The average cost of a wedding is above $20,000.

So there is little room in most budgets for an extravagant honeymoon. Stay-cations and cruises represent affordable options.

If you’re looking for a trip that takes you off the beaten path. Or if you are looking for a unique experience, then affordable options may be more scarce.

Fortunately, with a little planning, there are several ways to save money on your trip. You will have a unique experience to remember for years to come. Here are a few unique honeymoon destinations that you can enjoy on a budget:

African Safari

Budget Honeymoons

You can replicate that experience by touring national preserves and parks.

Yosemite National Park in California offers opportunities for camping and getting a closer view of wildlife.

If you’re interested in seeing more exotic species, The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is a great option.

Of course, you won’t be able to sign up for a big game hunt, but visiting wildlife preserves and large zoos is a great way to replicate the kind of experience you would get on a safari while sticking to a budget.

Winter Wonderland

Do you dream of skiing in the Alps? Or would you like to experience the wonders of arctic climates like those found in Iceland, Russia, and other northern countries?

You don’t have to travel half way around the world to enjoy these climates. Booking a trip at a ski lodge in Vale, Colorado — a favorite spot of skiers and winter sports lovers around the world — can offer you the same experience.

You can also schedule a stay at a resort or bed and breakfast at any number of locations in Canada, whose individual provinces each offer a unique cultural experience. You can enjoy winter sports, beautiful landscapes, and unique cuisine and culture.

Scientific Expedition

You don’t have to travel to Madagascar or remote islands off the coast of New Zealand to discover rare species of birds, plants, and other wildlife.

The cost of airfare and special travel can make trips to these locales quite expensive. Instead, you can learn more about exotic plant and animal life by traveling to locations such as the Everglades in Florida, parts of the rain-forest located throughout South America, or even the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador.

Each of these trips represent different budget options influenced by the distance of travel, local accommodations and local currency.

Spiritual Retreat

Wish you could meditate with monks in India? Would you like to study with spiritual leaders in Tibet? If you don’t have the finances to travel to the Far East, you can still find your spiritual center by booking a retreat stateside. Book a yoga or meditation retreat at a resort or temple at locations throughout the country.

You can find a program that suits your interests, with some focusing on spiritual study, meditation, yoga practice, detoxification, or other area. Programs last as little as a couple of days to as long as several months. You can find a program that fits your interests and your budget.

Volunteering

If you and your spouse are the philanthropic types, you can combine your honeymoon with a chance to see the world and help others. There are numerous programs that match volunteers with local opportunities in exchange for room and board.

You volunteer your time, and you get a place to sleep in exchange. You’ll just need to arrange for your own airfare and the cost of any local entertainment you want to enjoy. Look for other opportunities according to your interests, your skills, and the time commitment you have to offer.

Scheduling a unique honeymoon vacation can be done on any budget with the right planning and a little brainstorming. You may not be able to book the exact honeymoon you want — for example, a month-long stay in Rome at a 5-star hotel — but you can find ways to replicate the experience by looking for other opportunities that provide the same kinds of activities.

There’s no need for the magic of your wedding day to end just yet.

Once the big day draws to a close, and friends and family start to make their way home, forget returning to reality. This is the perfect time to escape to the romantic culture capital of Europe. Honeymoons to Italy offer many attractions due to the mix of culture, climate, food, and romance.

Add to that landscapes varying from rocky coved beaches to the striking peaks of the Dolomite Mountains and small fishing villages to the vineyards of the rolling Tuscan hills. You’ll see that Italy really does have something for everyone! For those of us based in the US who are used to travelling huge distances between cities and states, the sheer scale of Italy is perhaps hard to comprehend.

The entire country is the same size as Arizona State! This means not only is it easy to see more than one part of Italy, but also that you don’t have to fly; driving and taking the train doesn’t take much time. So, if you’re considering a get-away to this beautiful and varied country with your newlywed here are some suggestions for destinations:

Beaches of Sardinia

Rome, Italy

If sun, sea, and sand are more your thing, Sardinia is stunning.

The coast of white sand and turquoise sea is dotted with small, pretty, and occasionally glamorous towns.

Accommodation varies from exclusive hotels, to smaller family run hotels, to your own private villa with pool.

Cultural city breaks

Cities such as Venice, with its winding alleyways and canals make a great romantic escape. Besides the architecture and compulsory gondola ride on the canals, the museums and art galleries are also fantastic. Rome too has much to offer, with the famous piazzas, art galleries, operas. The historic walled enclave and home to the Pope, the Vatican City also makes for a fascinating excursion.

Lake Garda spa

Situated to the North of Italy, Lake Garda has beautiful turquoise waters with a backdrop of the stunning Dolomites. The lake shore is dotted with historic towns and the odd spa, providing you with the perfect romantic combination of a scenic retreat and relaxing treatments. The hills surrounding Lake Garda offer activities for the more active too as mountain biking and hiking are available.

Country house in Tuscany

The tranquil rolling countryside of quaint Tuscany is a great spot for romantic walks. Tuscany lies to the north and is known for its fresh produce, mouth-watering food, and delicious wine. If you want to experience the authentic Tuscany, stay in an old farm or country house. Your days can be spent walking amongst vineyards and exploring local villages’ food markets.

The Amalfi Coast

This stretch of coastline is in southern Italy. Spotted by enchanting medieval fishing villages, each with pastel colored buildings, winding paths, and green and rocky backdrops. This area enjoys warm Mediterranean summers, and mild winters. This is a great area to explore by car as its winding roads give way to spectacular views out to sea, and of small villages clinging to the cliff sides.

History in Naples

Naples has great food, great shopping, and great views! The city is set around a huge bay, with the volcanic Mount Vesuvius towering in the background. The excavations of Pompeii are a must here, offering a fascinating (and slightly eerie!) glimpse into the past. A hike up Mount Vesuvius will give you spectacular views of the bay, whilst in downtown Naples there’s shopping and restaurants to die for!

Activities in the Dolomites

This awe-inspiring mountain range has spectacular walks with views to die for. Fresh mountain air and breathtaking views make for a relaxing and unforgettable holiday. For the more adventurous, hiking trails, rock climbing, mountain biking, and rafting are all available, all with the most beautiful views and delicious food on offer!

Shopping in Milan

Milan will feature highly on any fashion lovers list: one of the world’s fashion and design capitals, shopping in Milan is a true treat. The city is large, cosmopolitan, and bustling. Perfect for wandering around; it has grand piazzas and striking gothic architecture, art galleries and pizzerias.

Best of all, you needn’t choose just one of these! Stay for at least one week to thoroughly get to know one part, and opt for longer if you’re planning on travelling around. Be sure to check out transport options when planning.

If planned well, it’s easy to combine a city break with a spa break, or whatever combination suits you both best. Most of all enjoy the romance of Italy!

Searching for how to decorate a wedding car?

You don’t want to reach this critical moment with a tin can or window marker in sight. You’ve got to be on the ball and bring some decorative items with you to the wedding. But you don’t really want to go all out…

You know, with décor that could get the happy couple in trouble with the law (or get the groom in trouble with the bride). So here are a few points of card decorating etiquette you’ll surely want to observe.

Consider Written Messages

Classy or Trashy?

There’s nothing wrong with arranging for a beautifully written placard that simply states “Just Married”, but you might find that a little outdated.

The truth is you can write all manner of romantic messages on the getaway car these days, even opting to make it personal by throwing in pet names or inside jokes that the couple shares (as long as they are common knowledge rather than drunken and inappropriate revelations from the bachelor party).

The idea here is not to upset anyone, especially the bride – you don’t want to turn a night of wedded bliss into the Battle of Bunker Hill (with the bride becoming the nearly impregnable – so to speak – hill).  So keep it clean.

Wedding Car Exterior

Next you should think about the materials you’ll use, both inside and out.  For the exterior, many groomsmen now forego the shaving cream and shoe polish that used to be popular in favor of easy-to-use (and remove) window markers.  They wipe away with a wet rag and they are totally safe for the paint job (unlike sugary whipped cream or, god forbid, spray paint).

You can also consider utilizing specialty magnet kits.  Many craft stores sell wedding-themed magnets with graphics like hearts, doves, and rings, as well as words or letters that can be arranged in a variety of ways.  The best part about this type of decoration is that the couple can transfer it to their fridge later on (and again, it won’t damage the car).

Inside the Wedding Car

As for the interior, the trick is to avoid anything that could cause a potential mess.  This is especially important if the couple is using a rented car or limo, since damages could result in a hefty fine for the bride and groom.

So keep it simple with streamers, balloons, flower petals, and the like.  And if there is a hired driver (or someone at the wedding is willing to act as a DD), leave a bottle of champagne chilling on ice and provide a couple of flutes so the newlyweds can sip the bubbly on the way to starting their honeymoon.

Don’t Get Caught

Finally, you need to decide when to do the deed.  Obviously, you’ll want to have the decorations done before the happy couple departs the reception, but you don’t want any of the wedding party to miss something important (like the best man’s toast).

So when you’re going over plans with the groom, simply throw in a few innocuous questions about the reception so that you can get a basic idea of the timeline and find the perfect moment to slip away to do the decorations.

Now that you’ve got the ring on your finger, the fun has just begun.

You’ve been dreaming of the day you’d walk down the aisle since you were five years old.

And now you finally get to don that fluffy white dress and portray your inner princess for a day that’s all about you (oh, and the man you love, of course!). But while wedding planning may sound like a lot of fun, it is also a lot of work, especially if you opt to do it on your own (as in, sans wedding planner).

Sure, trying on dresses and choosing flowers is great, but there is a lot of coordination that goes into planning the perfect day. After a while, all the attention to detail can leave your head spinning and have your stress meter pushing the limits of endurance.

Throw on top of that the pressure your family is piling on and you might begin to feel like the blessed event is more of a curse.  So how can you convince your family to lay off without irrevocably burning bridges? Simple…

Just be Honest and Offer Up Some Compromise

Are your parents driving you nuts?

While these women can be a font of useful information when it comes to wedding plans, their advice may start to weigh on you after a while, especially if they tend to get demanding or overstep their bounds.

This situation can get pretty touchy if their ideas don’t mesh with yours, and it can be even more complicated if one or both sets of parents are pitching in to cover wedding costs. 

You might feel obligated to bow to their opinions at the expense of your own preferences.

It’s All About You

However, you need to remember that this day is about you and your honey, not your parents.  If they offer up money, they should do so with no strings attached.

Of course, it’s not always that easy, and your mothers might take affront to your refusal to give them a voice in the planning process.  They might even go so far as to scheme behind your back, and if they start bickering, the process could grind to a halt (not to mention the irreparable damage done to personal relationships).

Hold a Family Meeting

If you want to put a stop to this, you need to hold a family meeting.  Sit everyone down to talk about what’s going on.

Politely ask the moms to butt out and if they are offended, you can easily clear up the issue by paying for your own wedding (although it may seriously delay or diminish your plans).  Hopefully your parents won’t let it go this far.

Assign Dedicated Tasks

Another option is to give your mothers dedicated tasks.  You’ll have to relinquish control over certain areas of planning, but it could just free you up to manage everything else.

By letting the mothers take over traditional tasks such as planning events leading up to the wedding (bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, day-after wedding brunch) you can keep them occupied, reduce the pressure, and plan your wedding as you see fit, without anyone’s interference.

I can’t say I follow basketball closely but I admire these muscular, towering warriors running back and forth on the court.

The Greats

AND he can dance!

Basketball players seem to pass, shoot and dunk as though they were really meant to fly.

I was a young adult when Michael Jordan was the star of the Chicago Bulls in all his glory.

I grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, when another basketball star nicknamed Magic was the focus of the town’s imagination.

Magic Johnson fans were all around me; on the streets, in the bookstores and in the many watering holes. Michigan State University dominated the Big Ten and man, could Magic pass the ball. Earvin was the name he was called by his humble mother who had a hard job in the gritty, more urban world of Lansing.

It is downright impossible not to like someone with such a neon-bright smile. He has re-created himself as an outstanding businessman and he is reported to be healthy. But back to Michael Jordan. He is known to keep his private life private and to give fools a withering stare from his 6′ 6″ height.

The Couple

On April 27, 2013, Michael Jordan and his fiance made a free-shot at the I-do’s according to USA Today. Men do tend to marry younger women on average and “his airness” is no exception. He is 50, and she is 34 or 35-years-old depending on the report. They look happy together.

The bride’s name is Yvette Prieto and she is model-pretty but not with a long modeling career. A few hundred guests attended the Episcopal church wedding. The draped and flowing bridesmaid’s dresses shimmered in understated lavender. Almost two- thousand lucky guests went to the elegant reception at the 40,000-square-foot, tented complex in Palm Beach, Florida.

The private golf course Bear’s Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus, provided enough green space to house the festivities. The tent sheltered a ballroom and a dining room area. The venue was in walking distance from the couple’s 35,000-square-foot mansion that boasts 11 bedrooms. The couple met five years ago at a club and they have lived together.

The Wedding

Prieto did not buck the fashion trend of strapless gowns. Her J’Aton couture gown was created with a range of ecru shades, from ivory to a deeper champagne. The gown’s fit was close to the upper-body with a corseted structure.

The almost-transparent sheath was made of silk voile with a swirling lace pattern. The gown flared down from the lower thigh to a cathedral train with the twinkle of Swarovski crystals and a slight peacock feather design. The groom stepped up his game with a simple but elegant black tuxedo and bow-tie. The cake continued the dream-like vision with its all-white, seven-layer, rum flavor.

The white fondant icing and crystallized sugar gave the creation its outer form and texture.The reception’s music was smooth and lush with Usher, D.J.-M.C. Lyte, Alan Thicke, and an 18-piece band called The Source. The lavish wedding included celebrity friends like Tiger Woods, Ahmad Rashad, Spike Lee and Patrick Ewing. After all, stars attract other stars. According to reports, the dark evening sky exploded with the sound and color of elaborate fireworks.

The Good Life

All the wonderful and magical elements of the wedding didn’t seem to overwhelm the heart of the occasion from all reports. The successful, long-term relationship of Jordan and Prieto was the true star of this day.

Prieto was born in Cuba and she has an innocent and open expression. Her skin and hair have a silky-smooth appearance. The couple smiles easily together in public according to published photographs. She once dated Latin singer Julio Iglesias, Jr. who praised her simple goodness. This is Jordan’s second marriage. He and his ex-wife Juanita have 3 children together. Jordan is the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, an NBA-expansion team. He has found a way to channel his long experience from the game.

Instead of accepting gifts at the over-the-top nuptials, guests were invited to make donations to the charitable foundation that bears his father’s name, James R. Jordan. According to TMZ, Michael and the new Mrs. Jordan made their way around town in a luxurious, white, Rollys-Royce with one or two decoy cars to evade the entertainment press. In a touch of class, the wedding and reception flowers were graciously donated to the patients and staff at the Jupiter Medical Center. There is no reliable word on the location of what is sure to be an extravagant honeymoon.

The honeymoon is when you and your new spouse can finally relax!

Plus you can recover from all the celebrations. You want your trip to be as easy and stress-free as possible. But as vacation and business travel rebounds, concern about stress continues to be a problem.

Be Well Prepared

Stress-free traveling

Follow the news on important events that may affect your trip.

Learn what is going on in the country you plan to visit.

At the most basic level, Dr. Druckman advises that you acknowledge that travel, especially abroad, is inherently stressful, even on a pleasure trip.

You’re out of your element and routine; you may have to deal with a foreign language. While this is exciting, it naturally takes extra attention and energy.

Tips When Traveling Abroad

• Knowledge is power. Do some research on the places you plan to visit so you will know what to expect. This will help eliminate the anxiety of “what-if” running through your head.
• Rest up before you go — you’ll enjoy your trip more and worry less if you are well rested and energetic. If flying long distances, you might want to stop over for a night or two along the way.
• Before you go, make a copy of the opening page of your passport and other important travel documents and keep them separate from the actual documents when you travel. Then you won’t panic if those documents are lost or stolen.
• Learn basic phrases of the local language — you’ll feel more in control.
• Stay connected to friends and family through periodic e-mails or telephone calls — it will help keep you from feeling isolated. Make certain to provide them with your itinerary with contact numbers at the hotels where you’ll be staying. You should also bring your cellular phone or purchase a satellite phone just in case.
• If music relaxes you, make certain that you take your favorite CD’s or tapes along — you may not be able to find your favorite titles or artists overseas. Bring along a transistor radio so you can listen to the BBC or other English language stations.
• Learn some deep breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques that are easy to do.
• Exercising can also help you relax. Before booking your hotels, find out what facilities or access to health clubs they have. If you prefer, there are exercises that can be done on the floor in your hotel room. Consider bringing along a jump rope or other easy-to-pack exercise product.
• Try to blend in — avoid wearing obvious U.S. symbols such as U.S. team sports shirts. Sample the local culture and take note of and follow local customs, so you won’t feel like you’re sticking out from the crowd.
• Make sure you have a resource for medical and personal safety assistance lined up which provide telephone access 24/7 to Western doctors. That way should you need help, you’ll always know who to call.

Food is an integral part of the wedding celebration.

Naturally, food plays a central role in most gatherings. But whether your motivation is for healthier eating or saving cash, you have options when preparing and serving food for your upcoming nuptials.

One option for wedding food that often gets overlooked are those foods traditionally considered appetizers. These foods, which many consider to be good healthy snacks at home, can be made quickly, easily, and many times inexpensively.

While choosing to go this route won’t keep your guests rooted in their chairs for a few hours, they will offer them the opportunity to wander around, visiting with the bride, groom, and likely friends and family they haven’t seen for years.

Favorite Wedding Recipes

Spinach Artichoke Dip

These recipes are lower in fat and calories than some of the standard fare, with the added benefit of being easy and inexpensive to prepare. Enjoy.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

Hot, rich and creamy spinach and artichoke dip is always a hit and one of my personal favorites. It’s versatile – can be served in a bread bowl with bread or in a festive container with carrots, celery, tortilla chips or even crackers. Spinach offers the added benefit of being one of nature’s natural metabolism boosters, but the fat and calories in the traditional dip can be a show stopper though. Here’s a recipe for a reduced fat and calorie version that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:

• 1 small box (8-10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach
• 6 oz (¾ block) 1/3 less fat cream cheese
• 6 oz (¾ block) fat free cream cheese
• ½ cup fat free sour cream
• 1 ½ cup part skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 3 cloves crushed garlic
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, divided

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thaw and drain spinach. In large mixing bowl combine sour cream and cream cheeses with a mixer until smooth and creamy. Add spinach, mozzarella, artichokes, pepper, garlic & ¼ cup of the Parmesan. Stir all ingredients together until combined well. Put mixture into a 1 ½ quart baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan on top. Bake 30 minutes or until mixture is bubbly. Remove from oven & let cool 5-10 minutes before serving. Each ½ cup contains approximately 135 calories and 7 grams of fat.

Note: A full cup of Parmesan makes this dish even richer and creamier but also adds more fat and calories.

Tomato Basil Skewers Recipe

These are SO easy and quick! And they’re yummy. Arrange them on a platter, or insert the skewers into a cheese ball or pot with foam insert for a beautiful arrangement. You can also use different colored cherry or grape tomatoes if they’re available for a more colorful treat.

Ingredients:

• wooden skewers (1 for each serving you wish to make)
• cherry tomatoes (1 for each skewer)
• fresh basil leaves (1 for each skewer)
• small mozzarella ball (1 for each skewer)
• extra virgin olive oil or Italian dressing to drizzle
• coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation:
Roll up mozzarella balls, about ½ – ¾ inch in diameter. Slice tomatoes in half and layer pour ingredients; place onto skewer ½ of one tomato cut side up, basil leaf, mozzarella ball, and another ½ tomato cut side down. Drizzle with olive oil or Italian dressing. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Each skewer has approximately 46 calories, 3 grams of fat, 1 carb, & 3 grams of protein if using the extra virgin olive oil. Nutritional content will vary depending on whether you use oil or dressing and how much of either you drizzle.

Smoked Salmon and Cheese Mini Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe

If you’re looking for something “different” from the standard party fare to serve, give this recipe a try. It requires a little more prep time, and is a bit more expensive, but well worth both.

Ingredients:

• 6 small Yukon gold or red potatoes (about 2 pounds)
• 1 tsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt divided
• Cooking Spray
• 2 TBSP fat free milk
• 1 TBSP butter
• ½ tsp black pepper (freshly ground is best)
• ½ cup (2 oz) finely grated white cheddar cheese
• 2 TBSP finely chopped smoked salmon

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit. Rub potatoes with oil & sprinkle with ¼ tsp salt. Place potatoes on sprayed baking pan. Bake at 400 for 35 minutes or until tender. When potatoes are tender in the center, remove them from oven and cool for 10 minutes. Cut potatoes in half crosswise. Cut off a small portion of the rounded edge so the potato will stand upright. Carefully scoop out about 1 tsp pulp from each half, leaving the shells intact.

Combine potato pulp, milk, butter, pepper, cheese, and remaining ¼ tsp salt in a bowl. Spoon about 1 heaping tsp of the potato mixture into each potato shell. Place stuffed potatoes back onto pan and top with ½ tsp chopped salmon. Bake for 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Each ½ potato contains approximately 96 calories, 2.9 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of protein, 13 grams of carbohydrates.

Bruschetta Recipe

One of my all time favorites. It makes a wonderful presentation and the flavor just explodes in your mouth and it’s so easy to make! Dried basil can be substituted for fresh, but the fresh really does make a huge difference in taste.

Ingredients:

• 6 Roma tomatoes, chopped
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 TBSP Balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup fresh basil, stems removed
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 French or Italian baguette
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preparation:
Preheat the oven on broiler setting. In a large bowl, combine the Roma tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper. Allow mixture to sit for 10 minutes. Cut the baguette into ¾ inch slices. Arrange baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Broil for 1-2 minutes, just until lightly toasted. Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the toasted baguette slices. Top slices with mozzarella cheese. Place slices back in oven and broil for approximately 5 more minutes, or just until cheese is melted.

Each slice contains approximately 215 calories and 9 grams of fat.

The proposal was magical. The engagement party was a blast. Now comes the best (and hardest) part:  the wedding itself.

Planning for a wedding can be a nightmare if you let yourself become overwhelmed by thoughts of all the costs.

Here is a list of the ten most expensive parts of the process so that you can keep them in mind. Perhaps you can even find ways to reduce or work around them.

The Reception Cost

Are you ready for this?

Think about all the guests who will attend, especially if your wedding ceremony itself was more private.

Some people pay professional musicians to play live, while others hire a DJ. 

To save money, some people ask a friend to run an iPod or to create a looping slideshow that combines images and music.

Catering Costs

Include alcohol and champagne in this package and it becomes quite cost prohibitive.  Sparkling wine can be substituted more cheaply for champagne.

Cake Prices

While it may seem like a deceptively simple piece of the wedding, the average wedding cake can cost over five hundred dollars if professionally prepared.

Even if a friend or family member volunteers to bake it, they will still put in a lot of time, energy, and money preparing, especially if your guest list is quite extensive.

Wedding Attire Cost

The wedding dress is usually what breaks the bank, but is the most important piece of a traditional wedding, and what people will be talking about years afterward.  Many men are skipping tuxedos and wearing a jacket with a button-up shirt and tie that they may already own.

Wedding Photographer Prices

This is an expensive option because the photographer is the person who will allow your memories to live forever, which is why so many people spend a large portion of their planning time interviewing photographers or visiting a variety of studios.  You don’t need to pay for proofs, however, as many photographers will offer you a CD that contains the high-resolution images of your wedding.

Rehearsal Dinner Cost

Renting the hall and paying for the food cause this to be a potentially pricey option.

Invitations Prices (and save-the-date cards)

This includes the price of envelopes as well as stamps, which many people forget about.  An increasing number of people are sending out e-vites or creating websites that provide the guests with the information about date and place.

Wedding Ring Prices

Diamonds are the recurring favorite jewel for wedding rings, but many people are using their engagement rings to double for the wedding ring itself or are having them engraved.  Still others are considering options such as utilizing ancestral jewelry, like a grandmother’s ring.

Transportation Cost

Paying a limo to escort you and your intended to the ceremony racks up a chunk of change.  The wedding party may also need escorting.

Flower Prices

Flowers provide a splash of color and class to the ceremony and the reception, but they can also cost an arm and a leg, since they need to be fresh and purchased from a florist.  Choosing flowers in season means that they don’t need to be flown in and will cost less.