* “The Portable Wedding Consultant” by Leah Ingram (Contemporary Books).
* “From Something Old to Something new: A Bride’s Guide to Something Unique” by Becky Long (Galaxy Publishing).

Carry and Aron Buterbaugh were married on the coast of Maine on Oct. 12, 2002. CONSTANCE WALLACE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHY

First look for these books in your local public library, which is the first of many money-saving planning tips. And, don’t fail to consider hiring a wedding consultant. It may seem like an additional cost, but these professionals plan weddings for a living, know how to cut costs in your town and have experience working with various providers.

Meanwhile, keep in mind these tips from the authors above to make your wedding day one that won’t break your bank account.

RECEPTIONS

* Schedule your wedding for a Friday or Sunday (or even weekday), rather than Saturday, the most popular day for weddings. Many reception sites will offer lower rates on lower peak days.
* Think creatively when choosing your site. University halls, publicly owned buildings or a business-district restaurant on a weekend may be more affordable.
* Limit the number of guests.
* Book your reception as far in advance as possible; you may be able to negotiate a better price.
* Consider an off-peak wedding month (November through April) and an off-peak time of day (morning vs. evening).
* Have the reception in the same place where you get married for one fee.
* Limit the reception to three hours instead of the usual four.

FOOD AND DRINK

* Serve foods that are in season.
* Cut down on service personnel by having stationary appetizers instead of passed hors d’oeuvres.
* A sit-down dinner may be cheaper than heavy buffets; check with the caterers or providers.
* Go ethnic. A menu featuring Chinese or Mexican foods is generally less expensive than continental fare.
* Call local culinary and cooking schools whose chefs may work for lower wages than those from big-time restaurants or catering establishments.
* Cut back on liquor; serve only wine, beer and champagne.
* Consider serving carafes of wine, which are less expensive than pouring bottles.
* Use a site that allows you to bring in your own food and beverages, which can be less expensive than those offered by a hotel or hall.

FLOWERS

* Form flower bouquets with large flowers; you’ll need fewer.
* Have bridesmaids’ bouquets double as table centerpieces.
* Use flowers that are in season or free-for-the-picking, such as wildflowers.
* Some brides have shared costs of flowers for decorating the church if they marry there on the same day.
* If you marry during the holidays, churches and reception sites may already be decorated for the season.

MUSIC

* Compare costs of the disc jockey vs. a live band; a DJ is usually less expensive.
* Ask friends you know are talented to perform at the ceremony or reception; give gifts instead of wages.
* Hire musicians from your church or synagogue, who may charge less than professional musicians.

Visit Copley News Service at www.copleynews.com

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