Wedding Ideas

If you’re looking for an engagement ring on a budget, you have a variety of choices. Your standard solitaire engagement ring in a brick-and-mortar jewelry boutique is likely to be quite expensive. However, My Trio Rings now offers both diamond cluster rings and affordable solitaire engagement rings to fit into your wedding budget. If you thought that a solitaire diamond ring was out of your reach, consider the new line of affordable solitaire engagement rings from My Trio Rings.

1. Did you ever think you could get a solitaire engagement ring for as low as $349.99? Consider this ring, a 1/3 carat solitaire engagement ring set in 10 K white gold. The ring features a central solitaire diamond nestled between two smaller diamond clusters shaped like leaves.

2. For $599.99, you can choose an affordable solitaire engagement ring with 14 K white gold band, a central round-cut solitaire diamond, and a ring of smaller diamonds in a straight line around the band of the ring. The total diamond weight for this beautiful ring is 1/2 carat. If you are interested, each of these diamond solitaire rings also can be paired with a matching wedding band set for an affordable price.

3. If you are hoping to pick a solitaire ring over a diamond cluster ring, you might consider this 1/2 carat ring from My Trio Rings which features a 14 K yellow gold band, a solitaire princess-cut diamond, and a small line of clustered diamonds on either side of the solitaire head.

Start shopping for affordable solitaire engagement rings today!

Photo Credit: My Trio Rings

This post is part of the My Trio Rings Precious Places series, which uses Mashable's Top 10 Cities for Getting Engaged list for inspiration.

Baltimore is a gorgeous city that is a short distance from Washington, D.C., and it offers many unique places to propose. If you are ready to start planning a proposal, then here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning.

1. Places to Propose: At the Park

Baltimore’s oldest park is Patterson Park, a large nineteenth century space with walking trails, playgrounds, fountains, a swimming pool and splash pad, fields, woods, and even a lake. Located in southeastern Baltimore within blocks of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Fell’s Point, Patterson Park is a vibrant community getaway within the city. If you are ready to propose in Patterson Park, consider a picnic on the fields just below the Pagoda, where you have an excellent view overlooking the park and the city. Another lovely Patterson Park proposal would be a stroll on the walking trails down to the lake, then sitting on a bench near the lake, near the middle of the park.

Another of Baltimore’s well-known parks is Federal Hill Park, on the south end of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Federal Hill Park is not as well maintained as Patterson Park, and it does involve a rather steep hike to the top of the hill, but the views of the harbor and the city are hard to beat.

2. Places to Proposes: On the Water

One of the things that makes Baltimore stand out is its abundance of waterfront property. If you are ready to propose in a romantic location, then finding a likely place by the water is a good start. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants, outdoor entertainment, places to walk around, and even an old-fashioned carousel. Another option is proposing on a boat in the harbor, such as a harbor cruise or a water taxi ride. For more privacy, consider renting a paddleboat and proposing out on the open water in a boat made for two.

3. Places to Propose: Over Dinner

Like many big cities, Baltimore offers a wide variety of dining options, from its Little Italy area to an abundance of fresh seafood restaurants. One romantic dining destination is Tapas Adela, located in the Fell’s Point neighborhood along the water. Tapas Adela offers elegant indoor seating as well as outdoor tables perfect for people watching and breathing in the harbor breezes. A meal of fresh and innovative Spanish tapas dishes in small portions offers ample opportunity for talking, sipping wine, and lingering – a recipe for the perfect romantic proposal.

Photo credit: jepoirrier

Are you ready to propose? Start shopping for a diamond cluster engagement ring today!

When you're shopping for a bridal ring set, you need to consider several different factors. You'll need to keep your purchase within your budget. You'll also want to pick trio wedding rings that best suit your tastes. In addition to a wedding band that works for you, the setting of your diamonds is a large part of the style of your rings.

Here are three of the most common settings for trio wedding rings:

1. Prong Setting / Claw setting

Prong settings, or claw settings, are the most popular and most classic style, especially for solitaire rings. Four prongs show more of the diamond's surface area, while six prongs hold the gem more securely. It's typical for this setting to give the impression that the diamond is floating above the band, letting in more light and enhancing its sparkle. One downside to prong settings is that the prongs may occasionally catch on hair or clothing.

2. Cluster Setting

 Cluster settings group smaller diamonds together into a shape. Simple shapes include circles and squares, and more intricate shapes include flowers and leaves. My Trio Rings offers a wide selection of trio wedding rings with cluster settings because they are less expensive than large solitaire diamonds. They also provide an impressive visual impact. 

3. Channel Setting

 Channel settings in a bridal ring set embed stones into the band. In an engagement ring, they accent a solitaire diamond or cluster beautifully. Channel settings come in many different patterns. Some line the top of a band, and others form an artistic pattern around the entire band. One advantage of choosing a channel setting for your trio wedding rings is that the bands clearly complement each other, symbolizing your union as a married couple.

Okay, guys. You know that you’re ready to marry her. You’re just itching to pop the question. How soon do you need to pick out an inexpensive diamond cluster engagement ring and plan a surprise proposal? Well, if you don’t feel the need to have a ring in hand, then you can ask her whenever the time feels right. But if you want to wow her with a beautiful, affordable wedding ring set, then here is a tentative schedule to get you started. (Of course, if you are in a hurry, you can do it much faster, but this timeline gives you plenty of time for browsing and planning!)

Six weeks before engagement

Start thinking about creative engagement ideas and preparing yourself for the process.

Four weeks before engagement

Start comparison shopping for the ideal inexpensive diamond cluster engagement ring. Look around online to determine what style and what characteristics are most important to you. Observe your girlfriend’s style of dress, home décor, and jewelry selection for helpful hints.

Two weeks before engagement

Select and order an affordable wedding ring set that fits your budget and your bride-to-be’s style. Consider an affordable wedding ring set with an inexpensive diamond cluster engagement ring in addition to a men’s and ladies wedding band to get your budget off to the right start.

One week before engagement

Receive your affordable wedding ring set in the mail (My Trio Rings offers fast, free shipping. Your rings will ship out within two business days of your order). Make sure that the set meets your standards, insure the rings, and find a safe place to keep them.

A few days before engagement

Finalize your proposal plan and rehearse what you want to say. Make a date with your girlfriend so that you are sure she is available at the appointed time.

The day of the engagement

Set the stage for your proposal. Hide the inexpensive diamond cluster engagement ring in your pocket or wherever it needs to be to pull off your proposal. Take a deep breath and do it!

Photo credit: VancityAllie 

As you are planning for your budget wedding and deciding what your priorities are, consider that your wedding day will be a beautiful day, but it is also likely to be a busy day. Make sure that you are making plans that will help you make budget wedding memories that will last a lifetime.

Make Budget Wedding Memories for a Lifetime

1. Get Married When You Both are Ready

When you are thinking about picking out an affordable wedding ring set and planning a wedding, make sure that you are both ready to get married and commit to each other for a lifetime. Read these tips to help you decide whether you two are ready to take the plunge.

2. Choose Real Diamonds

When you are selecting an affordable wedding ring set, be sure to choose real diamonds. Real diamonds are certainly more expensive than alternatives such as cubic zirconia, but fake diamonds do not have the strength and history of real diamonds, and they are not likely to last a lifetime. If you want to save money on real diamonds, simply consider purchasing diamond cluster rings that are part of an affordable wedding ring set from a reputable online jeweler. This is a wise investment at a great price, and it will last you a lifetime.

3. Hire a Professional Photographer

Many wedding planners and brides who have been there would agree that one of the most important things to NOT skimp on during your budget wedding planning is photography. If you want to share your wedding memories with your children and grandchildren in the years to come, then hire a professional who knows how to best capture your special day on film. In addition to ordering prints, it is also worthwhile to splurge on digital copies of your wedding photos, so that you can be sure to preserve those memories for a lifetime.

4. Preserve Your Dress

If you might want to pass your wedding dress on to a daughter or granddaughter today, don’t just throw it up in the attic. Protect your budget wedding dress investment by taking your dress to the cleaners or to a bridal shop to get it preserved in a special airtight box that will help your dress last much longer.

Photo credit: Instant Vantage

You’re ready to spend your life with your girlfriend. You feel excited about proposing marriage. You are starting to hunt for the perfect…three rings?

Perhaps the idea of purchasing three rings at once, especially if you are surprising your girlfriend and making the decision on your own, seems a little too much. If that is the case, don’t worry! It’s okay to wait. You can still save a great deal of money on wedding jewelry without purchasing a trio wedding ring set all at once. Here’s the plan:

1. Select a diamond cluster engagement ring that best fits your girlfriend’s taste.

Think about her style of clothing, jewelry, accessories, and even home decor. Try to remember specific pieces of jewelry you have heard her admire, in case she was trying to drop you a subtle hint. Does she have a more modern style? Is she a traditional woman? Is she a die-hard romantic? Does she prefer things to be plain and simple? Or does she have a more showy style? Plan to spend between $160 and $615 on the diamond cluster engagement ring that your girlfriend will love the most.

2. Purchase the ring.

3. Plan a proposal.

4. Purchase matching wedding bands.

If you purchased a diamond cluster engagement ring from My Trio Rings that your fiancé loves, it is easy to purchase the coordinating wedding bands. Let’s say you chose this 1/2 Carat diamond-studded engagement ring set in 14K white gold for $489.99. If you scroll further down the page, you have the option to look at the wedding bands designed to go with that very ring. For $785.99, you can purchase the men’s and ladies’ wedding bands that are also studded in lustrous, real diamonds, thus giving you a complete trio wedding ring set.

5. Enjoy your savings!

Although it is a little more expensive to purchase the diamond cluster engagement ring separately from the wedding bands rather than purchasing the entire trio wedding ring set all at once, it may be worth your piece of mind if you don’t feel comfortable purchasing all three rings simultaneously without your girlfriend’s input. Either way, you will still be likely to spend less money on all three rings than you would on a single diamond solitaire engagement ring.

Tens of thousands of CNN.com readers have been enchanted by this photo, which tells the story of a Virginia man who proposed to his Christmas-loving girlfriend this holiday season with a holiday light-inspired Christmas proposal on the rooftop of their home. Many more Americans have enchanting holiday proposal stories of their own.

If you have already purchased an affordable wedding ring set, then you might want to consider whether this is the right time of year for you to come up with a creative Christmas proposal of your own.

Why Propose at Christmas?

1. The Mood Lighting

At Christmas time, many places around town are lit with romantic candles or twinkling Christmas lights, so just about anywhere can be a romantic location to surprise your girlfriend with the affordable wedding ring set of her dreams.

2. The Togetherness

For many people, the holidays are a time for gathering together with family and friends. If you propose at Christmas, then it will be easy to spread the good news with loved ones already gathered around to celebrate!

Why Wait to Propose?

1. The Surprise Factor

Christmas and Valentine’s Day are two days during the year when women are more likely to have an inkling that a proposal might be on the way. As popular times of year to express love, those two days might not be as good of an opportunity to knock your girlfriend’s socks off with a surprise proposal.

2. The Emotional Turmoil

For some, Christmas can be a difficult time of year with uneasy family relationships or unpleasant memories. If your spouse-to-be starts to seem a little Grinchy around Christmas for these or other reasons, then she may prefer a proposal at a different time. Perhaps you could wait until New Year’s Eve?

Do you have a Christmas proposal story to share?

Photo credit

Pachelbel? Tchaikovsky? Beethoven? Mendelssohn? Many brides and grooms feel perplexed when they hear all of the options available to them, even if they are choosing to have a traditional budget wedding. Many people fret about finding an affordable wedding ring set, but that process can actually be far easier than finding affordable wedding music.

Perhaps you feel equally out of your league. As you start to make decisions about your budget wedding music, you may wish to consult comprehensive guides from The Wedding Channel and TheKnot.com. Both sites offer comprehensive wedding music guides that list a wide variety of music options for all the different parts of your budget wedding ceremony and reception, including a variety of different musical styles.
Additionally, if you are having a church wedding, your pastor or your organist might already have a small selection of standard music they use in weddings at the church. A few popular wedding ceremony hymns include “Amazing Grace,” “For the Beauty of the Earth,” “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” and “Day by Day.” A soloist might sing more beautifully, but you will save money if you ask your guests to sing your hymns of choice during the ceremony. And the more familiar the song, the more lovely the sound will be.

Many wedding planners strongly recommend sticking to professional musicians and professional DJs for your wedding, but as with hunting for an affordable wedding ring set, your budget is your budget. If the best ceremony music you can afford is singing hymns with your guests, embrace that and make the best of it. The same is true if your budget wedding reception music needs to be an iPod playlist of your favorite songs played over a loudspeaker. But before you resign yourself to a purely DIY music approach, consider these possible sources of affordable wedding music:

1. University music students
2. Talented friends and family
3. New DJ’s
4. Church organists and choirs

What music are you most excited about including in your wedding?

Photo Credit: A. Vivaldi

It is not uncommon for even the most organized bride to arrive at her own wedding flustered and later than planned. With so many details to coordinate and so much to be done even on the day itself, it is too easy to get off schedule. This is why it is good to have a wedding planner help you out on the big day, even for a budget wedding.

But a wedding planner is not likely to be at your home in the morning, reminding you of all the things you should not forget to bring to your budget wedding, besides something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.

1. His and hers wedding bands

Be certain that the person who is in charge of the his and hers wedding bands remembers to bring them to the wedding. These rings are an important part of a wedding ceremony, and it would be a shame to forget them on the kitchen table.

2. Driver’s license and cash

No matter who is driving who, be prepared in case you need to drive for an unexpected reason. And cash is a good idea to have on hand for unexpected tips or other emergencies, such as an urgent need for a caffeinated soda or a snack.

3. An emergency snack and drink

Despite all the planning that you and your spouse-to-be have put into your budget wedding food, it is a sad fact that you are unlikely to get the chance to eat much of it. If you have a very good bridal party, then you may find yourself getting the opportunity to eat more than most brides, but chances are, you will have toasts to listen to, relatives to talk to, cakes to cut, and dances to do that may prevent you from eating much. In order to keep your energy up, be certain to eat before you arrive and also have an emergency stash of food and drink for a quick pick-me-up.

4. A toiletry kit

Be prepared to freshen up after rushing to the ceremony location or after sneaking a quick snack. Come prepared with toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, makeup, baby powder, perfume, bobby pins, hair spray, and whatever else you might need to look and smell your best. Don’t forget to stick a handkerchief or a pack of tissues in the bag, just in case!

5. An emergency kit

In your hurry to arrive at your budget wedding, it is possible that you might snag your pantyhose or rip a seam. Create a small kit with emergency supplies such as clear nail polish to stop a pantyhose run, personal care products, medications, safety pins, and a needle and thread to help you solve last-minute problems. The needle and thread could also come in handy to sew your his and hers wedding bands to the ringbearer pillow.

What are your budget wedding must-haves?

The flower girl has been a traditional member of the wedding party since ancient times, when she represented the bride blossoming into womanhood. The flower girl is usually a relative of the bride or groom between the ages of four and eight. She walks in front of the bride and throws flower petals during the wedding processional.

Does this tradition fit into your budget wedding plans?

A flower girl is not very expensive. It is easy to create your own coordinating flower basket or find one inexpensively. You can buy packages of fake flower petals from a craft store, or you could easily tear off real ones from a couple of flowers that coordinate with your color scheme.

These days, most couples don’t even pay for the flower girl dress. It is generally the parents of the flower girl who purchase the dress. Many brides select a coordinating flower girl dress at a bridal shop, but those can be expensive. If you’d like to make a budget wedding choice, you may wish to choose a dress from a non-wedding store that has a color or pattern or style that coordinates with the bridesmaids for a much lower cost to the flower girl’s family.

The other costs for having a flower girl in your budget wedding would simply be another head at the reception and a small thank-you gift for her participation.

Some brides prefer not to have children in the wedding party, though. The traditional flower girl and ring bearer (who carries the his and hers wedding ring set on a pillow) can be adorable, but they can also add an element of chance. Sometimes children forget their rehearsed roles, walk in the wrong direction, or make other mistakes in their performance. (This writer became infamous for coming to a dead stop at the head of the aisle as a seven-year-old and sobbing loudly until the bride herself came to rescue her.) If you would be upset rather than charmed by such an incident, then you may wish to forego the flower petals and ask an adult member of the bridal party to carry the his and hers wedding ring set. The decision is up to you.

Photo Credit: Flickr (edenpictures)

As you are planning a wedding on a budget, you may be thinking about some unconventional wedding or proposal ¬ideas to save money or to express your personality. It turns out that you are not alone. Three couples have recently become YouTube sensations as a result of their unusual surprise proposals and weddings. (Warning for grooms-to-be: most women will agree that a surprise proposal is an exciting prospect. Many women would not be as happy about a surprise wedding.)

1. Surprise Proposal

A Georgia man created a video of himself asking his girlfriend’s dad for her hand in marriage, and he arranged to have the video played during the previews when his girlfriend went to the movies. At the end of the trailer, he ran into the movie theater and surprised her with a proposal in front of the entire theater, which included many of her family and friends hiding in the back. This video has now gone viral on YouTube. Not all women would be excited about such a public proposal, but if you are planning a wedding on a budget and have a shy bride-to-be, you could easily modify this idea to use your own home video equipment and play a similar film for her on your own television as a creative and inexpensive surprise.

2. Surprise Wedding 1

A Canadian man who was planning to elope with his girlfriend to Las Vegas instead orchestrated a surprise budget wedding for his bride-to-be behind their favorite restaurant with the help of friends and family. By carefully taking note of her preferences over the course of a year, he was able to create a wedding that was very similar to what she might have planned herself. When she showed up at the restaurant ready for a meal, he led her to her wedding dress instead. Many women would prefer to plan their own budget wedding, but this groom was very careful to create a special day that matched his bride’s taste. If you decide to use this idea, keeping it small and simple is probably the best strategy.

3. Surprise Wedding 2

An unconventional Massachusetts couple recently decided to plan a surprise budget wedding together. However, the surprise was not for one of them but instead for bystanders at a shopping mall. They chose to organize a “flash mob” wedding. In their invitations to family and friends, they printed simple dance moves and instructions for participating in their public wedding. When the wedding started all of a sudden in the middle of the mall, both invited guests and unknown shoppers participated in their special day. This is a creative idea that could save a lot of money on such things as venue and decorations, but it takes a lot of planning (and special permission from the owners of the mall).

What other unconventional wedding or proposal ideas have you heard about?

Photo Credit: Alex Indigo (Flickr: alexindigo)

For years, you daydreamed about meeting the man of your dreams. And, let’s be honest, when you met him, you fantasized about the perfect proposal. Now, at last, after looking at inexpensive wedding ring sets together and picking a beautiful diamond cluster ring as your engagement ring, an important part of that fantasy is about to come true – showing off your engagement ring (and then your coordinating wedding band) to your friends at work. It is thrilling to have someone notice the telltale sparkle on your hand and ask to see your diamond cluster ring.

But believe it or not, this part of your fantasy may not happen exactly as you expect it to. In many professions, the wearing of jewelry, even inexpensive wedding ring sets, is not permitted, so you may have to show off your diamond cluster ring on your own time.

The main reason that jewelry wearing is discouraged or prohibited in many professions is safety. In certain hospital units, for example, doctors and nurses are not supposed to wear jewelry that could catch on the hospital equipment. Others aren’t supposed to wear jewelry that would snag on their disposable latex exam gloves. For people such as carpenters and mechanics, there is also a concern that rings or other jewelry could catch on machinery and cause injuries.

If you work in a field in which you are not allowed to wear your diamond cluster ring, you may wish to think of other creative solutions. Perhaps you could wear your engagement ring and wedding band on a necklace. In some professions, it is common to pin wedding jewelry to one’s uniform or carry it in a special bag in a pocket. Or perhaps, depending on your job, you will wish to keep your jewelry safe at home in a special jewelry box while you are at work, and you can show off your sparkles on evenings and weekends. But even if you are free to wear your jewelry at all times, don’t forget to insure your wedding jewelry and care for it properly!

Photo Credit: Adam Lehman

As you plan your budget wedding, devising ways to pinch pennies here and scale down there, you may not have considered moving your venue to the nearest fast-food restaurant. But in Hong Kong, where elaborate weddings routinely cost couples more than $40,000, a new trend in budget weddings seems to be gaining popularity: McMarriages!

Since January, Hong Kong-based McDonald’s franchises have opened themselves up to hosting weddings, with several planned packages for brides to choose from. The basic package costs only $1,300 (a bargain in today’s wedding-crazed environment) and includes rental of the space, a catered dinner, party favors for the guests, organized games led by perky employees, a wedding cake constructed out of individual apple pies, and, for a few hundred dollars more, a wedding dress made of white balloons. For a Hong Kong couple planning a wedding on a budget, such a set-up is ideal.

Sound crazy? In Hong Kong, McDonald’s doesn’t carry the same stigma of cheapness that it does in America. Couples that have taken advantage of the package deal so far have expressed how grateful they are to be able to share their happy day with friends and family in a fun atmosphere. In Hong Kong, taking a business client, a dear friend, or a first date to McDonald’s is perfectly ordinary, and many couples share rich memories of their times at a local chain.

While Americans may not be ready to abandon the church or large hall in favor of a fast-food restaurant, couples planning a wedding on a budget could certainly gather a few tips from their Asian neighbors. Why not forgo the elaborate wedding cake for something simpler and easier to serve, like cupcakes? Instead of forking over several thousand dollars for a fancy wedding venue, what about relocating your budget wedding to a beautiful state park or fun community center? You don’t have to get married at McDonald’s to save a few dollars!

What reasonably priced wedding venues have you heard about?

Photo Credit: Ian Mutto

Whether you say your vows on a secluded beach in the summer or in a large church in the winter, the music helps set the mood at any wedding. Even if you are planning a wedding on a budget, you will want to choose music that sounds beautiful, complements your wedding location, and expresses the personality of you and your future spouse. Here’s how to find music that can do all three without breaking the bank.

1. The Ceremony

If you are planning a wedding on a budget at a church, it is possible that you might be able to get a good deal on music provided by the church. The church organist or pianist might be willing to play music for your ceremony for a reasonable fee, or perhaps a few members from the church choir would be interested in performing. Other options for traditional music for your budget wedding ceremony include calling around to ask local music teachers or music students who might like to earn some extra money. Or perhaps you have a musically talented friend who would be willing to perform instead of buying a wedding present for you. If you are really tight on money, you might also consider simply purchasing a nice recording of popular wedding music, such as Pachelbel’s Canon in D, to play on the sound system at your budget wedding venue.

2. The Reception

You are likely to want your budget wedding reception to include festive music and dancing. You might be able to hire a good DJ for a few hours for a reasonable price, especially if you call around. If you find a new DJ who is just establishing their business, they may be likely to offer you a special discount in appreciation for helping them get started and spread their name around. Other couples who are planning a wedding on a budget find friends to play music at the reception or even create a mix of their favorite songs to play through an iPod or laptop on the venue’s sound system.

3. Prioritizing

As with any budget wedding, the key to sticking to your budget is prioritizing. You may not be able to afford a renowned string quartet for the ceremony and a full band for the reception. However, you can choose what aspect of the music is most important to you. If live music is very important as you walk down the aisle, then consider saving money by hiring a DJ or creating your own playlist for the reception. Being able to make such compromises will serve you well in your marriage in the years ahead.

Photo Credit: Alice Carrier

Planning a wedding can be expensive. Unless you’re planning to have a budget wedding in your own backyard and make a lot of the preparations yourself with the help of family and friends, it is all too easy to go over your budget. Since paying for each wedding service individually can add up quickly, some savvy couples who are planning a cheap wedding choose to purchase an all-inclusive wedding package to save money. Here are three ideas to consider:

1. Mexico Wedding

If you’re interested in a budget wedding at a tropical destination, consider an all-inclusive wedding package from the Grand Velas resort in Riviera Maya. For a little over $2,000, you can have a small wedding package that includes an officiant, flowers, a photographer, a wedding planner, a ceremony for up to ten guests, music, champagne, and even wedding cake. Just bring your wedding clothes and your spouse to be, and all of the arrangements are taken care of for you. A destination wedding like this also saves money since it serves as a wedding and honeymoon all in one. After the wedding, enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving in the Caribbean, relaxing on the beach, exploring the jungle, and unwinding at the spa, all within a close proximity of the hotel.

2. Cruise Ship Wedding

If you are planning a cheap wedding and wish to have more guests but still would like to opt for a more exotic location, choose an all-inclusive wedding package on a cruise ship. Carnival cruise line is equipped to host weddings at a wide selection of ports, whether your guests are joining you on a cruise or are simply flying in for the big day. For a little over $1,500, you can have a wedding docked in a city such as Key West, Florida, that includes an officiant, a wedding planner, a photographer, a ceremony for up to twenty guests, music, flowers, reception food, a wedding cake, an open bar, and a champagne toast. After the ceremony, you can relax and enjoy your honeymoon cruise without having to lift a finger.

3. Las Vegas Wedding

Las Vegas is a popular wedding destination for many budget-minded couples. Many Las Vegas resorts offer competitively priced budget wedding packages. The Flamingo has a garden wedding chapel with a variety of all-inclusive wedding packages available. In addition to offering all of the standard wedding amenities, some Flamingo wedding packages also include spa credit and the free use of a limousine. After the wedding, enjoy your honeymoon in Las Vegas, where you can eat gourmet food, watch shows, observe wildlife, go shopping, try your luck in the casinos, or even just relax in the sun by the luxuriantly landscaped hotel pool.

If you’re familiar with other all-inclusive wedding packages, please leave a comment and share!

Photo Credit: joiseyshowaa

For most couples, the sky is not the limit for their wedding budget. One of the necessities of planning a wedding on a budget is prioritizing in order to stay within the bounds of a reasonable budget. Where will you save money, and where do you want to spend a little extra? Smart couples who choose to purchase high quality, affordable engagement ring sets often find that they have a little extra cash to make other parts of their wedding even more special.

1. Honeymoon

Planning a wedding on a budget can be a challenge, especially when it comes to planning a memorable trip to start your life together as a married couple. A little extra money in the honeymoon budget can fund more luxurious hotel accommodations, travel to a more exotic destination, more gourmet meals, more expensive champagne, or even extras like a couple’s massage or a hot air balloon ride.

2. Photography

For many brides and grooms, their wedding day is a whirlwind. They may not even remember to eat, and they may have trouble remembering specific moments from their special day in the years to come. Having an excellent professional photographer and / or videographer is important to preserving wedding memories for a lifetime. Whether you prefer formal portraits or the style of photojournalism, having wiggle room in the budget allows you to choose the photographer that best fits your style. Some creative couples even choose to rent a photo booth for fun candid shots of their guests.

3. Music

Some couples are happy to play a mix CD at their reception or even to have their iPod on shuffle. For others, it is important to have the funds to hire the best local band to play live music or to have their favorite DJ taking song requests from their wedding guests at the reception. Still others wish to hire a string quartet for their stroll down the aisle rather than relying on the church organist. If you decide that music is important to you as you are planning a wedding on a budget, then choosing to spend less money on an affordable engagement ring set could give you the room in your budget to cater to your musical tastes.

4. Food

Weddings that take place around meal times make it necessary to serve your guests more than just cake. Some brides and grooms are happy with a small buffet with a few different food choices. Other couples wish to host a sit-down dinner with expensive entrees and fine wine. The amount of money you spend on wedding food can vary widely depending on your taste, the style of your wedding, and the head count. If you decide that you want to serve a steak dinner, then find other places to be frugal in your wedding budget in order to save money to pay the caterer.

5. Style and Appearance (Especially For the Bride)

It’s up to you, as a bride, how glamorous you want to get for your big day. You could splurge on a wedding gown that makes you feel like royalty, or invest in a professional hair and makeup artist. To save on the hassle of transporting your bridesmaids to the salon, and to take care of their hair and makeup as well, you might hire a stylist or two to come to the hotel the morning of the wedding. Instead of buying your bridesmaids gifts, you could treat them to manicures and pedicures the day before the wedding. Cutting corners in other areas of your budget allows you to invest in those that mean a lot to you.

What would you do with the extra money left over from your wedding ring budget?

Photo Credit: Mindaugas Danys

Weddings can be both expensive and hard on the environment, but with a little planning, you can create a beautiful green wedding. From picking conflict-free, inexpensive trio ring sets to serving locally grown food, you can make your wedding a little greener without spending too much extra money. By thinking about ways to reduce and reuse, you might even save a little money. Here’s how to green your wedding:

1. Minimize Travel.

Choose a location for your wedding that will minimize how much travel your guests will need to do. Some couples with far-flung family and friends decide to have a formal wedding and reception in one area of the country and an informal reception with other loved ones in another area of the country to reduce their wedding expenses as well as to reduce how much their family and friends will need to travel. Other couples minimize travel by holding their wedding and reception in the same building or renting a bus to transport guests between the wedding and reception sites. If you and your guests will have a lot of long-distance travel to do, consider purchasing inexpensive carbon offsets.

2. Serve Sustainable Food.

Serve your guests organic food or seasonal food that is locally grown and harvested to reduce the environmental impact of feeding your wedding guests. Ask your caterer to serve your food on washable, reusable plates or disposable plates that are made from recycled materials. Use nice cloth napkins. Make sure you have facilities available for recycling soda cans and other recyclable materials.

3. Purchase Wedding Ring Sets Responsibly.

Not all diamonds are created equal. Be certain to choose diamonds that are mined in a responsible manner. Ask your jeweler for conflict-free diamonds that have not been used to fund slavery or war in Africa. Most diamonds sold in the United States today are certified conflict-free, but it is an important question to ask before purchasing a trio wedding ring set to celebrate your love. Fortunately, this certification should not increase the price of your rings. Purchasing a his and hers wedding ring set also saves you money and uses less packaging compared to purchasing individual wedding rings.

4. Use Recycled Paper or Go Paperless.

Print your wedding invitations on recycled paper products, or send online invitations to all or most of your guests (besides your grandmothers, unless they’re tech-savvy). Invitations made with recycled content should not cost much more than conventional invitations. Sending online invitations is best for the environment and will definitely save you money. Consider using e-mail or e-cards to send your thank-you notes as well.

Photo Credit: Alexandria Perone