Eight out of ten brides would if given the chance opt for a destination wedding.  The statistics are that currently 3 out of 10 brides end up having one.  {Destination weddings are all the rage at present and likely to become even more popular because they are normally cheaper and because of the romance factor.}  Although a destination wedding and even a wedding castle may seem a cheaper solution than holding an elaborate reception at home, these tips can trim you budget even more – without compromising on the specialness of your wedding chateau. And a little careful trimming of the wedding budget can leave you with a lot more cash in your pocket to spend at your french wedding or while you are on your honeymoon.

These are our top 10 tips for saving a packet on your destination wedding{ – in no particualr order}:

1. Get married out of Season
Not only will your plane tickets costs be much less, but you are likely to get better deals in hotels at your destination.

2. Don’t get married on Saturday
In almost every country in the world, Saturday is the first day that books out and the most expensive day to marry. Pick a weekday and there are reductions to be had and the venue for both wedding and reception will be less busy.  {You can normally also gain last minute access to the premier wedding venues and wedding vendors who  normally get booked up 2 years out when you chose a wedding day other than Saturday.}

3. Cut the Cake
Yes, really! Tiers of wedding cakes can cost a fortune – and you don’t want to be transporting the leftovers home after a week in the sun. Buy a nice cake in a cake shop or even a supermarket – if you are good at that sort of thing decorate it yourself, it doesn’t have to be elaborate, white frosting and fresh fruit is very effective and pretty

4. Keep your wedding dress simple
“Simple and elegant” – see how nicely those words go together? Avoid bridal shops altogether and look for a simple shift dress from an ordinary store. It’s amazing what you will find. Not only will you save on the purchase price, but it’ll be cheaper and easier to travel with and you may even get to wear it again. Or buy in a charity store. 

5.  Cut your lists!
You do not need to invite everyone you know, all your relatives and even your Dad’s work colleagues to your destination wedding, in the half hope that most will say no?

6. Ditch the Professional Photographer
Maybe you have a friend who is an amateur photograher, or you could give out cheap disposable cameras to the guests, then collect them later – hopefully there will be some good shots in there.

 7. Make Your Own Stationary
There are wonderful and relatively inexpensive kits available for this if you are not artistically inclined.

8. Tell everyone you’re getting married…
.Or on honeymoon. You could get an upgrade on flights, better rooms in hotels, bottles of wine or champagne in restaurants, free entry to clubs.

9. …. but not the florist!

Keep your flowers simple – there is no need to have loads to make an impact. Single lilies laid on a table look as good as elaborate displays, a simple bouquet with lots of inexpensive greenery will keep the attention on the bride. {Personally I like bouquets made with one flower – tulips, roses.  I think they look incredibly elegant and they are cheaper as they are not  so time consuming for your florist.} {If you pick a heritage venue, you can go easy on the floral decorations and just let the venue  speak for itself and provide your wow factor.}

10. Avoid Wedding Stores!
As soon as something is for a wedding, it becomes expensive. You can often get the same or almost the same things for a fraction of the price elsewhere. For example fabric shops will have ribbon, beads, feathers and other decorative items.

A french wedding cannot be beaten for wow factor.  Your friends and family will love you for it.