Decide What's Most Important
Pick your top three priorities and allocate a little extra money for them (venue, catering, band, photographer) Next pick the three things that come lowest on your priority list (maybe favors, cake, invitations) and budget accordingly.
Cut the Guest List
One of the fastest and most effective ways to lower your party cost is to pare down the invitees. Get out that red pen! At $50 a head, taking 10 guests off your guest list saves $500!
Pass on Pricy Details
Glamourous details on items you;re indifferent about spike costs without adding any fun to your fete. Free yourself the pressure to upgrade and instead make honest choice based on what you want. Ask yourself, "Will anyone but me notice if we don't do this?"
Simplify Your Invites
Having two shades of ink on your invitation might match your color scheme, but it can also add massive printing costs and square invites require extra postage.
Picture the Savings
If you're happy with simple pictures, pass on options like sepia tones, multiple exposures and split frames.
Choose Flowers Wisely
Since fresh flowers can get expensive fast, make smart choices. Substitute less expensive flowers in the same color: If you exchange Black Magic roses for more reasonably priced, deeply colored dahlias in all your centerpieces, you'll save about $4 a stem.
Be a Frugal Gourmet
If you're serving seated dinner, reduce the number of overall dinner courses and keep the menu simple. Stick with the specialities of the season or region.
Cut Your Cake Costs
Big birthday bash? Order a small, fabulous cake that's exactly what you want and, in the kitchen, have several sheet cakes of the same flavor cut for your guests.
