Ideas for winter nighttime weddings on a budget

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"August is the month when many folk festivals take place, where the audience stares at a bloke with a microphone and one finger stuck in his ear. In contrast ..."

Weddings are expensive. However, many ways to trim your expenses are available during winter that allow you to have the elegant affair you imagine without the large price tag. By doing a lot of the work and set-up yourself, you can save thousands of dollars and remain in control of your budget and your design for your winter nighttime wedding.

1. Centerpieces

   • Gather natural items you can find during the winter, such as branches, pine cones, holly, evergreen and juniper berries. Place these items in a clear bowl on each of the guest tables for an inexpensive centerpiece. For an artistic look, spray-paint thin branches white or silver. Place the branches in a slender vase. Create a fire-and-ice centerpiece by placing pine cones, plastic ornaments, tea light candles and greenery in a container. Fill it with water and freeze it. Remove from the container and place it on a decorative tray. You can also use miniature artificial Christmas trees for your centerpieces.

   Room Decor

   • Use traditional winter decorations to decorate your reception hall. If you have more than a year to plan your wedding, stock up on after-holiday sales and then use these supplies during your wedding. Hang Christmas lights on the ceiling, around arches, on the bridal table and around the cake table. Add ornaments such as snowflakes on the walls and doorways. Make cheap luminarias to line your reception walkway out of white paper bags with a candle inside. Put a fog or snow-storm machine in the reception hall to create a wintry ambiance. Put white votive candles on your guest and food tables for a romantic glow. Buy candles in bulk for extra savings or opt for cheap battery-operated tea light candles.

   Flowers

   • You can incorporate red or white roses into your bouquets and floral arrangements to suit your winter wedding. A cheaper alternative is to use silk flowers, which you can purchase ahead of time to practice making bouquets and boutonnieres. Poinsettias mark the winter season and will add a splash of color to your ceremony and reception sites without a big price tag. You can opt for red poinsettias or cream-colored poinsettias.

   Favors

   • Snowflake candle holders or soaps in the shape of snowmen are fun favors for a winter wedding. Make your own favors such as gingerbread cookies for an inexpensive and whimsical option. If your wedding is after Christmas, consider having a candy buffet. Stock up on assorted holiday candy at reduced prices. Your guests will enjoy filling their bags with candy for their wedding favors.

   Music

   • Attach an iPod to speakers instead of hiring an expensive DJ. Make sure that you have some danceable holiday and winter-themed music such as Mariah Carey´-s "All I Want for Christmas is You," Destiny´-s Child´-s "Carol of the Bells," "Jingle Bell Rock," and versions of "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland." Also include Vanilla Ice´-s "Ice, Ice Baby" -- bound to make your guests smile.

   Food

   • Rather than having a full-course meal, opt for winter favorites such as beef stew, macaroni and cheese, chili, fancy cookies, banana bread, eggnog, hot apple cider and punch. If you are having a full dinner, choose a main dish that goes a long way, such as a ham. If you are having a small wedding, ask each guest to bring a winter favorite to the reception for a potluck dinner. Choose a classic white wedding cake for a snowy look. Your cake topper could be a snowman and snow woman!

Source: www.ehow.com

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