Stylish Ways to Save -- Cakes, Flowers, and Favors!

Posted Monday, May 03, 2010 6:58 PM

No matter how large or small your wedding budget is, when it comes to spending money on your wedding, you have to have priorities.

Maybe you're planning to splurge big-time on the venue with a view, or on the tall floral arrangements at the reception... do it!

But here's the thing: Just because you splurge on the dress doesn't mean you have to cut out your wedding cake!

There are easy ways to trim your budget and as I had mentioned, I had the opportunity to make a TODAY show appearance last Thursday. The theme for the show was "splurge vs. savvy" wedding ideas and we featured some ga-gorgeous items and genius money-saving tips for the taking.

Here they are...

How to Save on Your Wedding Cake: Ask your cake baker to use fresh flowers instead of sugar flowers. 

The one on the left is a white fondant cake covered with sugar-made flowers. It's $12/slice. The cake on the right is also covered in fondant but decorated with fresh flowers and is $6/slice. 

Money Saved: $6/slice -- half the price! 

Both cakes by the talented Cheryl Kleinman (BettyBakery.com) 

How to Save on Your Flowers: Be flexible with flower types and ask your florist to substitute less expensive flowers for pricier varieties. 

The one on the left is made of some of the most expensive, in-demand flowers out there. We're talking peonies (drool), sweet pea, roses, anemones, poppies, and tulips. The flowers alone cost $400 and the entire arrangement would run you at least $650 (including labor, installation, etc.) The one on the right still captures the essence of the first. The ONLY difference is that the flowers used are much cheaper -- carnations, gerbera daisies, godeta, and stock. Those flowers alone cost more like $100 and when you put them all together, the arrangement would run you around $250.

Money Saved: $400/centerpiece!

Flowers by Hatch Creative Studio (HatchCreativeStudio.com)

How to Save on Edible Favors: Buy chocolate favors in bulk and package them together on your own, rather than buying them pre-packaged.

The high-end chocolate ganache truffles on the left are $8/box for a set of two. By simply ordering the same truffles in bulk, and then boxing them up yourself (with small truffle boxes online for $1 a piece), the price per favor comes to $3.75 -- more than half the price!

Money Saved: $4.25/favor!   

Favors from La Maison du Chocolat (LaMaisonDuChocolat.com)

A Quick Note: This is probably pretty obvious but I have to point out just in case...Wedding prices vary across the country depending on where you're getting married. In other words, $6/slice might seem really expensive, while in other places, it may sound super cheap!

Want more ideas?

> Check out our Wedding Budget Guide!

> Search for the best local wedding vendors in your area