There are a number of ways you can save on your wedding day with do-it-yourself ideas. Wedding planning can be stressful and expensive. The more hands-on you are in your event, the better. A bride who is looking for that perfect and memorable day can start by rolling-up her sleeves. Save on wedding plans with a do-it-yourself mentality.

Do it yourself, and you can create a wedding that you have always dreamed of. You don’t have to settle for what is available from wedding stores or planners; instead, make your wedding one-of-a-kind. Your style will shine through the work you have done at home.

Find aspects of the reception that aren’t high priority for you and your groom, and move your budgeted money into areas you find more important. If you have always wanted a huge four-tiered cake, but never cared much about invitations: Do-it-yourself! Create the invitations on your personal computer with specialty paper from the craft store. Take this idea a step further by matching the paper to your name tags, guest book sign, and guest list. Little personal touches can not only save money, but show your personal style.

Don’t let a long to-do list stress you out. Do-it-yourself wedding planning is a perfect opportunity to call on all those bridesmaids and relatives. Host a small party at home for your bridesmaids. Pull out some food and drinks for your guests, and together they can help stuff envelopes or vote on reception songs. Not only will your wedding party help everyone get to know one another better before the big day, but you’re putting them to work. Time with your closest girlfriends will relieve stress, and it’s a great way to get some feedback on any planning ideas you need help with.

There are a number of great ways to save on wedding planning, through do-it-yourself ideas, friends, and family.

A marriage at a golf resort should be as straightforward or as complex as you wish. Even though you want to enjoy the golf, you don't have to give up enjoying to special feeling of wearing a white gown. It means that the traditional long flowing train and a full skirt is probably not a very good coice. Instead, a simple white dress with a removable train that has an elegant look and is straight enough to allow easy movement would be a terrific gown and even let you swing a club if you wanted that to be part of the ceremony. Use special bridal jewelry to enhance the simple elegance of your dress. Picture crystal glistening in the sun, or pearls to accessorize the gown.

Perhaps, you want to have your wedding be more informal, and then the choice of clothing is simple. Simple white golf clothes for the bride and her bridesmaids can that compliment the wedding colors are a great choice. Enhance a white visor with some beads and a lace veil and you will be ready for the ceremony. The clothes of the groom should distinguish him from the crowd, possibly with a special tie or hat as an addition to his golf clothes. Don’t forget to add elegance by donning  special crystal wedding jewelry purchased just for this special day. You can use the savings from your dress that will allow you to give great wedding jewelry gifts to your wedding party.

The wedding can be on the course, if it’s allowed, and the reception right in the clubhouse. Choose a nice vacation site at a higher price to increase the luxury of your golf wedding. Las Vegas golf resorts have a range of prices that will fit any budget and the cost spectrum is similar to the costs of most other types of weddings. Some have packages that often save you a considerable amount of money. If you want to up the ante, consider places like the hotel at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Banff, Canada. The beautiful setting of the greens against the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies is set off by a hotel that has looks like a Scottish castle. It is nearly impossible to find a comparable setting with such a scenic impact. For guests who are not golfers, there are excursions to the glacier and also a trip on a gondola up the mountainside which is a real special treat if the wildflowers are blooming.

The reception can be the most fun to plan for this type of wedding. Why not choose special golf gifts for the guests? They will add to the theme. One way to make eveyone pay attention is to give golf balls with your names and the wedding date printed on them. Golf tees with your names and the date is also a great way to have everyone have a remembrace of the event that they will appreciate. Delightful chocolate golf balls and mints in golf themed tins are another way to make sure that your guests never forget your special day.

If you have the reception at the club, normally they handle the food. You can keep with the golf them with a catered reception outside if you like you would like to be outside. Decide whether you would like to have a regular meal or just provide snack food that your guests can take with them when they go on the course. There's no use wasting a perfectly sunny day sitting inside while a day of golf is only a few steps away. If you are serving alcoholic drinks, you should have a special champagne punch and a few drinks a lot of people will like as well as some beer. Don't forget to have enough champagne for a toast to the bride and groom. Top your wedding cake with two golfers or select one that resembles a golf bag or club and balls. Take time to enjoy your reception and then play your first round of golf as a married twosome.

Your wedding will be a whirlwind day filled not only with love and laughter but also the unexpected.  Make sure you are prepared for any unforeseen circumstances by keeping the following items in a handy bag to which you or your bridesmaids will have access.

-sewing kit
-safety pins
-tissue paper
-lipstick
-a mirrored compacy powder case
-breath mints
-pantyhose
-pen and pad
-list of vendors’ telephone numbers
-bandages
-deodorant
-barrettes and/or bobby pins
-perfume
-eye drops
-aspirin
-glue
-toothpicks
-any prescription medication you currently take
-comb and/or brush
-drinking straws, so you can drink water without messing up your lipstick

This list is far from a complete list, it’s simply a list of the minimum things you should consider adding to your emergency kit.  By all means add more items you deem neccessary.  Just don’t overload the bag to the point where it will be a real burden for the bridesmaid who will be carrying the bag.

Hopefully you’ll never need to use any of these items on your wedding day, but rest assured you’ll have piece of mind knowing that they’re close by you.  And if something should happen, then you’ll be better prepared to handle any situation that arises. You’re then free to return to your wedding and continue celebrating. 

You can purchase a special bridal bag to hold these items, but that’s not necessary…especially since you will not be the one carrying it.  You can save time, money and effort by using a simple bag.  Ask a bridesmaid to be in charge of keeping the bag by her side at all times.  It’s best to have a bridesmaid hold the bag as they will be with you at all times, including the photography session. 

Wedding days are usually filled with chaos. From making sure the vendors are doing their jobs, to making sure the wedding favors are in place, and making sure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities, it’s easy for a bride to be overwhelmed.  With an emergency kit, you can ensure that you can also handle any surprises that come your way.

With the tough economic times we are experiencing, many brides find it necessary to reevaluate their wedding budgets.  The following ideas will aid you in your effort to keep costs down and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your wallet.

1). Purchase flowers that are local and in-season.  Incorporating orchids into a winter wedding is going to cost you a pretty penny.  Instead, visit your local flower market and select seasonal white Calla Lilies or deep red roses to form your bridal bouquets or table centerpieces.

2). Have your wedding favors double as your place cards or guest escort cards.  Indicate the guest’s name and table assignment on a label or hang tag and attach it to the favor box or bag.  Place the wedding favors / place cards on a central table at the entrance of the reception room.  As guests collect their wedding favors, they’ll also find out what their assigned seats are.

3). Avoid couture bridesmaids’ dresses and instead peruse through the clothing racks of popular national clothing retailers.  By choosing a style and color that your gals can wear again, you increase the longevity of their dresses while stretching their hard-earned dollars.  Best yet, your bridesmaids can shop at their convenience at their local retailer.

4). Think about holding your wedding on a Friday night or on a Sunday.  This alone can save you tons of money.

5). Print your own wedding invitations.  Many discount stores now offer stylish wedding invitations, thank-you cards, and wedding ceremony programs that you can print yourself in the comfort of your own home.  Purchasing a box of inexpensive embossed wedding invitations is now as easy as shopping for copy paper and staples.

6). Have several family and friends arrange your bridal bouquet, bridal party bouquets and boutonnieres as well as table centerpieces.  A word of caution: to avoid wilting, make sure to arrange the flowers no later than the night before.  By assigning this task to a group of trustworthy individuals, you can certainly save hundreds of dollars.

7). If you know a friend or family member who has great interest in photography as a hobby, they may be willing to photograph your wedding for free.

8). Avoid using invitations with an odd shape. They only increase your postage which will add to the cost. Use standard-sized invitations instead.

9). Consider doing your own hair and makeup.

10). Limit the size of your bridal party to family members and best of friends.  Have the others take tasks that are just as important, such as passing out the programs and escorting guests to their seats.