8 Wedding Expenses You Should Never Skimp On

1. Wedding Photography.  Do not hire your friend because she took one photography class. Do not give all your guests disposable cameras and hope for the best. Wedding receptions tend to be dark, busy, and complete nightmares to photograph. It takes the skills of a professional to correctly capture those memorable moments. You put so much time into your wedding and no matter how you feel now, you will want pictures to look back on later.

2. Food. You've heard people say that the food doesn't matter at a wedding. Well, that's true to some extent. You don't have to serve foi de gras to pull off an elegant reception. But your guests expect a little more than baked beans and hot dogs. If you need to save, cut guests, not the caterer.
 
3. Wedding Invitations. Wedding invitations leave the first and most important impression of your celebration. Don't send out an e-vite or try to make wedding invitations yourself, using a few scraps of ribbon and some construction paper. Use a wedding invitation kit to get the look you want without blowing the budget. But if you're pressed for time, it pays to pay for wedding invitations.
 
4. Bridesmaid Gifts. You can trim down expenses with bargain bridesmaid gifts, candles, soap, etc.. But not giving any bridesmaid gifts is a major breach of wedding etiquette.  If you cannot afford bridesmaid gifts, you shouldn't have had bridesmaids. Wash their cars or make them dinner if you absolutely cannot afford bridesmaid gifts.
 
5. Wedding DJ or Band. Every wedding has some form of entertainment. Don't skimp on the wedding band or DJ. Ask other brides for referrals. You don't want a drunk discount DJ that slurs every word or makes lewd jokes.
  
6. Dress. We aren't saying you should spend thousands of dollars on your wedding gown.Yes, you will only wear it once and yes, it will sit in your closet for years. But even when shopping for a discount dress, find one you're comfortable in and invest in good alterations. This article on wedding disasters will convince you never to go discount with your dress maker.
 
7. The Wedding Night Hotel. If you aren't returning to your new marital abode on your wedding night, make sure you secure at least a three-star hotel. You'll need rest and you don't want to spend the first night as a married couple in a dirt-cheap motel that's better suited for derelicts.
 
8. The Open Bar. Trim the guest list or get married on a Friday before you cut the open bar. Unfortunately, guests expect open bars at evening weddings. Consider getting married in the afternoon if alcohol will leave you broke. A cash bar is uncouth and you want your guests to have a great time.