Help is Here for Your (Low Cost) Wedding Ceremony

When it comes to your wedding services, nobody wants to spend too much and yet have to foot the bill for the reception. Really, it all depends on where you want to your wedding to be, and what type of service you're hoping to have.

There's a way to satisfy all types of weddings as long as you know what your options are. Let's take a look at the different types of ceremonies that you can choose from that can save you a great deal of money.

The Church Ceremony

When you want your ceremony to be in a church, you'll often have to pay for the rental and the minister to perform the ceremony.

Some churches will decorate for you; others won't. If this is an issue, be sure to ask first. How much you'll pay for the ceremony will vary, and depends on church policy.

Here are some tips to help save on a church ceremony:

• Look for a church that offers complete services or all-inclusive packages rather than separate fees.
  
• Try to bargain on outdoor weddings.
  
• Rent the church alone and hire your own minister.
  
• Have your services on a day where there are no church services; it may be cheaper.
  
• Decorate the church yourself.
  
• Offer to volunteer at the church for awhile in exchange for a discount.
  
• You can save some money by hosting your ceremony in the church basement, not the worship center.
  
• Churches will often offer substantial discounts if you're a member of the church.

The Outdoor Ceremony

You can save a great deal of money by hosting your ceremony outside: in a beautiful park, at the beach, on a hilltop or even your yard.

Here are some tips to help save on an outdoor ceremony:

• Have the service in your backyard.
  
• Choose an open public forum that doesn't generally have a ton of traffic, and get the right permits beforehand.
  
• Opting for an ordained minister rather than a priest is often cheaper. Just be sure to check that whoever you choose can legally perform wedding ceremonies in your area.
  
• You can forego the chairs and have the guests stand as long as you host a short ceremony. A nice white linen on the ground for guests to stand on is an elegant touch.
  
• When going with outdoor ceremonies, people often opt for the portable arch because it's easy to transport and just as elegant.
  
• Of course, you can always host your ceremony at city hall and save your money for the reception. Record the ceremony and host a viewing during the reception.
  

Outdoor ceremonies open the door to many themes that can greatly reduce the cost of your wedding and reception. Hawaiian themes and beach themes can help you save money on formal wear, decorations and so on, because people having an outdoor wedding are often casually or island dressed. It makes the ceremony more comfortable for the guests too, because they're also dressed casually.

Outdoor ceremonies can immediately switch from ceremony to reception, which saves money on travel fees, such as limos. The Hawaiian theme is a great way to sneak in a luau or pig roast reception. You might want to consider a theme that meshes well with a picnic, beach party or bonfire.

All of these tips were designed to help you find deals and discounts. You can also choose to have your ceremony at a courthouse or city hall building; record the services and play back the recording during your reception. It's a nice way to share your vows with your friends and family without spending a fortune on the ceremony.

The Wedding Chapel

When most people think of wedding chapels, they think of Las Vegas style chapels, but that's not the whole picture. If you're religious, it's very easy to solve the question of a wedding chapel, because you can choose to get married in your usual place of worship: a church, synagogue, mosque or other religious temple.

But if you haven't had a religious upbringing, are marrying someone of a different religion or culture, or simply would prefer a different venue, it's important to know what wedding chapel options are open to you.

If yo'd still like a ceremony in the style of a particular religion, most chapels host different officiates who can provide the appropriate wedding ceremony to suit your specific needs.

The majority of wedding chapels are similar to churches in design. And most couples seek this traditional type of venue, even when they want a non-denominational ceremony.

Chapels usually advertise attractive but traditional features, such as stained glass windows, oak flooring, historical buildings and chandeliers. If you prefer a modern building, it's possible to find chapels that are less traditional, such as ones located in art galleries. But you'll need to research them well if you want a good deal.

Wedding chapels come in various sizes, and you must calculate how many guests you'll be having before you commit to a particular chapel. Most chapels seat between a hundred and a hundred and fifty guests, but there's one to suit every size of wedding. In Las Vegas, for example, there are chapels just large enough for the bride, groom, officiate and witness.

The location of your wedding chapel is key. You'll find plenty of choices in cities and towns, but you might want a more natural or dramatic location. Not to worry: there are chapels everywhere from the Smoky Mountains to Hawaiian beaches, and from Lake Tahoe to Disneyland!

If you have military connections, you could hold your wedding in a military chapel on a base. There are long waiting lists for these facilities, but they are usually free (notwithstanding a charitable donation).

Some facilities offer a choice of chapel depending on your religion, and it's possible to find Protestant, Catholic and Jewish chapels. However, there may be restrictions on decorations, clothing or the numbers of guests.

You'll also find a vast array of novelty, or themed, wedding chapels springing up everywhere these days. The first themed chapels originated in Las Vegas, but now it's possible to find outlandish chapel designs anywhere.

For example — aside from the ubiquitous Elvis chapels — you can have a neon wedding at the luminous chapel in New Orleans, or a Cowboy wedding in Nevada. Try to incorporate the theme into other aspects of your wedding, such as your attire, music and food. Some chapels even supply costumes for the guests, which can really make your day a whole lot of fun.