Northern Hills Magazine 2015 Easter Issue | Page 43

by being creative and using an almost infinite number of options for your centrepieces and décor. How? Two words: EBay, and borrowing. Craigslist counts too. For the DYIer, arts and crafts stores provide inspiration, as well as 50% off coupons. White string lights which are practically a holiday time staple and are probably sitting in your basement, or can be borrowed from family and friends, can create a magical Dreamscape. 7. You are Not Limited to a Specific Caterer Since the food (and drink) is one of the things that will stand out in your guests’ memory, you want to get this one right. All things being equal, however, if your goal is to provide a fancy-ish catered meal and it comes down to choosing between “lesser quality” food options so you can, let’s say buy the fancier decorations, spend the money on the food. It will feel worth it when people ask when they can expect to be invited back for your next event. As far as I know, WWW.NORTHERNHILLS.CO.ZA no one has ever asked for a repeat invite because of pretty decorations. With that said, these money saving wedding tips can help you have the menu that you want and eat it too. Yes, you can definitely save money on food by holding your reception during less popular “YUMMY. AWESOME PRICE. ORDER IT. DONE!” allow you to control everything from your price point to all of your food choices. When working with a caterer, do not tell them that you are planning a wedding menu until your menu and price has been locked in. As with the flowers example above, wedding packages may very well be priced higher than other options. Other tips include renting table cloths, china, tables and chairs from party companies because it may be less expensive than through the caterer. Also, sometimes buying the table cloths is even cheaper than renting and you can sell them and recoup some of the cost! 8. Your Wedding Cake doesn’t have to be Large Enough to Ser ve Ever yone times (think Friday night or Sunday brunch). It is also true that buffets are generally less expensive than sit-down meals. However, the biggest food money saver occurs when you hold your reception at a venue that allows you to cater with whomever you wish. Doing this one thing will Heck, it doesn’t even have to be a cake! The wedding industry certainly knows how to get us to buy into whatever they are selling. The cake is no exception. Novelty options such as cupcakes, small pies, ice cream sundaes, Viennese tables and more can be marvelous options EASTER ISSUE 2015 / NORTHERN HILLS / PAGE 41