Stylish Reception Ideas

14 Ways to Save Money on your Reception Details

With the global credit crunch taking hold, wedding budgets are getting tighter & creative couples are looking for new ways to save money whilst still having a fabulous wedding. Here are some stylish ways to save money on the finer details of your day.

1. Instead of expensive all floral centerpieces, create a mixture of flowers & fruit. Use tall vases with simple flower arrangements & low dishes filled with citrus fruits such as lemons or limes. The effect is vibrant, colorful arrangements that don't cost the earth. Another idea is to avoid flowers altogether & fill tall vases with fruit or fairy lights.

2. Create your own personalized favors which guests will love, such as paper or wooden fans, or music CD's with your favorite tracks & personalized covers.

3. If your budget is really tight, avoid favors altogether or you could just give them out on the top table only. Your guests will remember the food & drink you lay on the most, along with the entertainment. If you really want to give out favors here are some stylish budget ideas: candies in silk or organza favor bags; if your theme is a winter or festive one try Christmas tree decorations, which you could also personalize; cookies are great & very inexpensive to create, choose shapes which fit in with your theme & ice them with a personal message in your chosen colors.

4. When it comes to table centers follow the 2008 trend of flowers inside glass vases, such as orchids which have multiple blooms on a single stem. There is no need for lots of flowers & the look is stylish & minimal.

5. For a romantic & ambient atmosphere candles are hard to beat. Spread votives & tea lights around you tables for instant atmosphere.

6. Napkin decorations are a stylish touch which needn't cost the earth. For an autumn wedding theme try two ears of wheat or corn tied to a napkin with a piece of raffia or try just a single flower head such as a tulip or gerbera.

7. Save money on your wedding cake by checking out supermarkets or similar high street stores. Many will produce cakes in the same design & in different sizes allowing you to put together a tiered cake at a fraction of the cost of a custom made one.

8. Although they may be considered a staple of children's parties, balloons can look stylish at weddings too! Choose colors to fit in with your color scheme or pick clear balloons & fill with rose petals or confetti before blowing up.

9. Chocolates are popular at the end of the meal, but you don't have to buy expensive ones from a specialist shop. Check out your supermarket or high street for inexpensive alternatives such as selection boxes or create a pyramid (croquembouch style) from Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

10. Create stylish name cards with some natural inspiration. Collect some large sea washed pebbles & write your guest's names on them.

11. For a different way to save on your catering try a ‘bring & share' scheme. Mention it on your invitations & co-ordinate with your guests so they don't all bring the same thing!

12. Check out your supermarket, high street or garden center for potted plants such as roses, geraniums & chrysanthemums, to use as inexpensive table centers. If they are not already in decorative planters pop them into something pretty such as painted metal pails.

13. Hiring full sets of table linens - table cloths, napkins etc, can be expensive. Save money by buying pretty printed paper napkins which are widely available online.

14. Save money on your stationery by sending e-invites instead, this can cost from as little as $1 for 100 cards.

Georgina Clatworthy is a dedicated full time writer who composes informative articles related to wedding favors and wedding. She is connected with 1weddingsource, today's leading wedding planning social networking site.