101 smart tips for a budget indian wedding

101 Smart Tips For A Budget Indian Wedding

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Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved


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Legal Disclaimer

While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented here is correct, the

contents herein are a reflection of the views of the author and are meant for educational and

informational purposes only. All links are for information purposes only and are not warranted

for content, accuracy or any other implied or explicit purpose.

No guarantees whatsoever, be it fiduciary or in terms of any guaranteed results are made, and as

always competent legal, accounting, tax and other professional consultation should be sought

where needed.

The author shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other damages, including but not

limited to special, incidental, consequential or other damages.


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Introduction

These days, Indian wedding costs may range anywhere from a few thousands of dollars to a few

hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on how lavishly you are willing to spend for your

special day.

Your wedding is one of the few events in your life which can result in substantial costs, and so

your wedding finances must be considered wisely before you spend that hard-earned cash of

yours.

Wedding expenses do not have to be astronomically high even if you are planning for a

spectacular day. With a bit of creativity and some thoughtful planning, you will be able to create

a breathtaking wedding without breaking your bank.

Continue reading below as you will find a whole range of tips to create an amazing Indian

wedding with a practical budget.


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Table of Contents Common Cost Saving Tips ............................................................................................................. 5

Indian Wedding Reception ............................................................................................................. 8

Indian Wedding Catering .............................................................................................................. 10

Indian Wedding Photography ....................................................................................................... 12

Indian Wedding Videography ....................................................................................................... 14

Indian Wedding Rings & Necklace .............................................................................................. 15

Indian Wedding Venue Decorations ............................................................................................. 17

Indian Wedding Favors ................................................................................................................. 19

Indian Wedding Cakes .................................................................................................................. 20

Indian Wedding Entertainment ..................................................................................................... 21

Indian Wedding Attire .................................................................................................................. 22

Indian Wedding Make-Up & Hairstyling ..................................................................................... 23

Indian Wedding Flowers ............................................................................................................... 24

Indian Wedding Invitations & Stationery ..................................................................................... 25

Indian Wedding Transport ............................................................................................................ 26


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Common Cost Saving Tips

1. Read every contract you sign. Ensure that you read and comprehend the terms of the

agreement that you sign with your wedding vendors and wedding service providers. This is

one of the most crucial steps which is overlooked by would-be brides and grooms, yet is

important to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. You have every right to question

your vendors for clarification, so do not be afraid to ask. Some specific items to check or

consider are:

i. Inclusion of complimentary items or services

ii. Modification / cancellation payment terms

iii. Overtime charges

iv. Other hidden fees

2. Stay away from auspicious wedding dates. Indian weddings tend to be celebrated on

astrologically important dates. While there may be benefits to organizing your wedding

event on these dates (climatic benefits as an example), do note that there is no sure way to

tell that you would have a perfect married life if you are married only on these specific

days. Think about it, the auspicious dates become reasonable calendar days for service

providers and vendors to hike up prices since demand for products or services on these

days are higher. Also, if there were really only certain special dates to tie the knot, how are

people from various other cultures who do not follow this tradition still able to lead a happy

life?

3. Keep your fantasy checked. Every couple would love a fabulous fairytale wedding, but

the majority of us can hardly afford the expenses associated to create one. The dream

wedding can be organized if both bride and groom begin to be pragmatic in their idea of

what a dream wedding should look like. To swap excessive spending, couples should opt

for creative ways in order to achieve that dream wedding feel and look. For example, if you

love to have fresh flowers to be scattered on guest tables but the prices quoted by your

wedding decorators or florists is excessive, buy flowers wholesale and get some friends to

scatter them on tables.

4. Avoid selecting Saturday. Fees for expensive items such as wedding venue rental can be

reduced when choosing events to be held on any other day besides Saturday. As most

wedding and other celebratory events are more likely to be held on Saturdays, venues and

other service prices are also more inclined to be priced higher. An alternative is to choose a

Sunday of a long weekend, as it will be almost like Saturday since everyone will have the

Monday off.


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5. Leverage free resources to the utmost. Internet sites, wedding blogs, wedding forums,

books & magazines always have free information which can provide ideas for creating a

fantastic wedding. From tips and real life experiences, you will notice that these sources

provide very helpful and reliable advice from couples who have just gone through their

wedding planning journey. Another excellent source which costs free, are your recently

married friends. These are probably some of the best people to ask that nagging question

you may have, especially if you worry about asking them directly to your service providers.

6. Select established mini vendors for smaller price tags. Service providers who manage

and run smaller businesses tend to have lesser overheads, resulting in lower fees passed

down to the customer. These vendors may only operate via Facebook, or from their home,

and thus are able to provide some cost savings. Surveying for these mini vendors may

consume a little more effort or research work, but you should be able to find these through

referrals. Although quality may be compromised with these home-based vendors, there is

still a high possibility to unearth some hidden gems among them.

7. Maintain a small guest list. Remember the guest list will include people from both the

bride and the grooms sides. Therefore having a controlled amount of guests to invite is

critical in keeping wedding costs down. With the wedding variable costs dependent on the

number of invitees, getting a realistic guest list number will include prioritization of guests

and allocating guest numbers for both sides. Some methods you may consider for

prioritization and allocation of guests include:

i. Equal distribution: to brides parents, to grooms parents, to brides

friends and to grooms friends

ii. Mutual guests: only invite guests who are known to both bride AND groom

iii. Two per family: maximum two guests nominated per family

The above are just some examples approaches when deciding on your guest list, but you

should get the gist.

8. Benefit from coupons and store discounts. Browse online discount stores & group deals

sites, or use coupons from wedding fairs to obtain discounts for the products and services

you require. For example, you may obtain marked-down bridal services from group

discount sites such as Groupon. Coupons from wedding fairs on the other hand may help

you save up to 25% on large ticket items such as food catering, photography/videography

and venue rentals. Remember even a mere 10% discount on a high priced item may save

you thousands.

9. Negotiate on prices. When you are making a large buy from a specific vendor, dont be

afraid to negotiate. For example if you will be spending a few thousands with your


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wedding decorators, ask that they include some flower petals to be added on the guest

tables. A separate great way to work out a deal with your choice vendor is to search around

and find out what the competitors are charging. Subsequently, go back to your choice

vendor and let them know your interest in their services but want a budget price you could

work with to make your money stretch further. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out

that many of these vendors are willing to work with you for your business.

10. Opt for Do-It-Yourself (DIY). When there is an opportunity, always try to think if you

can easily manage a certain task by yourselves or with the help of friends and family. For

example, car decorations need not be requested from the car rental company if you could

come up with one on your own. With the numerous amounts of DIY videos available on

the internet for various craft items, get some friends or family members together and start

taking up some of these tasks upon yourselves.

11. Select family member or friend as wedding coordinator. On your big day, someone

needs to coordinate the entire wedding ceremony and reception, and you will need a

wedding coordinator for this purpose. A wedding consultant can take away this headache

of coordinating a wedding. However it may be an additional expense that you could live

without. To reduce this expense, get a trusted family member or close friend who will be

able to manage your wedding from end to end. Give him or her, the wedding itinerary,

wedding checklists and all vendor information and let them take care of the event.

Remember you can always provide gifts and non-monetary rewards as a token of your

appreciation to the appointed coordinator.


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Indian Wedding Reception

12. Understand what you will be getting for the reception venue. Be sure to note the

duration you have the event venue for. Events which run over the stipulated time may

result in overtime charges that may be costly. Pricey corkage fees may also be charged

when bringing in beverages to the venue. Check also to see how cleaning fees are

calculated for different types of venue. The venue, which is one of the large ticket items,

with hidden costs like above may take you by surprise and blow your budget away so it is

wise to be aware.

13. Use free of charge venues. The beach, public gardens and local tourist attractions are

fabulous and stunning places to hold a wedding. Not only can they save you money, these

locations are also unique and being as immaculate as they are, would save you on venue

decorations. Although not traditional choices for Indian weddings, these locations are being

considered by modern Indian couples who expect a unique affair, similar to their

personalities.

14. Conduct a home wedding. A home wedding is less thought but excellent for smaller but

intimate weddings. From using your own or your parents, to a kind friend or family

members home, the home wedding option provides versatility in that food and decorations

can be kept formal or casual. Economical food & beverage, decorations, and wedding

setting choices can be made, which will allow you to make additional savings on top of

venue rental fees.

15. Pay only for services that you need. Some service providers may automatically provide

additional benefits or value added services which you do not require for your wedding.

Products or services not required should be removed from the bill or replaced with some

different item. To understand what is included with the price, ensure your vendor lists

down the specific services in your contract and ask for clarification for the things which

you have doubts. For example some venue locations include red carpet fees in their

standard rental packages. If your decorator (who presumably has better carpets) has already

included this in his quotation, you should insist the removal of this item from the venues

charges.

16. Choose a food caterer who supplies everything. Even though renting plates, glassware,

silverware, table napkins and many other items on your own may save you money, it is a

hassle you can do without. Select a caterer who has all the facilities and items so that you

can use them for free as part of your overall catering package. It also makes any last minute

changes easier, as you will only need to be liaising with a single vendor instead of multiple

vendors.


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17. Hold the wedding ceremony and reception at a single location. Remove double

expenses by holding the Indian wedding ceremony and wedding reception at one location.

As venues dont usually charge additional fees when you are holding both events at the

same location, you will save on decorations and food!

18. Hold a brunch reception. A brunch reception is a more casual and elegant alternative to a

traditional sit down dinner reception. A spread of Indian breakfast items and pastries served

with coffee and tea after a customary early morning wedding can be amazing yet

affordable. This is a common reception choice among those of the Hindu faith, who get

married during the wee hours of the morning.

19. Hold a luncheon reception. Another reception choice is a late morning marriage

ceremony followed by a lunch reception. This is a great option since guests will be able to

mingle longer. Especially on a quaint Sunday afternoon, guests are more likely to be in a

relaxed mood since there is no rush to get home for bed after the event.

20. Hold a cocktail party reception. One alternative option to serving a full sit-down meal is

to have a cocktail party reception. It usually includes cocktails and finger foods followed

by a night of dancing. This type of reception is suited for Indian couples who hold an

evening candlelit wedding in an outdoor location, but who would still love to be prudent in

their wedding expenses. For maximal savings, you can easily cook up a variety of finger

foods yourself or get reasonably priced pre-made trays from the local supermarket.

21. Prepare some of the food yourself for a dinner reception. A dinner reception is the most

pricey wedding reception option. However, you can still save some money by cooking

some of the food yourself. Consider getting your caterer to cook the main Indian dishes and

make the rest by enlisting help from family and friends. If you still find the thought of

preparing the food yourself to be intimidating, try cooking just a single item such as laddu

for the door gift.

22. Rent a penthouse for a private event. A fantastic idea for a small and intimate Indian

wedding is to rent the penthouse at a grand hotel. Although the penthouse suite rental cost

is high, the hotel will set out bridal flowers for you and clean up afterwards. A small group

of family and friends can be hosted at this truly unique venue for a memorable event.


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Indian Wedding Catering

23. Reduce or remove appetizers. Indian weddings usually always come with ample amount

of food. Removing appetizers from your menu can eliminate food wastage besides reducing

costs. If you insist on serving them, just cut down the number of appetizer types as no one

is going to notice whether there were 5 or 10 different options.

24. Buffet instead of banquet. Banquet with dome tray served on the guest tables tend to cost

about 25% higher compared to buffet style reception. Additionally, you would need to hire

additional waiters to accommodate for all the guest tables and there is a cost for hiring each

waiter. A cheaper option would be to opt for a buffet style reception, as you would only

need a smaller number of waiters to serve at the buffet tables. Furthermore, it also allows

guests the flexibility to eat as much as they want, or to have smaller portions.

25. Order child meals. If children are attending the reception, consider requesting a childs

meal for everyone under 12. This is possible if you are having a reception with designated

seating for your guests so make sure to ask your caterer. There is no point in spending the

same amount as an adults meal since children only eat a fraction of the food!

26. Check for transport fees. Some Indian food caterers may have cheap charges for the food

which you order to get your business, but then add on exorbitant charges to transport them

to your wedding venue later. Some even go to the extent to charge you for transporting

waiters to your event. So ensure that you have asked your caterers regarding this, and avoid

any vendors which do not have valid reasons for this.

27. Bigger is not better. Large and more established Indian caterers probably charge higher

since they are well known in the market. However, do not worry about considering less

established caterers who are still growing their business as they will put in more effort to

please you, including working with a budget you have in mind. If you are worried that food

quality may be compromised with the smaller and upcoming businesses, ask for food

tasting when they are cooking for any other event before you make a decision.

28. Corkage fees. If you are serving alcohol at your wedding reception, make sure to check

with the venue if there is any corkage fees included for bringing in your own alcoholic

beverage. Most venues do charge this corkage as they would prefer you to buy from them,

since this is where they make a large chunk of their money.

29. Toast with sparkling wine instead of champagne. For your reception toast, consider

chilled sparkling wine instead of champagne as this can greatly reduce your spending.

There are plenty which are of good quality, and you can even purchase a few of these.


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30. Go vegetarian. If you are smart and combining your wedding ceremony and reception

together, opt for vegetarian food to be served. You should be able to get away with it since

wedding ceremonies (which is more significant than the reception) are usually thought to

be sacred events.


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Indian Wedding Photography

31. Appoint a photographer who will provide the negatives. When choosing your

photography package from your professional photographer, purchasing printed images and

the photo album will be expensive so you may want to skip it altogether until a later date.

By obtaining the negatives or the RAW digital photos on a CD or thumb drive, you can

print the photos later, enabling you to stretch your money.

32. Encourage guests to be photographers. Your guests who are avid photographers

themselves can be additional photographers who can help capture shots which may be

missed by photographers you have employed for the event. Remember, no matter how

expensive your professional photography package is, you are not going to get everything

that happens during the reception to be captured. You can also create a single repository

where all guests can upload the digital pictures they have taken, so you have a larger vault

of pictures for remembering your special day.

33. Leave a disposable camera on guest tables. Put a disposable camera on every guest table

to get your guests to help you capture the most important moments from various angles.

You can include instructions on a poem for your guests to capture images they think you

would want as memories and to drop the cameras off on their way out. This is an

alternative and cheap method to get images of the days festivities by getting your guests

involved.

34. Obtain total cost for the photos and the photographer. The main thing to ponder about

is what you need before making a decision on your photographer choice. Calculate the total

cost that you will be paying for which includes both photography services as well as the

cost to print the images. Certain photographers may require you to pay for each shot that

you want. Sometimes their prices are so absurdly overpriced that you would have saved

more money with the more expensive photographer who gives you the negatives.

35. Limit the locations where snapshots will be taken. Some photographers charge

additionally for each location they are required to travel to. You could leave out

unnecessary photography at the bride or grooms getting ready location if you have budget

constraints unless you are doing your formal photos before the ceremony. Instead of opting

for several locations, play with your bridal wear or photo angles to create the differing

looks for your pictures.

36. Choose a package based on your preferences. Each Indian wedding photographer may

offer a slightly different package. Before automatically accepting a package which sounds

good, decide wisely if you really need all the items which are included. Instead of paying


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unnecessary fees for package features you dont require, ask the photographer to substitute

options or reduce the fees. Some of the photography package features include a mix of the

following:

i. multiple photography venues

ii. two or more photographers

iii. both black & white, and color images

iv. two albums; one for the couple and one for the couples parents

37. Enlist photographer services only for duration required. If the wedding photographer is

charging you by the hour, have them stay for only as long as you require them to. There is

no need for your photographer to remain after event hours unless you want them to cover

some post-wedding ceremonies which is usually held at the couples home.

38. Settle on cheaper alternative photography options. Consider getting photography

services from friends and relatives who are avid photographers. If you do not know of

anyone specific, ask for referrals from your close friends and family, there is bound to be

someone who could help you. Another option is photography students from a photography

school if the spending budget doesnt allow for the cost of a professional photographer. The

trainers or lecturers of the photography school can guide you to a promising student, who is

also going to be excited to get real life Indian wedding photography experience.


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Indian Wedding Videography

39. Select maximum two cameras for coverage. Keep videography options simple and select

a maximum of two cameras to cover your Indian wedding event. You will end up paying

much more if you request for further additional cameras because video editing then gets

more complex and your videographer will need to bear some additional risks when

transporting this expensive equipment. Two cameras are ideal, as they provide both narrow

and wide angled captures, yet do not become a crowd at your event.

40. Request for unedited wedding video. Although videographers may charge slightly higher

for unedited footage, they are extremely useful as you can perform your own video editing

later using free editing software which is available online. Unedited footage also allows

you to get it professionally edited at a later stage when money is more readily available.

Keep in mind that video editing consumes plenty of time when creating the wedding video,

so a large portion of the money spent for videography services can be saved by getting the

video edited at a later time.

41. Request a friend/family to be your videographer. Consider asking a friend or a relative

to be your videographer and create a list of events and important occasions for your Indian

wedding that you would like to be caught on tape. You can always assign two or three of

them to capture the videos in case you are worried that some significant moments may be

missed. Dont be afraid to ask as people are always willing to help!


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Indian Wedding Rings & Necklace

42. Opt for a traditional string necklace. Customarily, the Hindu wedding concludes with

the groom tying an auspicious thread around the bride. Instead of picking gold, go with the

tradition by choosing the necklace made of thread dipped in yellow turmeric. Not only

would you save a lot of cash, the sentimental value of the thread necklace is created which

no metal in the world can outweigh or out price.

43. Buy gold necklace from Indian jewelers. Although recent trends have seen brides opt for

white gold as the necklace, consider yellow gold which has a higher intrinsic value. If you

opt for gold necklace, Indian jewellery shops sell their gold at prices lower than the

advertised market rate. Hence you will be able to obtain similar weighted gold wedding

thali or mangalsutra for a cheaper price compared to purchasing from the well-known

gold jewellery stores.

44. Search for the perfect ring online. Since the wedding bands or rings will be something

you will wear for the rest of your life, make sure to do extensive research prior to making

your purchase. There are plenty of reputable online stores where you may buy elegant and

stunning jewellery. They are able to pass cost savings to customers because they would not

have similar overheads as a traditional store. Choose an online store with excellent

customer service in case you run into problems in the future.

45. Buy your rings as a set. Wedding rings and bands are available in sets which come for

both the bride and the groom. Sometimes these sets come with engagement rings as well as

the wedding band so buying these as a set can knock the price off as much as half

compared to buying them on its own.

46. Opt for rings with simplistic designs. The classic gold band which comes in a simple

design is elegant yet affordable. But if you prefer other metals, go for white gold or silver

bands instead of platinum, which can cost twice as much. For wedding rings with a stone, it

is not necessary to have diamonds to be stunning. Opals are semi-precious stones worth

considering.

47. Avoid designer rings. Rings with a designer label are always going to cost you

significantly higher. Choose less expensive rings and save your money as a large price tag

does not necessarily mean better quality.

48. Buy rings on sale. Wait for the jewellery store to have a sale before you get your rings for

a bargain. Begin surveying for your rings early so youll know exactly what you want when

the sale comes around.


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49. Buy cheap; upgrade later. Start with a simple and inexpensive ring, and in parallel, begin

a savings plan so that you may upgrade your rings at a later time. As the years go by, you

can think about upgrading the rings, which will double up as the perfect and romantic

anniversary gift for yourselves. Remember, just because its not in the budget to buy your

dream wedding rings now, doesnt mean you cant get them later.


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Indian Wedding Venue Decorations

50. Make the venue your focal point. Opt for a naturally beautiful location such as the

beachside, garden parks, renewed historical buildings or religious venues such as temples,

churches and mosques. Minimal additional dcor with some simple floral adornments is all

you require to turn your venue into a breathtaking Indian wedding scene.

51. Choose synthetic flowers instead of fresh flowers. Flowers add a touch of beauty to

wedding pictures, but are rarely appreciated at Indian weddings by guests who are more

excited with the prospect of having good food and drinks, as well as the company they have

at the wedding event. Fresh flowers can be invigorating but very expensive and therefore it

may be avoided to keep wedding costs low. Instead, use artificial flowers to add color and

plants such as ficus trees to add greenery. You can even add white fairy-lights to create that

romantic look.

52. Shop for decorations during end season sales. Know what you are looking for and shop

during festival and national sales season to get gorgeous decorations at a fraction of the

price. If you began your wedding journal soon after your engagement, you should have

plenty of pictures of decorations that you prefer, and only need to scout for it when sales

have begun!

53. Check auction stores or forums for decorations. Many Indian couples who have already

been married are sometimes stuck with decoration items from their wedding which they

dont use anymore. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to collect vases, tableware,

glassware, fabric, table cloths, artificial flowers and all sorts of other decorations when they

sell them off through eBay, Amazon or local wedding forums. Expect to make some big

savings, although finding them will require more effort!

54. Create your own creative menu/itinerary & place cards. Design your own unique and

graphical cards on your computer, print them and paste onto fancy colored paper for the

different place cards you require for your wedding. This is great for getting your friends

involved as part of the wedding planning team.

55. Consider group photo instead of a guest book. Get your photographer to take a group

photo of everyone who attended instead of having a guest book. This will save you the cost

of the book and pen, and yet youll have a beautiful keepsake to remind you of your

wedding guests.

56. Dont overlook bargain shops for decorations. Decoration items are usually only used

once and need only hold up for the duration of the event. Therefore, get great deals from


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bargain shops for pillar candles, tea lights, vases, baskets, silk flowers and other decorative

items which are similar to those youll get at bridal shops.

57. Turn wedding favors into centerpieces. Stack a few wedding favors neatly together on a

cake stand or a raised tray to form the table centerpiece which wont add to your wedding

budget. Another option is to put the favors into a pretty basket to create that unique

centerpiece having the elements of your Indian wedding.

58. Pick unusual items for centerpieces. Check out craft stores and bargain shops for unusual

centerpiece items such as fishbowls with floating flowers or tea-lights for a beautiful but

inexpensive centerpiece. Another idea is to obtain interesting teapots or vases from friends

or relatives and filling them up with flowers.

59. Use bridal bouquets as decorations. Indian bridal bouquets can be used to decorate along

the head of the table, once they have been used for the bridal party entrance and bridal

ceremony. Simply put them in a vase filled with water, and they convert into an instant

floral arrangement which matches your wedding theme at no extra cost!


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Indian Wedding Favors

60. Skip having favors. Wedding favors are most times left behind at guest tables. Once your

guests are happy mingling with others and satisfied with the food that is served, they will

most probably forget about the favors. Save your money and skip having them if you can.

61. Get Indian candies/sweets as wedding favors from your caterer. Most people dont need

or want another trinket from someones wedding. As an alternative, order some kesari, laddu,

halwa or gulab jamun as your wedding favor. These can be packaged simply using

coloured plastic covers or boxes, which means cheaper door gift costs.

62. Buy wedding favors from stores that offer free decorating. Some stores charge extra for wedding favor decorations. For example, having a ribbon that complements your wedding

colors or attaching a Thank You tag can add up quickly, especially if you are purchasing in large quantities. Scout further and find a store that offers you free decorating instead.

63. Create your own wedding favor. There are plenty of DIY wedding favors you can find online, with detailed instructions on how to create them. If you have some extra time on

your hands, gather some friends, purchase the supplies at your local craft store and create

your own favors with embellishments bounded only by your own creativity.

64. Give lottery tickets as wedding favor. Give your guests a chance to strike it rich by purchasing some lottery tickets. They are cheap, and your guests would love the thought

that it could be their lucky day.

65. Request your guests help for a creative wedding favor. Ask your guests to return a favorite quote or saying when they RSVP. Compile all the sayings and quotes, and have

them printed and laminated at your stationer. The compilation can be used as your

motivational gift for all guests.

66. Choose family or couple wedding favors. As most guests often come as couples or families, you should not be compelled to give a gift to every person. Opt for a single gift

instead, as they can save you lots of money.

67. Provide a fun gift for kids. For children, you may opt to give something inexpensive yet instills a fun element for them. They could be candy kebabs (colored jujubes or candies on

sticks), coloring book with crayons or even sand art. Remember these are affordable items

which you could find from bulk and bargain stores.


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Indian Wedding Cakes

68. Consider having a mock wedding cake. If you didnt already know, bakers also use Styrofoam to create fake cakes in any shape and size you can dream of, and decorate them

to make it look and feel like its a real cake. For considerably less money, this is a good option if you have decided that you dont want to serve the cake to guests.

69. Order a wedding cake which doubles up as dessert. Instead of offering a selection of different desserts besides the wedding cake for your guests, have your wedding cake come

in different flavors for each tier. In that way, you will have several options for guests to

choose from without requiring you to order the Indian desserts.

70. Order a small version of your dream cake. If you yearn for that special cake with a specific design but find the price hard to digest, consider ordering one in a smaller size and

purchase additional sheet cakes or decorated round cakes of the same flavor so you will be

able to serve it to guests. Keep in mind that the larger the cake, the more it costs.

71. Have a cupcake tree instead of the traditional wedding cake. Cupcakes on a tree stand are a new trend which Indian couples have been following to create their unique yet

affordable weddings. The stands may come in various designs and provides an elegant

touch for bridal pictures during the cake cutting ceremony.

72. Replace cake cutting with ribbon cutting. Refrain from having the traditional cake cutting ceremony. Instead, replace with a ribbon cutting ceremony with scissors. The cut

ribbon can be tied to some helium balloons, with the balloons floating upwards to the air

for the celebratory effect.


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Indian Wedding Entertainment

73. Play your own CDs instead of hiring a professional DJ. Most venues come with sound and public announcement systems with multi-disc players which are available to use. As

they are fairly simple to use, get the help of friends or family to help you compile the music

and manage the music to be played on the day.

74. Hire a DJ instead of a band. Hiring a DJ to play at your wedding is cheaper than hiring a band. A DJ usually comes alone with his console. With a band you will need to ensure the

performance stage is prepped, band gear is ready & functional, and accommodate more

non-guests at your event.

75. Avoid extras which DJs offer. Hiring a DJ is a less expensive alternative to a band, however consider if you actually need the extras offered by them. The DJ may offer you

special lighting, smoke and bubble machines and even fireworks, but think hard if you

really need them as these may inflate your costs besides making your wedding appear more

like an entertainment show.

76. Request friends / family to provide entertainment. If you ask around, you are bound to find relatives or friends who have some talent in singing, dancing or even performing. Ask

them if they will be interested to entertain at your event. Besides the obvious cost savings

from hiring a professional entertainer, it would be more meaningful as there will already be

a strong bond between the audience and the performer.


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Indian Wedding Attire

77. Get plain silk saree and get it embroidered. Get a beautiful silk saree and add embroidery and decorations to the saree and wedding blouse for a lavish and extravagant

look, paying only a fraction of the price of completely embroidered sarees.

78. Choose low-priced gown and beautify for an expensive look. Scout for a simple white or off-white evening gown that fits you and adorn with trims, bows and lace. The gown would

appear to cost a fortune with the garnishing which costs only around a hundred or two

extra.

79. Rent your wedding attire. For the really practical minded, opt for rented gowns/tuxedo or borrowed wedding sarees and lehngas, since you are only going to be wearing it once in

your lifetime. This would allow you to choose from very expensive designer styles and all

you have to do is not tell anyone where you got it from!

80. Get the sherwani/kurta set stitched. For the groom, there is plenty of dashing sherwani or kurta sets to be found at stores. Browse around and have a design in mind (capture some

pictures if you can) before you proceed to get some Indian tailor to stitch a set of the

similar design. You will be surprised to find that a similar set may cost much lesser when

you custom tailor it.

81. Look for bulk rental to get some rental items free. Look out for stores which provide some rental items for free. For example with a minimum rental requirement which you

meet, you may be able to get the grooms tuxedo for free.


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Indian Wedding Make-Up & Hairstyling

82. Get a friend to do your bridal make-up. Since your lady friends would have been putting on make-up ever since they were teenage girls, you may be surprised to find some friends

who have the passion for it. Even though they may not be professionals, they may have the

skills to do it for you. Ask around, and do a trial run so you can be confident of the end

result.

83. Save on renting bridal accessories. Most make-up artists / hairstylists charge rental of bridal accessories into their service cost. Ask your make-up artist to reduce the charges if

you are bringing the bridal jewellery on your own.

84. Provide Mehendi drawing stall at your reception to recoup your expenses. Negotiate with your Mehendi artist to charge you much lesser for the bridal Mehendi. In return, allow

the artist to set up a stall at your wedding reception to provide Mehendi drawing services

for your guests with a fee.


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Indian Wedding Flowers

85. Purchase a garland set. When purchasing your bridal garlands, your florist should be able to provide a set which includes the main bridal garlands, smaller floral garlands, the bridal

bouquets and some loose flowers for your ceremony.

86. Opt for silk flowers. Consider using silk flowers instead of real flowers for flower arrangements over a wide or long area. Silk flowers come in a variety of flowers and it is

inexpensive as you can collect them when they are on sales, and you are able to easily keep

them until your special day. Provide them to your decorators for arrangement, and you can

knock off some decoration costs.

87. Use filler flowers for large arrangements. Filler flowers are a cheap alternative to real flowers for creating the stunning visual appeal. Since large arrangements are only seen

from far away, use groups of carnations and snowball mums as filler to create the eye-

catching appealing look.

88. Employ lots of greenery to reduce flowers needed. Notice how professional Indian decorators place greenery before adding flowers? You can do the same for your table

centerpieces and other decorations yourself, with only fewer flowers required to create a

voluminous look.

89. Carry a unique bridal bouquet. Get single stalks of your favorite flowers, and ask your friends and family members to hand you the flowers as you walk down the aisle way. At

the end of the aisle, you should have in your hand the bridal bouquet, delivered with a

touch of romance. Dont forget to get someone to tie the flowers together with a ribbon once you have the final bunch so you will be able to carry it comfortably later on.

90. Purchase the flowers from an online wholesaler. If you insist on fresh flowers, save some money by ordering them in bulk from an online supplier. You will have to remove

the thorns, trim the stems and pluck out the leaves before you can use them for your special

day.

91. Choose locally available flowers which are in season. Ask your florist for affordable ideas of flowers which will match your desired wedding theme color. The flowers should

be available locally, since a larger supply will ensure lower prices, especially if it is during

the blooming spell.

92. Hold a single flower instead of a bouquet. For a simple but exquisite look, carry just one complete flower bloom. Make a choice of a flower which is dazzling by itself, such as a lily

or spray of orchids, and finish the look with a ribbon around the stem. The ribbon can be

color coordinated with the bridesmaids dresses.


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Indian Wedding Invitations & Stationery

93. Design your own invitations. Invitations for your Indian wedding can cost considerably high, especially if you have a few hundreds of guests to be invited. Create your own

invitations using free wedding invitation design software, and print them on cards which

you can find at stationery shops. You only need to add some embellishments for an elegant

invite without bloating your costs.

94. Get plain unprinted invitations and decorate yourself. If you are worried you will not be able to print invitations properly, consider getting plain invitation cards and decorating

them. You can decorate with ribbons, lace, sequins or appliques for a spectacular invitation

before giving to the stationer for printing.

95. Opt for thermography instead of embossing. Indian wedding invitations with a raised lettering or impression provide the posh feel which is usually done through embossing. For

a cheaper alternative which has a similar look, choose thermography instead.

96. Determine invitation media for your guests. These days, you do not need to provide a physical invitation card to everyone. In this electronic age, most people are receptive to a

digital format of invitation (either via e-mail or e-card). However certain guests, especially

the elderly Indians, may be used to getting it the conventional way. Calculate how many

physical invitation cards you will require and only print that amount.

97. Make your personalized appreciation cards. Instead of purchasing thank you cards, print your favorite wedding photo, and write a personal thank you at the back before sending it

to your guests or helpers.

98. Use your offices stationery products. Get approval and use your companys supplies when creating and printing invitation cards, place cards, menus and thank you cards. Most

companies have no problems with you using them since they get discounts anyway when

purchasing in bulk.

99. Replace individual menus at guest tables with a single menu. Refrain from printing and placing individual menus at guest tables. Instead, write the menu on an extra-large board

and hang it at the entrance to your reception where it is visible to everyone.


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Indian Wedding Transport

100. Borrow instead of renting. The wedding transport to carry brides and grooms these days tend to lean towards high end cars such as Mercedes, BMW etc. If you dont already own it, renting one may cost you a bomb especially since you would need to rent the car for

several hours or the entire day. Instead, try borrowing one from a friend/relative, since the

transport is something which you would only be using for several minutes and is parked for

the remainder of your event.

101. Decorate the car by yourself. Wedding car decorations are one of the most easiest and fun wedding tasks which you may perform together with your spouse, or with help enlisted

from family and friends. With many DIY sites sharing car wedding decoration tips, take a

stab at beautifying it yourself.

101 smart tips for a budget indian wedding

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