Planning to tie the knot this year?
Ask anyone in the throes of prepping for a wedding and they will tell you how stressfulwedding planningcan be.
Add in budget woes, and stress levels start to skyrocket.
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A little resourcefulness can go a long way when it comes to reducing the cost of your wedding.
In fact, some of these are free wedding venues.
Ponds or pools also make for a great backdrop for wedding photos of you and your sweetheart.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Go ahead and start now, but be sure to bookmark this post so you could easily return later.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Youll also want to consider where your guests will stay afterwards.
Last but not least, be sure your friends areactuallyokay with it.
You wouldnt want the savings on your venue to cost you a friendship!
Expert tip:Dont have a friend who can host your event?
Reach out to localAirbnbhosts to see if theres an affordable rental that would allow you to celebrate in style.
Did you know?
The key to this free wedding venue option is to do your research.
Local State Parks
Looking for an incredible outdoor venue that doesnt cost a fortune?
Then you might just want to consider renting out some space in your favorite local state park.
Once youve made a list of your favorite public gardens, start calling them up for details.
Your Alma Mater
Did you meet your sweetheart in college?
Then why not ask your alma mater if they could host your big day?
It may require a board meeting, but dont let that stop you.
Schools love supporting their alumni, not to mention free publicity.
Policies vary, and some may not allow festivities on expensive turf.
Inquire at your school to see about the rules.
Or at least move it to a favorite college hangout.
Expert tip:Have a local college you love that isnt your alma mater?
You might still be able to rent some space for your big day.
It may also require a fee and permit.
Someone we know recently got married in front of a Florida courthouse surrounded by restaurants and nightlife.
Its cheap for you, and the city benefits from the exposure.
to be sure everyones on the same page with regards to how the space will be used.
Contributor Larissa Runkle frequently writes on finance, real estate, and lifestyle topics for The Penny Hoarder.
Writer Kelli H. Clevenger contributed to this story.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…